HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!!!

Linking up with Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday in celebration of the 4th of July!  This is one of those low cost tablescapes that I so love to orchestrate.....  All I bought were the red, white, and blue napkins from Tuesday Morning for the grand total of $7.99....  That's the joy of white dishes, just add some brightly colored accessories and you're ready to PAR-TAY!

I made the starfish garland last summer after seeing one in a gift shop for way too much money.  I like the way it mimics the stars on the napkins and on Uncle Sam's top hat.....

I tied a red ribbon on the black lantern and used my red TJ Maxx dessert plates as accent pieces.

This Uncle Sam cast iron bank came from Tuesday Morning many years ago.  My grandgirls absolutely love to see the coins drop from his hand into his bag.....  Uncle Sam abuse fer sure.....  The kittens LOVE it when they are left alone for a bit.....  Ha ha.....

The first dinner guest has already arrived............  Just one of three adorable kittens that are free to the first in line..............  And if you take all three, you get a HUGE discount.... LOL

Here's a far shot of my lush and tropical hideaway.  Do you see the new plant in the background to the far right?  It's a queen palm I got on sale for dirt cheap at Wally World.  I painted the old clay pot with Versailles colored chalk paint and waxed it with dark wax.  It's a test to see just how durable chalk paint really is......  I love that pretty gray green color......

Of course, that sale queen palm just had me salivating for more so I went back with Johnny in his Surburban and bought a much larger one.  This baby was on sale for $23, believe it or not!!!  I'm not sure how well it'll do in a pot but if it shows signs of neglect I'll just plant it in the yard.....  I love that tropical patio look!  Those darned kitties are giving it hell, though.  They climb halfway up the trunk and hang on for dear life.  PLEASE, someone adopt one or all of them!

Stay tuned for the FOUNTAIN I finally treated myself to......  It has to be stained before it can be assembled......  Here are the girls kissing the LSU tiger at the concrete yard the day we picked up the fountain....  Don't tell their mama cause she's an OHIO STATE FAN.  :-)

It was SOME HOT that day!!!!  Y'all try to stay COOL now!!!!!  Hope you have a FANTASTIC 4th of July!!!!!

Deck Par-tay!!!!

I'm linking up with Kim at Savvy Southern Style for the deck par-tay!  I actually don't have a deck but a patio should count, right?????

Here are my new Bordallo Pinheuro salad and dinner plates that were purchased for a song from Tuesday Morning.  I scooped up eight plates and five salad plates, all that were on hand.  Need to hit the other stores to see if I can find three more of those salad plates....  If not, I guess I'll have to pay an exorbitant price at Replacements Ltd.  :-(  The reversible plastic placemats were marked down to $1.00 each at Wally World this week.  They are striped on one side and a red and white floral print on the other.....

Here's a close-up of those simply "gaw-jeous" dishes....  My homemade wine cork napkin rings are still my absolute favorite go-to rings!

I'll end with some nighttime shots.  I love being outside after dark when the temps are cooler, a nice breeze is blowing, and the crickets are chirping.  Makes working for the school system and having summers off worthwhile, ya know????

I just couldn't pass up this Bougainvillea at Louisiana Nursery last week.  Isn't it lovely?

The drought-like conditions have necessitated that I water every morning and eve.  I can't ever remember a June this dry in Louisiana.  We are currently under a burn ban which likely means no Fourth of July fireworks.  :-(

It usually rains every single afternoon during the month of June.  My oldest was born on June 30 and not only did it rain the day he was born, it's rained on his birthday every single year since.  Do you like my little lanterns?  They were an inexpensive find at Big Lots a few weeks ago.

My boys replaced my ceiling fan for me on Mother's Day.  The old fan had seized up and no longer operated.  It's so nice to sit outside after dark and listen to the crickets and enjoy the cool breeze the new fan generates.

I'll end this post with a few pics of my landscape lighting.  It was something I've wanted to do for years and years so when my guy Johnny bought and installed it for me, it was a really BIG deal.  Thanks, Johnny.  Love you.....  Notice that my sagos have rebounded and put out new growth......

There was an empty spot behind the crepe myrtle that I filled with two Coleus plants in full bloom.  Not sure if they'll do well there but if not, I'll dig em up and try em somewhere else.  It's called trial and error.....

 
Here's a view of the front of the house all lit up.  Don't those lights welcome you in?
 

 
Here's a close-up of those Coleus plants in full bloom.
 

 
Thanks, friends, for taking a walk with me today.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.....
 
Cheers,