Tag: Memorial Day

A Little Red, White and Blue Love

A Little Red, White and Blue Love

Posted on by Mama

red, white and blue

Did you proudly fly your flag yesterday? Our house was decked out in its finest patriotic prowess, but I have to confess that I may have gotten a little jump on my Americana this year by decorating on Memorial Day way back in May. I figured I could get just over a month of patriotic punch if I started early, and who doesn’t love a little red, white and blue as we tumble headlong into the sizzling months of summer. Between Memorial Day and Independence Day, falls Flag Day, so the reasons to celebrate just keep coming.

Here’s a little peek at what my family has been looking at for the last several weeks. I actually appear not to be behind (for once).

I crafted this large wooden flag out of old fence pickets. A simple wash of paint shows off the weathered wood grain.

red, white and blue

I purchased this patriotic sign for just a few dollars after Independence Day last year. It complements the large wooden flag on the back deck.

red, white and blue

I really don’t know why I’ve hung onto this tattered plastic flag for so many years, but it’s the perfect addition to my red geranium on the front porch steps.

red, white and blue

This oversized paper ribbon adorns our front door, and you can learn how to make your own right here at Small Talk Mama.

red, white and blue

I love this fun fabric banner hanging from our fireplace. You can whip up this cheap and easy project just in time for Independence Day.

red, white and blue

This red, white and blue bunting hangs from our front deck railing and welcomes everyone with a big ol’ punch of color.

red, white and blue

Of course we also proudly fly our American flag from a pole at the front of the house!

Unexpected Tribute in a Small Nebraska Town

Unexpected Tribute in a Small Nebraska Town

Posted on by Mama

Well I’m finally back from preparing for, spending three days during and recovering from the recent wonderful Memorial Day weekend. My husband and I dropped off our son with his sister’s family for a few days and made a quick sojourn to Omaha, Nebraska. It was my first trip to Omaha, so it was fun scoping the sites and seeing a few things, even if the zoo wasn’t one of them. This was an anniversary weekend, so the zoo will be a whole other adventure.

Although it was a good vacation (even if most of the antique stores were closed), one of the highlights of our journey was the return trip surprise in Auburn, Nebraska, along Hwy 75. As we drove through this quaint little town with eyes peeled for antiques, we came upon the Nemaha County Veterans Memorial at Legion Memorial Park decked out in true patriotic fashion. The sidewalk in front of the memorial park was lined with American flags, and not some dinky little decorative banners, these were the full-sized, you-can’t-miss-me variety. Of course, this beautiful double row of flags flying in the wind caught our eye, so we circled around to take a closer look.

NemahaMemorial

That is when we realized there was a whole beautiful monument to fallen troops putting on it’s best-dressed self befitting this Memorial Day of remembrance. As we walked through the rows of flags, past a military tank, under the park entrance and up to the beautiful carvings and rows of names, we were truly in awe of this beautiful tribute to all the branches of military smack dab in the middle of this tiny little Omaha town. Our hearts were moved as we paid our respects to just a few of the valiant men and women who died to protect our country, and we couldn’t help but feel lucky that we had stumbled upon this special tribute on such a reverent day.

So if you ever find yourself in Southeast Nebraska on Memorial Day, count yourself lucky and make the trip to Auburn (at the intersection of Hwys 75 and 136) for just a few minutes of remembrance and thanks. I promise you will be proud to be an American and so glad you made the trip.

Secret Subject Swap — Memorial Day Memories

Secret Subject Swap — Memorial Day Memories

Posted on by Mama

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 16 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

My Secret Subject is:
What is your best and/or worst Memorial Day memory?

It was submitted by: www.southernbellecharm.com

weddingpicOh shucks, this is such an easy one for me. You see, my husband and I of almost 12 years now tied the knot on Memorial Day weekend 2003. That, and the only other Memorial Day that sticks in my head was a crazy girls trip to Padre Island after high school graduation. . . but my husband may not appreciate it if I didn’t put him tops on my list. Just kidding, babe; you know you’re number one.

Although we married a bit later in life than most, we only managed a long weekend for our wedding and honeymoon both, because my husband-to-be had just taken a new job and hadn’t earned a lick of vacation. Of course that didn’t stop fools in love, and after a February proposal we promptly set a date for Memorial Day weekend. Let me tell ya, my mom and I can execute a wedding like nobody’s business and three months was a (semi-) breeze.

We married in a little white church in Farmington, Arkansas, and had the reception outside under a tent. The morning was filled with thunderstorms and lots of rain, but somehow the sun came out early enough to dry the ground but not enough to raise the temps. As it turned out, it was a perfect day for a wedding, especially when you’re the one getting married.

After the ceremony we drove through crazy dense fog to Roaring River in Missouri for a weekend getaway together. The trout fishing wasn’t fabulous, but we didn’t really much care. Hmm, maybe my new husband cared at the time, but he didn’t let on. I won’t tell you about the big fish that got away (as my love-struck hubs went running for the net he forgot in the car), because that seems to be a reoccurring theme in my trout fishing adventures. But trust me, it was huge.

As we quickly come upon another Memorial Day this month, my husband and I will also be celebrating another year of marriage, which always make the weekend special. Sometimes it doesn’t quite fall on our anniversary, but it’s usually somewhere close. The very best thing about it being a holiday weekend (other than honoring the men and women whom have served our country) is that we often get to take a short trip to celebrate. (That and it helps me remember that I better buy a gift and card for the special man in my life. Sometimes, I can be such a guy.)

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If you want to read more of the fun, here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there: