Wednesday, July 1, 2009

More Americana....

The other day my friend, Lori, and I had a fun outing to an antique gallery. She was looking for a chest, which she found....and more! Wish I had gotten a picture of that! She got a great deal on it too!

I was looking for a little something to go on the floor of my bathroom that would hold towels. I found a little bench that I just fell in love with! I also found a wire basket that I intended to sit on top of it to hold the towels rolled up. Well I got it home, and the color of the bench that I thought to have more green tones looked very blue gray in my bathroom. I don't know if it was the lights or if it just depended on what was sitting next to it. Anyway, next to my shower curtain, I really wasn't pleased with it there in the bathroom, so I found another home for it.

For now, it's on the hearth of my fireplace. Sitting on it is a stitchery given to me by a friend I met through blogging (Janet) and an Americana birdhouse.



The wire basket found a home on the chest-turned-coffee table. I gathered some things around the house to come up with an arrangement.





And being the lover of books that I am (and homeschooling mom), I love to just slip books out on the coffee table for the season. They make great decorations AND everyone just picks them up and reads them because they catch their eye and then curiosity kicks in! It's great for the parents of piano students to pass the time while they wait too. The books you'll find on our cedar chest coffee table right now are:

By the Dawn's Early Light (The Story of the Star Spangled Banner),



America A Patriotic Primer written by Lynne Cheney (the former Vice President's wife),



In God We Trust (Stories of Faith in American History),



Lives of the Presidents (Fame, Shame, and What the Neighbors Thought),



And It Happened in America (True Stories from the Fifty States).



And although I don't have it hung yet, I couldn't wait to show this to you. This was sent to me by Mary of Gettysburg Homestead. I admired this dress from the first time I ever saw her list it on her website. I received a package in the mail from Mary and this wonderful Americana dress was inside! I was so excited!



See that shelf up there in the living room behind the couch?



Jason is going to add beadboard backing under it with pegs for hanging prim goodies. This dress will have a place of honor on one of those pegs when it's finished. I'll show it to when it's hung in it's place of honor, but I just couldn't wait until then to show you the dress! Thank you, Mary!

And here's an Americana spot outside. You saw this last year and it really hasn't changed much since last summer, but I pass by this every time I walk in to my house from the carport and I can see it out my kitchen window.



The roses have bloomed off and on all summer, and don't look quite as well now as they have in the past few weeks, but I sure have enjoyed my knock out roses.



Now, if I can just win that giveaway of Kim's over at Palmer Falls Primitives...I'll have it made........with even MORE AMERICANA! :)

37 comments:

Sherri/Here Goes My Life said...

HI Tammy,Thanks so much for following my blog.Don't you just luv americana?There's nothing that says summer more than red geraniums and flags.Off to read more of your blog,Have a great day!:0)Sherri

Unknown said...

Looks so nice! I really like your outdoor area, prim perfect!

Yankee Ridge Primitives said...

Hi Tammy!

That little dress from Mary is super cute!!! In fact, all of your americana is great! Have you signed up for my americana giveaway yet?

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Hi Tammy,

Love all the Americana for July. And books - we can never have too many of those, can we?

What a great view out your kitchen window!

Oh and that dress from Mary is adorable!!

Good luck with the give away!

hugs, Linda

Julie said...

All of your Americana looks so nice. I really enjoy decorating for this time of year, too. Have a great day. Julie

Gettysburg Homestead said...

Thanks Tammy... enjoy the dress and can't wait to see it hung on your shelf.

sonyadawn said...

hey tammy, love all the americana, i love the outdoor spot, and that chair/birdhouse thing is soo cute, i love it. the dress from mary, how perfect for you and i think the beadboard will look wonderful, can't wait to see it.
have a blessed day
sonya

JenW!~ said...

WoW all great stuff. The dress from Mary is GREAT. Lucky you to receive something like that.

Rosemary said...

Love the Americana!
And the books are awesome!!!
Thanks for sharing,
Blessings,
Rosemary

Paula said...

What beautiful treasures, Tammy! But the little dress from Mary takes the cake- that is so cute!
I love your little outdoor Americana spot- the roses are gorgeous!

Stephanie said...

I love your pics and I like what you did with the wagon. I just bought another one at a garage sale and have it sitting. I think I will put some flowers pots in it until Fall and then fill it with Mums!
Have a great day,
Stephanie

basketsnprims said...

Tammy,
Everything looks wonderful & I love books, too. Love your outdoor decor, so patriotic. I can't believe the 4th is this weekend.
Pam

Shelley said...

I think you found the perfect place for your bench - love it! And I think that's great how you leave books out for your guests - like the americana theme you have going on. I love to leave nature and wildlife books in different places at the cabin for people to pick up and read. I think I need to get some patriotic books for July!

Susan said...

All lovely. The dress is adorale!
Susan

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

love all the photos you shared...love that little dress too..that is really cute...and I love your yard...love your decorating too..have a wonderful day!!!
Gina ;)

green gables girl said...

You are so patriotic! You did a wonderful job decorating!
Talk to you soon!
LL

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

I always enjoy your Americana touches, Tammy. And I'm going to jot down the names of those books! Connor and I could really dive into those. We love the America book...

So when do we get to see your bathroom reveal???

Have a wonderful day, my friend!

Carey's Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Tammy,

Everything looks great! I love the dress too.

Carey

Birgit said...

Your home is beautiful decked out in Americana! I love your little outdoor spot as well.
Enjoy your 4th of July with your family.
Hugs~ Birgit

A Bit of Colour said...

What a cute dress, everything looks so great in your house inside & out. Really like that bench out there.

Cottage Rose said...

Hey Tammy; I love your out door decorating, it is so pretty. You have such a lovely home, love all the prim pretties... The dress is just so cute, how kind of her to send it to you..
Have a great week

Hug;s
Alaura

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Hi Tammy...oh my gosh I love that Americana dress you got from Mary! So adorable. what a great post...I am lovin' all the Americana and patriotic stuff! Your home looks great with all the stuff just right! Woohoo!
Blessings,
Debbie

Never So Simple said...

I love your basket and bench. Your shelf is going to look great with a peg board behind it. I can see it now all primmed up with Americana decor. The dress is too cute. Your Americana living room is gorgeous!

Donna

Mandy said...

I love the idea of using seasonal books for decoration! I had a friend that used to do that and I had forgotten all about it. Thanks for the reminder!

Everything looks great!

Mandy

Julie said...

Oh, Tammy!
I just love all of your beautiful Americana things -- and the way you arrange them!

I can just smell the inside of that cedar chest by looking at it!
It's huge and soooooo pretty!

Oh, I just love the idea of the beadboard with the pegs that your hubby is going to put up for you. I love the look of beadboard!!!

I also love your shower curtain! I just adore plaid! We've been looking for a chair for our living room and went to a local furniture store's sale -- I was looking for a plaid chair and the saleswoman told me that plaid is "so not in style". Ummmm, okay, I didn't ask if it was -- it's what I like and she kind of hurt my feelings. So we left and I ordered a chair online - it's not here yet, and not exactly what we wanted, but no rude salespeople!

Thanks for the suggestion about the DSL. We have another year left on our contract with WildBlue :*( But we'll definitely be looking into any other options!

Love those books you've set out, too! We've got a few of them!

Many Blessings and Happy 4th!
Julie

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Tammy, I love looking at all of your Americana decorations. You are just so creative. AND--you find the neatest treasures!!!!!!

Have a wonderful 4th.
Hugs,
Betsy

Zaroga said...

Everything looks wonderful, Tammy! Can you come do my home :-)

•♦•©The Olde Weeping Cedar •♦• said...

Love your Americana Tammy! Everything is lookin great ;)
I just love your little dress...too cute!
I can't beleive this weekend is the 4th of July!! I somehow missed all of JUNE!! LOL!

Have a wonderful-Happy-and Safe 4th!!

Hugs-Kath

Karen said...

Your outdoor decorations look so nice...! I always enjoy seeing what you are doing around your house--you give me great ideas! Have a great day! Karen

Tammy said...

I always love seeing your Americanna decor, but how much more during 4th of July week! :) Those books look wonderful, as well...they are ones I'd just love to read aloud to my girls too!

Yesterday we celebrated my oldest girl's 10th b-day! (Her slumber party is scheduled for a week from Friday...and she told me that she really, really wishes she could invite Joy! She feels that close to her though they've never met in person...isn't that sweet?)

Hugs,
the other Tammy

Michele said...

Wow Tammy...I love all your decor! I'm lovin that little dress from Mary...you're one lucky girl!

Have a wonderful 4th and be safe!
Hugz,
Michele

Simply Shelley said...

Hi Tammy,I enjoyed catching up on your blog. Your Americana decor. is very nice. I didn't do much decorating for the 4th of July. Maybe I will go all out next year. Wishing you and yours a great
4th....

Blessings,Shelley

Joy ~ Doodlebug ~ said...

Love you so much mommy,

I love EVERYTHING you could possibly do to decorate, because it has your BEAUTIFUL touch!!!

Love ya!!!!!!! Happpy 4th!!!!

8!!!!

Love, Joy =D

Farmchick said...

Everything looks so nice Tammy! I hope you had a wonderful happy 4th with your family.

Tania

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Everything looks great, as always! I have missed visiting you so much! Love all the patriotic books!

P.S. My blog name has changed, but if you pay me a visit, I hope you will remember me and add me to your blog list again.
Thanks!

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

everything looks fantastic but my favorite is the little dress. how cute is that? and i think a bead board backing is a great idea! way to go jason!

Lois Christensen said...

Love all your Americana decorations! And the shelf looks great by your fireplace! Hope you had a great weekend!