Happy National Watermelon Day!!

Did  you know today is National Watermelon Day?

Doesn't that look good?

I'm still trying to learn how to pick the

perfect watermelon...bright red and sweet.

Do you have any tips you'd like to share?

I love summer foods...

We've had corn on the cob a few times

since the 4th of July. 

To this farm girl there's nothing better than

fresh picked...

I have memories spending entire days 

of preparing corn to put in the freezer

with my mom and sisters.

My dad would bring it up from the field

by the bushels and we'd sit outside

in the heat peeling corn. 

Then in to the kitchen where it was just

as hot due to two or more stock pots of

corn boiling away on the stovetop.

Then all the cutting off of the cobs,

cooling and bagging.

I sure was worth it though 

to have fresh tasty corn until the next

harvest season.

And garden ripened tomatoes

there is no comparison to the hard,

crunchy tasteless ones you find at the supermarket...

cucumber pickles...

something from the grill...

YUM

What kind of summer meals

do you enjoy?

Hugs, 

BettyJean

July 4th Patriotic Pie

This Patriotic Pie

is perfect for a July Tea Party.

Just roll out your favorite pie crust recipe

to fit a rectangle baking dish so that

it turns up all four sides about one inch

to hold the pie filling.

Spoon in canned pie filling.

Blueberry Pie Filling in a small rectangle 

in the upper left corner. 

Fill in the rest with Cherry Pie Filling.

Roll out remaining pie crust into approx.1/2 inch

strips, cut 6 stars with a small cookie cutter.

Position stars in the blueberry section.

Twist and place strips across the cherry.

Bake according to pie recipe instructions.

When cool, carefully spoon a vanilla icing glaze onto 

pie crust strips and stars. 

YUM!!

See more of my July 4th related posts here.

You can find me at these amazing parties,
won't you join us?
Fabulous Friday
Share Your Cup Thursday
What's It Wednesday
Sew Darn Crafty

Hugs, 
BettyJean

Summer Decorated Tree

 I almost forgot to show you my 

office tree decorated for Summer.

A smiling sun

made from sheets of orange foam 

and black for a mouth, googly eyes

and these car foam wax applicators

Here's one from a package of 6 brightly colored

children's party novelty sunglasses

Flip Flops....

toddler sized flip flops are a perfect

size to hang on the tree

 Ice Cream....

who doesn't love a nice cool ice cream

in the summer

These fun little bubble containers

found at the dollar store

make perfect tree decorations

after emptying out the bubble solution.

And what else says Summer like

Watermelon

These were cut from party paper plates

then scored, folded 

and glued for a 3D effect.

Transparent balls 

in bright summery colors

like this hot pink one

 represent beach balls

I found wooden sunny faces and beach balls too.

And sand pails, I loove little beach sand pails...

vintage ones with the cute little graphics.

Well I hit the jackpot!!

I was ecstatic when I found these

paper party cups with graphics

perfectly suited to make my little sand pails.

I just added a handle by threading some wire

through a plastic clothesline.

Then I added a shovel...

I lucked out again with these

 plastic spoons

in colors that perfectly matched the cups.

 I just trimmed the rounded spoon tip

off with a scissors.

Don't you just Love It!!

These glass S&Ps and cheese shaker jars

were transformed into beachy memory jars

when I filled them with 

shells, blue glass and a bit of glitter.

Tied jute twine around the top

and a handle for hanging.

Sealed with clear hard plastic over

the jar opening cut from a plastic drinking cup.

that's not really beach sand...I didn't have any

so I used a pinch of oatmeal just for effect

Finally, I came across these 

shell shaped coasters

which lent themselves to the beachy feel

of my summer tree.

I just poked a hole with a push pin

and hung with a wire 

Christmas ornament hook.

All topped off with this

fountain table piece

with summery flowers and butterflys

I found at a garage sale for 10 cents.

Hope you had a fabulous Summer

I can't believe Fall is just around the corner.


Go here see more of my Decorated Trees

Easy Patriotic Wreath

Welcome to my Tea Party.

Today I'm sharing a fun easy to make

wreath  suitable for any patriotic holiday.

Pour a cup of tea and let's get started.

Begin with a straw wreath

(or alternately, a pool noodle that is curled into a circle

and held together permanently with a

wood dowel inserted and hot glued into the inner hole;

I wrapped a piece of duct tape where

the ends of the pool noodle is glued

together for added security)

Wrap the wreath form in sections

using red and white colored yarn

as shown (representative of the

red and white stripes of the American Flag.

Wrap one section using navy blue yarn.

Apply white buttons on the blue section

using hot glue

to represent stars in the field of blue.

And you're done!!

Hang and enjoy the holiday.

Sharing here:

Crop Dusting in the Midwest

Out doing a little shopping on Saturday

encountered a crop duster



dropping insecticide on a field of corn

along side the highway we were traveling

The corn looks healthy from a distance

although high temps and sooo very dry this summer.

This should keep the insects from completely destroying the crop.

How are things in your part of the country?

Warm Hugs,