There is something about red, white and blue that screams summer for me. I love it, love it love it. Every flowerpot, wreath, door basket I own has flags in it for the duration of the season.
(well, they often stay year round!) At least a week before the 4th, buntings go up outside, decorations are inside and on the deck for the BBQ and they stay up for a week or so after the holiday!!! Maybe it has something to do with being a military kid and all the pomp & circumstance that went with that. My dad was the Ops Manager of Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod when I was young and that era had a huge impact on me. I especially remember Senator John F. Kennedy flying into the base and the big deal it was to go see him!! I'm fond of beaches and lots of water, history and New England, period. And that's how I explain the sailboats, too!
I always try to come up with something a bit different for each season and when I really thought about July 4
th, New England came to my mind. And sailboats. Lobster. Shells. The smell of the ocean. So I did what I could to reproduce those memories.
This is actually the second batch of my homemade sailboats/pond boats as the first group sold out during our Anniversary Brouhaha this past week end. I was happy that so many folks "got it"!! Now for others, the
remembrance of America's birthday brings back other traditions and I encourage you all to play it up this year. Our country is somewhat "wounded" but the ideals are still in place.
Get the family together for a picnic in the park, watch fireworks, eat a huge slice of watermelon and make good memories for your children and grandchildren. I'm sure when I was young, there were problems with my country that I just plain wasn't aware of.
But I know, at the time, I was positive that I lived in
the best country in the world. And most days, I still feel the same way.
Have a fabulous summer!!!