Unexpected Delights

Hey Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!  We had a very nice and relaxing weekend.  Not quite what I was expecting but such a welcomed surprise.  I was expecting to be on the go and busy, busy, busy as most holidays are.  However, the Mr. and I took a few ques from the very quirky weather this weekend, changing plans and enjoying more time around the house then I thought.  I must say after a very stressful week at work it was such a nice surprise.

Speaking of surprises, I couldn't help but getting excited when I saw this beauty pop up.  This was one of those unexpected joys from a long ago planted bulb that I had forgotten all about.

It has already started to fade some here but look how beautiful it still is.  Just gorgeous! Have you ever planted something and forgotten all about it until it blooms?  I can't even remember the name of this bloom.  All I can think of is stargazer lilly, but honestly, I just don't remember.

This beautiful plant always brings me such delight each year as it dies down during the winter and returns each summer fully of beautiful purple blooms.  It is called a Mexican Petunia and I just love it.  I have mine in a pot but have seen where some have been able to grow it in the ground as well.  I tell myself every year I am going to try some in the ground but have yet to do so.  

In my garden area by the pool I did plant several clumps of this Yellow African Iris.  I have lost a few clumps as they didn't take off quite like I had hoped.  I have clay soil here and it's quite tricky to find what will thrive and what will not.  The few clumps I do still have are hardy but hardly showy.  This is the first bloom I've been able to enjoy from these plants.

I stuck a few Blue Daze plants (two in each pot on each side) in with the potato vines in both of my Palm tree planters this year and had to remove one from each pot.  I am finally starting to see bits of blue peeking up on one side.  

I really can't complain about having to thin out this pot though because I am thoroughly enjoying the lush foliage from both the black heart sweet potato vine and the pink frost potato vine.  Both have done exceptionally well even in this extreme heat we've had.  

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the unexpected delights that caught my attention this weekend.  I haven't forgotten that I promised to share more boat pics with you too.  I will try and get back to that as soon as possible.  

As for me, I am headed to the Atlanta Market tomorrow for work.  We will be there through Sunday shopping our little hearts out for the store again.  It's such fun to be able to go and find things that are new and exciting as well as seeing all the new patterns and products from our usual vendors.  It's exhausting for sure but I am a shopper so its right up my ally.  Hoping I also can find a few more unexpected delights there too.  

Hope you have a great week as well!

Sincerely,

Mary

Decorating for the 4th of July?

Hi Friends!  I am wondering how many of you are decorating for the 4th of July this year?  Do you decorate if you are only celebrating at home or do you still decorate even if you will not be around?  

This photo above was one of my older 4th of July decor photos taken from a tablescape I did in 2012.  I am constantly amazed at how many times a week it gets pinned on pinterest.  I can honestly say this is probably the most pinned picture I have out there.  I guess folks must really like it.  I'm glad because it's one of my favorites as well.  

I really do wish I had the time to decorate like I used to for special occasions.  I recently shared my front door decor on my FB page because I thought that was going to be the extent of my decorating for the 4th this year.    Please excuse the dirty door and just focus on the cute flowers instead, kay?

 

But....as things often go, I got just a bit more inspired this morning and put out just a few more items to help us get that festive feeling I am craving.    

I  still didn't feel quite so inspired to go all out because we're not really spending the day at home.  Then I told myself since I have actually spent money on some of this stuff just sitting around in my craft room I really could should at least put a little more effort into it and bring some of it downstairs to enjoy this weekend as we come and go.  LOL!

So with very minimal effort I swapped out a few pillows on the screened porch and brought down a few of my older red, white and blue decor items.  Perfect for us nautical celebrating sailors!

This little bucket made it to the table this year after spending several years stored away in our old sailboat.  I only had to change out the flags which had faded a bit.   We are still undecided as to which boat we will be taking out on the lake tomorrow, the motorboat or the new sailboat, I know poor pitiful us right?  Actually, we feel very blessed to have such a delimma and to live in our lakeside town.   One things for sure, if we take the sailboat out which I hope we do, this festive bucket will be coming with us.  I promise I'll take pics of that to share with you soon if we do!

The final touch to my  very minimal 4th of July decorating this year is a trio of candles set in small red, white and blue buckets filled with corks to hold the votive candles.  I set them on the coffee table on the porch to add a little more ambiance should we end up here because the rains have washed out the evening fireworks show. 

 Pray not!!!

 

 

Well, I'm feeling a little better about getting festive now, how about you?  Did you go all out this year, or add just a touch here and there like me?  Whatever you have or have not done, I do hope you all will find yourselves celebrating with friends and/or family this year.

Happy Fourth of July Everyone.

and

May God Bless America!

Love ya!

Mary