4th of July...

Old Traditions and Some New

I've never done much as far as decorating for the little celebratory days, like the 4th.  I decided to give it a try.  A bit of my "quick, let's throw something together, boys, because tomorrow's the day" decor.

Found the subway art on pinterest.   The white chimneys are from Gold Canyon.  The red glass is something from mom.  Sadly, I don't remember the story.  Mom, if you are reading, please refresh my memory! 

The star-studded candle holder is from Gold Canyon, too (it's called the Changing Seasons candle holder, just in case you're interested).  The other things were quickly made in my craft room and throw-togethers.  Maybe next year I'll get the cloth ironed.  Maybe not...

The back patio this year is a mess.  So many things I wanted to do with it and it just didn't happen. I did manage to fill a couple of pots with patriotic colors, thanks to the help of JoJo and Mouse.  We planted these before Memorial Day.  And they haven't died yet due to the heat!  Although they did get pretty close to it once or twice.  I think I could hear their sighs of relief and thank-you when I drowned them with water from the hose.  Just before turning it on the boys!

A favorite turtle from my mom.  He look so cute sitting with the potted plants.  I love the simple grin on his face.

Hubby will grill steak tonight for supper.  I just got it in its marinade.  What a delicious marinade it is!  A good friend shared it with me years ago and we've been enjoying it on chicken and steak ever since.  Also on the menu: a mix of salad greens, some of which will be from my garden (!); baked beans; french herb bread from the bread machine.  The phrase "as American as apple pie" popped into my head this morning.  So I thought it would be appropriate to bake an apple pie to enjoy as well.  I decided this would become a new tradition for our family.  Any tradition that fills the tummys of my guys is a good tradition!

Hubs and the Boyos just returned from their second visit to the local firework stand in as many days.  That is an old tradition.  Every year they stock up on noise makers and they giggle and run and attempt to blow up unwanted toys.  I enjoy the fun they have.  As a kid I remember having snaps and black snakes once in a while.  Sparklers were a yearly tradition, as I think they are for everyone.  But actually setting off firecrackers was something my brother and I never did as kids.  Maybe it was not permitted in our neighborhood.  That's a possibility!  I do remember seeing big nighttime displays with family or friends.  At least they seemed big.  Everything seems big when you're a kid, though, doesn't it?  Whatever the tradition, it's always fun.

We talked around the lunch table today about celebrating the 4th.  The little boys did not know that our country is the only one to celebrate the 4th of July.  What a good teaching opportunity!  They found it kind of cool.  Happy Birthday to the US of A!

I remember this!

I was visiting with a friend and her two teenage daughters last night and we got on the subject of old toys.  It started with the REALLY old toys, like what the pioneers played with.  Yarn dolls, corn husk dolls, different versions of ring toss, things like that.  Then the conversation made its way to our own old toys; things my friend and I played with as kids.


 And we remembered the Chinese Jump Rope!

Chinese Jump Rope

Do you remember playing with a Chinese jump rope?!  Oh my goodness, we LOVED it!

"In, Out, Side by side, On, In, Out!"

My friend and I jumped up at the same time shouting the chant.  Then of course we had to pull out our invisible Chinese jump rope and start demonstrating for her girls.  No, they did not find it weird at all.   What a relief, huh?  They actually thought it was pretty cool and they wished they had one!  Well, that sent my friend out to the garage to start searching because she knew she had one somewhere.  Alas, to my dismay, she did not find it.

But oh what fun it was!  Such good exercise, too.  I think I'll buy one and teach my Boyos.  Fat Brain Toys sells them; follow the link with the picture.



The Mess of Life

We can talk all day about the messes in our homes, can't we.  Sharing the stories behind those messes can even be  quite entertaining.  But what about the mess of life?  When life gets so busy, you can't tell which end is up?  When life gets so busy you lose focus on your priorities?  When life gets so busy your child looks at you and says, "You're going to be gone AGAIN?!"  What about those messes?  How do you start to control them?

I'm going to refer you back to this post where I reviewed a treasure I found at the library.  I believe, and this is my opinion of course, that the place to start cleaning up the mess of life is in your own dining room.  Or kitchen.  Schedule a time for the family to eat together.  Hubs and I decided to start our summer days as a family rather than as individuals.  When we start as individuals it looks something like this.  I'm up at 7 and eat whenever there is a chance.  Mouse would be up at 7:30/8:00 and likes to eat right away.  Hubs would get up whenever he needed to, anywhere between 7 and 8, and might eat or might not.  JoJo would get up at 8:30/9 and eat within a half an hour of getting up.  And Bud, well, he's a teenager so we might not see him til 10 or later.  Then he might grab some breakfast around 11 and then not eat lunch with us.  The day is messy before noon!  But when we start our day as a family, it goes like this.  Breakfast is served by 8:15.  Period.  Come to the table dressed or in your jammies.  But we are at the table, all 5 of us, by 8:15.  And, when we remember, Hubs leads us in a brief devotion.  It's wonderful!  It sets the tone for the day and starts us out loving one another. 

What about the rest of the day?  The week?  The month?  The year?  What about the other messes that sneak their way in to life?  I'll just tell you that it WILL happen.  There is no way to live a mess-proof life.  But getting your family into routines and traditions will help so much.  Giving the children something they can count on has always been beneficial.  Routine is important.  Well, it's the same for adults.  Knowing the family will eat together, say, every Friday night can become an exciting thing.  Knowing that there are special services at church every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, is exciting, no?  Knowing that the tooth fairy leaves a little something under the pillow is exciting!  Knowing that the family will honor Memorial Day every year with a trip to the cemetery for a ceremony, then games and a picnic, can be exciting to look forward to! 

Routines and traditions counteract the mess of life.

I'm linking up to Messy Mommy Jobs on Weak and Loved.  Read more about the messes moms deal with.  And know that we are not alone on this exciting adventure called Motherhood!

French Press Fridays

I sit here in the quiet, windows open, breezes blowing in, sipping my lovely sample of Gevalia coffee that came in the mail yesterday.  Why is it that getting free coffee in the mail causes me to do a happy dance??  Anyway, no french press.  Not today.  At least, not yet.  I started my blog time this morning trying to figure out why my link-up of a couple of days ago is NOT WORKING!  Grrrr....  Very frustrating.  But....I'll have you know.... I solved the problem!  Hurray for me!


Now, onward, to my grandmother's teacup collection.  Here is part of it.  Her tea service is in front.

A pretty white teapot with creamer and sugar bowl.  The larger white covered dish is probably for holding goodies.  And if you look to the far right of the teapot, you'll see more of the mess I mentioned earlier.  Just ignore it.  I usually do.  Here's the rest of grandma's collection

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A much nicer display.  I really want to rework the organization and displayability (new word) of these shelves, but that's a project - and a post - for another day.  Each one of these teacups is different.  Each has it's own beautiful flower and unique shape.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Isn't this one beautiful?  The inside of it shimmers iridescently like the inside of a seashell.  Such fun to drink from.  The shape of the handle and the scallops on the saucer are so unique.

With its pale pink color and delicate flower on the inside of the cup, I have to call this one precious.

Such beautiful, delicate blue flowers on this cup.  Violets maybe?  If they aren't, they sure are a close look-alike.

My only regret as far as these beautiful teacups go, is that I never got to use them with my Grandma.  I don't know why.  Sitting down to tea was not something she did, I guess.  But I was so touched when I learned that she wanted me to have them.  My mom has always been one to make use of the old antique, collectible type things.  So I follow her example and I use these cups.  I have shared a pot of tea with dear friends and it was so fun!  Another time, a friend and I shared tea and treats with her daughter.  The three of us drank with our pinkies in the air, trying our best to sound like English ladies.  It was wonderful. 

Putting Grandma's tea set to use for special, memory making days is so much better than letting it collect dust on the shelf (which it does!), only to be there for display.  I remember her every time I look at the cups.  But I remember her more deeply when I use them.