Tales of the Traveling Tote #24

June brought a soft reopening of Texas!

I took the opportunity to meet these two cuties!  We met for a morning coffee, but used social distancing and wearing of masks when not sipping our coffee. I'll admit to getting a hug! We had all been isolating, so I felt comfortable!

 I also took advantage of this reopening.

I have a Starbucks habit!

The cute Barista was wearing my favorite "color"!

❤️❤️❤️

June also brought some forward  progress on our small remodel project. It has been slow going with unexpected  delays for various reasons.

The cutie on the left in the opening photo is a new bride.

She married on June 19th, but my chef
and I were only there in spirit.

Still it was fun to think about getting dressed 

up for this special occasion.

It did mean that my sister was here for the week,

so I met her for a picnic lunch one day.

We met at our favorite little lunch spot, The Sweet Lemon.

They are only offering outside dining, and it was perfect.

Picnic tables are spread out under the big oak trees,

and they keep spaces clean and santized.

After all these months, it was much needed Sister Time.

                 Grocery shopping and trips to Trader Joe's 

for flowers remain my weekly outings.

Graduations, birthdays, baby showers, birth announcements ~ 

seems all major celebrations are now honored with 

drive-by parades and signs in front yards.

No Annual Fourth of July Parades were allowed.

Instead families were encouraged to decorate their front lawns

so families could drive around and see the festive displays.

Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty held a solo parade.

You can click here to view my 4th of July Tablescape.

July also brought my sister back to visit!

💖💖💖💖💖

If you are regular here, you know that I love flowers and gardening. 

I submitted this photo of my garden to the 

MacKenzie-Childs Avant Garden Photo Contest.

I was thrilled to have my photo selected as second place and won a beautiful collection of Courtly Check enamelware flower pots.  Still waiting arrival of part of the gift, so I will post a photo next edition.

MacKenzie-Childs canceled their onsite Annual Barn Sale

and instead held a virtual sale during the 3rd week of July.

Still waiting on my orders to ship, but I had fun shopping!

Did you shop the sale?  I'd love to know what you bought!

My husband and his twin celebrated a major birthday in August.You can click here to read about how we celebrated.

During these strange times of isolationit's important to reach out to others and stay in touch.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you've been doing.

Rita is hosting our September giveaway, 

leave a comment on her blog to be entered.

Be sure to visit all the adventures below.

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul (You are here)

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Joining
Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado 

You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn

Happiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House   Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate  Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles    Tuesday Turnaround @ Bluesky Kitchen
Over the Moon @ Marilyn's Treats 

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Celebrating My Chef

We celebrated my Chef's birthday recently.

76 Years!

With birthday celebrations limited during COVID,

the trend is to celebrate with a driveby parade.

I arranged one with 76 trombones.

Click the video to join in!

Within the house, the table was set for two.

We celebrated with a special birthday brunch.

In the Chef's honor, I thought it appropriate

to set the table with a foodie theme.

Fresh veggies on skewers were added

into the flowers for a centerpiece.

The table was set with dinner plates from our 

Rainbow Gate Fruit Series.

Cherries for me and figs for my guy.

We bought our plates in the 1990s, but they are still available.

Rainbow Gate in Santa Fe, NM.

Linens are new from my favorite linen source,

Crown Linen Designs.

 We've enjoyed our beautiful Arte Italica

petwer stemware for over 20 years.

This cute MacKenzie-Childs radish and bunny

are actually a salt and pepper.

Recently added MacKenzie-Childs 

napkin rings debuted for this special occasion.

I didn't hesitate to add these vintage handmade ceramic rings,

even though there was only one of each style available.

I'm all about a mix, so I placed the Argentina 

napkin ring at the chef's placesetting, and .   .   .

The Torquay patern in the Palm and Devon 

colorway was at my placesettinng.

We dined on a Chef original ~ a simple veal and veggie dish 

served in hashbrown potato nests.

I toasted the birthday guy with a mimosa.

 

German Chocolate Cake from Central Market Bakery. 

The cake was small, but more than enough for twowith extra to share with the neighbors.

Happy Birthday to my favorite guy!

Joining
Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado 

You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn

Happiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House   Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate  Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles    Tuesday Turnaround @ Bluesky Kitchen
Over the Moon @ Marilyn's Treats 

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Independence Day 2020

~ July 4th ~ 

American Independence Day!
As we all have learned,
2020 is different.

I never miss the neighborhood 4th of July Parade,
though this year, there was no parade. 
Instead, neighbors were encouraged to decorate their
laws with a patriotic theme

I missed sitting on the curbside! 

It's always heart warming to see the hundreds of neighbors,

young and old, who come out on the 4th of July to 

participate in these little community parades.   
All parades were canceled because of COVID-19!
No large outdoor gatherings for family and friend meals!
No public parks open!
No Austin Symphony Orchestra concert along the 
grassy banks of Lady Bird Lake,
culminating with a spectacular fireworks display 
above the beautiful Austin skyline. 

None of the traditional festivities for the 4th this year!

Fortunately these two didn't let COVID-19 

dampen their patriotic spirit.

They had their own little solo parade!

There were no plans to join friends for a traditional gathering.
For us it was a quiet evening at home, dinner for two
with our sweet Sadie girl at our feet.

I kept the decor simple this July.  
Between our ongoing remodel and no entertaining 
at home, I hesitate to bring much out.
Though I am enjoying this new cachepot 
filled with summer blooms.

 A tray filled with flags and 
Uncle Sam figures sits on the buffet.

I couldn't resist these special 4th of July party crowns,
though admitedly they were strictly to add a festive touch.

These fun party crowns are by Bethany Lowe Designs.
They came in red and blue, each with a different sentiment.
Do you have a favorite?

They give a festive party feel to the stack of dishes,
Blue Pinstripe Chargers ~ Neiman Marcus
Royal Check Dinner ~ MacKenzie-Childs
Red Italian Salad ~ Spode
Royal Linens ~ Crown Linen Designs
Mother of Pearl Flatware ~ English Antique

I think a varried stack makes for an interesting table.
This one alternates the red and blue 
with a touch of black and white.
Love Letter Placemats ~ Hester and Cook
Black and White Ruffled Placemats ~ Crown Linen Designs

We are fans of colored glass, and these blue glass stemware and tumblers are pieces we have enjoyed for decades.

  What about you, do you like colored glass?

No fireworks here! 

Our finale was a Stars and Stripe 

cupcake with faux sparkler.

~ America the Beautiful ~
Happy 244th Birthday!

Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn

Happiness is Homemade @ Bluesky at Home  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House   Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate and Decorate  Keep in Touch @ Let's Add Sprinkles    Tuesday Turnaround @ Bluesky Kitchen
Over the Moon @ Marilyn's Treats 

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life