Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! So much to be thankful for and so much to ponder about the freedom we have taken for granted.
I have fallen behind with my blogging and hope to catch up a bit.
Be safe and enjoy today. 

Full moon tonight!

Tea Time #165....A Day With Ava

Ava spent the day with me. We haven't had a day together, just the two of us for quite some time now. I thought it would be fun to have tea with her. We went to the store together and I let her pick out the goodies. She was so helpful in fixing everything. I was so thrilled to watch her enjoy helping with the tea! I hope she will continue to love it and give her own teas as she gets older.

I noticed the teapot is missing from my photos. It was steeping on the counter and it didn't get into the picture.

Ava set the table and arranged all the plates of goodies. She had quite a system for her designs.

She invited her little stuffed hedgehog...Chocolate. She found a tiny little dish for him.

She sure looks happy...doesn't she? She's 10 now and soon will be taller than I am.

Yes, I was pretty happy too.

After tea, we  had a chance to play the Barbie Queen of the Prom game. I ordered one and was waiting for her to visit so we could play the game. Oh my goodness, she loved it. I used to play it with my sister and then my girls loved to play it. So....the circle of life goes on...Barbie games and all. 

Dolly Day

Happy Dolly Thursday! The little ladies were having a party last 4th of July and they wanted me to post photos.  They had quite the time while our family was having a fun time together.

Annabelle and Daphne were  excited to welcome the new dolly to the group. She is a little German doll that was found at the coast last spring. Her name is Gretchen Elise and she needs a proper dress, but this one was found for her to make do for a bit.

Hitty Autumn was really into the whole 4th of July thing with flags and party fun!

Hitty Autumn invited her friend Angie Bea. Angie Bea brought quite a few fireworks to share with her friends!

 You have to bring a picnic basket to the 4th!

Daphne was enjoying her flag banner that her friend Raggedy Ann sent to her. It added to the festive activities.

Daphne loves her new wicker chair and table. You can see her sweet quilt from Raggedy too.

And yes, the new girl was quite excited to be in her new home with lots of new friends. 

4th of July Tasha Tudor Summer Exchange

I got to organize our Tasha Tudor Summer Exchange this year. It was such a fun exchange. I chose the theme....HURRAH FOR THE RED WHITE AND BLUE! Each member was to send their partner an item with a flag, a dish towel, a package of napkins and something for the person's doll or Teddy. Of course, this group is so generous and they all seemed to send more. It was so fun to see how creative the ladies were.

My partner was Sam. She lives in Colorado. Part of the fun of these exchanges is having a chance to get to know someone personally in your group. Sam loves to sew and she is very creative.

My goodies were all wrapped up in cute paper doilies, tied with fun packaging string.

It was all pretty exciting and I couldn't wait to open the treasures.

My doll Daphanie was delighted with a handmade quilt, a cute note and a darling little 4th of July banner.

More goodies for me too! I also got a banner! She found 2 dolly books that I cannot wait to read. So thoughtful and sweet.

Daphanie's handmade quilt to celebreat the holiday.

I put my banner up right away.

I love the paper plates and sweet red napkins....so cute.

Today is Monday Made on my Tasha group, so I decided to pull out my red, white and blue dolly quilts.  I just found some tucked away in a box. I have been sorthing through so much!

I love the flag...it was a thrift store find.

Blue applique hearts really make this quilt charming and loveable. I have had it for quite some time.

Hitty enjoys these two little quilts. I bouht the blue one years ago. I made the little one for Hitty  this year.

And this is the quilt that Sam made for my dolls.

Lots of fun to celebrate the 4th. 

4th of July

Happy 4th of July! Hope you are having a fun day this summer day.

Sunday Thoughts for the 4th of July Weekend

Love Abraham Lincoln. We are so blessed to live in this country and have so many freedoms. Even as we see things changing that we don't like or have concerns about, it is so good to thank our God for what we do have.

I find my self thinking about all who died for the freedom and the life I am able to enjoy this weekend. The courage and the faith so many had to find as they marched into a battle is beyond me.
When I have trials to face, I often think of what God asked others to do. I am blessed.

Have a Happy 4th of July weekend....be safe and have fun but spend a bit of time in prayer and thanksgiving. God has blessed America. 

Having Fun with July....Dolls, Dolls, Dolls!

I have sure been having fun decorating with my new found goodies! I have really gotten into the 4th of July thing this year. I was thinking I didn't have any dolls in my boxes...boy, was I wrong. Goodness, I guess I have always loved dolls. This is quite a fun little group.

This is probably my favorite! I love this patriotic angel doll. God Bless America is printed on her yellow start. Her face is sweet. She has quite a handlful!

This little bunny miss has a basket filled with sewing notions, so I guess she has been busy sewing.

What's the 4th of July without Uncle Sam? I didn't realize I had lots of Uncle Sam items.

This is a sweet little boy doll that is new this year. I ordered him. He's composition and all dressed for the 4th. I just thought he was so cute.

I think I shared this little gal...Miss Liberty...last year. She was made by Christine LeFever who is a wonderful doll maker who lives in Oregon City, OR. I just love this little doll.

My SUMMER issue of my doll magazine just arrived! Oh fun reading for a lazy summer weekend.
I can't wait to read it. This is a great magazine and I always learn so much.

We have been working around home and finishing up some yardwork today. We are going back to the beach tomorrow to pick up Jimmy's IPad that he left at the motel. Not sure if we have any plans for the 4th. I think our daughter Gina is coming back from Seattle, but haven't heard for sure.

Enjoy your long weekend. 

Tea Time Tuesday #118....Getting Ready for the 4th of July

This morning Jimmy dug out 4 tubs of fun 4th of July things that I haven't seen for probably 10 + years. They were buried in the back of our garage. It was like Christmas opening the boxes and finding all kinds of treasures! I had forgotten about half of the goodies. We are usually gone on vacation on the 4th of July, so I just stopped decorating. I spent all day decorating my hutch and the house with my new found items!

This past weekend, Jimmy bought me the Liberty Blue teapot. I have wanted that teapot for years and years. He got it for 1/2 price at an estate sale, So it ws pretty exciting. I had the creamer and sugar, cups and saucers, plates and some bread and butter plates. I now collect the red transfer ware, so it all is just perfect together for the 4th.

I do love my Uncle Sam teapot, but it does NOT pour well at all. The spout isn't in the right place, so it's a disaster when you try to use it. I just enjoy it for decoration.

You have to have teacups for tea time!

I used to collect Lucy and Me bears...I still have a few holiday ones Little Betsy Clark is good to give away.

I found I have a lot of Uncle Sam items. I had no idea. I must have REALLY liked them at one time.

Here is my Uncle Sam Lucy and Me beat waving his flags. He's pretty cute too. When we had our drug store, years ago, Lucy Riggs came to the shop for a promotion and signing. We also got to go to her beautiful home in Seattle one time with the Enesco Company. Oh, those were fun times.

I can't believe that it is almost July. I hope to post some more of my decorations this week.

Linking up with Bernideen at BTTCG and Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Time Thursday #40

The 4th of July will soon be here, so I put together a little 4th of July tea this afternoon. I haven't been decorating for the holiday as we used to take our vacation at this time of the year. Now we are getting ready for the big Expo Antique and Collectible show, so we are busy! I decided to take my tea goodies outside on my potting bench for some summer fun.

My cup and saucer today is from a set that Jim and I bought at a flea market 40 some years ago, before we were married. Jim didn't have any dishes, so we bought this set. It's by Booth, Made in England and  it's called British Scenery. I only have a few pieces left and I just can't get rid of them. I used to have blue and white in our kitchen and I still miss it. Maybe I'll go back to it someday....

I made Rooibos Ginger tea that I got up in Bainbridge Island at that cute little yarn and tea shoppe-Churchmouse. It was yummy with the red velvet and cream cheese icing cupcake.

This sterling silver tea ball was a gift from my Jimmy on one of our first trips to Victoria BC. I have always loved it. It's in the shape of a tea pot.

Northwest cherries are perfect around the 4th! If you notice the little blue and white shoe in the background, that was also a gift from Victoria from Jimmy. See why I can't get rid of my blue and white kitchen items? Too many memories!

The raspberries are in now too and oh, they are my very favorite fruit that the summer has to offer. I can Never get enough of them.

You might have noticed this little Miss Liberty in the photos. She is my latest little dolly from Christine LeFever. She just finished a new little collection and this little lady had to come to live at my house. Isn't she wonderful? Christine lives in Oregon City which is not too far from me. Check out her blog....Christine

I decided to move my little fun tea time things inside for the 4th. It just brightened up the day and the table.

The envelopes are from my ATAA~ Afternoon Tea Across America~group. We do little holiday card exchanges during the year. They are soooo fun. You send a card, a tea and a tuck in. This exchange is called Summer Celebrations to cover summer, the 4th of July, Canada Day and Bastille Day as we have friends from Canada and France.

I'm waiting to open my cards. I like to save them up and enjoy them all at one time. I keep them all in scrapbooks to enjoy.

So Happy 4th of July and Happy Tea Time Thursday.