4th of July Leftovers

~A Wild Daisy, Red Calibrachoa , and Spiderwort~

Have a beautiful weekend...

From Oxford to London

Hope that no one arrives here today thinking I actually know anything about that journey. I only know a little of this piece's journey and, until a few days ago, I didn't even know that it included Oxford to London.

~Nan's Night Light~

As my regular readers know, I inherited many things when two of our family's dearest passed away within weeks of each other. Much as I tried to foist treasures off on other family members, they declined with few exceptions. We took a large load of things to an animal shelter thrift shop a year ago and have taken a few loads to Goodwill as recently as last month, yet I am still sitting here in a pile of things. As FlyLady says, "Clutter cannot be organized." She's right!

This is the provenance of my grandmother's night light. She received it as a wedding gift in 1931 so it is now 81 years old. It is a heavy, bronze piece representing a mail wagon with a driver and "two horses." The small light is housed behind the carriage wheels and shines out through those isinglass windows. (Yes, they truly are isinglass.)

The full body of the horse on the driver's right doesn't exist...don't let that spook you. Just the head shows. Apparently, all the legs are running in tandem. ☺ There is no footman (and never has been) — I don't know of anyone who'd enjoy that seat.

Here's a bit of a close-up...the something and an R to the left, the Oxford to London on the door along with Mail and the emblem of a crown. On the right the year 1773, which isn't shown.

Now I have tried to gift this one. It was a childhood favorite, but not an adult one and has been tucked in every corner of my home for over a year. I finally decided to polish it a bit...something my grandmother never did that I recall. It would have taken forever so I gave up rather quickly and I also didn't want to destroy anything. So I polished only a few highlights and called it fine. I've decided to embrace it — for now.

That's the story. If you know anything about such pieces or have one of your own, please share. Thanks so much.

A happy Friday to you...


The frames are all courtesy of PicMonkey.

Our 4th of July

Just popping in some photos of the day and allowing the photos and captions to speak for themselves for the most part. It was a photo dense day...

~The Destination: Casco Bay (Atlantic Ocean ☺)~

~Via Freeport and a Parade on Main Street~

~A Comparison of the idyllic Jacquie Lawson Seaside Picnic (thank you, Sandi!) and the Reality~Lots of the Same Colors!~

~Wading~

~Horseshoe Crab Find~

~Lots of Picture Taking~

~Of these: Osprey~

~And these: Chicks of a Different Sort~

~And these:kayaks, sailboats, and water~

~Lots of Hiking-Say, whose dog is that?~ 

~Resulting in general exhaustion and the need for nourishment~

~One of my favorite photos of the day~

~And Another Fav~

If we had listened to our weather forecasters, we would have remained at home. Good thing we don't always listen as the day was perfect. We ended our day back at home with some hotdogs on the grill and leftovers of the day and ice cream. It was one of those happy days proving that fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and good company can't be beat!

Happy Independence Day!

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Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation...it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.  ~ James Garfield, July 4, 1876

Perhaps it would be closer to say, "If the next year does not find us a great nation..."


Many blessings today as you celebrate with your family and friends!

Picnic

So yesterday it was about decorating. As you can see, I've done a titch more. I like the flag on the fence a lot and may have to leave it up all summer long. 

Today, let's discuss a 4th of July picnic, which is exactly what we'll be enjoying tomorrow at the ocean, if all works according to plan.

These are the food items to go: ice (I actually just froze some flavored water in their original bottles), chips,  treats, fruit, wheat sandwich rolls, and sandwich filling. Since it's every family for themselves with sandwiches, I'm going to make egg salad for John and me. Anyone else is invited to have some, of course, but we like egg salad and it's easy enough to pack in a container and make our sandwiches fresh. I do not enjoy soggy rolls.

My son has already informed me that they'll be making ham and cheese as well as peanut butter. Apparently, only one of the grands will be eating a pbj sandwich as the other has graduated to ham and cheese. Progress!

I am planning to make Nutella Rice Krispee Treats, a Judy recipe from Mennonite Girls Can Cook. I know that my grands love Nutella so that'll be fun. Just yesterday, BettyR posted a Coconut Loaf recipe at MGCC and I am also making that to take along, if it cools off toward evening.

Must think of some extras...perhaps some dill pickles, but we're watching salt intake (I am anyway), so perhaps I'll switch to celery sticks.

Now what makes the perfect picnic for you? (You know, besides the obvious —leaving the ants home!)

Just to See It

It's been so much fun wandering around in Blogdom seeing all the patriotic decorating. I've enjoyed seeing flags of both the U.S. and Canada featured prominently.  (Here, we do see the Canadian flag flying because we are bordered all around by New Brunswick and Quebec. We share one short, common border with New Hampshire, which is the only (geographic) connection to the rest of the country we have.)

Question: Do you display your country's flag inside your home? Until yesterday, I did. It was stuck in the Christmas cactus. It is still stuck there, but the cactus has been removed to the great outdoors for the summer.

I loved seeing bunting everywhere in the UK in honor of the Queen's jubilee. Do you display bunting?

What I really love is finding decoration where I least expect to. I found this bunting on a bridge in a lower field. What a sweet pop of color and it made me grin just to see it. I'm trying to think what I might do to make my neighbors grin just to see it.


Would they grin to see the little windlass decorated now that it's been moved to a spot where it can be seen from the street? Perhaps it's enough that it would make me grin.

Never did get my mother's bike basket planted...I think today is the day! Now that will make me grin.


You know what else makes me grin? Red frames and photo editing thanks to PicMonkey. 


Anything making you grin today?

New Brunswick Morning~Mosaic Monday

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In celebration of Canada Day, I have reworked three photos of the views from the family cottage in New Brunswick, Canada — my mother's favorite place on earth.

Hope that all my Canadian friends and family are enjoying a lovely day!

To see more mosiacs, pop over to Mary's at Little Red House.

Patriotism and Christianity

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. ~Philippians 3:20

There are times when being a citizen of any country is a challenge. There will be those times when we are not in agreement with the current government or administration; those times when our fellow citizenry vote much differently than we have. The list goes on and on. I am learning to welcome those times of challenge because it is then that I am reminded that my true citizenship is not here on this earth. It is in Heaven.

Nevertheless, I am a shameless patriot. I wave my flag with abandon and support the military and all those who work tirelessly to do good. I'm especially thinking of and praying for firefighters these days.

As Billy Sunday once said, "Christianity and Patriotism are synonymous terms, and hell and traitors are synonymous." Do I agree? Not totally, but very, very close. 

~The View from the Family Cottage in Canada~

Patriotism is not reserved for the citizens of the United States. I'd like to think that every people in every nation experience patriotism. I saw it in the UK with the Queen's Jubilee Celebration and I know that my Canadian friends are feeling that national pride on this Canada Day. God bless them!


Now off to wish my sister a Happy Canada Day. She became a triple citizen not so long ago: Heaven, the United States, and Canada.