HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Celebrating the 4th of July

 July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. I think it rubbed off on me,  it was one of my Dads (Navy vet) favorite holidays. If it was the 4th there was a wonderful feast planned by my sweet mom and dad. Traditional southern fare made up the 

menu. Dad with his delicious BBQ ribs and mom's sides. Now, my sister and I wouldn't think of celebrating any other way. A menu on the 4th usually reads; ribs, baked beans, potato salad, slaw, corn, and home made ice cream and cake. Tomorrow will be no different. 

This very patriotic girl loves to use red, white and blue for the table.

The front courtyard entrance welcomes you with the flag above and we just had a petal shower from the crepe myrtles, notice all the white petals in the courtyard. 

For the centerpiece this year I am using three canisters of different heights filled with blue and white hydrangeas 

China is NS Gustin Spongeware
Made in California, USA
Star bowls from Target

There is no place like our country
"One Nation Under God"
I am so proud and thankful to be an American
God Bless the USA



Happy Birthday America!

Thank you for stopping by. I love your visits and hope you will please leave a comment, it's the only way I know you were here. 

What's for Dinner

Quick and Easy Pizza

Oh those dreaded words we hear most everyday, "what's for dinner!" Do you have a few go to ideas when you've been out all day and come home late or in my case this week, busy around the house organizing? When I am really busy the last thing I want to do is stop and spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Yesterday was one of those days when I went to my easy, healthy and delicious pizza. It's not all homemade, a few shortcuts which cuts the time. It's an anything goes pizza, just add your favorite toppings. I like to keep my favorite supermarket pizzas in the freezer for days like this. My favorite is a thin crust pizza Margherita with tomatoes. I then add my favorite toppings, summer fresh 
vegetables for me with lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, basil, yellow grape tomatoes, peppers, onions and green olives. A little extra virgin olive oil and dinner is ready in thirty-five minutes. 

I like to keep fresh basil in my sunny window in the kitchen

Summer fresh veggies, no meat for me

Chopp and slice toppings

Pile them onto frozen pizza

Lettuce

Sweet onion

Basil

Sweet green pepper

Heirloom tomatoes

Green olives

Lunch or Dinner

It's healthy, light and delicious. 

So please let me know what you go to for quick and easy for dinner, we all want to know!
I love your comments, it's the only way I know you stopped by.

TALES OF THE TRAVELING TOTES AND A GIVEAWAY

Tales of The Traveling Totes

If it is June it is time for Tales of the Traveling Totes! Our group welcomes our newest member, Linda P and Miss Lola. You will find Linda at Life and Linda blog where she may very well be working in her gardens. Welcome Linda!

Beach Tripping

If it is spring then you will probably find me 

driving south. In a little over five hours I will be  in my favorite beach town, Seaside, FL.  A small town feel with sugar white sandy beaches, art galleries, fine restaurants and outdoor cafes, shopping and all that makes for a perfect vacation! Jim and I usually go down for a week in the spring and then a week in the fall with long weekends between. We spent our spring week here in early May. The weather was wonderful, not hot and actually this year a little on the cool side with windy days.

Checking into our two bedroom condo we have a Gulf front view in the living/dining room and a gulf front view in the master bedroom. While drifting to sleep I love to leave the door open and listen to the waves and what a great view first thing in the morning! My sister and brother-in-law joined us later in the week. 

Sitting on the balcony having early morning coffee is my favorite part of the day

Molly, Courtney and Blossom (Scarlet forgot to pose for photo)

Ready to go to the beach, these totes just waiting to be filled with towels, sodas, sunscreen and beach necessities 

Walkway to the beach

Under the umbrella and all set to enjoy the day

The sound of rolling waves,  fresh ocean air and wind usually has me napping in no time

It was quiet windy this day, actually chilly so a cover-up was essential. No problem, Miss Courtney has one packed for me

One day is for art galleries and shopping

The local elementary school is in a beautiful location. I'm sure these kiddos can't wait for school to be out

Nancy Swann Drew was an artist who sold her work here. I'd hoped to find anything but no such luck! Everything is sold and nothing new added for quiet some time. I was so disappointed Patti

A great hutch

Blue and white

Love this cherub

Scarlet has a favorite restaurant for lunch

and Dinner

I always feel like I need a week vacation when I  arrive but I also need to rest up after a vacation!

A Giveaway

The Tales of the Traveling Totes members are offering another giveaway. Rita at Panoply is sponsoring this giveaway so please visit her blog and leave a comment for a chance to win this lovely MacKenzie-Childs enamel storage box.

Visit our other TTT members to hear about fun travels, food, and latest projects

Source ~ Sarah  

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs @ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @ The Painted Apron

Katie with Miss Daisy @ Preppy Empty Nester

Linda G with Miss Rosie @ More Fun Less Laundry

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Luna C @ Panoply

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

I hope you will leave a comment here, it's the only way I know you stopped by!

Source ~ Patti

Please come back September 1, 2017 to see where our travels will take us next.