Happy 4th of July sweet friends. I hope you all are enjoying this holiday weekend and will be celebrating America’s birthday today with family, friends, and good food!
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
1 Peter 2:16
What would American Independence Day be without the red, white, and blue?
It is Monday Morning Blooms with my friends Lidy and Mary…
…and we welcome our special guest, Sarah from Hyacinths For The Soul! I am sure you have guessed our theme.
Sarah not only celebrates the red, white, and blue on Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day but all summer! You will love her beautiful patriotic collections and exquisite styling!
We have enjoyed a wonderful weekend. The girls spent Friday night with us and no, there was no mattress deflating in the cottage (lol). Instead, I chose for us to sleep in the house. Last night, we enjoyed a delicious dinner on the lake and watched outstanding fireworks with dear longtime friends!
When I think of Independence Day, I always think of outdoor dining and activities. My go-to outdoor setting is the garden! On this particular day the humidity was at seventy percent and I was completely drenched by the time I finished photographing. With the relentless humidity and heat, we will be celebrating indoors! RM will fire up the grill this afternoon as we welcome our sweet family. No 4th of July is complete without home-made ice cream!
With hydrangeas in bloom, they are my flower of choice. Blue Macrophylla and white Annabelle hydrangeas were placed in my favorite blue and white English vase. Crocosmia add a bright pop of red!
Flanking the blue and white vase are cobalt blue vases of Annabelles!
The Pottery Barn bee tablecloth has been around for many years. If I remember correctly, I ordered three of these for a party. I have no idea where I have placed the other two. Am I the only who does that?
Distressed white wooden chargers hold Tommy Bahama red dinner plates. As I was searching through my storage boxes, I discovered the red plates that I had long forgotten. You would think I would be better organized, but unfortunately that isn’t the case. To complete the patriotic theme, American Atelier “baroque” salad plates, Johnson Brothers “willow” dessert plates, and gorgeous Arte Italica Crown Linen Designs embroidered napkins. The ruby red stemware and hammered stainless complete each place setting.
Do you see the sunflowers peeping out?
Independence Day commemorates the Declaration of Independence which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted for independence from Britain. Two days later, the Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. The document was originally written by Thomas Jefferson, but Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, along with Jefferson, then worked together to make changes. The actual signing of the final document took place on August 2, 1776.
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
~Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”
~Erma Bombeck
“My country, ‘this of Thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side, let freedom ring…
…Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.
~Samuel Francis Smith
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
~Katharine Lee Bates
You will not want to miss the patriotic posts by Sarah, Mary, and Lidy! They never disappoint!!
Sarah @ Hyacinths For The Soul
Mary @ Home Is Where The Boat Is
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments! God Bless America!!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Happy Independence Day Pam! The first thing I thought of when I saw your beautiful centerpiece is that your red Crocosmia mimics a fireworks display among the blue and white hydrangeas in your vase! I always look forward to your tables in the garden and this one is no exception. I find my heat tolerance is waning as I get older so I appreciate the ‘sweat equity’ you put into your table. 😉 I have bee tablecloth envy! I don’t recall seeing your tablecloth before or at Pottery Barn. l love your red white and blue dish stack topped with your pretty CLD embroidered napkins. Your table is set off beautifully with the patriotic bunting swagged on your cottage in the background! As always it’s a treat to join your for some flower therapy. Wishing you a wonderful Fourth and celebration of the red, white and blue with your family and cute grands. Stay cool and enjoy that ice cream. ♥
Thanks so much, Mary! Enjoy your day 🇺🇸
Beautiful patriotic post, dear friend. I think I gave you the blue and white English vase. I was looking at mine just a few days ago, thinking how much I love it. Have a wonderful day. How I wish I had some homemade ice cream and could sit with the family for what I know will be a delicious meal. Love to all.
Thank you, dear one. Yes you gave me the vase and I have always loved it. I do wish you were here to enjoy the day with the family. Happy 4th to you and Mike!
Gorgeous Patriotic post. Sunshine cottage looks all festive and beautiful. The Pottery Barn tablecloth is a perfect backdrop for your beautiful blooms. The napkins are lovely with their embroidered design. Happy 4th to you and your family.
Thank you, Linda and Happy Tuesday!
Happy 4th, Pam! Every detail is perfect and so festive! Sunshine Cottage was made for a patriotic display, just beautiful. I love them bee tablecloth. It hit 104 on our deck yesterday afternoon, then we had a fierce thunderstorm that cooled it down. The grass is happy, but the humidity must be a 1000%!! Enjoy your day with the family 💕🇺🇸
Thank you, Roxanne. 104 is way too hot, glad you had rain. Enjoy your day ♥️🇺🇸
Pam, Happy Independence Day to you, Butch, and family! Your eye for detail and beauty never ceases to amaze me. I’m so thankful for the beauty of the colors (from chargers, plates, tablecloths, and flowers) to the beauty in your words of family (so happy you did f have a deflating issue!). Ice cream, family, and quotes ~what a perfect post for Independence Day! Sending love and hugs always! 💙❤️🇺🇸🤗
Thank you, dear one for your sweet comments. Wishing you a wonderful day spent with those you love. 🇺🇸♥️🇺🇸🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
You’re welcome, sweet friend. You too! ❤️🇺🇸💙🤗
You don’t disappoint either, Pam! Your beautiful red, white, and blue table is stunning. The Pottery Barn tablecloth is so pretty and you have styled your tablescape so well. Your arrangements draw the eye and all the elements are perfectly pleasing. Accompanied by the quotes and lyrics of our country’s heritage it is a lovely patriotic celebration.
Happy Fourth to you and your family. I wish I had a dish of homemade ice cream!
Thanks, Bonnie. Wishing you a lovely day with family 🇺🇸♥️
Happy 4th Pam and Butch. Pam your table is gorgeous. Have a good start to the new week. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much, Kris!
Pam, I say it every time, but honestly your garden setting is absolutely one of my favorites. I loved seeing the aerial shot that Butch shared. Its spectacular! impressed that you two created this amazing space!
I always delight in dining alfresco, and your garden settings never disappoint. I relate about eating outdoors in this summer heat though. It isn’t happening here this summer. Even the mornings are not inviting!
Yes, Pam, unfortunately I can relate to not finding things. I had a set of patriotic party crackers pulled out of my stash, but could I find them when I was ready to set the table? Who knows where I’ve placed them!!! I have started to take photos of where I store things and keep them in a folder titled “Where Things Are!” Ha! Ha!
Love the details on your table. I have a version of that table cloth in yellow. Now where is it??? Ha! Ha!
Thanks for including me in today’s Monday Blooms. I’m honored! You girls are the best! Happy 4th of July!
Thank you, Sarah. I am glad I am not the only one who misplaces things. I like your idea about taking photos and keeping a folder. It is a joy to have you join us!
I love your table Pam and no, you are not the only one to misplace tablecloths, etc. I feel it is like Christmas when i uncover a plate or linen even though it is days or months after I could use them LOL “I am so proud to be an American” and when our church service showed a film of Lee Greenwood and our service men and women singing that song, my heart. filled with joy and my eyes filled with tears. Thank you for your beautiful quotes and sharing your red, white and blue table! Hugs my friend and God Bless America!
Kari
Thank you, dear one. I love the version with Lee Greenwood, Home Free, and the service men and women!
Pam, wishing you and your Renaissance man a very Happy Independence Day! Your garden is always so lovely, no matter the season. Thank you for braving the elements to set such a gorgeous table out there. { I know it’s hot!} your bee cloth is so fun, like Mary I have bee envy. 🐝. I love every detail on this festive table, and the flowers are so bright and cheerful. You create such special times and memories for your family and friends, they are truly blessed. It’s always such a joy to join you and Mary for our sweet Monday Morning Blooms together. xo Lidy
Thank you, Lidy. We had a wonderful day. It is always a joy to share blooms with you and Mary!
Beautiful table, so festive!! Love the quotes, especially the one from Erma Bombeck!
Thanks so much, Carole!
Pam, You have a gift for inspiring.
Thank you for putting your heart into every blog!
You are so sweet and thank you, Sharon!
This is fantastic, Pam, happy 4th! Can you imagine Congress passing ANYthing in two days in our current political climate?! I love your cloth, plate stack, stemware and florals. Those crocosmia give a bit of a firecracker look to the arrangement! And yes, I do misplace things. I’ve gone back and forth from storage to closets, drawers, etc, looking for things. Eventually they’ll be found. 🙂
I always find it, afterwards. I agree passing anything in Congress in two days would never happen now. Thank you, Rita. Happy Tuesday!
Pam, I just love receiving your blog and look forward to y’all’s insights into the world around you. God has blessed you and your family with a gorgeous legacy. Thank you for bringing beauty into my life!
I’ve not used it yet and you may be familiar with ToteScan that will help you organize your storage. https://www.totescan.com/ There is also an App. Many blessings!
Kathy, thank you for your sweet comments. I am not familiar with ToteScan, but I will check it out. Wishing you a Happy week!
I REALLY like that crocosmia! I’ve yet to find it at the nursery here. I would love to grow that! Happy 4th!
Thank you, Alycia. I have never seen crocosmia in a nursery.
Your red, white and blues are lovely Pam. I am so glad you decided to sleep inside this time! LOL! Oh girl, the humidity is awful here. I tried walking outside for a bit but just couldn’t take it. Mercy! Marty is grilling ribs today. It will just the two of us enjoying our 4th of July and that is actually great. Sometimes, we just need that you know? Happy July Pam. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you, Cindy. Your quiet 4th sounds perfect!
It looks like you have it all together for this day. Is the grill going, too? Enjoy the day, hopefully with family, and celebrate the meaning of our independence.
Thank you, Linda. We had a wonderful day!
Amazing post! Happy 4th, dear friends.
Thank you, my friend!
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, especially at dusk. Let Freedom ring, indeed. God bless America ~ Bless you
for all the patriotic themes…they ring out, as well. A joyous celebration to you, RM and your wonderful family.
Thank you, Mary. We had a wonderful 4th. Hope you did, as well!
Pam, Your tablescape is gorgeous! Love the linens! Your tablecloth is so pretty and isn’t it wonderful when you find “new” dishes while exploring stored boxes. I know you are very devoted to giving us beautiful pics as the heat is so oppressive outside and you carried on! Thank you! Hope you stay cool and enjoy your homemade ice cream this afternoon. Happy 4th to you and your family. Clara❤️
Thank you dear, Clara! We had a wonderful 4th and the ice cream was delicious ♥️
Hi Pam (and Mr. RM too)….Hope you had a wonderful Independence Day with your family and oh how I would have loved to taste Mr RM’s famous homemade ice cream!….As always your table is beautifully curated to go with the theme of the occasion. I have hydrangea envy!….I know what you mean about “where did I put those?”…sometimes I remember that I loaned them out but senioritis sets in and can’t remember who!!!…On another note….it was so very, very wonderful to see you and Mr. RM last week for dinner….you two are so very gracious and can’t wait to get together again!….Thanks for a most lovely evening!!!
Thank you, Shirley. We had a wonderful 4th and the ice cream was delicious! We so enjoyed meeting you and Tom for dinner. Can’t wait to see y’all again.
Happy 4th of July! Your tablescapes in the garden are always quite stunning. Sunshine Cottage all dressed for the 4th gives me a smile!
I really love the deep blue of the tablecloth… it makes everything pop quite nicely.
Thank you for the beautiful quotes…
…and yes I lose things down my rabbit holes all the time!
Hugs to you… ❤️🤍🤍
We just got back from visiting family in Cleveland, Ohio. It was soooooo wonderful!
Thank you, Nancy. I am so glad you were able to enjoy your family in Cleveland♥️
loving this year’s hydrangeas. we’ve got some gracing our downstairs bath … in an old aqua canning jar, of course!
happy 4th friend. it was a good one, wasn’t it …
Linda, it was a good one and thank you!
That tablecloth is absolutely perfect with your gorgeous flowers and setting. I hope your day was as lovely as your table!
Thank you, Jeanie. We had a wonderful day!
Oh goodness Pam, you are really dedicated to set this beautiful table outside in the intense summer heat and humidity! So worth your efforts though, it is 4th of July fabulous! The flower arrangement is simple yet stunning, and your blue vases and red glasses really pop! It looks so pretty with the decorated Sunshine Cottage in the background. Sounds like you had a lovely 4th~we watched fireworks over the Gulf one night and had a relaxing 4th with hot dogs for lunch, and BBQ ribs and corn on the cob for dinner. Thanks for all the wonderful quotes and patriotic eye candy!
Jenna
Jenna, the heat and humidity seem to bother me much more than when I was younger. Thank you so much and I am glad you enjoyed a wonderful weekend!
I search the email each day to find your post first. I will be guaranteed to find beauty love and hope. The patriotic words made me stop and think. How could we go so far away from what our forefathers declared? Erma Bombeck Was a favorite of mine. America first in peace and love for all mankind. She would have enjoyed your post. Yes home made ice cream was a must for many years but yesterday we only had drum sticks. I have hope that next year the celebration will extend to more of our friends and home made ice cream. The grands must have been waiting eagerly to see who would get the dasher.😀
Alice, you are so sweet and yes how have we gotten so far away from God and what our forefathers declared. I remember reading Erma Bombeck in our local paper. Everyone loves the homemade ice cream. Take care of yourself, dear one!
This is SOOOO BEAUTIFUL, Pam! I absolutely love hydrangeas and to see your table so lavishly bedecked with such glorious blooms…. Ohhh myyyy!!! Breathtaking! Your entire setting is simply gorgeous! I almost felt like I was there (in the humidity) with you! Enjoy the rest of this glorious time of year! xo Kathleen
Thank you, Kathleen for your sweet visit.
Pam xoxo
Beautiful Pam – there is just something about red, white, and blue that says summer, and for you, Independence Day! I love hydrangeas and the Blue Macrophylla has stolen my heart and the Annabelle’s are gorgeous as well. Your plate stack is perfect topped off by those lovely napkins – and that bee tablecloth – so pretty. I’m delighted to hear that you had a wonderful July 4th celebration with family – it really doesn’t get much better! Happy rest of the week to you!!
My dear friend, this is so beautiful! I adore anything patriotic and the beloved red, white, and blue. The quotes you added are the perfect accompaniment. I hope you and your precious family had a most happy Fourth of July. Sorry, I am so late commenting. We were in a car wreck last weekend while taking the kids for a fun family outing to a baseball game. Thankfully, we are all fine, but I have had terrible whiplash this past week. God was definitely watching out for us. I’m so grateful we are all okay. I hope you are staying cool and having a most wonderful weekend, sweet friend!
Shannon, I am so very sorry to read of your car wreck. I am thankful you all are ok. Hopefully the whiplash will be gone soon. Take care dear one!
Such a beautiful post, sweet friend! May God bless you and yours continually.
Thank you, my friend!