Happy 4th of July

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thorough fare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Music - Samuel A. Ward, 1888

Words - Katherine Lee Bates 
1893

America the Beautiful as I see it. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!
As always,

Happy Easter to Everyone.

{{HUGS}}, Amanda

Tea Party 2010

These past two weeks I've been super busy getting ready for the birthday tea party that I threw for my dear friend Kelly. We had 17 lovely ladies here at the house for a tea luncheon. It was so much fun. Also got me in gear to complete a few projects that really needed it. Like the sitting room curtains. I've included a lot of pictures so enjoy.
My friend Kelly and I.

I served broccoli cheese soup, turkey and cranberry croissant sandwiches and a spinach salad for lunch. On the stackables were mini cheesecakes, baby cakes, jam thumb prints (that just kept spreading in the oven and got incredibly huge so really I think they were stained glass windows. :-) and chocolate dipped strawberries. The only thing I didn't make was the baby cakes. I'm not a cake decorator. Maybe some day.

 

We had so many that I couldn't fit them all in at the two large tables, so we had an overflow table.

 

Of course I had to take pictures of the arrangements around the house. I have been busy getting all my winter decorations put away and putting out my pretty pink and green stuff. So much fun.

          

The sitting room curtains. I don't think I'm quite done with them. I think I want to add a small valance type thing in a coordinating fabric with some fabulous trim. What do you think?

This cute pillow was my Christmas gift from Kelly. I just love it. So appropriate for our little cottage.

At each place setting I made these cute little bags and put everyone's name on them to mark their spot. I got that idea here. I used my 4 snack sets. 2 of my sets belonged to my husband's grandmother and 2 sets were gifted to me by my dear friend Janie. The one in this picture belonged to grandma.

I also made the invitations and sent them out over two weeks ago. It was a combination of ideas. I got the envelope pattern here ( there are tons of templates on this site. I used the library card book pocket template) and the cupcake pattern was a coloring picture found on the internet as well as the tags they were a pattern found on the internet. Just search cupcakes and tags and you will get a bunch of hits.

So hope you enjoyed the pictures. Come again. ;-) Be sure to check back soon, I'll be posting the recipes for some of these goodies. Also thought I would join in with the Make Your Monday linky party over at Twice Remembered. Check out all the inspiration out there in blogland.

New Year's Resolutions

I was reading Fresh Home recently and really liked what they had to say about New Year's resolutions. Though not really my style of decorating I really like a lot of the projects and tips they offer. We also get their Family Handyman magazine. Seth just loves that one. 

Anyways here's what they had to say in their winter issue, pg 15:

"Too many New Year's resolutions are about stopping or losing something. Instead, resolve to gain something, like a new skill. Take a tiling class or decorative paint workshop at a local home improvement store and get ready for your next big project." 

So what do you resolve to gain this year? How about taking a quilting or sewing class? Crocheting? Baking or cooking? 

Hope that your New Year is happy and bright.  

Christmas Aprons

I made Christmas aprons for all my coworkers. I also made their gift bags. It was late at night when I finished their gifts and I didn't have time to run out to get gift bags. So I just used scrapbooking materials and brown paper lunch bags that I had on hand. The gals I work with our very special and I just treasure their friendship. I think their aprons turned out darling.

Happy Anniversary

20 years ago today I married the love of my life, Neil. It hasn't always been a bed of roses, but I can't wait to do another 20 years. We had a very simple wedding in my aunt's backyard. His brother was his attendant and my best friend from high school was mine. I don't think we even spent $500 on this wedding, but I'd do it the same way all over again.

Not the best shot, but hey pre digital photos here.

Open up!
Unwrapping the gifts
We share Neil's Uncle Ken and Aunt Lee's wedding date. They were celebrating their 32nd anniversary the day we got married. Uncle Ken is now gone or they would be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary today.
L to R: my mom, Sheryll, Neil, Amanda, Neil's mom, Roma and Neil's dad, Dick.
One of my favorite photos. Don't know why. I think its because of the way he's looking at me.
Best of wishes and advice from my mom, who is also gone now.

I did complete our wedding album last year. I should say that I redid our wedding album. Putting it into photo safe paper, etc. It was really sad in some ways looking back over the photos and realizing how many of our loved ones are now gone who were present that day. We still love and miss them.

Hope you enjoyed a trip down memory lane with me.

To my sweet Hubby, here's to another 20 years. Love you!!!

Spring Fluffing Party

Rhoda is having a Spring Fluffing Party. There's lots of gals joining in so go over to Rhoda's and join the party. I'm a little late getting my photos posted. Sorry!!! I have a big catering event this weekend and I was over very early this morning checking out the hall where it is going to take place. So here are my photos. I don't have a lot of spring stuff yet. I've been slowly collecting since last spring. So there aren't very many photos. Enjoy!

The black lamp is one that I want to paint either over break or during the summer break. The little bunny I got last spring. In fact I got everything last spring. I haven't ventured out to buy anything springish yet this year.

Another shot of the buffet in the front room. Those of you who are new we turned our living room into our dining room and our dining room off the kitchen into a sitting room.

I couldn't resist adding a little California with the seashells. It's almost camping time over at the beach. Can't wait!!! Seth made the birdhouse ages ago, but I can't decide what color I want to paint it. I have lots of green and lots of whites but I go back and forth. So what do you all think?

Here's a shot of the whole wall. I'm not sure I like the shelf arrangements yet. I'm still tweaking it.

This sweet thing I got last year on clearance. She might get to stay out all year even if she was meant for Easter.

This sweet azalea hubby got me for Valentine's day. I'll plant it here pretty quick. We just passed our last frost date, so it'll be getting a new home soon.

This little guy was a thrift store find. He stays out all year too.

Here's the arrangement on the table.

Another shot with the candle lit. You can just see Ms. Kitty napping in the background. She's not one bit concerned about a spring fluffing party.

This sits atop the armoire that Seth just redid.
Cocoa wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Why was mama rushing all around taking photos when she could have been petting me? She doesn't like a lot of fuss. She's very skittish.

Hope you enjoyed the party. I'm rushing off to the store to get items for the catering event. Hopefully I'll find some spring gems too. Have a great spring everyone. Thanks Rhoda for hosting this fun event. I can't wait till this evening when I can sit down and read everyone Else's spring fluffery blog. Have a great day. I'll be posting a scrumptious dessert on Friday so check back.

XOXO, Amanda