July is just another name for summer

I got lots of new bunting, including fans like this one

I bet y'all thought that the Pirate had been made to walk the plank.

You should be so fortunate.

No, I've just been preoccupied to the point of insomnia, with wedding planning.

I splurged on a new patriotic table runner this summer

By the way, Audrey has selected her bridal gown. She's looking forward to her first fitting on August first.

The dress is quite something and she will make a stunning bride.

I'm in charge of designing a number of things, to include all decorations.

As usual, there is a gnome perched on the ledge

Audrey and I are working on the invitations and other ephemera that will be needed for the wedding and reception on November eighth.

It's all loads of fun but time consuming and, for me at least, distracting in the extreme.

But I promised to tell you about our third of three parties, which took place a few weeks ago now.

All of our names are featured several times each on the runner

Its purpose was to celebrate our Chad's birthday.

Since Cherica live over near our church, and Chad's birthday was on a Wednesday, we decided to have his party at their house after our midweek service.

But as it turned out, Baby Elliot a/k/a Skippy was under the weather that day, so I offered to stay with him while the others went to church.

Skippy and I are in love so we enjoy hanging out together

That enabled me to get the meal ready to serve the moment they walked in the door.

I had done much of the prep work at home. Chad loves ham, so I made a brown-sugar-glazed spiral ham for our meat course.

Again putting on my caterer hat, I baked the ham at home while making all but a few of the sides: deviled eggs, Slow Cooker Creamed Corn, and mashed potatoes.

This shot of us is from last April

I took pictures of absolutely none of this so you'll have to use your imagination.

But I can promise you that it was a scrumptious ham dinner.

While hanging out with Skippy for the hour or so that everyone was gone to church, I made this Squash Casserole which was a first time for me trying this recipe. It was divine. You must make it.

A typical summer sky on a typical summer Sunday after church

I also cut up some fresh cucumbers and tomatoes to have alongside everything else.

When all the fam got to the house, we sat down and ate. For dessert, Erica had bought a jam-covered cheesecake from Costco.

Then Chad opened his gifts, and eventually we all went home. It was a lovely evening.

Shelby (L) and Megan (R) spent the night with me on their way back to Tennessee

In the waning days of June I decorated for the quintessential patriotic holiday. I hung bunting outside on the railing and put the red-white-and-blue flower arrangement into the door bucket.

Inside, I unveiled a new table decoration: this personalized table runner by Personalization Mall.

I bought a special gift from the same site, but I'll show you that later as it involves Rhett's third birthday, which we are celebrating this coming Saturday, a few days ahead of his actual big day.

I really piled on the patriotic decorations this year

Speaking of Rhett, Erica and I went shopping at Hobby Lobby with him and his little bother Skippy, and Rhett became entranced by a ceramic salt-and-pepper shaker set in the shape of a red truck and flag-themed camping trailer.

It was sixty or seventy percent off so I got it and as it was snuggled into a clear plastic box, Rhett got to carry it around the store while we shopped.

And now it's so cute on the patriotic table.

Dagny put the beret on Skippy's head while he nestled with his mother at church

We had a low-key Fourth of July with no particular plans. Audrey and Mike and Dagny came over later in the day and we all swam around in the pool.

We didn't do a cookout but rather they brought cold cut sandwich fixings for everyone. It was relaxing not to have to cook.

During the week of July Fourth, I heard from my niece Shelby (daughter of my half-brother Mike), saying that she was spending the summer in middle Tennessee. My brother and his family live in California.

Yes I can eat that whole bowlful of watermelon and then some

Specifically, Shelby was staying with the family of a childhood friend, and the whole group would be traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for the holiday week.

So it was that on the Saturday after the Fourth, Shelby and her friend Megan stopped for the night on their way from Hilton Head back to the Chattanooga area.

Detail of the current contents of my Southern Living door bucket

It's only the second time I have been with Shelby in person, the first being in April of 2022, but we keep in touch and she is a doll so we had a truly wonderful time catching up.

The deck and pool area is still in disarray and if I'm being honest I must say that not much progress is being made. 

It's extremely hot outside and TG has been busy with other projects. If a plank does get walked, it may be him when I get fed up with the whole thing and send him down to Davy Jones' Locker (chlorinated).

I enjoy having many points of light in my tablescapes

We have heat advisories almost every day, and have had several triple-digit days. Actual temperature, not factoring in heat index or humidity.

As arduous as any sort of activity may be -- indoors or out -- in this heat, the humidity adds another layer of difficulty.

But the skies are glorious with the bright blue and the fluffy masses of cumulus clouds that scream summer.

The sky last night as we left Waffle House. The cicadas were shrieking in the trees.

I have eaten more ice-cold watermelon than you can imagine. I am wild about and consumed with and quite possibly addicted to ice-cold watermelon. I eat it in large quantities. It is refreshing.

So here we are past the mid-point of July, and soon it will be August, and you know what comes after that.

Rhett quickly became attached to this truck-trailer S&P set

With purposeful intent, let's not rush things but rather squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of what we now have.

I'll continue with wedding preparations and in less than four months I will have all of those beautiful pictures to show you. You're going to want to see this.

Meanwhile what are you up to? Tell me in the comments.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday

Comments

[Ginny Hartzler]

I can't wait to see the wedding dress! I love what I can see of your kitchen!! And you always decorate so wonderfully. Your cloud shot...I don' think I have ever seen a huge fluffy cloud this color, it is amazing!

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... my friend you are the queen of all cloud shots! I took that photo for Dagny, who was beside me and wanted a picture of it. The wedding dress is truly spectacular! It will be such a fun day! xoxo

[Mari]

Look at our Skippy! He's growing fast, adorable and has beautiful eyes! As does Rhett - both with beautiful eyes!
I know Audrey will be a gorgeous bride! She's beautiful like her mom, so there is no doubt. I remember how much work goes into the planning of a wedding, but you are a planner extraordinaire!
Your patriotic decor is the cutest and I am with Rhett on the cute truck and trailer.
I love the cloud shot!

[Mari]

PS - Bon in in KY on a mission trip. He's working on remodeling and building in the heat there, no AC. So please keep him in your prayers! He's with a group from church and I know in between moments of melting, they are having fun!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... oh girl I'm sad to hear that Bon is working outside in Kentucky in July! He sure will appreciate the gorgeous weather you all are having, when he gets home! And yes, that Skippy is so darling ... the pictures to not even begin to do him justice. Erica calls him her velvet baby because his skin is so soft. And WHAT a little love he is. He just puts his head on her shoulder and snuggles there and smiles sweetly at everyone. It's almost unbearably precious!!!! Just WAIT until you have a grandson!!!! You're gonna flip. xoxo

[Skunk (aka Mike Bay)]

Happy upcoming wedding for the bride, groom and all involved!

[AC]

I think you have the hospitality gene, or something like that.

[Jim and Barb]

The wedding should certainly keep you out of trouble, or get you in trouble! Ice cold watermelon sounds so refreshing. We have not had that or corn on the cob yet!

[Carla TePaske]

Hello,
Goodness me, I am so happy you did not walk the plank!! TG might have to walk the plank ... GULP!
I do get it. I have a list for my husband too. Hee Hee. My Jeremy gets very busy in the summer with the Sportsmens Clay Shooting Sports. My TO DO list gets buried.

Continued prayers for the wedding. I CANNOT WAIT to see it all.
Carla

[Jennifer]

@Mike ... Thank you friend! xoxo

@AC ... I think I might, hahaha! xoxo

@Jim and Barb ... I fear it will do a little bit of both ... I will stay out of trouble making decorations and so forth, and get into trouble spending all the money on it, hahaha! You must get you some corn on the cob and watermelon! It's not summer until you do. xoxo

@Carla ... UGH I just get so frustrated when it sits for what seems like weeks with nothing being done. Lord please give me patience. I think you are going to love our wedding but again ... patience! Hahahaha xoxo

[Donna]

Just printed out the squash recipe... Sounds delicious!
Tell your TG to get out to that pool and get busy...Summer's almost over! lolol...I'm sure if you tell him Gamma in Texas said it, he'll be quaking in his boots! lolol
Love Skippy and I can't wait to see all the wedding photos...she'll be beautiful!
hugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Donna ... GIRL make that squash recipe exactly as printed. I think the only thing I changed was that I didn't use shallots but rather Vidalia onions ... and I didn't use garlic but other than that I made it as written. SO delicious!!! Oh yes if I tell TG you said chop chop finish that deck, he'll just laugh, hahaha! But nice try. Wish you could see Skippy in person. And I hope you can come to the wedding, xoxo

[Barwitzki]

Wonderful photos with Skippy and also with Shelby and Megan... the joy :-))
Trying on de wedding dress on August 1st will be a magical moment.
I hope you continue to enjoy your wedding preparations.
Yes, we are all excited.
Many greetings to you.
Viola

[hena]

Well you sure have been busy.

[Jennifer]

@Viola ... Hello friend and yes we are in the thick of wedding planning now. I am excited about Audrey's first fitting. The dress is so gorgeous. She will make a beautiful bride! Our Skippy is a delight every day as is his big brother Rhett. We are so blessed. xoxo

@Hena ... Girl you have no idea! Hahahaha xoxo