June 21, 2007

Hello Summer Days!!




With today being the first day of Summer, I felt that some Summer touches would be most welcomed in our home. From the front porch to the backyard, these touches add so much and doesn't have to cost much if anything. I'm a huge fan of using what I already have to accomplish the desired effect.



Do you have ribbon in some bright and cheery colors? Cut a length of it and tie it around a glass vase and fill it with some fresh flowers. How about covering your tables with layered linens, soft muted colors and mixing some textures. I have one of my Grandmothers' quilt's and I have used it as a tablecloth, which is quite a lovely effect too. I built the dining room table scape from the soft colors of the quilt, using old vintage books, antique glassware with votives and some seashells. These simple touches change the feel of the room. Maybe your more "cleanlines and streamlined" in the summer not wanting any fuss, if that is the case....group some candles together (colors that fit your decor) and buy some play sand, pour the sand onto a tray and put the candles right in the sand and if you like, add a few shells.



In the Kitchen having a bowl of lemons scream Summer to me! Ready to be sliced fore Iced tea and used as a marinade for Summer grilling, lots of ways to use these! I keep the tea jug made with fresh tea all day, and try to keep the oven off as much as possible. If I do any baking, I get up early and take care of it before the heat hits. Our Summer eating becomes a much lighter fare with Supper Salads and crusty bread to heavy use of the gas grill on the patio! Nothing like some grilled veggies drizzled with balsamic vinegar or garlic grilled and spread on fresh Ciabatta bread!



I will be sharing more ideas with you that I have picked up along my journey in life as well as quoting some of my favorite authors and there ideas as well for some Summertime fun!



Blessings to you and yours this First day of Summer!!! "Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year~it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul." ~author unknown~

8 comments:

savvycityfarmer said...

Heading down to the craft room to look for ribbon...

Kelley said...

Hi Mindy!
What a great post!
Wanted to stop by and wish you a wonderful and blessed first real weekend of summer!
Thanks for being a blessing and encouragement! *Ü*

Sharon said...

Love all your ideas and I have a quilt I also use as a tablecloth...also like the idea of lemons in a bowl. Very good post.

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Thank you for your visit and your comment Mindy. You have a sweet blog full of ideas!

DonnaB said...

Wonderful ideas!

TO BECOME said...

How lovely. Thanks for all your great ideas. I love to have lemons out and using them. They smell like summer to me. connie from Texas

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Hi Mindy, You always come up with the greatest ideas...thanks for sharing them!

Maggie Ann said...

What wonderful ways to enhance summer days! Yesterday I rearranged my hutch, just to look at it gives me pleasure, my time was well spent. Hoping you are having a wonderful day...these days of summer speed by on wings of glory, don't they!