Fourth of July Hutch Decor

Today I would like to share how 
I have decorated my dining 
room for the 4th of July.

I painted this patriotic bunny way back in the mid 80's. I taught folk art classes at a little gift shop. It was one way to earn some extra money while still being a 'stay at home mom'.

One of the ladies who took my class went on to publish a series of folk art painting books that was published by Plaid that were sold at craft stores like Micheal's and Jo Ann's.

Welcome to our dining room. I haven't shown you much of this room since we moved to our new desert home.  

It is part of the 'great room'. 

 I've had this furniture over 15 years. I  loved the cottage look of it but now I am rethinking the the pine and may paint it. 

I also have a nice sized eat in kitchen.

Even with all these  tables it seems that most meals are still eaten in front of the television...

You can click these links to see my kitchen.

 Americana Kitchen 

Part One

Americana Kitchen

Part Two

Back to the dining room...

 That runner is a long chiffon scarf that I used to wear every year for Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

Who's that sitting on the lamp?  She must be part of the Rag doll family that comes to visit every year.

They are sitting on the maple bench my father made over 50 years ago. That wool flag is also very old and has only 48 stars. 

This little cutie was made for me by my eldest daughter.  
I will never part with her... ever!

Looks like she will have a great view of the parade. 
She even has her flag all ready to wave.

Did you notice my fancy draperies? 

Okay, so they are just painter's drop cloths and the red is a tablecloth split down the middle. 

I pull back the 'linen' part when the sun is not blazing through the window. It looks really cute having the layered tie back curtains. Like the curtains I drew as a child.

So lets take a closer look at the dishes.

If you turn the star the flag moves 
back and forth and you will hear music!

Our National Anthem.

The cherries are from Target and are 'faux'. Dinner plates are from Target, salad plates are my everyday set by Thompson and are from Macy's, the little bowls are from WalMart.

These tumblers and blue vase are from the Goodwill Store. 
Stars and napkins are from Dollar Tree.
The tray is from Ross.

Now let's take a look at the other side of the hutch.

Oh  I see flowers... and a fern!
Of course they are also 'faux'.

This wire stand holds many different decorations throughout the year. Looks like I might have fresh eggs for the morning...

My little Humpty Dumpty(s) have lived with me for years... 
and those chair pads are almost vintage!

I guess by now you know I like to hang onto things. 
That must mean I only buy what I really like.

I love sunflowers and these will be brightening up my house until the end of summer.

I hope you enjoyed my post today 
as much as I have enjoyed writing it. 
I know it was really long.

I wont be visiting  you for a few days as my eldest 
grand daughter will be visiting me again. 

She will be 24 years old next week! 
WOW!

xoxo 

Bunny Jean

I am sharing at these fun parties:

Let's Dish 

Rednesday 

Pink Saturday 

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday

A Rainy Day Read...

Today I'm joining Chari over at

Happy to Design for her

Sunday Favorites.

I will give her link at the bottom.

~~~

I first wrote this back in the Fall when we

were having a spell of rainy weather.

Well... we will be having a few stormy days

again and it made me think of this post.

It is the beginning of our tornado season here

in Texas.  Something I don't look forward to.

You can go here to read about my

experience with tornadoes.

~~~

It's another rainy day here in North Texas.

A very good day to curl up and

read a good book or blog...

(or two... or three.......).

So, If you don't mind...

I thought I would show some brighter decorating this time.  Not that I don't LOVE the warm and cozy Autumn colors.

The following pictures were taken before my

 dining room fell into Fall!

All I need is a cup of tea and biscuits.

The dining table was moved so that I

 could show you the china hutch.

This is my Spring dish collection.

That green display stand is from

HomeGoods. Love that store!

This silk flower arrangement was a gift...

From my dear friends at Ethan Allen in

Northern California, near the Nappa Valley.

It was given to me at my farewell party

when we were moving to Texas.

Here are some of my Mary Engelbreit 

pretties. Do any of you like ME?

The Garden Angel is by Jim Shore and was given to me by my daughter Angie.  Her wings fell off... so I guess she is a "fallen angel"!? 

DD also gave me the Mary Engelbreit

(ME) grandmother cup,

before her daughter was born.

The cat represents my yellow cat Norton. 

He was big and acted more like a dog

than a cat. He followed me everywhere.

I lost him to the Coyotes in California.

This is a favorite picture.

"When a child is born,

so is a grandmother"

I bought another ME picture in our little 

town's gift shop in Rancho Murieta, Ca. 

(Before we moved to Texas) 

It is a private golf community and is built

on a game reserve... or is it a preserve?

It was full of deer, wild turkeys, bobcats,

rattlesnakes, AND coyotes! 

The shop owner was an artists and

she painted the flowers on the matting

before she framed it.

~~~

Anyway... My tea is brewed so...

back to my afternoon

of relaxing and reading.

Now... where are my glasses?

~~~

Now don't forget to go visit Chari 

over at Happy to Design.

Thank you Chari for hosting

this weekly event.

Thanksgiving Shared with Celebrity Guests!

Update: This post was written when we lived in Texas.

Since my family can't make the long trek
 to Texas for Thanksgiving dinner, 
I have invited some very special company. 
Be sure to check out the place cards. 

You may just be envious!

I just LOVE the colors of Autumn!

I also love all the wonderful goodies in the Cracker Barrels gift shop! 

That is where I got his lovely soup tureen. 

It was 1/2 off, what a bargain! 
They were out of the decorative ladle, 
so I just used one I had on hand.

I also want to point out the 

coordinating window panels. 

They started out as a tablecloth 

for one of my fall tablescapes, 

but thought that they would 

look great on the windows!

I am also sharing this window panel idea in today's Transformation Thursday.

The china hutch has also 

changed it's look a few times. 

It has been very Autumnish or Halloweenie, 

and now it is decked out for Thanksgiving.

These pies are actually candles!

They are highly scented and fill the room 

with the scent of fresh baked pies 

without even being lit!

The best part of all is that 

they are calorie free!

The dishes and napkins are from Kohl's. 
I love the soft buttery color of the dishes 
and the unglazed white edge. 
The soup/salad dish is great for pasta. 
The flatware is from Ross.

These little pumpkins are from Wal-Mart.

The amber glasses are from Tuesday Morning 

and the green glasses are from the Goodwill.

The table runner is from Ross 

and the Sunflower dish is from 
The Cracker Barrel.

The candle is from Hobby Lobby 
and it was a good buy at 1/2 off. 

The chargers/candle plates are metal 
were 1.99 on clearance at Wal-Mart.

These Indian corn candles are over ten years old.

I don't remember where I got them 
but I have seen them in lots of stores 
over the the last few years.

The place card holders are just decorative picks 

that I got at Hobby Lobby for 60-70% off.

Did you notice the guest's name?

He is one of the celebrities coming to my dinner.

No silly... It is not Fred Flintstone!!!

Look closer...

I invited the Ricardo's and the Mertz's 

for Thanksgiving! 

I know Lucy would just mess it up 

and serve a half-frozen turkey 

with the "innerds" left in. 

 I also figured that poor Ethel needed a break.

Looks like they were happy to drive 

all the way from NYC to see us...

Here is the table with the candles lit.

After all, by now it is nighttime...

Look at those cute little

Indian Corn taper candles.

All we need now is the company!

But wait!

Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete

without the KID'S TABLE!

Love that tablecloth...

a.k.a. curtains.

I got those little chairs years ago 

for the grandkids.

They are usually in the family room

and scooted up the coffee table.

Great for puzzles and coloring. 

The pumpkin plates, turkey gravy boat, and Turkey Shoot metal sign are from Ross. 

The bird tea light holders are 

from The Dollar Tree, 

and the adorable squirrel 

salt and pepper shakers 

are from The Cracker Barrel.

These pumpkin scarecrows are from TJ Maxx and have been up since Halloween. 

I think they are still good for 

Thanksgiving, don't you?

Boy, that kid's table looks 

smaller than it really is.

This is a better view.

The stuffed turkey (the cloth one) 

is something my Hubby got me years ago. 

It was one of those prizes from 

the "crane" game at the grocery store!

 

I just love this little melamine set for the kiddies.

Did you happen to notice these place cards?

We have invited Jack and Jill...

Hansel and Gretel already had 

plans at some little 

gingerbread and candy cottage 

in the woods.

Bless their hearts...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

and be sure to count your blessings...