Hooray for the Red, White and Blue

It's time once again for the monthly Pinterest Challenge hosted by Cindy of Country Road 407.

I almost didn't do this month's challenge, but I really like the group of bloggers who participate each month and I definitely need to push myself to blog more often.

If you are clicking through the order of the group, then you were just visiting Benita of Chasing Quaintness whose take on the inspiration photo is lovely.

This month's inspiration photo from Mary of Home Is Where The Boat Is really spoke to me 

because I am a lover of red, white and blue.

Before the styling of the garden bench, a trip to the nursery was in order.

Next I went to the attic in search of the bunting I bought at TJ Maxx last fall.

The pillow on the right (which is normally on a chair in the living room) was made by Emily of Penny and Ivy who uses old fabrics for her creations.

At this time of year I love tucking flags all over the garden.

The pitchfork was my grandpa's and it's a fun way to add height next to the garden bench.

I have had the little wooden soldier for decades and love bringing him out as summer begins.

Dragging all the patriotic decor downstairs is a bit like bringing the Christmas stuff down from the attic, 

but all the red, white and blue will stay out through Labor Day.

So that's my take on the photo from Mary of Home Is Where The Boat Is and now it's time to send you off to visit Carol of Bluesky at Home.

and I do hope you take the time to visit all the blogs for patriotic inspiration.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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It's Finally Happening

In June of 1970, I graduated from college and headed off to the mountains to be an assistant camp director for the summer before heading to Europe on a backpacking adventure.

Steve and I had been dating for a few months and he convinced me to cash in my ticket to Europe promising that we would go together.

Costa Rica 1995

We have done a lot of traveling in our 48 years of marriage and we have both been to Europe, but never together as Steve promised. 

In less than 2 weeks, that will change.

Since the moment the tickets were ordered

I have made our destination pretty obvious around the house - didn't realize I had so many books about France and Paris.

The tote bag full craft supplies was a gift from my sister

so I can journal each night 

in the apartment we have rented in the 6th arrondissement.

I haven't been to Paris since 1999 on an 8 country adventure with my sister and our daughters so I look forward to creating a new journal of my adventures with Steve, our son and his wife.

The timing was perfect when I was contacted last week by Mapiful asking if I was interested in collaborating - it was fun to design a map to be part of my journal. 

I originally used the super easy Mapiful website to design a map of Paris where we will spend the majority of our time.

We will fly to Pau in the south of France to visit friends - thus the second red dot on the map.

Via

They plan to take us to Spain for lunch one day 

via

which is why I settled on a map of France that includes the coast of Northern Spain.

We are both counting down the days until we arrive at this 17 century building that we will call home for 10 days.

In the meantime I have lots of Paris inspiration - but I welcome all ideas from you.

Thrifting

There are two thrift shops that I frequent - one is yucky, but I pass by on my way to a favorite shop and I always look in the window.

This soup tureen is my most recent find - not that I "need" any more soup tureens.

I now have 4 tureens and 3 are from the same thrift shop.

The Eddie Bauer pitcher hiding in the corner is another find from the "yucky" shop.

I am guaranteed to find something fun, like these little cuties, at the Assistance League charity shop.

Last week, I was about to walk out empty handed when I spotted a table with linens and a lovely set of 5 handmade napkins came home with me.

You only see 4 on the chair because the 5th is in use  - can you spot it in the guest room?

There it is on the nightstand holding my Mother's Day roses.

I absolutely love the delicate needle work on the napkins.

While I was in line to make my purchase I spotted an old enamel tea kettle with a hole in the bottom - I had a pitcher just the right size to fit inside and it's perfect for holding a flower arrangement.

My first thought was to have the kettle in the garden holding a daisy plant, but for now, it's in the living room because I'm working on a May Pinterest Challenge and this arrangement will be part of it.

With the Pinterest Challenge and my poor garden desperately needing love, there won't be any thrifting in the near future.

WIND (yes, all in caps!) and rain have kept me out of the garden so the rest of the week I will be at home playing.

Tea in the Garden

Welcome to the Spring Tea Party Blog Hop hosted by Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home.

If you are following in order, then you were just visiting Cindy of County Road 407

where you will always find beautiful inspiration.

 I'm so happy you're here, even though I'm not quite ready for tea in the garden - I went a little overboard at the nursery and have to get all these flowers planted.

But, I'm happy to have the company while I work

so come on in and I'll take you out to the garden

where you can sit and relax.

Teapots, teacups and flowers add a spring touch to the porch.

I added a few books for height and if you look closely you'll see that I included my only book about tea.

I love using quotes in vignettes

"Life is like a cup of tea- to be filled to the brim and enjoyed with friends."

You can sit on the bench - I selected a few books for you to browse through

and I set out cookies and tea for your enjoyment.

Just for today, I added tiny teacups to the chippy window.

Your view from the bench will be what seems to be the yellow section of my garden - I didn't realize I had planted so many different yellow flowers .

You definitely don't want to sit on this bench - Steve paid $1 for it at a yard sale and it's a bit rickety.

Sitting on one of the chaises is a good choice.

You will have a nice view of the garden

and there's a spot for a glass of iced tea.

I promise to be super quiet so you can listen to the birds and the sound of the surf.

The table is cleared off, everything is planted and now I have time to join you for tea in the garden, but it's such a lovely day I suggest we take a walk on the beach instead.

And now it's time to send you off to visit Katie of Let's Add Sprinkles.

Enjoy visiting all of the links in this fun blog hop.

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