JBigg: Life in Kentucky: May 2013

Florida Beaches

We have been to Florida many, many times and I still love to see the ocean and beaches. Seeing the ocean is always a thrill to me. Just the beauty of seeing the water and the waves roll in is so relaxing. Even through the noise of the waves rolling in can be a bit loud, I find the it almost memorizing.

St. Augustine's Beach

We hadn't planned on going to the beach this trip to Florida, we were taking the grandsons to Disney. But who could resist a stop at St. Augustine's Beach.

The boys had fun digging in the sand.

The boys had not been to Florida beaches, although the oldest has been to Disney World, so this trip was for the two year old to meet the Disney characters and the oldest to go to the Jedi Academy at Disney. More about Disney later. Right now enjoy the ocean.

The oldest grandson so loved the ocean water. In case you are thinking about driving your car on the beach, it's not allowed at St. Augustine's Beach. But walking, sunbathing, digging in the sand are all just fabulous.

Daytona Beach
We also visited Daytona Beach where the beach is hard packed sand and cars and motorcycles can drive on the beach.

I must share that in the late 70's when my husband and I went to Daytona Beach, we did drive our new car on the beach. We thought we were so cool in our silver Cordoba.

We didn't attempt to drive the suburban on the beach this trip. I still would if I was in a cute convertible.

Can you see the sailboat in the background?

I'm so happy we did visit two of the many beaches in Florida this trip. That's our daughter and two grandsons.

And A Little More . . .

Sand Dunes play an important role to the beaches that front them and the land behind them. They act as sand reserves for the beaches and act as a buffer between the high energy of the ocean and the land. You must usually follow a path that leads over the dunes to the ocean. My grandsons are standing to the edge of the path going over the dune. (Note the wild flowers)

Florida Blooms, Plants & Shrubs

The Plumbago Plant

Love these fuchsia colored blooms.

Whether you choose to sun bathe, walk along the beach, dig in the sand, or surf, the Florida Beaches are always fabulous. But don't forget your sunscreen! Thanks for stopping by for my visit to the Florida beaches - Judy.

Linking to:

Met. Monday at BNOTP

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

You’re Gonna Love It at Kathe With An E on Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage on Wednesday

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House
Oh, the Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper on Fridays

Memorial Day Table and A Tribute

Are you ready for a little red, white and blue? Let's bring it on!

We love to start our Memorial Day celebrations here in the U.S. by bringing out our patriotic colors of red, white and blue.

Whether it's a backyard barbecue, a picnic at the park, or a trip to the beach, we certainly know how to celebrate freedom.

Easy Memorial Day Menu from Food Network

Grilled Hotdogs for my grandsons

Hamburger Sliders with Chipotle Mayonnaise
Grilled Vegetables

Cheese Cake Tart with Berries

The picture came from the site.

I changed a few things on my bread rack to carry out my Red, White and Blue Theme. My Peggy Karr Glass flag plate is such a beautiful piece then with a stack of small red plates and bowls added, it is now a dessert center.

It's kind of fun peeking into the bowl and seeing the star, I hope it is a surprise to my family as they gather around the table.

As we celebrate Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the fallen soldiers who have given their lives defending our freedom.

Thanks for stopping by - Judy

Red salad plates are Fiesta

Blue luncheon plates are by Tag
Red bowl with the star in the center are by Tag
Dessert plates are Fiesta and Tag
Red dessert bowls are by Today's Home
Dinner plates are Dollar Store
Red Goblets were a gift from my Dad
White stemware is Fostoria Heritage
Flatware is Oneida
Red centerpiece bowl from TJ Maxx
Tablecloth from TJ Maxx
Red Napkins from Tuesday Morning
Navy Blue napkins from Pier One
Placemats by Tag

Linking to the following parties:

On The Menu Monday at StoneGable

Make-It-Pretty Monday's at The Dedicated House

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes on Tuesday

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You’re Gonna Love It at Kathe With An E

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Judy at DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring

Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What’s It Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corne
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Foody Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

A Spring Cloche and Robin Eggs

We have certainly been enjoying Spring weather this past week. The robins are here and busy building their nests. They will lay their eggs and sit tight waiting for them to hatch. To honor these American birds, I have a cloche with robin eggs.

The cloche is nestled among two white platters, a small topiary, two birds and a teapot.

For a little more green, this grouping is flanked by small ferns.

Note: Did you know that most birds lay their eggs at sunrise but not robins. they lay their eggs at mid-morning after they have feasted on earthworms.

Thanks for stopping by to see my spring cloche.

Now I think I'll have a cup of tea and wait for the robin eggs to hatch.

This could take a while!
Judy

Linking to the following fabulous parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes on Tuesday

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You’re Gonna Love It at Kathe With An E

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Judy at DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring

Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What’s It Wednesday

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Patriotic Centerpiece - Dollar Tree Savings

My mind was spinning, "What could I make for

Debbie Doo's Dollar Tree Summer Linky Party." Speaking of spinning, before I could get to the store, it was pinwheels that came to mind.

Here's my finished design:

As quickly as I entered the store, there they were - pinwheels on display. Ok, I must be on the right track. Pinwheels it is, now what else could I use with them. Here's what I walked out of the store with: bunches of red and white flowers, sparkling bursts, pinwheels and some blue placemats for a tablescape.

Now for the assembly. I needed a container of some sort. Do you remember my hurricane centerpiece used in my "Think Spring Tablescape?"

Now remove the purple flowers and the fun begins.

Start adding the flowers. Some I cut apart and some I left as part of the bunch and just bent them.

I wasn't sure how I was going to add the sparkling bursts, I couldn't push them in between the votives because their base was too large. Should I cut them off and try to stick them in between the flowers, then I saw they were adhered to a thick wire so decided against that thought. Oh, how about removing some of the votives and exchanging them for the sparkling bursts. I did leave the glass hurricanes surrounding the votives for stability.

Wow, am I happy, I have a new centerpiece and only spent $12 plus tax. I could use it as a patriotic centerpiece for a Memorial Day tablescape or on a serving table. I could substitute flags for the pinwheels and use it again for the Fourth of July; the Dollar Tree has flags too.

Thanks for having the party Debbie, it was fun.

Linking to the following parties:

Debbiedoo's Dollar Tree Party
Met. Monday at BNOTP

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Make-It-Pretty Monday's at The Dedicated House

Watch Out Martha

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

You’re Gonna Love It at Kathe With An E

Centerpiece Wednesday at the Style Sisters
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Judy at DIY by Design for Swing Into Spring

Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What’s It Wednesday

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here on Thursday

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits at StoneGable

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at the French Country Cottage

Foody Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Pink Azaleas and A Funny Story

Do you just love azaleas? I must say they are my very favorite flowering shrub.

I am happy to share my Dad's azaleas.

We stopped to visit Dad on our way back from Florida and stayed a week with him. The timing was perfect, his azaleas were in full bloom.

Talk about size and color, his shrub is huge. It spans about five feet across and is about five feet tall.

I tried to zoom in close so you can see the filaments drooping down in the center of the bloom.

I must tell you, Dad doesn't do one thing to the azaleas shrub, remember he is 91 and sure doesn't work in the yard anymore. My Mom planted them years and years ago and she passed away in 2004 so they haven't been touched since.

Next I'll show you some lighter pink azaleas that are in his neighbor's yard. There's a funny story about his neighbor's azaleas that I'll share with you.

The neighbor's house had sold a few years ago and the new owners were in the yard so I happened to be visiting my parents and went over to introduce myself. The azaleas weren't in bloom at the time and the guy says he thinks he's going to cut down the row of bushes (about 6 azaleas) because they didn't seem very pretty and he wanted something more colorful.

Well, you know I almost choked and immediately began to tell him about azaleas and begged him to wait until at least summer to make up his mind. I assured him they would be beautiful and have gorgeous color. Needless to say, his azaleas are still growing and showing beautiful color in the late Spring.

Hope you have enjoyed Dad's azaleas and his neighbors too - Judy

Linking to:

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Fishtail Cottage for Cottage Garden Party on Wednesday

Mothers Day Tablescape and the Missing China

Thanks for stopping by to see my Mother's Day Tablescape. Take a look then I'll give you some details.

I'm using china that I have had for over 40 years but have never shared in a tablescape with you.

Here's why I have never shared them - I couldn't find them.

Yes, I have been looking for them since we moved to our house in Missouri almost nine years ago.

I couple of months ago, I kept telling my husband our wedding china must be in the storage room in some big box. My hunt began and I could find no box marked "wedding china" but while searching in a box marked "Christmas Dishes" low and behold, I found my wedding dishes. Sure enough, there was one layer of Christmas dishes but I dug a little deeper and there were the wedding dishes just waiting for me to find them.

The pattern is Blue Fantasy by Royal Court with blue roses and gray and green leaves. Each piece has a platinum rim; I know we don't see blue roses too much these days but I love the elegance of the pattern.

I must admit something to you! I didn't even pick the china out when I got married 42 years ago. I know that sounds strange since you know my love for dishes now. They were a gift from my grandmother.

I'm using my Daffodil pattern silverplate that I have shown you before. It was a gift to Mom from Dad; Dad was sweet enough to pass it on to me when Mom passed away. Here's a picture of my Mom when she was about 18 years old.