ramblings from an arkansas farm girl
Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite patriotic decorating ideas for the home and garden. While patriotism never goes out of style, the 4th of July calls for extra red, white, and blue flair. And I prefer to think beyond the typical and decorate using things I already have or flea market finds.
Like vintage marbles. Red, white, and blue marbles displayed in blue depression glass adds a touch of Americana without being too obvious.
Three cheers for summer! This year, I say we take time to rediscover the lost art of summer. Slow down. Stop trying to orchestrate the picture perfect summer and instead enjoy some hot fun in the summertime “old school style”. Waaaaay back when I was a kid, summer meant hours of bicycle riding and exploring ditch banks and guzzling cherry Kool-aid in the shade of a mimosa tree. Now mimosas are drinks, the tree variety is considered trash by many, and summer is pre-planned to stave off kids’ idle brain drain. Makes me tired just thinking about it.
Work a few of these simple simon activities into each week from now until Labor Day, and you’ll have a more relaxing summer. Promise.
1. Play in the water hose. Drink from it too.
2. Go on a picnic. Grill hot dogs. Who cares about calories or the gritty sand that somehow made its way onto the bun?
3. Lay on a quilt and watch the clouds float by. A quilt hand-stitched by your grandmother.
4. Lose yourself in a trashy summer read. It’s allowed in summer.
5. Eat ice cream in the sun. Nothing fancy. Neapolitan scooped into a plain cone. Or, support your neighborhood ice cream truck. Or, both.
6. Go for lots of walks and always carry change. You never know when you’ll find a neighborhood lemonade stand. If you have little ones at home, man your own lemonade stand in the front yard and donate the proceeds to a good cause.
7. Catch lightning bugs in a mason jar or at least sit outside and watch them light up the yard. They are extra amazing this year! (Release them before bedtime, though.)
8. Swim in a swimming hole.
9. Eat watermelon. Plant the seeds even though they probably won’t come up.
10. Sleep on sun-dried sheets.
11. Splash in rain puddles after a summer shower. Make mud pies, too.
12. Color. Breathe in the smell of crayons.
13. Tie-dye something.
14. Skip rocks.
15. Roast marshmallows.
16. Swing.
17. Wade a creek.
18. Nap.
19. Climb a tree. (Watch the Busvlogger’s tree-climbing video HERE! Hilarious.)
20. On the hottest day of the year, spend the afternoon at the library where the air is always cold and the books are free.
These are just a few of the gazillion ways to celebrate the lost art of summer. What else?
Happy Summer!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]Let’s slow down and celebrate the lost art of #summer. @Crayola @LtlFreeLibrary #LostArtofSummer #gracegrits[/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Hot Fun in the Summertime, Sly and the Family Stone
Happy Hump Day y’all! As I look though the photos I’ve taken while enjoying family time at Lake Norfork, I realize I’ve snapped lots of pics of lake signs. Not sure what that means (if it means anything), other than I like signs that remind me of the lake. Some are handmade, others are vintage, others simply signify a special place.
This is the twig sign that greets us at our little resort. Perfect lake sign!
On our front porch. We have a fabulous view—gently sloping and clover-filled that leads to a quiet cove.
When the water at the end of the road means the lake, that’s a great thing.
A great street name for those lucky enough to live at the lake.
Old vintage sign. Love it!
After years of being stranded here and there in every remote cove on the lake, we have a glorious new boat. Believe me, we’d gladly “plant one” on ours. (Although she’s not an outboard.)
Is there a theme to the pictures you take? I also take lots of pictures of food and flowers. Especially obvious on my Instagram feed.
Carry on,
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]Is there a theme to the photos you take? #LakeSigns #Schnauzer pics #FoodandFlowers[/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Signs, Five Man Electrical Band
