4th of July Patriotic Front Porch and Yard, 2020

Welcome to Debbie-Dabble Blog!!

I am so happy you decided to stop by!!

Happy 4th of July weekend!!!
 
Today, I will be sharing our front porch and yard decorated for the 4th of July and an update on how my flowers are growing now that it is the beginning of July.....

But first, I want to Thank Melissa, over at Little Frugal Homestead,for choosing my post, Colorful Patio, as one of her features from last week's Farm Fresh Tuesdays Blog Hop!!

 Thanks so much, Melissa!!

And Thanks to Karren, over at Oh My Heartsie Girl, for choosing my post, Summer Kitchen, Part 1, as one of her features from last week's Wonderful Wednesday Link Party!!

Thanks again, Karren!!

Please stop by and link up to these charming parties!!

A few personal notes.....

 2020 is half over and what a FANTASTIC year it has been so far!!

I know some of you may think that I am crazy to say that but I truly feel that life is what you make of it and I choose to be happy, no matter what is going on in the World!!

2020 is my first full year of retirement.....

I waited for 42 years to get to this point in my life.....

And I refuse to let what is happening spoil it for me.....

  I think I have already accomplished so much this year......

 I have got to craft and decorate to my heart's content...

I go to bed as late as I want to and get up as early as I want!!

Yes, you read that right...I go to bed around 11pm-12am and I am up around 6am....

Never was much of a sleeper......

 I even started to cook more, of all things!!  Who would have thought it!!!

 I have thoroughly enjoyed "playing" out in my garden and catching up on TV shows that I tape.

And I loved having our oldest son stay with us for a few months!!

 It has been terrific to celebrate Holidays with my family and not have to worry about going to work!!

 And yes, as I have mentioned before, we have celebrated every Holiday together this year!!

 I am not going to let anything sap the joy and happiness out of me and I fully intend to keep doing what I have been doing and that is enjoying myself, doing what I love to do in the home that I consider my sanctuary.....

  So here's to another wonderful 6 months!!

And you all know something that I love to do is decorate!!!

 I decorated the front porch using my Patriotic decorations on Thursday and I will leave them up until Tuesday after the 4th....

I usually take pictures in the morning when the front of the house is in the shade so I decided I would do something different and take the pictures for this post close to Sunset......

 From around 4:00 pm on, the front of our house gets the Sun in the Summer....

 These pictures were taken after 8pm.....

The Sun is reflecting in the Living Room window......

I also want to share how my annuals that I planted in my pots and other containers are doing....

Remember I live in a townhouse.....

Everyone in our area is complaining about the gnats or black fly population this year.....

They actually started spraying areas because it is so bad.....

I do not have any gnats on our front porch, yard back yard and patio.......

I am thinking it is because of the flowers, ,mainly the marigolds........

But whatever is keeping them away from  my house, I am very glad!!!!

I again switched out the things that I hang of my weeping mortar on the front porch for the Summer with my Patriotic decor.......

Added a patriotic bow.....

And flags.....

I also added Patriotic banners to the porch railing....

You can see that the marigolds are doing well......

And the impatiens that I planted in the flower box on the railing.....

Are filling the flower box nicely!!

The other black urn on this side of the porch.....

The begonias are starting to fill in the planters on the side of the flower bed under the Living Room window......

 The flower bed under the Living Room window....

 I really do need to get a brown gutter extension and replace that stark white one......

Again, the marigolds are doing great in these pots......

I added flags to the Patriotic solar lights in these pots that will remain there for the Summer..

I am so glad that I decided to go with regular impatiens in these large urns on the side of the flower bed......

Other years, I planted new guinea impatiens in them but I already love how the 4 impatiens that I planted here are spreading and filling these urns.....

And they cost a lot less than the new guinea impatiens....

The begoias are also doing well on this side of the flower bed.....

As the Sun is starting to set.....

My little strip of front yard on top of the slope in front of our Slope......

I changed out the cover on my faux mail box for a Patriotic one......

The 2 impatiens that I planted in this vintage watering can are doing very well!!!

My park bench......

I added a flag and a fire cracker!!

And as you can see, the begonias along with the marigolds are doing just fine!!

A Patriotic mini flag.....

The Sun is setting over the mountains......

And my lights have come on.......

The solar lights are now starting to come on too.....

And once again, I have a wonderful view from our front porch of another amazing Sunset!!!!

They are saying the pinks in our Sunsets are due to the dust cloud that is covering certain areas of the country.......

All I know is that watching a Sunset like this from the comfort of my own home is one of life's greatest treasures!!!!

 Our area's largest fireworks display, which we used to be able to watch from our front porch before the tress grew so tall, has been cancelled this year like so many others in the area have been.....

For the last few years, we were able to just go up to the top of our hill, the entrance into our development and the apartment complex that we have to drive through, where the VA Hospital is and park in Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot and watch the fireworks there as it provided a spectacular view of the valley below us....

This year, in addition to watching some fireworks displays like Macy's on TV, I hope nature will provide another astounding Sunset to celebrate our Country's Birth.....

 We will be celebrating the 4th of July actually on the 5th of July with our traditional family Cook In like we always do.....

Wishing you and your family a very HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!

And I hope you will stop by to visit again soon!!

Stay safe, healthy and most of all, HAPPY!!

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......

I am linking up to these parties:

FRIDAY
 Funtastic Friday
Friday Favorites
Home Matters Linky Party
Embrace Your Style Link Party
Flaunt It Fridays

 SATURDAY
Saturday Sparks
Pink Saturday-Anything Goes!!

SUNDAY
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Silver Pennies Sunday
Happiness is Homemade Linky Party

 MONDAY 
Inspire Me Monday
Love Your Creativity Link Party
Busy Monday

Over the Moon Linky Party
 Handmade Monday
You Are The Star Blog Hop
Metamorphosis Monday
Little Cottage Link Party
Make It Pretty Monday

TUESDAY
Inspire Me Tuesdays
Lou Lou Girl's Linky Party
 All About Home Party
Tuesdays with a Twist
 Farm Fresh Tuesdays Blog Hop
Celebrate Your Story Link Party!!
Tuesday Turn About Link Party

WEDNESDAY
 Oh My Heartsie Wonderful Wednesdays
Beautifully Made Link Party
Keep in Touch Party

Fluster's Creative Muster Wednesday's

Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop
Party in Your PJ's
Waste Not Wednesday
Charming Homes and Gardens Wednesday Link Party

THURSDAY
Vintage Charm
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Style Thursday Link Up Party
 Encouraging Hearts and Home Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 
Grace at Home Party

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!