LET'S CELEBRATE JULY

Good Morning all you Summer lovers...
I do hope you are enjoying your days
and spending thoughtful, quiet times with sunshine on your shoulders.....
I pulled out a few of my favorite things for the month of July
to put on display at my kitchen workstation.....

This is the most decorating I plan to do for summer
and I find it a nod to July 4th and all our family
birthdays we will be celebrating this month....

Sunflowers remind me of days in summer when
we visited my grandmother....we played all day long,
and well into the evening with our cousins....
we ran in cornfields and played with the cows and sheep...
we had dinners of freshly grown vegetables
that the neighbors had shared and left on her back porch...

Each year, there would be a full three months in which
we were out of school and my parents took us on wonderful
fun-filled vacations.....
those childhood days seemed so carefree...

And, now it's just a gift to have slow days
of porch sitting, reading, and watering the gardens...

Our TEXAS heat has arrived as expected
so I am determined to keep things growing....
I cut back the zinnias in order for
the Rose of Sharon to spread out a bit....

My Butterfly Bush finally bloomed....
beautiful among the marigolds..

Zinnias seem to love summer......

And I am loving my Lantana this year....

I plan for grilled hot dogs and burgers for July 4h....
along with my Gone to Glory Potato Salad....

The sides will be Baked Beans and Corn on the Cob.....

To me, this is the All-American celebration.....

It's fun to gather treats of red, white and blue.....

And how about ending the day, with ice cream
and fresh strawberries....
y'all have a fabulous and safe July 4th!

JULY 4TH CELEBRATION and A REFRESHING SUMMER TEA

Happy Fourth of July kindred spirits!

Do you have plans to celebrate America today?
We actually decided to honor the 4th on Saturday
and today, I am sharing a few snippets of our gathering!

 

The weather was a tad on the hot side with
the temperature reading about 93 degrees....
we have triple digits coming all next week......

It was requested I make homemade potato salad and
I aim to please.....it was absolutely delicious!

My grandmother was well known for her potato salad
and I can never come close to hers...but this batch was loved
by everyone..that's good enough for me!

I didn't do a lot of decorating for a patriotic theme,
but did bring out a few favorites for the table....

Sweet Betsy Ross......

Swimming, barbecue and paper plates make for a good July 4th.....

The ribs and sausage were amazing.....

And, German Chocolate Cake with a cream cheese frosting.....
We can still enjoy some leftovers which is the best part of all...
I hope each of you, enjoy the day!

But before you go, here is a lovely idea for 
a refreshing and beautiful summer tea.....

A cold water infusion of Strawberry, Lemon
and Orange Blossom

Add fresh frozen fruit.......

strawberries, peaches, pineapple and mango....

Now, sip slowly, breathe deeply and relax......

CELEBRATING AMERICA and TWO OF OUR FAVORITE SUMMER SALADS

A look back at July in Maine...

one of the many historical beauties....

July 4th was very quiet here in Texas.......

we of course touched base with all the kiddos who

were staying home and smoking ribs and brisket...

everyone is trying to social distance and stay safe...

it's been A LONG TIME in doing this.....

The puzzle master at the beginning....

I entertained myself by searching cupboards to see what

fall treasures I had...and it was like finding old friends.

I want to lay it all out in front of me so that I can begin

to design vignettes 

(in my mind) in various places around the house....

I mean with our new normal.....I can certainly find

ways to entertain myself!

I now can enjoy looking at some of my collections for

the next month or so before I begin the transformation

into fall....with somewhat anxious apprehension......

what will it look like...school, football, Halloween,

Thanksgiving and even Christmas....it's such an unknown......

FOOD FARE

We enjoyed a lunch of BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches

topped with a tangy coleslaw and a side of stuffed celery, dill pickles

and Blue Cheese stuffed celery!

This is a delicious and light Pasta Salad which is

an all time favorite for hot Summer months......

TUSCAN TORTELLINI SPINACH SALAD

1 lb. fresh cheese tortellini

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1/2 tbsp. honey

 Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 c. chopped prosciutto

1/2 c. baby spinach

1/2 c. fresh grape tomatoes

1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan

 

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and transfer to large serving bowl.

Make dressing: Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey and season with salt and pepper.

To bowl, add prosciutto, spinach, tomatoes and dressing and toss until well combined. Garnish with Parmesan.

This recipe is a jello salad but it can easily be served

for a light Summer dessert.....it's pretty addicting.....really darn good!

CREAMSICLE JELLO SALAD

1 3-ounce box orange jello

1 3-ounce box cook and serve vanilla pudding

1 3-ounce box cook and serve Tapioca pudding

3 cups cold water

1 tub of Cool Whip

1 large can Mandarin Oranges, drained

Mini Marshmallows

Combine all three boxes of dry mix in a saucepan.

Add  cups of cold water and stir constantly while bringing to a boil.

Boil for 1 minute until mixture has thickened. 

Allow to cool completely.

Add cool whip to cool jello/pudding mixture.

Fold in mandarin oranges and mini marshmallows.

Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve!

Fresh Blueberry Lemonade Margarita's...oh my, my!!!!

The Summer Strawberries....

paired beautifully with 

Milk and Cookies Ice Cream

We have three family birthdays this month...

and not one party shall be had!

BEST EVER SHORTCAKE FOR YOUR SUMMER STRAWBERRIES and THE 40TH SURPRISE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2019!

We had a quiet celebration with burgers on the grill

and Mother's homestyle baked beans!

The ultimate summer dessert for the Fourth of July celebration
is Strawberry Shortcake!
This is THE shortcake which will compliment your sweet berries
and is so easy to prepare!
This recipe uses cake flour and buttermilk so you know it's
going to be moist and light!

I think this pattern from the Pioneer Woman is just gorgeous
to serve a round cake....just look at this beautiful border!!!

BEST STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 T. vanilla
1 1/2 cup cake flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream the softened butter and sugar.
Add the two eggs, and continue to mix until blended.
In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk
and then add the vanilla.
Beat with hand mixer about 2-3 minutes.
Pour batter into a 9-inch cake pan which has been sprayed
with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Mix fresh berries with 1/4 cup sugar and allow to marinate
until you are ready to serve your shortcake.



Top shortcake with whipped cream, then fresh berries!

We pulled it off...the SURPRISE 40th birthday party....
here are a few highlights from this fabulous celebration!

VINTAGE AMERICANA

I had not really planned to decorate for the July 4th holiday,

but then I decided I should do something special for the summer.

Although we will be in recovery mode the entire month of July,

it's important to create special memories and have our home

reflect the seasons....

so this post is dedicated 

to anyone who remembers the joy of a golden summers day

and

enjoying an ice cold coca-cola under a big shade tree......

We have enjoyed so many family cook-outs

complete with burgers on the grill, oldies but goodies on the radio

and a neighborhood July 4th parade marching down the street.

I gathered up all the red, white and blue I owned

and then began to pick and choose what I would use

for our Americana vignettes.

I decided to go "vintage" as I always incorporate

family heirlooms while decorating.....

items that have memories and meaning.

I love, love, love using Sunflowers
in floral arrangements, both in summer and also in fall.

Remember as a child, loving grilled hot dogs and ice cold watermelon?

I have always been fond of this photo of Mother which
appeared to be taken in a cemetery in Ohio....she looked
adorable in her little sailor pantsuit!

This plate is one that belonged to my grandmother 

which depicts historic places in

Hope Springs, Arkansas.

Arkansas was the 25th state in the Union.

The vintage linen napkin also belonged to her.

The Betsy Ross design is from the Bethany Lowe collection.

The Johnson Brothers plate is a thrift find.

I don't think there is a Johnson Brothers pattern that I don't 

fall in love with...

During the summer months, while visiting our Grandmother Grace,

we spent evenings running around her huge back yard, picking

blackberries and catching fireflies with our cousins.

In elementary school, we always began the

mornings with a devotional and saying

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....

Don't you adore the fruits of summer?

My dear sister, Miss Judy,

sent this to me and I absolutely adore this painting.

It is so depictive of the delta in our home state of Mississippi.

It is an original oil painting signed by the artist.

It can be a rather enjoyable project to pull together

your seasonal vignettes!

Be sure to bring out your summer cookbooks...
pick out a recipe you have always wanted to try...
perhaps a pie, peach cobbler or a new
strawberry shortcake recipe!

I decided to satisfy our craving for a freshly

baked cherry pie!

Did you ever attend a July 4th Ice Cream Social?

I need to publish my recipe for

Lone Star Pecan Cake....

it's great for BBQ's on the fourth...

needs no frosting...only a dusting of powdered sugar!

I wish you a lovely summer...
take time to enjoy family and please
teach  your children kindness and let's
all appreciate the little things in life....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA