JULY 2021

Freedom - do we take it for granted? If you, like me, have been raised in America I am afraid we often do take our freedom for granted. We should not because it is truly precious. Men and women have fought and died so we might have our freedom - let us never forget this. Even though our leaders in America do not always do things as we might wish and have done things throughout history of which we may not approve, we still remain a country which also has done great and good things. 

Patriotism: "National pride is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to a homeland or the country and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment to create a feeling of oneness among the people, especially within the United States of America." This is a definition from Wikipedia.

I am still proud to be called an American. I do not approve of everything that happens or has happened in our country, but I will still proudly fly our flag, salute our flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and sing the National Anthem with my hand placed over my heart. I will pray for our country and its leaders every day and hope you will join me. Prayer is our only hope!

"God bless American, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her - through the night with the light from above." - Irving Berlin

The above is a picture of a small fairy garden in my back garden under the tree. You might enjoy making one for your own garden. These are wonderful to create with a child or grandchild. And one is never too old to enjoy a fairy garden (it's the grown up way of playing doll house.) I also have a larger one created in the top of a birdbath (shown below), but this one is in a metal basket container and can easily go in any small space, so even if you just have an apartment with a little balcony or patio it will fit. 

Just take a container of some sort and fill it with dirt. Then place moss over the top of the dirt. You can make your own fairy house or purchase one. David, my husband, built this one for me, but I bought a concrete one at an antique shop. I bought my garden furniture and accessories at Hobby Lobby in the dollhouse section. And in this small fairy garden I planted one impatient to bloom, but you don't have to have a plant.  You will need to water or mist almost daily to keep the moss moist and green, but it is not time consuming at all. 

I made a little pathway to the front door using small pebbles. And in this one, I place my dirt in a coconut liner inside a metal basket container. 

Fairy gardens are also fun to create in a window box as well.  Put outside a window where you can look out from inside the house to  enjoy.  

One of my sons-in-law just built a patio and a fire pit in their back yard, and they have included me in the fun of cooking over the fire, sitting outside, and being with family. Below are some outdoor ideas:

For organic mosquito spray put 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil into a cup of water (shake to mix) and put in a spray bottle.   Does the trick with no chemicals.

Serve condiments (catsup, mustard, onion, tomatoes, pickles, etc.) in a muffin pan. Separates them and you don't have lots of bottles and plates.

Use plastic tubs, trays, or laundry baskets to carry food, plates, utensils, etc. in and out. Makes it much easier. 

Rest a bowl of food you need to keep cool inside an inexpensive shower cap filed with ice. Shower caps also work to cover the tops of bowls to keep insects away from food.

Make individual salads in plastic cups covered  with a lid. Make a slot in the lid and insert your fork prong side up in the slotted lid.  You can also use a plastic cup and put sliced up veggies standing upright. Put dressing in bottom of cup before placing veggies in.

Having an outdoor fan blowing helps reduce flies and flying pests.