It's Been a Journey...

It has definitely been a journey...but I am not any closer to my destination as I was a few weeks ago. Every part of my new computer works exactly as it used to-and I LOVE it-except my blog. Actually, my blog works exactly the same it is just trying to find a way to edit pictures, add a Pinterest button, etc. that I still can not do. My grandson came over the other night to help me install-well, let's be honest here-to actually DO the installing-and we can get it to print regular things and copy. Scanning will come later. But, the one thing I need so desperately is to be able to print pictures. I want to send some to an old childhood friend and, for whatever reason, we can't make it work. This is a busy time of year and any of the family who could help are all doing and going and not able to sit next to me for a bit to just see if what I know-which isn't much but at least I know how to navigate my blog-and what they know might come together for a solution. It makes me so sad that I can't figure this out but, for now, I want to start my 4th of July tour. I have everything out but spring isn't totally put away because I finally had to get out and run some errands yesterday and today I've been in the yard a bit. We haven't had a lot of rain but what we have had has apparently been making the flowers very happy and the yard-with the exception of the grass-is looking good

With apologies again for unedited pictures let's start our tour.

One of my errands yesterday was to get to Lowes where they once again had the red, white and blue baskets. Then I did another in just the Blue Daze as it can hang out on the porch for at least the next decor and then it will move to the backyard where I am not as fussy with my colors. Lol

 The entry remains pretty much the same. I was hoping to change out what is in the "scale", but for now, Uncle Sam remains-it is still only May so maybe a brainstorm will hit before the fourth of July. Lol I did back the Declaration of Independence with red paper. I know it's not authentic but, as my grandson told me when he was VERY young, the Declaration wasn't typed so a little poetic license is allowed and it just pops a bit more now.

This Uncle Sam-and his counterpart in my family room-was made from a spindle from Lowes and the picture next to him is simply a small flag with the Pledge of Allegiance written on the white lines. The hardest part of the whole thing was making sure my hand writing was the right size to fit the whole thing onto the flag without running out of room. Lol

 

That flag holder is one of my all time favorite crafts. I saw the idea in the Martha Stewart Magazine and knew I wanted to give it a try. She used antique ball feet for hers but I didn't think I would have a way to find as many as I needed because I was making these for gifts and needed a lot so I headed to Lowes. They indeed carry ball feet but they were not inexpensive so at that point, I thought I might have to come up with a new idea. Then...serendipity! Daughter #3 and our youngest grand daughter invited my husband and me to the "Fancy Flea Antique Show". I don't remember where it was but it was a bit of a haul. In any case, the show filled the streets of the town and it was wonderful. And, there, right in the middle of one of my favorite booths was a big basket of antique ball feet. I don't really remember but I think they were somewhere around $3 each-SOLD! All I had to do then was cut a 4X4 and two small pieces of wood and assemble, paint and distress.

Those of you who visit regularly know the story behind this banner. I am a lover of Bethany Lowe holiday decor but it is also quite costly and not always east to find. And so, one day when I spied this banner for sale on a site somewhere and saw the cost, I decided to try to duplicate with one of my own. The diamonds were printed with words from the Constitution and backed with red, the letters were cut and glittered, small stars were cut, glittered and hung from the diamonds and then it was all hung from some sparkly blue trim. It was actually a doozey to make but so happy that I did. I hung it proudly and would have been entirely unaware of my faux pas except that not long after I made a trip to my favorite home decor shop in Micanopy-who happens to carry some Bethany Lowe-and was totally surprised to see her banner strung from a tabletop tree. I guess I failed to look at the measurements. Lol Of course, the size of that banner made the price even more ridiculous, but it was pretty. And, I'm glad I didn't see the size or I might not have ever tried it.

I know it is almost impossible to see but here is my new brick mold with its lid. I filled it with the red, white and blue books and then some of the boxes of sparklers that I made last year.

I absolutely LOVE my new sign. This is not where I had initially intended to hang it when I ordered it but I think it is the proper finish for this vignette. Of course that meant finding a new home for the "faux dummy board" wreath that I made last year but I did...and it found a place that really needed a pop. You'll see it soon. 

So that is the living room for this year. Again, I am so sorry that I am asking you to squint in order to maybe even get a glimpse but I am so out of my element here. I feel as if I have walked into an operating room and someone hands me a scalpel and says "go ahead, transplant the heart" Well, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but I feel as if there is something missing on this new system...but I have no clue what. My son-in-law is bringing their dog down to me either today or tomorrow so, depending on when that happens, I might get a chance to pick his brain again. Grand daughter #3 says she thinks she may be able to "talk" me through getting back my Pinterest key so as soon as she has some free time, we are going to give that a try. Right now I can't "pin" anything from my blog-but then, with these horrible pictures, I'm not sure I want to anyway! Lol

And so, with all of that said, I need to go get some things ready before Rory gets here. She is a beautiful chocolate Lab. For some reason-I guess daughter #2 and her hubby aren't usually traveling for quite as long as they are this time-someone closer to home takes care of her and I have never had her with me for this long. I'm looking forward to her company and we'll see if she turns out to be as big a bed hoarder as Bruno. I'll be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.