Tuesday 4~The 4th on Tuesday 4

 The 4th on Tuesday 4

It's time again for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and this week our friend Susan suggested the topic of decorating our homes for the holidays, espcially for the 4th of July as it is the USA's 250th birthday. So, lets do that.

On July 4, 1776 we declared our independence from the British Empire and King George III when the First Continental Congress sst forth the Declaration of Independence. We became a free and sovereign, independent nation on September 3, 1783

1. Will or have you decorated for the holiday? If you don't reside in the USA, do you have a special holiday you decorate for on the outside of your home?

This is what is currently on our front door:

I did have THIS on the front door, but because the door is in the direct very hot sun for most of the day, it faded really fast and the bow curled up, and it didn't look very pretty.  So that's why the flag above is now on the door. It doesn't seem to mind the hot sun.

This garland is hanging above our dining room window. I always try to hang something there for every holiday and birthdays to make those very plain looking vertical blinds have some color. We don't often open the blinds because of the bright sun in the mornings which really heats up the house, and also because there is a lot of traffic (both cars and walking) outside the window on our street throughout the day, and quite frankly, I don't like people looking in our windows, so sadly the blinds stay closed most of the time.

I don't have these wooden flags anywhere in our house YET, but I may soon if our son doesn't sell them before the 4th.  He built/painted these and has them for sale at the Trading Post at Deep Creek, where he works part time.  I am surprised they haven't sold yet.

2. What special little touches do you add to the outside of your home? Do you enjoy puttering around in your yard?

Well, right now it is TOO HOT to do ANYTHING in our yard. Thankfully there was another quick thunderstorm last night to water the plants! I do enjoy doing more in the yard when it cools down in the fall, winter and spring, but summer is just TOO hot for man or beast!

3. Are plants and shrubs an important part of your house decor?

I do try to plant things and keep them going...but honestly, this time of year they are lucky if we get some rain to take care of them because I can't do it!  

I bought this little rose bush not to plant here, but to give to my friend Opal's husband, in memory of Opal, so that he can start a little "Memorial Garden" for her.  That's kind of my signature gift to others since that is something that meant so much to me when our son died. We couldn't get a real American Beauty kind of rose right now. It must not be the season to plant them. But I hope this little bush will be a blessing to him in memory of Opal.

4. On which holidays do you spend time decorating either inside , outside or both?

Probably the fall,Thanksgiving, and Christmas are my biggest decorating times,  and then again at Easter, but not as much as in the fall and Christmas.   We don't do a LOT of decorating outside, just a few things on the front porch and front yard. Most of our decorating is inside, and I've shown you plenty of pictures during those seasons.  I keep saying I am not going to do as much each year, but then once I get started it's hard to stop. LOL.