Red, White and Blue

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was behind in getting my patriotic décor in place this year. I did, however, barely get it ready before Memorial Day. Thankfully, it will last through the 4th of July. 

A simple vignette is all that was needed for the dining room. You know how the mirror makes taking pictures so tricky!

The framed print is a freebie I downloaded.

Remember that I have an eagle in each room to go with the red, white and blue theme this year...and they all came from Randy's office! 🙂

Some metallic picks fill up the large glass vessel.

Do you have your red, white and blue décor on display, too?

George Washingtn Carver National Monument

A few weeks ago, we were able to go on a little getaway and do some sightseeing. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, MO (southwestern portion of the state). A peaceful setting, it's in the outskirts of town and is operated by our national park system. We only recently became aware of this gem even though it's celebrating its 75th anniversary! If you're ever visiting the Carthage area, I believe this stop is a must.

This all exists on the farmland where young George was born and spent his childhood. There is a wonderful museum with storyboards, a classroom and laboratory. A nice auditorium offers an excellent overview movie and lovely hiking paths line the grounds.

This bust of him sits on the edge of the vast prairies.

Even as a child, George was known as "Plant Doctor" because of his incredible self-discovered knowledge. He loved spending time in the woods teaching himself about vegetation. It was so interesting hiking through "his" woods where he spent so much time.

I find it remarkable that George Washington Carver possessed so much drive and determination. A lifelong learner, he was a gifted agricultural scientist and educator. He did extensive research on peanuts and sweet potatoes. While many believe he was responsible for the invention of peanut butter, he cannot take the credit. He understood the nutritional values, though, and even felt that the oil of this legume might have some properties helpful in fighting polio. He was enormously instrumental in the science of crop rotation, which was something I had not previously known about this man. Seeing the poorer farmers struggle with lack of viable crops, he was quite involved in educating them about this practice. Considering the disadvantages with which this slaved boy dealt make his accomplishments even more admirable.


For many years I have admired many of his quotes, so I appreciated periodic markers along the paths displaying some of his words.

I will close with my favorite.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these.

                                                                                              George Washington Carver

Tuesday's Tablescape

My new luncheon plates are swimming into today's tablescape on the patio. Last Friday morning I was driving home when I spotted a yard sale sign. My car just took me right there and a set of four aqua stoneware fish came home with me. 😉

I think they make quite a splash and are definitely worth a quarter each.

My woven placemats with real shell embellishments are favorites of mine and were purchased at World Market a few summers ago. The real shell napkin rings were a gift from my sister-in-law.

Our sweetgrass basket complements the tablescape. We bought it in South Carolina's Lowcountry on a trip ten years ago and it was enjoyable watching the artist weave this creation from locally-harvested marshgrass. I filled it with some seashells we brought home from a FL trip several years ago.

The evening weather cooperated and allowed us to eat outdoors, which is something we attempt to do each night. It's o-fish-al; I'm hooked on my new plates!

I hope you had a great day. "Sea" you tomorrow!

Happy Memorial Day!

We hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! 

Sweet Eats!

With the approaching Memorial Day weekend, you may be preparing a dessert for some sort of gathering. I have a couple of sweet possibilities for you!

While out-of-town last weekend, we were able to visit some family and were served these scrumptious brownies. Made from scratch, they are moist and flavorful. They also happen to be a treasured family recipe from my husband's side. With permission, I am sharing with you. Although I have not personally made these, I certainly loved eating mine!

We enjoyed these brownies while visiting our family.

Aunt Betty's Brownies

4 T cocoa

1/2 pound butter

2 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. vanilla

nuts-optional

Mix ingredients and prepare in a 9 by 13 lined pan (with two layers wax paper). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. 

My second recipe is a simple and tasty cake, which I happened to make for my mother's birthday yesterday.

This cake is so moist and sweet that just a small piece will suffice!

Easy Tres Leches Cake

Prepare a boxed butter cake in a 9 by 13 pan according to package directions. Remove from the oven and when mostly cooled, poke holes in the cake. 

In a bowl, whisk together a can sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 cup evaporated milk. Add 2 tsp. vanilla. Pour mixture over the top of the cake and put in refrigerator. When fully chilled, top with a whipped topping (Cool Whip). Store in refrigerator. 

If you would like to print these recipes, click here.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Tuesday's Tablescape

When Memorial Day rolls around, it's time to pull out my lighthouse dishes. I think they're perfect for summertime use with their American flags and majestic beacons.

To me, this time of year signals the advent of the vacation season and those trips have included lighthouses many times over the years for us! Additionally, now is the time we can count on eating outdoors, which is our practice most days from now through early fall. Sitting on the patio just seems to make dinner more enjoyable!

Did you notice the spoons were never put in place?!

Have a lovely evening. Do you care to join us on the patio for dinner?

Patriotic Decor (finally!)

I finally began to get out some patriotic decorations today. I guess I will barely be in time for the Memorial Day weekend! As is often the case, I began with the mantel. Up went our seasonal print and I began working around that. You may recall that we purchased this wall art for our anniversary last year. 

I've decided to use eagles as accents among the red, white and blue pieces this summer. Fortunately, I have several of the majestic birds available to me since my husband has them in his office.

The brass candlesticks are officially antiques. It's a little unnerving to possess something that you've had for so long that it's back in style again! 😉

Doesn't the candle on the end look crooked? I assure it's not!

How about you? Do you have your summer décor out yet? 

NECCO

Remember NECCO candy? That's a blast from the past, isn't it? The classic sweet wafers were first invented in 1847 by Oliver Chase and they have been enjoyed ever since. I even read that these sweets were sent to World War I soldiers. The government bought NECCOs to pack into the rations because they have a two year shelf life, do not melt and don't break easily. After all these years, there has been some recent concern that the company would close its doors, but it looks as if it will survive and continue to provide consumers with the orange, lemon, lime, clove,  chocolate, cinnamon, licorice and wintergreen candies (often described as chalk!).  NECCO, by the way,  is an acronym for New England Confectionary Company.

We were able to visit an old mercantile a few weeks ago and it was while we were there that we bought NECCOs. I hadn't had any since childhood.

The shop was an amazing stop! Located on Main Street in the tiny MO town of Caledonia, it is truly a step back in time.

They have hundreds of candy varieties, fudge, coffee, ice cream and antiques.

This was an amazing place to see. If you're ever in the area, you might want to check it out. If you do, you're in for a sweet treat!

Storage Idea

I don't use a lot of napkin rings, but do have a few sets. There are two mini drawers in the butler's pantry and that's where I stash what I have. One of the drawers has seasonal and everyday rings  stacked in layers.

The other has all of the nautical rings and picks.

Not long ago, I saw a storage idea and so I decided to give it a try. I would love to give due credit since it's not my brainchild, but I cannot lay my hands on the site. Isn't that the way it always goes? 

You need a pants organizer hanger like this one. Three of the arms swing out and, as you can see, the ends clasp shut while not in use.

 

Slip on the rings, hang it in the closet and you will be able to grab whatever you need when you set a table.

Mine happens to be Mainstays brand and I will say that the rungs are a bit too close together for my satisfaction. It does the trick, but I think it would be worth searching for a brand with more space between each arm. I have a couple more to add and in the end, I decided to leave my Lucite and real shell napkin rings boxed because they are so fragile. I also decided to tuck my bunnies (visible in the first photo) in my spring decorating tote because they were rather bulky to store on the hanger. I'm always happy to consider new storage tips so I wanted to share this suggestion in case it might be something you'd like to use. 

A place for everything and everything in

its place! 😉

Tuesday's Tablescape

It's the very beginning of our local strawberry season, so I pulled out some of my favorite bowls which happen to make perfect berry bowls. 

See? I love their versatility and vibrancy.

My candle was a homemade gift from a sweet school family many years ago. Its interesting, irregular texture was created by the ice cubes they used in the production process. I have had the greenery balls for a long time and find them easy to incorporate in nearly any décor. The strawberries are fresh...and sweet!

Are you also looking forward to the first strawberries of the season?

Have a "berry" blessed day! 🍓