♔La Petite Maison Blanche: Summertime 2021

Summer to me is sweet tea, BBQ foods, fresh veggies and fruits from the farms, porch swings, popscicles, lazy days (I wish), morning walks, beautiful flowers blooming, an abundance of sunshine and blue skies; leaving me in awe of God and His beautiful creations in nature. As I type this post the Rodeo (right behind us), is in full swing and we get a spectacular fireworks show each night for 3 nights, culminating in the Mother of All fireworks finale on the 4th of July! Such a fun filled holiday, I am, however, reminded as I see the glorious display of spectacular lights in the night sky...some paid all.

Some paid all....yes...so we can have our Freedoms and enjoy our fireworks, some gave the ultimate sacrifice, their future, their very lives. Our founding Father's stood up and said no to tyrannical rule & taxation without representation. They gave us freedom to worship, to speak freely and for the right to bare arms. Every American needs a copy of our Declaration of Independence, our Bills of Rights and our Constitution. So many died for us to have these in unalienable rights. The nation's founding document, the Declaration of Independence, proclaims every human being is born with unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are to be one nation under God, indivisible...with liberty & justice for all.

As we gather together and enjoy our fun 4th of July BBQ's, and celebrate all things American, let us not forget some paid all. Let's fight to honour them and the freedoms they gave all for. Let us remember that the glorious fireworks show is a reminder of "bombs bursting in air" during the American Revolution that gave us our freedoms. Thank a veteran, and let us not forget, freedom comes with a price tag...and some paid all. Many thanks to my husband (a veteran) and the many veterans active, inactive, past, present & future. A special thanks to the families of veterans who serve with them.

I had so much fun this year introducing blue and white as my summer themed table. Little did I know how addicting blue and white is! It inspires feelings of fun, elegance and tradition in me. It is cheerful and the perfect colours for summertime decor. I also found so many welcoming, friendly, generous blue and white decor loving friends on Instagram. Without further ado here is a peek at our summertime home decor, welcome in my friend. Come sip some sweet tea and stay while!

So much fun creating a red, white & blue themed table this year for our 4th of July celebration.

My new friend had this lovely three tiered glass serving bowls in the church yard sale for $3.00! It was missing it's stand but it so happened that I had an extra one. I just love it and will use it every holiday from now on. She has had it for nearly 50 years. She is a very kind dear person and I enjoy her so much. I look forward to getting to know her better in the years to come.

We have moved so many times I have never been in a home long enough to see what I planted grow, We have been here 8 years and I am FINALLY reaping the floral benefits of what I have sown; literally! My hydrangeas are gorgeous this year! There is something so satisfying about growing your own flowers. They just seem so much prettier than what you get in a floral shoppe.

Marshall's have the prettiest paper napkins. These would make amazing decoupage pumpkins in the fall, wouldn't they?

I found these adorable antique mini Wedgwood historical plates, small enough to be coasters for my floral elegance hand poured candles. They are perfect with their patriotic stars. These where my first Wedgwood find. They even came with the original box. This is why I love thriftstores so much. I got eight of these for $10.00, what a bargain!

These star cocktail napkins are so fun, aren't they. Another great Marshall's find. They always get me at the checkout. So many great scores while checking out, lol. Good marketing on their parts I suppose.

My table is never complete without french linen monogrammed napkins. White tulip embroidery is my favourite vendor, so many fonts, colours and napkins to choose from. I cannot fit anymore into my linen drawer....it's a problem, I know.

I love to use bible verse cards in leu of namecards. It is so encouraging and people seems to enjoy them.

This is my favourite Antique blue and white dish pattern. It is English transferware, the patter in Staffordshire Windsor by Ridgway. I love it so much I collect the pink, the blue and the green colours.

Fleur de lis, birds and flowers...how could I not love this pattern?

I found all of this second hand...see why thriftstores are amazing? So budget friendly too!

I found the cutest antique (late 1800's) ceramic mini schnauzer planter for $12.00, yes $12.00...I know! I secretly want a real mini schnauzer but I'd have to 2nd mortgage the house for one. Geez-a-lou when did dogs become like buying a used car! They are overpriced and come with sooo many hidden costly problems now...my husband will never allow me to get another dog. We do want to retire one day...lol.

Plate walls...swoon...need I say more?! I just love a well balanced, well done plate wall. That sounded like I was ordering a meal, lol. I get such joy out of changing up my platewall each holiday and or season to match my decor. My husband helped me create these holders. They are from thriftstores and hobby lobby. In a previous life they were picture easels. He cut the leg off the back for me with his fancy shmancy tools, lol...he has a lot of them. I refinished them all with pewter rub n buff, as usual. They have a uniformity now but are not all the same...just how I like it.

All of the plates are antique or vintage English transferware. The castle scenes are dreamy, aren't they?

This one is a bit scary...The Tower of London...YIKES!

I did find these English beauties new at Marshall's. Some old blue china can contain lead in the blue colour paint. So to be on the safe side we will eat on these lovlies!

My first ginger jar...likely my only...there's that nasty space problem again, lol. Nope we are not getting a bigger house to store more stuff, lol....a girl can dream, can't she?

Have I mentioned my love of embroidered things? Crown Linen Designs, Arte Italica & Little Miss Norway NEVER disappoint. I love white linen.

The coffee table that I had to refinish...sigh...boy did it hurt my back!

The Louis XV French chair I painted and reupholstered, kicking off summer. Remind me to NEVER EVER do that again...oh wait, they came as a pair. I still have one more to do...NOOOOOO!

Obsessed with these decanters and serving pitchers as of late. We don't drink alcohol so they will house sweet tea, water & lemonade. Aren't they pretty though? They were gold and tarnished. I love how they turned out in the pewter rub n buff colour.

Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting are my favs...plus they look pretty to....now if they were only real! Gotcha didn't I?! Yes these are gorgeous faux cupcakes...more friendly to the waistline. I purchased all the materials to make pretty faux desserts and now that my sister has moved near me after 30 years we will be making them together. How fun, right?