THE 4th OF JULY CELEBRATE FREEDOM

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Vintage Patriotic Iowa Seed Company Catalog Covers

Smithsonian Libraries Collection

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I had just picked some tomatoes from our garden and was thinking of vintage garden seed catalogs and came across these Iowa Seed Co. patriotic catalog covers and I could not resist putting these beauties in a post for today.  Enjoy! HSH

I would like to share one more piece of memorabilia in the form of a stirring and prophetic video clip from You Tube, on the Pledge of Allegiance lovingly rendered by the talented, beloved actor, the late Mr.Red Skeleton in 1969.

THURSDAY HIT PICKS – JOSS & MAIN

A Traditional Beach Cottage Design

Traditional Living Room by New York Media & Bloggers Rizzoli New York

A Splash of Beach Style – the Lightened-up Version of the Traditional Beach Cottage Look

If you like the charm and relaxed feel of the traditional beach cottage design, but do not live near the beach, and believe that that design style might not be in keeping with your surroundings, you can still incorporate a few select “beachy” accessories into a room without it being an obvious design statement. 

Today’s “Hit Picks” design board uses Joss & Main’s furniture and wall décor.  I chose a couple of table accent pieces from two different Etsy shops and one from Joss & Main.  I chose the cool, calm blue (sky and water) and green (grass and plants) color palette for the four accent chairs.  I prefer using chairs in place of couches or love seats because this gives design flexibility, being able to move the chairs within a room for a new look or even to move one or more to a different room.  That is not as easy of a possibility with larger pieces.  The cool needed a touch of warmth with the addition of the orange-red coral accent color that you see in the abstract floral watercolor art piece and in the simple vine design – that also looks like sea coral, to me - in the area rug, the throw pillow on the green and white patterned arm chair and lastly in the “Sea Coral Glass Reef Marble.”

This “Splash of Beach Style” allows you to bring several reminders of that amazing natural space into your home/sanctuary without having to make a major commitment to the traditional beach cottage look.  I hope you learned something from this week’s “Hit Pick.”  I would appreciate your comments.  Thanks for visiting HSH.

SATURDAY SOLITUDE AT A CABIN ON THE CREEK

Our friends from church were so kind to let us go up to their cabin, per my request, for a day trip this past Saturday.  There was a little work and a little play involved.  In a future post you will see some pics of the results of the “work” that we did.Here are a few highlights of our playing.  In all honesty, their cabin on the creek was a wonderful relaxing solitude – only to be pleasantly punctuated by visits from some amusing creatures that were great even though they were small.

A dragonfly  resting on a sun drenched rock that lay in the softly flowing creek of the shining water.

Leggy and delicate white wildflowers neighboring the creek.

My sweet husband studying the creek and the living things therein .

A craw fish and a trout.

I could not help but be in awe by the size and shape of the shadow from the oh so tiny water spider.

A beautiful space for a little “reflection.”

A picture perfect setting for some greatly appreciated  and highly desired Saturday solitude!

I hope that you and yours will carve out some time for a little solitude of your very own, soon! HSH

Dad's Day Card With A Helpful Tutorial From "Oh Joy"

Father's Day is almost here so now is the time to create your unique greeting card masterpiece that will let Dad know you care, you're crafty and thrifty too!  Which also means - in his mind - you can spend more on his special present or meal or tie.  Did I say that, really? Scratch that last idea. I meant to say PIE, that's right his favorite pie!  To prove I meant pie, I will post one of my father's favorite pie recipes.  It was always a big hit for him and our whole family!

Below is a colorful and fun You Tube video showing how to make a fold out "You're So RAD" card.  Why not change the "R" to a "D" and then you can have a "Wishing You a Very Happy... Dad's Day" card.  You can also carve out an " 's " that would be attached to the last "D."  It will work perfectly.  Trust me!  Or, you can keep it "Rad" and print Dad next to it.  You choose your favorite design, be creative!  Use his favorite colors, include a special memory, joke or a phrase that is known to the two of you and even a picture.  Have fun and and express your love for that special "Dad" in your life, then make his favorite pie or try mine, it is Soooooooo Good! Create some happy this Dad's Day! HSH

Click Here for the downloadable template.

Bishop's Chocolate Pie

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding

1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding

2 c. cold milk

2 c. softened vanilla ice cream

1 Graham Cracker Crust

Beat first four ingredients above with mixer until smooth. Pour into graham cracker crust. Put whipped cream or Cool Whip on top. Chill until set. Add chocolate shavings on top made with a vegetable peeler.

P. Allen Smith's Happy Gardeners by Pharrell Williams

"Happy" Monday

I want to share one activity that truly brings me happiness...gardening!  I LOVE to work outdoors, much to my sweethearts chagrin.  I am afraid he is by far a better housekeeper than I am, for which I am grateful.  But I think there is a pay off because I do work, did I say work, excuse me - I play in the yard.  It gives me such a sense of accomplishment being able to grow things, create flower beds, vegetable gardens, plant fruit trees.  I am humbled and joy-filled to see that life comes from an all powerful and creative, living higher power, God.  If you want to see a miracle, plant a seed.  Anyway,  seeing this video has helped me to see that I am not alone in my gardening bliss.  Even if you do not share in this kind of FUN, hopefully watching others not take themselves to seriously and doing their own "Happy Dance" might put a little happy into your Monday!  Until next time, be Happy and enjoy the music.  HSH

Thursday Hit Picks

Joss & Main: "Punch" Color Crush

Last week we had calm and relaxing Office Haven, this week I wanted to liven up the living room with what I call "Punch" color.  You know the delicious color of fruit punch.  Looks oh so good and tastes even better.  That is what is found in the matching table lamps.  I love the color and the softly curved silhouette! A touch of feminine in the more masculine design of the remaining case goods.  Add to the color a little bit of sparkle in the desk crystal trinket box and some shine in the metal tray.  Add a butter color floor rug to ground the companion arm chairs that echo the curves in the circular canvas print.  

I hope you enjoy this yummy "Punch" vignette!  I've gotta run and see if I have any fruit punch in the house.  HSH

Have You Seen This? Puppy perfectly imitates sleepy teen

If you love man's best friend, you will find this link something

to "Bark" about!  Enjoy, I promise it is Grrrrrrrrrrrrreat! 

Have You Seen This? Puppy perfectly imitates sleepy teen