~Lake Views~

It’s time for Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan, A Southern Daydreamer. Stop by for beautiful views, all around blogland.

Mimosa tree, in Osage Beach, Missouri, Sunday June 28, around noon.

Monday morning we drove through the state park that surrounds our complex. These photos were taken between 6AM and 7AM.

I enhanced the color, on this shot, of a meadow. Another shot of this view, below, is not enhanced.

This is the shot, of the meadow, without enhancement.

Wild Grape Vine

I took this photo and the one below, Sunday, at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

One of the homes in our cove.

Boats, seen from our deck, Sunday afternoon.

Flags flying from our deck and from the deck of our upstairs neighbors.

~Red White & Blue Dessert~

I’m joining Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, for Tasty Tuesday and Michael of Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. Please stop by these lovely blogs for wonderful dishes.

1prepared angel food cake, cut into large cubes…

4 lbs strawberries, stemmed, quartered, sweetened to taste (artificial sweetener may be used); mash slightly, with potato masher, to release juice…

2 pints blueberries…

1 16 ounce container whipped topping…

Strawberries and blueberries for garnish…

Place a layer of cake in bottom of trifle bowl or other deep bowl, top with strawberries. Place a layer of whipped topping over strawberries. Continue with another layer of cake, topped with blueberries. Next, another layer of cake and more strawberries. Finish with whipped topping. Garnish with strawberries and blueberries.

Serve in a stemmed glass or pretty bowl. Garnish with berries and flag pick, for an easy and festive 4th of July dessert.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

~Dishes & Dressers~

Stop by Rhoda’s Southern Hospitality, each Monday, for Thrifty Treasures all around the land of blog.

We shopped a couple of country yard sales, recently.

The first one was set up in a huge front yard, with lots of shade trees; beautiful place. This sale is where I found the set of eight rooster plates, for $3. There is a tiny chip, in one of the plates, but that won’t stop me from using them in colorful tablescapes, on the farmhouse table, in our breakfast room.

The tiny 70 year old books, at 10 cents each, were found at the same sale, as well as the basket, with double hinged lid, for $1.

The breakfast room table set, using the “new” rooster plates.

 

Just a little indulgence; I was at Marshall’s, Osage Beach, last week and found these Lilly Pulitzer McKim sandals at around 65% off retail. Other than dishes, I have this little shoe addiction.  I’m calling my new sandals a definite thrifty treasure!!

The nail polish is OPI Cajun Shrimp.  I like my OPI, too!

The second sale was down another country road. As we drove by, looking for a place to park, I spotted the dresser and chest of drawers. We turned around and I hopped out, while J continued his search for a place to park, which he finally did, near the garden of the person selling this furniture.

By the time J arrived, I had purchased the two pieces. The dresser will be a bit of a project. The furniture was used in a child’s room. My plan is to paint the dresser and use it as a bedside chest, in the master bedroom. The chest of drawers will be used, as is, for extra drawer space in our walk in closet. The cost of these pieces was $25, each.

A Fourth of July Preview

Hint of 4th of July table, for later this week.

~Shades of White~

Welcome to Cuisine Kathleen’s table setting party, where tables are set entirely in white, including linens and florals.

Stop by Kathleen’s, June 23, for a list of participants.

Also stop by Between Naps on the Porch, each Thursday, for Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan.

I set the dining room table, using a mix of white and creamy white dishes and accessories, from my “tiny” collection of dishes. I decided to leave the table uncovered. I like how the white dishes look against the dark finish.

The center vignette is tall and a tad large. A little bit over the top, especially when considering dinner table conversation. I decided to throw caution to the wind and created away.

I personally believe it’s quite alright to use silks.

Silk flowers, bird cage, shells, and birds, from Evergreen Mfg., Osage Beach, Missouri.

Floral container, Haeger Pottery (garage sale find).

Pedestal, candleholder, dinner plate, and salad plate, HomeGoods.

Target 99 cent flatware.

Small gingko leaf dish, Pier One, Osage Beach. Saucer, Oneida Outlet clearance.

Glassware, Mikasa Outlet.

Small pitcher, Marshall’s, Osage Beach.

Large pitcher, Michael’s.

Silk flowers, with dark centers, Michael’s.

White pedestal bowl and covered butter dish, Mikasa.

Bee hive place card holder, Nell Hill’s.

Shell napkin rings and apples, All About Home (local shop).

Vintage napkin.

Wall paint color; Sherwin Williams Interesting Aqua, ceiling SW Topsail. These are on the same chip card.

The botanical prints are calendar pages, matted and framed in Michael’s stock

The dining table is Lexington Long Cove Fall River. A system of extensions allows the table to extend and remain round.

The dining room chairs are Lexington Long Cove Summerville. The slipcovers were included, when we purchased the chairs.

Alas, at the end of the day, I could not resist a tiny bit of color. The table is done, all in white, but just before publishing, I threw these little lime green silk blooms on the gingko leaves and snapped a couple of quick photos! I haven’t much will power, when it comes to color; especially this color.

~A Desk Story~

An old school desk, is my contribution for Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. It also fits in well with Rhoda’s Monday event, Today’s Thrifty Treasures.

The desk was purchased around 1975, when the local school replaced desks like this, with newer modern furniture. When we acquired the desk, for oldest daughter, it had been “antiqued”.

Our three daughters used the desk for homework assignments, including the dissection of frogs, for high school Biology.

Youngest daughter’s best friend Lisa, pledged her undying love for a boy named Tommy, with a little note, written on the sliding writing surface. The girls have been friends since elementary school.

While J was sanding and preparing the desk for painting, he found a note under one of the drawers. The note, folded to resemble an envelope, was addressed to youngest daughter, in History. The return address showed the name of the above mentioned longtime friend, in Study Hall. The subject of the note had something to do with what someone was wearing and how it compared to what he had worn the day before, or some such. The note was written around 1988. We’ll pass it along to youngest daughter, when we see her, next time.

After the girls were out of school, the desk was given to oldest daughter, who kept it until 2 years ago, when she decided to put it in our garage sale. I thought the desk would look pretty painted; so we kept it.

As so often happens with our projects, the desk sat in the garage for almost 2 years. About a month ago, J began sanding it. We sent the desk to a local auto body shop, for painting, Monday, June 15th. The following Wednesday afternoon, we got the call; the desk was ready to bring home.

This is not the first time we’ve taken a piece of furniture to the body shop for painting. Last year, we had a headboard done for the front guest room. The cost is reasonable and the painter does a wonderful job, painting the pieces in a dust free environment. Well worth the money!

Today, almost 35 years after it was purchased, the old desk has found a new home, in our hearth room. It looks perfect, sitting in a corner, near the windows. It was meant for the desk, with sweet school days memories, to stay with our family.

Desk Paint:

Benjamin Moore-Egg Shell (satin) Black.

The black 2 drawer box is from Target, about 4 years ago, the color is original, to the box.