Week of 6/25 in the Home and Garden - June Garden Haul

This week in the home and garden has been marked by hot weather and garden abundance. This is just one picture mostly of my garden haul for one day. Every year we struggle with pests and blights that affect things. I have not been able to grow any good cucumbers in my front garden for a few years. I suspect it is because I grow so many tomatoes out there and they are not good garden companions.

We have watered a lot to keep the yard going during the triple digit temps but things have cooled. Our house is ready for the fourth of July with some patriotic garden decorating and as always lots of vintage goodness. I hope you enjoy this montage...

Patriotic Garden Ideas - Decorating The Old Coop

As the 4th of July approaches, we are getting our patriotic garden ideas out there and as usual we are decorating the old chicken coop in red,white and blue.

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Five On Monday - What's New In The Garden

Boy is summer here. Five on Monday with what's new in the garden....sunflowers, zinnias, the old coop and Tugg.

Oh the garden is full summer mode. I am picking little bouquets of zinnias all the time. The more you cut them, the more they will bloom. I have growing tips for great zinnias so check it out.

I still have our old coop even though the chickens are long gone. You can read why we don't have chickens any longer. The coop gets decorated for the 4th of July. I am making a video and post of it. We had so much fun playing with it and making it cute. Decorating the old coop makes it garden art I guess.

Our garden is giving us much surplus. We do have some critters fighting us for the goods though and that is so frustrating. I am making some videos of our urban garden. Find our gardening and other tips on our Youtube channel. You can see them and subscribe all right here.

Oh this dog. Tugg is one of the Chiweenies we adopted from the shelter. Someone once told me that Daschunds can be stubborn and I see some of that in her but she is the biggest character and so funny. Her personality is so funny. This is her preferred spot to sit when dad comes home as he scratches her back and spoils her. She knows she is his favorite. We always say it is a Tugg's Live...

Have a great week everyone...Last week of June. Where is the year going?
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American Flag Cake Recipe

This American flag cake recipe is so easy and the patriotic cake makes and appearance at Memorial day and Fourth of July every year.  An easy Jello poke cake recipe that is so refreshing too on a hot summer's day.

How To Make A Jello American Flag Cake:

You will need:

• One box of white or vanilla cake mix and what is required to bake it.
• 3 oz. box of strawberry Jello and two cups of boiling water.
• Fresh strawberries and blueberries, washed and dried.
• One container of Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream.

Instructions for making the Jello poke cake:

1. First bake a white boxed cake mix up in a rectangular pan. When it is cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon and poke holes evenly around the whole cake about 1 inch apart.

2.  Dissolve three ounces of strawberry jello into 2 cups of boiling water. Don't let the Jello cool to where you can't pour it well. When it is ready, pour over the entire cake into all the little holes you made.

3. Refrigerate uncovered about three hours so it firms up. Then, cover the top of the cake with homemade whipped cream or Cool whip.

4. Take your washed strawberries and slice them uniformly so they will lay flat. Create the stars and stripes with your blueberries and strawberries. Keep cake cooled in refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!

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Gardening Tips And Getting The Porch Ready For Memorial Day

We have been working in the garden daily. Popping in to share a couple gardening tips on the blog and our Memorial day porch.

I was going to throw out this old rusty garden cart but decided to plop it in the garden to grow tomatoes in. I am trying a couple new varietes of tomatoes in the wheelbarrow. Smaller bush type tomato plants are great for containers. Remember to feed as tomatoes are heavy feeders.

We get a lot of opposums and fruit rats in the garden if we are not careful at outsmarting them. Our backyard vegetable garden is a problem area so I use hardware cloth round cages to grow all my veggies in. You can see this squash is doing great in the critter proof cage. I just reach in and harvest. 

Cutting the vegetable protector at least 18 - 24 inches high is important.

I love to add patriotic decor to our porch for the summer holidays from Memorial day through Labor day.
Decorating ideas for the American flag are many but we love to show our pride and display some red white and blue.

I have had this five finger flag bracket for years. I just buy new small American flags ever couple of years.

You can check out how we decorate and celebrate Memorial day here: Memorial day parties and decor

Memorial Weekend 2015

Our traditional Memorial day barbecue is tomorrow and will be larger than usual. We are keeping it simple with burgers and dogs that of course we are razzing up with blue cheese or cheddar mushroom stuffing for the burgers.

House is set, food is bought.

But above all else, we remember the sacrifice made by our military families. For this, we are so thankful.

Via: Howtonestforless.com

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing weekend of remembrance.

Memorial Day Decor, Food and Fun

Every year, hubby and I have a Memorial weekend barbecue we call, RIBFEST!! Here are some ideas for Memorial day decorating, food and the simple fun we have to celebrate family.

We keep it simple. We break out every flag we have and lots of red, white and blue around the house and outdoors. We love to decorate in red, white and blue so I will have to have a whole other post to show you our patriotic decorating ideas we keep up from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July.

I think we started really decorating for Memorial Day because we have always been out of town for the fourth each year, however this year we will be home so we like to show our spirit.

An old star spangled banner is the table scarf we use. Each year the table is done differently. I always make a poster announcing the day of ribfest and hang it on the fridge. You can see one here.

Every year we make a patriotic themed dessert and this year I made waffle cones dipped in white chocolate and dressed with red, white and blue sprinkles. Simple ice cream cones, what says summer more than that?

Seriously though, it is about the ribs. They are the star. Hubby does a great job and barbecues for hours. He had two grills going. We are nuts I tell you.

Every year we also play in the yard. A water balloon fight is a must. No one is immune. If you are here, you are going to get soaked. It must be fun cause every year the kids friends ask to come too. We oblige and just fill more water balloons.

Simple yard games of horse shoes, paddle ball and badminton wear us out. Today we are resting and recuperating but it sure was fun. Building memories, that is what it is all about.

A few previous ribfest posts, 2011, 2012.

Too Late for Red White and Blue?

Patriotic Decor

A little late for sharing maybe, but who doesn't love some red white and blue?

So on this last day of July we bid adieu to the colors I love most.

Red, white and blue flowers planted for the season. My girls all decked out for our Fourth of July weekend camping. An old coffee can found in the garage becomes a patriotic piece of decor. The house all decked out from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July. George Washington heralding the flag atop Beatrix Potter books. Too funny!

It's Red White and Blue Time Around Here

In May we get our partriotic decor on.  Here are some faves from years past.

 find Post.

 find post

Farmhouse fourth of July Decor

Farmhouse fourth of July decor.

We will be in Oregon visiting my brother's family. I am beyond excited to be with them. I wish you all a wonderful week.

Patriotic Clock

Several years ago this patriotic scarf/banner was found in an antique store. We have never found quite the right spot for it but for this Fourth of July, it shall remain on the grandfather clock.

Previously we had it here about a year ago. I think I like it on the clock. Not for always but for the Memorial  Day through July 4th holidays it is perfect. Greets you when you walk in the door.

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to join me for Sunny Simple Sundays.

Ribfest 2012 - Family Life

Memorial Day ideas

This year the jello poke cake went patriotic. My daughter did a wonderful job decorating it. It is such a refreshing cake. The recipe is here.

The decorations are just simple things from around the house and some flowers picked up at the market. I will transplant those into the garden when they are done blooming.

Filling the water balloons. I wonder when we are all screaming and the dog is barking like mad as the water balloons fly, do the neighbors think we are nuts or at least the noisiest folks on the block?

We drag out all our silly hats and wear them. It was hot so we needed them.

Horseshoes were the game of the day.

Q tried on every hat. This was my favorite on her little head. Too funny!

Aww the food.

And finally the ribs. They were excellent. We did half rub only and half with sauce for my daughter who has to have sauce. They were perfect.

Memorial Day Centerpiece

Every summer we travel over the 4th of July, so I decorate for Memorial day and create a Memorial Day Centerpiece as we always have a wonderful barbecue and games.

The red and blue cans were from my girls and the star I just picked up. All from Country General Store.

The centerpiece was intended for the dining room table. All set for the weekend.

Red White and Blue Christmas

My patriotic Christmas tree is all done in the den. We have our main tree in another room so I like to have a little one in here to enjoy. Red, white and blue Christmas decor goes well with my colors in our den of blue, red and tan.

Red stars, glass flag ornaments and star lights are the simple decorations for this tree.

A few flags tucked in for good measure and this tree is done.

A patriotic banner tucked in the old garden bucket is the finishing touch.

This year I decided not to take down all my everyday decor, but just add Christmas touches. Less work after it is all done is what I am aiming for. I want decorating to be put up and taken down in an afternoon. That was my goal this year and we pretty much achieved it.  Here in the den some simple Merry Christmas blocks were placed right in front of my fabric angels.

I have one of my huge bins completely cleared out. I put a big box of old decor no longer wanted out for Goodwill. I have been purging for each holiday this year. You always buy new stuff so you have to get rid of the old toads I say. Who really wanted a fabric reindeer wreath anyway. Not me. How is it I ever thought that was cute?