Tuesday 4 The 4th of July

1. Do you think the 4th is an important holiday? Why , why not? I think it is important to be able to celebrate as a nation. It will be different this year for many reasons. No parades or firework shows, but over all, we still live in a land of freedom. I like to watch the Patriotic shows on tv. I also have a patriotic music station I play that day too. My dad played patriotic music while we were growing up. Our nation is in trouble an I have been praying. If God allows it, our nation will recover.

2. How do you celebrate? If you are not American, do you celebrate your nation's national holiday? Yes I an American, and I know all the patriotic songs which we sang at school and church. I like to decorate my house and yard with patriotic decor that I leave up until Labor Day. This is the first year we will not have family over. Everyone has made plans with friends. We will be watching our grand dog Rey. Family will come on Sunday. Hubby and have not decided if we want to make something at home or get something from somewhere. Normally we have a BBQ. Last year we had our backyard set up for camping and the grands spent the night. This year I will enjoy the spa and do some crafting.

These are all my patriotic flags in the backyard and I also have some in the front.

3. In the time of Laura Ingals Wilder, all Americans read the Declaration of Independence every year on the 4th and lemonade was a big treat for the town picnic. Do you read the Declaration of Independence? Or, your nations important papers? I have not read it in years. How about lemonade? Are you a fan? I like lemonade, but can't drink it because of acid reflux.

4. Picnic, eat inside the house or eat out for the 4th? I like to eat outside if it is not to hot or to late. The mosquitoes will get you!

The previous entry has pictures from my crafting camp.

I think I mentioned I am taking a Craft Camp Class through The Reset Girl. The camp started June 1st and this is the 4th year I am doing this. Once camp starts, it is closed to new campers. Cori from the Reset Girl is a Christian and has a lot of things for her "faithful girls" to do. But camp is opened to all crafty ladies. These are few of the pages I have done.

Everyone is encouraged to share their camp space. This is my camp corner.
You get a lot of printables when you sign up. Everyone makes a Smashbook/Junk journal. You complete challenges and earn badges.

I found the foreground picture in a magazine. The picture of me on the path came from the picture below.

This picture was taken for Camp 2017. We had to do scavenger hunt at a park and I chose Disneyland. Here is the Link.

I have also been decorating my home and yard with patriotic decor. I hope to share pictures for Thankful Thursday.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This time last year where were you? Celebrating Gideon's Birthday!

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink? The only thing I can think of that I like is strawberry ice cream but I had vanilla icecream. That color is not in my house, but it is in my garden.

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn...which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain. Before Covid, life was busy. In this season of my life, I know how important it is to take time to see the beauty that God shows me each day. Beauty of family love, beauty in the colors He shows us each day. A beautiful sunset, the butterflies in the garden, and the trees swaying, the art created by my grandkids. I choose to focus on those things that refresh my soul.

4. Are you a 'reader'? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two. I am reading two things right now. The Bible, and a book on my Kindle, The Pursuit of God by A.W.Tozer.

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend. I shared my rose in the picture above. The thorn is the ankle biter mosquitoes.

6. Insert your own random thought here. Today I go for another DEX scan to see what is happening with my bones. I have osteoporosis and the Dr. wants to see if I am holding steady or getting worse. The test is at the hospital. They tried putting me on one medicine and it made me sick. Thankful that I have insurance for this.

1. What activities did you enjoy as a kid in the summer? Bike riding, going to the park, playing in the sprinklers, swimming, going to Newport Beach, going to Disneyland and celebrating my birthday in August.

2. Did you go on vacations? We went on a few vacations that I can remember. Where did you go? Camping at Doheny State Beach, Camping in Yosemite, 4th of July at Newport Dunes. One summer we drove to Denver Colorado and went to Silver City and the Denver Mint. We went to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. We took a train ride to Pikes Peak and got to see the Royal Gorge Bridge. In Arizona we went to Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest. We also went to Mesa Verde to see the Indian Cliff Houses. We stopped at Four Corners, in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. We went to Church camp every labor day weekend. When we were young we stayed in the cabins with our parents. Once we hit Jr High, we got to stay in the all girls cabin for our age group. Camp was always fun and I especially liked the outdoor singing out side around the campfire and the Church service outside in the morning.

3.Do you have a favorite summer time dinner? Share it with us please? Bbq chicken salad with avocado is a favorite.

4.How often do you sit outside and enjoy an iced tea or coffee? I go outside to the patio everyday to read my Bible. There is always a breeze and I like to heat the wind chimes and see the birds bathing in the bird bath. I usually drink fruit infused ice water. We also have a hot tub and I like to go in there and relax.

Saturday & Father's Day

Saturday 9: Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast (1972)
... Because it's Father's Day weekend.

My dad Sammy and I in 2011, he passed in 2013.
1) This song is about a little girl who runs after her daddy. When is the last time you ran? Were you trying to get somewhere in a hurry, or playing a sport? I can't remember, isn't that awful!

2) This song was a top ten hit for Wayne Newton. Mr. Newton is better known for his TV work, having made more than 150 appearances since 1963. Have you ever been on TV? Or in a YouTube video?I have been to tapings of shows as part of the audience. I sat behind Lionel Riche', Katie Perry and Luke Bryan for American Idol when Lane Hardy won and Alejandro Aranda was runner up. was on it.

I have also been to America's Got Talent taping. No cameras allowed while taping or you are removed.

3) The road leading to Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport is named Wayne Newton Blvd. in his honor. When is the last time you were at an airport? Were you flying somewhere, picking someone up, or dropping them off? The last time I was at and airport was November 2018. We were at Honolulu International headed home from our vacation in Oahu. Here is a picture of when we arrived.

4) Wayne says Elvis Presley haunts Las Vegas, and believes that The King of Rock and Roll has given him performing and parenting tips from beyond the grave. When did you last see Elvis? On TV, on a t-shirt, poster or magazine cover, or as a ghostly apparition? Probably the last time we were in Vegas, about 3 years ago. There are guys dressed up like him all over.

5) When Sam walks with her own dad, the problem isn't that he walks fast. It's that he's always stopping to pick up litter he finds on the grass. Litterbugs are his pet peeve. What's your pet peeve? I could name a few, but right now it is my grands leaving on lights and fans on when they leave a room. Hubby too when he goes outside to work on the garden and leaves the tv on.

6) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always gave her the complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. When she went away to college, she used her collection of little bottles and was grateful for all the money they saved her. What's something you've done recently to economize? I have made my own hand sanitizer and face mask. The past few months we have not gone out much for food. We are doing more cooking at home and I am sure that has saved a lot of money.

7) It was her father who taught Sam to drive. Are you a better student or teacher? I think I am a better student but I do teach my grands' Bible journaling and a group of ladies that come to my house for crafting/Bible study.(Not since Covid)

8) Sam's father also always asks if her car in "tip top" condition. Most recently he reminded her to test her headlights, tail lights and turn signals while the car is parked to make sure they're all working. Do you have a car maintenance tip to share?Nope, my husband does it all. 9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. Do you usually enjoy a between meal snack?Yes I am guilty, of that. Chips and salsa is my weakness but I do like fruit too. My hand is doing better, I have arthritis and it was inflamed? I have to have blood test next and another DEX scan for osteoporosis.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season? I normally look forward to spending time with the grands and going places like the beach and park. They have been with us since March with the Covid thing. I hope we don't have weeks of hot weather. I am currently at a virtual online crating camp and it will run through mid August so I am busy with that.

2. Love it!, labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now. Since Covid I now have love handles and so does my hubby which means misery loves company!

3. What's one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile? Arthritis has flared up and it gets in the way of crafting. My grands make me smile.

4. Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist (here) which three would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos? roast marshmallows over a fire, go berry or peach picking, dangle your feet off the end of a dock, sit on a porch swing, watch the sunset from a beach, nap in a hammock, go barefoot in the grass, collect seashells, play tennis, go fishing, build a sandcastle, catch fireflies, eat a soft serve ice cream cone, make a pitcher of Sangria, swim in a lake, stargaze, ride a bike, paddle a canoe or kayak, make a summer road trip, throw a frisbee. Watch the sunset from the beach, Summer road trip and roasting marshmallows in the backyard with the grands.

Do you make an actual list?No, I have tried, but the list gets lost!

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?I have to get a morning blood test, so I might go get something to eat and then go to Hobby Lobby.

6. Insert your own random thought here. My hand is feeling better after a few days but it sure did hurt Saturday and Sunday. I had x-rays today and doctor also another dex bone scan. I am a crafter and I need my hand to work. You don't realize how much you need something until you don't have it. I need to get off this now because Dr. said to rest it as much as possible.

1. Can you do a magic trick of any kind? Will you tell us about it? If not.. what magic words do you know? I am sure you learned some from the movies! My husband likes magic more than I do. Abracadabra!

2. Have you ever been to a magic show or watched any movies about magic? Do you have a favorite magician? David Copperfield comes to my mind. We did see a pretty good magic show on America's Got Talent when I went with my friends about 2 years ago. I have seen movies and old movies are magic!

3. Have you ever been out on a magical date or had what you considered a magical evening? Going to the Prom with my then boyfriend, now husband. Going to see the Phantom of the Opera with my husband in Vegas and with my parents in NY Times Square.

4. Holidays are said to create magic. How do you create magic during the holidays? I go all out to make things special. I also decorate a seasonal tree year round and the youngest grand loves turning on the lights on the tree.