Memorial Day in my mind begins the patriotic season and summer. I do not minimize what Memorial Day means at all as I will explain later in this post. Living where I live, both the true meaning and the warm weather make this holiday important in remembering and embracing my favorite time of the year.
I have subtly decorated my home, so we will take a tour starting at the front yard and moving in the door no one enters except Gus and me, but we will get to the entry that everyone does enter in before we are done. I love patriotic decor, but I have learned I can't take too much of seasonal decor --period. I get tired of it and for some reason I have never been good at removing the regular decor to replace with seasonal decor. I tend to add in which can make clutter.
Jeff talked about for 23 years (the number of years we have lived in this house) putting a flag up. With the stone and stucco, he just never wanted to drill through either. America 250 finally got him to bite the bullet.
He also bought the kids one and both have put theirs up too. The family is all in!
Side note to digress on...don't you love digressions?! Jeff and I had an entire conversation last Sunday afternoon while putting around on the boat on which houses looked like coastal Florida (especially northwest Florida, cuz there is a difference). Ours doesn't fit the bill. We love our home...it is strong and has extra precautions built in for hurricane and waterfront living, but Indiana sandstone would not have been our choice nor does look like any kind of Florida.
Now, we move on with the tour. I found this lovely ribbon on Amazon and added a bow to the light post and to the swans that adorn our front porch. The swans are a nod to my mother in law.
I added my redbirds with flag wings back to the flowerbed, because Floridians do yard art. Probably too much!
I didn't do much to the foyer ---remember I can't remove standing decor. I added a flag. I also tried out some red books under the candlesticks but decided to keep the blues.
Just inside this foyer door is a favorite spot of mine. I added a ribbon to my bunny. Just a simple touch and I only did ribbon on the bunny and not all the items I do at Christmas. More of a simple approach.
Close up view of the ribbon for which I had more of. I don't remember where I got it and have only enough to do Mr. Bunny. BTW, the print above is one of my favorite things ever. A Panhandle of Florida map. All my favorite places.
I am currently stitching something that I might add to my church pew just across from Mr. Bunny. We will see. All of these things will get tweaked many times probably.
Moving into the dining room, I added a table runner made by one of Mama's good friends.
Then we open the double doors in to the family room.
I added some stitching to the built ins and of course, there are tributes to both our dads which served in the military which are full time patriotism on display.
Left side of the fireplace.
Close ups of the stitched insertions and then a stepping away look.
Oh and I added in a flag too.
I added a stack of patriotic picture books to the coffee table. A simple but cute way to add seasonal decor.
Moving into the kitchen I added some flags to the island. The kitchen table has some blue checked napkins. I also have some red ones that I can switch out as well.
On one counter, I have added a couple of stitches. This section really is not a cooking counter so I can usually add some decor with no worries.
I actually did remove a picture to put this stitch up.
Right outside my kitchen window I have my geraniums with some flags and down on the boat dock Jeff has a flag there.
Back in the kitchen and down the hallway where EVERYONE actually enters our home is my latest stitch all framed. I know some of you saw it on Instagram. I just love it.
I removed a stitch for the summer that goes here. I may move this stitch to my sampler wall later, but for this summer it will be where it can be seen and enjoyed.
"O Happy Day" by Plum Street Samplers with changes to make it fit my liking.
Then in the guest bathroom right past the sampler, I added a ribbon and the Liberty Bell stitch.
In my sewing room, there are more patriotic things that are on display all the time.
My bunnies in their red, white and blue outfits, my shuttle stitch along with my students saying the pledge of allegiance.
*****
Jeff and I attended a reception at a local elementary school that Jeff was the principal of and then later after him I did my last 3 years of teaching working on grant that involved the school. It has a high military presence and if you have ever driven from the west to our beaches you probably have driven by it and noticed it because it had all the looks of a military town school with red, white, and blue showing. Mary Esther Elementary Thunderbirds located right on Highway 98 (the Miracle Strip Parkway).
Every teacher came up to Jeff and told him he was their favorite principal and honestly it made my time there immeasurably easier because they loved him so much. The school is closing along with another elementary school. The south end of the county has been in a population decline or families with children decline for a decade. The cost of living is just so high... no more land to build on. To shorten this, there a lot more changes coming. Change is inevitable. The north end is growing like kudzu and they are building a new school there right now.
It was this visit to the school reception that I really thought I am going to FINALLY add a Memorial Day post. I have always steered away from it. When you live in a military community you are very aware of the sacrifices made. There are 7 military installations here in the Panhandle of Florida.
On the evening of the school event a couple walked in that reminded me of Jeff's first year as a principal there and having the most horrific news to give a teacher. Now, this one involves life, but many I have know made the ultimate sacrifice.
It was around 2010 and the superintendent called and said she was on her way with military officials and for him to get someone to cover Mrs. D's kindergarten class. Her husband had been blown up and was in horrible condition. That was a hard thing to deliver and watch. Later, we would learn that he had survived but lost both legs. He was there on Tuesday evening for the reception and it sent me on a tailspin of thoughts of how many people I know about in just my small world that have lost their family member.
I really don't feel it exactly appropriate to appoint myself the story teller of all these losses, but I have known personally many -from a child I taught who lost his father in the Khobar Towers back in 1996. The losses in our community for me started way back in 1991 with the first Gulf War. You just don't live here and teach and not see the loss. I have had two from church killed in action. My daughter's wedding photographer was a casualty that came later from the war from some chemical he was exposed. It is just a part of life in a military town. It is deep and personal reminder of what those families go through.
I have many members of my family who have served and fought from both our dads, numerous uncles, cousins, and 2 brother-in-laws.
I may celebrate the coming of my favorite season - summer - but I know we are blessed to live here.
P.S. I am taking some of my small stitches to the Auburn house for the summer too.
Picture from the reception at MEE the other night. Jeff actually ended up speaking to the crowd. He did well as always. Reminded them of the rich history the school has had to the community.
