{{ 12 in 12 }} ... Summertime Decor

Whose idea was it to do 12 house projects in 2012 ???

If my July self could meet my January self, Ms. July would tell Ms. Smarty-Pants January to settle down. 

Let's have a good laugh at the grandiose aspirations fueled by a brand new year 

and let real life in full swing be good enough, shall we? 

My project for the month of June was indeed summer decor ... and ta-da!  This project is done!  

I intended to complete this post a few days ago ... 

but my Dad was napping in the family room.  

When you're 93, you get to take naps when and where the spirit moves you, 

even if someone else wants to take pictures.

Summer decor at the JustB takes on a beachy tone in the family room ... 

where souvenirs from vacations past remind us ... 

of fun by the sea ... 

or, the Gulf of Mexico ... whichever you prefer.  

The summer decor is out ... 

but I have yet to do the critical calculation of how many more days there are until vacation.
The pull of the tide is definitely getting stronger.  

The rest of our summer decor is Americana  ... 

red, white & blue, center stage.

My Mom kept my lunchbox from 2nd grade ... 

it hasn't packed a lunch in a while, but we use it as a napkin holder during the summer.

Red, white and blue for everything ...

including a Scentsy burner, how cute is that?  Right now I'm burning Rio Beach and it is summer perfection.

I'm a sucker for summertime whimsy ... 

what's more whimsical than flower bearing ladybugs ...

and picnic ants?

The front porch is Americana as well ...

  We're exceedingly grateful to the outstanding men and women 
who serve our country in the US Military.  
We honor them, too, when we're celebrating our freedom and the great USofA. 


It's a sweet summertime joy to sit on the porch with a cold glass of lemonade 
and watch the flag waft in the breeze.   

Come on over :o)

I'm linking this post to The Patriotic Link-Up Party at Our House Story

and also to The Ready for Summer Blog Party at Midwestern Girl DIY!

The Pause That Refreshes

I’m not a big break-taker.  Me, I just keep working until it’s done or I drop.  

So it always takes me a little bit by surprise at how refreshing it is 

to get away for just a little bit. 

Lt. Dan's folks live in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  It's a small resort town, in the Ouachita Mountains.  

There are lots of touristy things to do there, including lake activities, camping, hiking, and shopping.  

There are also various spa and entertainment options and much of historical value to take in.  

But our favorite Hot Springs destination by far is the Rocky Retreat ... 

also known as my in-law's house :o)  

It's definitely more than a house ... the Rocky Retreat is very much a haven.  

When my in-laws were looking for a place to settle in for retirement, they found this little piece of land on the side of a mountain, just outside the city limits.  It was undeveloped, but there were level places from a rock quarry business that was there many years ago.  

When we looked at the property the first time, it was trees, rocks and weeds.  

But they could see the potential, these two ...

  

and together they tamed the wild into a home that's pure delight. 

Lt. Dan's father played in these woods with his three brothers when they were little.  

He loves every. single. rock on the property.  

Which is a good thing, because there are LOTS of them ... 

These rocks and boulders tumble down the mountain behind and to the side of the house.  It's a magnificent waterfall of rocks when it's dry.  When it rains, it's rushing white water.  

I feel like this when I'm there ...

because everywhere you look is something lovely ... 

This peaceful place has been appreciated for a long time ... 

See the yellow tree in the painting on the left?  The same sweetgum tree is there on the right ... 

just 50 years later.

Our kiddos have lots of fond memories here ...

And while I could sit on the porch and never move ...

The kids generally want to go do something.  This time we opted for Putt-Putt Golf at Pirate's Cove ... 

a charming and whimsical mini-golf adventure if ever there was one!

After a rousing round of putt-putt, we walked down historic Central Avenue ...

On this particular weekend, there was an event going on that drew LOTS of bikers ... 

Bathhouses line Central Avenue ... 

And running behind and above Bathhouse Row is the Grand Promenade ... 

a work begun in the 1930's that is still beautiful.

Old buildings, now converted to shops and restaurants, line the other side of Central Avenue.  

This building, once an apartment building,  ... 

was managed by Lt.Dan's grandfather for several years.

There's lots of fun shopping to be done ... 

But we're ready to head back to the Rocky Retreat.

 To sit on the porch, 

watch the full moon bathe everything in silver light, 

listen to the whippoorwills,

let the pace slow,

and let the peace sink down real deep ...

  

that's the pause that refreshes.