🎶🇺🇸God Bless America!🇺🇸🎶

Mid summer in the PNW is the best! Hot summer days and cool summer nights!

About 7pm it is time to pull on that sweatshirt, and sit by the campfire!

This 4th of July, 2020 🇺🇸will be met with a few challenges. CDC recommends outdoor family gatherings, and face masks now. Do I see red,white and blue face masks in the future?🇺🇸😷 Making the best of our family visits which may be shorter, chairs may be farther apart, but seeing loved ones can be done! This year we decided to just be the few of us. Keeping old and young in mind, I didn't want to pose any kind of health risks upon any of them. Next year we will do it up right.💥🇺🇸

So I will talk about our 💥Fourth of July💥 last summer.

We were able to spend the 4th of July at our Hood Canal, WA cabin and we decided to go all out and look for a sample of fireworks that didn't go over our budget. Driving along the waterway deeper into rural Mason County, my husband and son came upon a fireworks stand called "Piro Mamas". They haggled with good natured Mama, and scored a handful of fireworks for our first "pirotech" show. We strategically shot them over the water away from homes and trees. Our little firework show was wonderful!

💥💥🇺🇸 Even though it seemed to be over within 10 minutes, we oohed and ahhed at the explosions overhead. 💥 It was fun to share with family members, young and old. As the night went on, you could see fireworks on each side of us, and across the water erupting all along the coastline.💥 Some fireworks displays seem to last for hours! We sat in our sweatshirts and blankets in front of the fire, and watched all the festivities around us.

I think everyone felt like a kid again.

While my husband minded the grill, I brought out all of our Fourth of July "flair"🇺🇸

I could find! My favorite finds last year were all of the red, white and blue I found at the Dollar Store! You have to stock up in June, because they sell out fast. They had everything! Server platters, runners, paper plates and napkins! Woo hoo! We kept the menu simple and traditional, sooo hot dogs and burgers, 🇺🇸USA, USA!🇺🇸 It is always fun to have guests bring their favorite potluck dishes to sample.

This year we can get creative. Everyone can bring their own Fourth of July picnic!🇺🇸

I read with shared serving sets in communal bowls of food, the virus can spread easily.

So think outside the box! 🇺🇸

Well, it just would not be me if I did not include some DIY ideas! 🇺🇸

I found some cute and easy Fourth of July decor ideas 🇺🇸that bring that rustic, Americana vibe to the party! Popsicle/craft sticks glued into star shapes and strung on jute from the hardware store make a fun garland, table runner or door decor. Simple painted wood clothes pins and stars from the Dollar Store and clipped on to a Dollar Store wreath frame. Simply love it!🇺🇸 I always look for something to hang on my deck rails. I found these easy to make rag garlands so festive! Simply knot fabric scraps onto jute string from the hardware store. Fabric strips can be found at craft stores in the quilt section, or go to the remnant bins at fabric stores, and rip fabric into strips about 18" long 2" wide and simply tie on. Just adds the right pop of color!🇺🇸

Even though there will be no guests at my home this year, I will bring out my Fourth of July "flair" to give me and my family a sense of normal, and to lift our spirits!🇺🇸

In these Covid times, individually wrapped goodies are probably the best to give our guests.

And why not send them off with some sparklers of their own!💥💥🇺🇸

Cheers, and "God Bless America"!🇺🇸

We are going through a tough period in time. I tell myself, it is time to count my blessings, and appreciate my family and be thankful for my good health. For those of you who are sick or have lost love ones, I pray for comfort to you and your families. 🙏❤️We can get through this!

Please enjoy this 🇺🇸"Red, White and Blue Sangria"🇺🇸

Be safe everyone! #weareinthistogether

Download recipe below.

Sparkling Red White and Blue Sangria _ G

Download • 197KB

❤️Randi K. face masks available at www.randikcollection.com

Hope to see you at my August show, "Willow and Rust", at Puyallup Fairgrounds,

August 14 &15 ! (crossing fingers the show will go on!🤞)