Red, White and Blue — Bright and Bold

I decided to celebrate Independence Day in the spirit of '76 — bright and bold! The red, white and blue plaid linens were the catalyst to go full-on colorful. I had spent a rainy day online looking for something new to express the excitement of the first holiday we plan to spend with friends

  

Summer Flowers, Summer Table

All I have to do for inspiration is to gather flowers. Flowers to form the centerpieces of my tables, and to guide their color stories.

Today inspiration came by way of early summer flowers blooming in my garden. Purples and blues with a jolt of white are in the sunny borders in the front.

Puppy Challenges in the Garden

Meet Finnegan, mischief maker!

We brought him home in April at eight weeks old, the cutest bundle of fur, with curiosity in his eyes!

As puppies do, he investigates everything with his mouth. Things allowed (food, toys, treats, big brother Jake, mom and dad) and those things not allowed (everything else!).

When we first took him outside, he discovered that a big world was out the door — and that there were a million things to pick up, tear, chase and chomp. Chomping on everything in the grass, along the path, in the planting beds! Now four months old, he has put more things in his mouth that Joey or Jake ever did in their stints as puppies.

  

Since I had not yet begun to install plants in our re-designed back yard, I decided to go with plants that were puppy-safe.