Showing posts with label 4th of July. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4th of July. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy Birthday, America!


~ July 4th ~ 
American Independence Day!

Americans all across this beautiful country
are out celebrating today.
Neighborhood parades are a tradition in US communities
large and small, and as with every year, 
I started my day as a spectator at the annual Tarrytown Parade.
I never miss the neighborhood 4th of July Parade!

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Saturday, July 9, 2016

July 2016



Here it is July 9th, and I'm just now posting about July.

I'll blame it on the Lazy Days of Summer!


July 2016



Photo ~ Pondside 

July 1st  ~  Canada Day

 In honor of all my blogging friends 

 who live in Canada I wish you a belated 

 Happy Canada Day!

 Canada became a self-governing country July 1, 1867.

 As with Independence Day here in the US, 

 the Canadian celebration is one of pride to celebrate 

 Canada's heritage and nationalism.





July 4th  ~  US Independence Day


Known simply as the Fourth of July, 

this US holiday is a highlight of summer here in

 the US when we commemorate the birth of our country.

Neighborhood parades, picnics, cookouts, and fireworks

are traditionally held to celebrate the day.




Teddy Bear's Picnic @ Normandy Life

July 10 ~  Teddy Bears' Picnic Day

"If you go down in the woods today,

 your're sure of a big surprise . . ."

Yes, this is the day the teddy bears gather for 

"marvellous things to eat and wonderful games to play."

Grab your favorite teddy bear and celebrate 

with a picnic of your own.

Quotes from the lyrics of Teddy Bear's Picnic, Jimmy Kennedy 1932




Bastille Day ~ July 14th ~ La Fête Nationale

 (Celebrated Saturday July 9th in Austin this year .)

This French holiday commemorates the anniversary 

of the storming of the Bastille on this date in 1789.

Like the 4th of July here in the US,

Bastille Day is a time to celebrate independence; 

the storming of the Bastille represents the 

beginning of the French Revolution.

Click here to view a previous post of Austin's celebration.




"Make new friends and keep the old, 
one is silver the other gold."


International Friendship Day

July 30, 2016


To all my cherished friends that I've met

here in the Land of Blog, you are treasures.

I appreciate your visits, your comments, and your personal emails.

Each of you are an inspiration who enrich my life with your

  creativity, inspiration, and dear friendship.

 Joining



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Sunday, July 3, 2016

The Go To Guy For the Fourth of July


Who do you think of first 

for the 4th of July?




For me that would be

 Uncle Sam and his Lady Friend.




Uncle Sam as a patriotic figure

 dates back to the War of 1812.




A man by the name of Samuel Wilson 

from Troy, NY, contracted with

the government to provide beef to 

the troops during the war.





The barrels were stamped US, for country of origin,

but folks jokingly began to say the initials stood for

 Samuel Wilson, the meat purveyor. 




Soon the term "Uncle Sam" became

linked with national pride and the US government.



The symbolic character, when illustrated,

was generally featured with a goatee

and wore red striped pants, blue jacket, and a top hat.





As with collecting other holiday pieces,

I found that my collection grew as I came across

interesting pieces that had been hand carved from wood

or sculpted in paper maché or as a cloth doll.




Most basically remain true to the original tall, lean, and lanky

 cartoon character of political cartoonist, Thomas Nast.

I have come to appreciate the different personalities given each 

figure by the artist who created these patriotic guys.





As is often the case with collections, I didn't start out

to collect Uncle Sam figures, but somewhere along the way

they captured my interest and and one led to another.




Like this guy, faded and rather small,

and signed and dated 1940.

 I found him at an estate sale along

 with a companion piece of a carved army officer.

 How I wish I knew the story of the individual who 

 carved this wonderful piece of folk art. 




Normally my "guys" are at home

on a set of shelves in a guest bathroom,

but during the summer months they can be found

sitting about in vignettes in our home.





This summer I filled my Nantucket baskets with flowers

and gathered a few of the figures on a wicker tray.





They make a festive centerpiece 

on the dining room table.

I shared a complete post on my collection of Americana

 in July of 2011.  You can read more about each of the figures

 as well as other Americana I collect here.




My collection is not historically valuable, but simply 

pieces that appeal to me, picked up through the years.

If interested in starting a collection of your own

you might find this book of interest.

THE FOREMOST GUIDE TO UNCLE SAM COLLECTABLES, by Gerald Czulewicz, Sr. Available here at Amazon.





Wishing each of you a Happy 4th of July!




Joining




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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Happy Birthday, America!






July 4, 2014





All across the USA, 

Americans will celebrate with

parades ~ picnics ~ festivals ~ fireworks.





The Stars and Stripes 

will wave in the breeze.




While Boston and Philadelphia 

will be host to large crowds for the day's celebration, 

neighborhoods from coast to coast will also celebrate.  





Bicycles ~ Wagons ~ Scooters ~ Trucks ~ Cars





All festooned in 

red, white, and blue.





The patriotic spirit 

fills the air!





There will be picnics 

and neighborhood barbecues.





As America Celebrates 

Independence Day!





America's 

238th Birthday 

is upon us.





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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

4TH OF JULY ~ RED ~ WHITE ~ BLUE



Blue and White Ceramics


Filled With Red, White, and Blue!
My inspiration for this year's 
4th of July tablescape.


I had the good fortune to be selected 
as the one to receive a pair of these 
beautiful blue and white flower frogs that
offered as a giveaway last March.
Thank you, Marlis!  They are my "go to" vases this summer
and are a perfect compliment for either side 
of a recent estate sale find.

My Flag Day post featured  
a few pieces of Liberty Blue transferware 
that I'd found at a thrift store.
Much to my surprise, 
3 of these plates arrived at my doorstep last week,
a gift from blogging friend 
She had extras and wanted me to have them.  
Now I can set a table for five.  
Thank you, Christine!

Click here to read the Flag Day post 
that tells the history of Liberty Blue.

4th of July 
Red ~ White ~ Blue

The Liberty Blue plates 
feature a pretty border of flowers.
I paired them with white chargers with a lattice border, 
and completed the stack using a blue linen napkin
atop a woven red placemat.

Bright red napkins finish
 off the red, white, and blue tribute.

Mother of pearl and silver flatware 
shines like the stars in our flag.


All Perfectly Patriotic!

A 4th of July celebration isn't complete 
without a few sparklers to end the evening.



~ RED ~
Red Zinnia and Strawberry Bachelor Buttons~
Lemon Basil and  Pincushion Flowers

~ BLUE ~
Plumbago and Lily of the Nile, Both From My Garden

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Joining


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