Happy Independence Day!!! Memories of Fireworks and Fourth of July Celebrations

This beautiful 4th of July decoration was found in ETSY Shop Slippin'Southern at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SlippinSouthern?ref=seller_info

Happy Independence Day!!! Oh how I love the holidays; I was blessed to have had holiday traditions growing up and to create new family traditions with my children. Each July 4th started with a wonderful daytime picnic including a barbeque, watermelon and lemonade. Then At night a home firework show, some sparklers, and chasing fireflies.

This amazing photograph was found in ETSY shop Beth Berg at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethberg?ref=seller_info

Another beautiful print found in ETSY shop Steve's Photo at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StevesPhoto?ref=seller_info

We would make handmade lanterns and decorations to add to the festivities and build the excitement for the upcoming events.

These amazing upcycled vintage jars are made into whimsical solar lights.  Found in ETSY shop Used and Abused at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/usedandabused?ref=seller_info

As a child it was so exhilarating to feel the hot summer night air and know that you were staying up way past your normal bedtime.  I passed this on to my children when they were little and as I listen to their happy giggles I would reminisce. Some nights it would be so dark that you would only see their shadow as they ran by chasing the little lightening bugs up and down the hill.

This beautiful picture is from ETSY shop Shine A Light at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShineALight?ref=seller_info

Another beautiful picture with an unusual medium found in ETSY shop Original Fabric on Wood Art by Shellie Mitchell at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/shellieartist?ref=seller_info

Our family's celebrations were always small and often at home, but they were the best any child or mother could ask for. They were full of love and the genuine simple pleasures of life. I hope your holiday is as happy and as full of special memories as are mine.

These wonderfully fun holiday decorations were found in ETSY shop 12LegsCuriousities at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/12LegsCuriosities?ref=seller_info

Summer Fun - Fireflies, Frogs and Sparklers

Growing up in the Midwest made me appreciate the summers.  I have the best memories of those hot Wisconsin nights when the air would cool to a nice 80 degrees.  The breeze would be light and cool after a scorching summer day and the laziness you felt earlier gave way to a new excited energy.  No school in the morning and with a light afternoon nap we would be ready for a night of country fun.

This whimsical print was found in ETSY Shop Dianna Bonder Studios at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DiannaBonderStudios?ref=seller_info

In the background, sounds of chirping frogs from the creek in our front yard rang out in the stillness while we hunted for little sparks in the night sky.  We would catch as many fireflies as we could and gently place them in an old mason jar that had a warm nest waiting for them made from handfuls of freshly plucked grass.  These amazing living lights were out around the end of June which meant we would also have little sparklers to light too.

Beautiful art from ETSY Shop Best Art Studios 2 at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BestArtStudios2?ref=seller_info

With our flickering jars we would sit on the benches in our yard waiting for a turn at having our sparklers lit.  When I was young they only had the metal wands with one color but that was enough to light our imaginations.  At that age the night was exciting and full of mystery just because we never were out that late during the school year.  We often found ourselves cooped up through the winter months not daring to brave the cold winds.



This beautiful photograph is from ETSY Shop Spark Poets at http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparkpoets?ref=seller_info

In the Midwest country side the night air was filled with the scent of beautiful evening primrose and strange sounds emanating from the woods.  I felt so daring to be outside that late and the cool air on my skin was so freeing.  Months of heavy layers and thick coats having been shed I ran lighter than air with a sparkling trail behind me.  While serenaded by the friendly frogs and greeted with salutations from the blinking fireflies in the jar.  Even now when the summer temperature is just right I get a brief prickle of excitement as I remember those wonderful summer nights.

Lovely Print found in ETSY Shop Irish Viking Designs at http://www.etsy.com/shop/IrishVikingDesigns?ref=seller_info