Everyday Living

Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy

~ Decorating, Food & Entertaining, Gardening, Summer

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18

I can hardly believe next Monday is Memorial Day…the kickoff of the summer season!  It seems like we just celebrated Christmas, doesn’t it?!  Summer brings thoughts of outdoor living, gardening and so much more!  From fresh farm to table vegetables and juicy fruit to beach vacations and straw hats…summer is a time we all look forward to!  The season is quickly approaching, so why don’t we take a look at all things summer today?!  Come on and pour a glass of sweet tea with a twist of lemon and a sprig of mint, and join me for a little summer inspiration! 

Visit my Pinterest board Summer Dreaming for more fun summer ideas!

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Summer is a picnic table beautifully set with a delicious meal that starts with…

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…watermelon feta mint skewers…

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Farm To Table!

~ Gardening

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;before the gods I sing your praise;
 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness”
Psalm 138:1-2

In the Deep South, nothing is more commonplace than canning, freezing, and preparing vegetables for your family!  A lot of love and hard labor goes into those Sunday dinners that we have each week!  I was raised as the daughter of the best cook around, and I have learned a lot along the way.  My mother always had the best meals prepared for us….whether it be a random weekday night or Sunday lunch! She was the queen of food, and I can only hope I follow in her footsteps!  One of the best memories I have of my Mother is that she cooked everything fresh…farm to table!  And I guess I am following in her footsteps because that is my very favorite way to enjoy a meal!  Join me today for a little farm-to-table action! 

 A basket of our home-grown tomatoes!

 I love to make pizzas with fresh veggies…tomatoes, green peppers, corn, onions, and Belle Chèvre cheese made in Elkmont, AL and Conecuh sausage also made in Alabama.
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Glorious Gardens!

~ Gardening

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1

Whew, with the storms that we had yesterday, and the green that is popping up all around, gardening is definitely on my mind!  One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to buy garden books and peruse Pinterest for inspiration!  This year is our third season with our small garden…and when I say small in size, I don’t mean in work, it can be very difficult and trying!  Let me give you an example…one of our Japanese Maples is coming out very slowly, and a soft touch holly appears to be struggling!  Last summer and fall brought us the worst drought that I can ever remember!  Although we watered constantly, it doesn’t replace the good rain sent from our Father. Lately we have had significant rain during winter and early spring.  I have much to learn, but I am enjoying the planning and planting….there’s always room to learn, right? Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the  “glorious gardens” that I am sharing!

Be sure to visit my Pinterest Board Outdoor Spaces

We worked in our garden last Saturday.  As you can see, we are not finished. The weather has been warm… and yesterday we were under tornado watches! This weekend could be frost…welcome to our Alabama!

I ran out yesterday between thunderstorms and took these shots.  Everything is greening up nicely. Hopefully that means we can start planting annuals soon.
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