Nothing puts me in a patriotic frame of mind more than seeing bunting proudly displayed on homes and businesses. In fact, last year when I traveled to Honey Grove, TX for the book launch of More Than Words Can Say, I saw this house.
Not only was this a gorgeous Victorian-era home restored to its former glory, but it was a patriotic home as well. It was only the middle of June, but they already had their bunting on display for all to appreciate and enjoy. It seemed particularly fitting since a key turning point in Zach and Abigail’s story centers around a 4th of July Parade right there in Honey Grove.
Abigail and her sister Rosalind have decorated their bakery with red-white-and-blue bunting and paper festooning in keeping with the holiday festivities, but in addition to decorating their portion of the town square, they decide to decorate themselves as well. Rosalind (a young beauty) has been chosen at the very last minute to be Honey Grove’s Queen Bee and is to be featured in the parade. Despite the late notice, Rosalind agrees to participate so that she can promote the bakery by handing out honey-glazed biscuits to parade goers. Thankfully, Rosalind is handy with a needle.
Here’s a scene from our hero’s point of view. Like most men, Zach has grown impatient waiting on his wife and her sister to appear . . .
The door opened. Zach spun around at the sound of the hinges.
“It’s about t—” The complaint died on his tongue as his wife stepped through the doorway. She’d abandoned her work apron and changed her dark blue shirtwaist for a white lacy confection with a pleated front that highlighted her abundant curves. She’d tied a red sash around her waist that set off her blue skirt with patriotic flair and had somehow folded a scrap of leftover paper festooning from the shop’s decorations into a circle thing that looked remarkably like a flower. It sat pinned it to her blouse like a brooch. Not only that, but she’d magically woven red ribbon through the braid on her head, a ribbon he was certain hadn’t been there when they’d been working side-by-side that morning.
“Isn’t she stunning?” Abigail asked as she turned her face away from him.
She? He only saw Abigail.
However, when Abigail gestured behind her, Zach finally noticed Rosalind stepping into the hall. She didn’t make his heart pound like Abby did, but he had to admit she was a right fine looking female. They must have taken curling tongs to her hair, for it hung in blonde ringlets down her nape in a way that reminded him of the fancy women in New York who used to bring donation baskets to the orphanage at Christmas.
Her clothes were much fancier than her sister’s, too. All white and frilly. She’d taken some of the bunting fabric and fashioned an overskirt that draped down her front and pulled up into a big bow at the back. She wore a straw hat decorated with more of those red, white, and blue paper flower things.
For someone who’d known for less than twenty-four hours that she was going to be the star attraction of the Fourth of July parade, she’d done an impressive job of improvising a patriotic ensemble that would no doubt put Sophia Longfellow to shame.
Abigail shot him a look that felt remarkably like a kick to the shin. Obviously, she expected him to say something. And not to her.
He smiled at Rosie. “I’ve never seen a prettier Lady Liberty.”
Abby beamed at him, making him stand a little taller since he’d somehow managed not to stick his foot in his mouth. Then she took her sister’s hand. “You’re beautiful, Rosalind. No one deserves the title of Honey Grove’s Queen Bee more than you.”
Abigail and Rosalind might not have been dressed quite like the lady on this vintage Victorian postcard, but they were creative in using what they had to create festive and patriotic ensembles.
I don’t have too many patriotic ensembles myself, but when the time is right I have been know to pair red, white, and blue items from my closet in new and interesting ways.
What is your favorite way to decorate either your home or yourself for the 4th of July?
Leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of More Than Words Can Say and see what disaster befalls Abigail during that fateful parade.
UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations go to June Sheppard.
June – I’ll send you an email, so be watching your inbox!
Happy 4th of July weekend, everyone!
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For my home decor for the Fourth of July, I like to string American flags all around the house. My husband is military so our home is already patriotic, and I like to make it even more so for the 4th. As for myself, I like to do a cat eye with red lipstick, my white USA shirt and jean shorts, and American Flag knee socks I found in the dollar section at Target! It makes for a fun patriotic outfit.
So festive, Brittany! I’m so thankful for military families like yours who serve and protect our country.
I decorate my dining room table seasonally so I have some patriotic Precious Moments figurines and red, white, blue beads that I group together in a display and outside I always fly my flag. Thanks for the opportunity to win! The cover has always intrigued me!
Precious Moments are so adorable! And you can’t go wrong with the flag, Linda. Love that!
I have some fun patriotic decor that I place around my home and we always fly a flag. As for me, I love wearing red, white, and blue so I do that for as many days in a row that seems appropriate!
I love getting creative with my wardrobe and finding new red, white, and blue combinations that I haven’t tried before. 🙂 Some are more successful than others. Ha!
We always fly the American flag, and of course I have to wear red, white & blue for the 4th. We go to my sisters for a family picnic & watch fireworks to end the day 🇺🇸
How fun to have your own personal fireworks, June!
Sounds like a fun book to read. I love all the details of the time period.
Thanks, Karla. I hope you get a chance to read it. I’m a sucker for fun historical details. 🙂
Having been an elementary school teacher and principal, I’ve had my share of holiday outfits. I do have a couple of tops with an American flag theme, which I’ll probably wear with white or navy pants.
Teachers always have the best holiday outfits! 🙂
Wow, wow, wow! What a gorgeous blog post Karen. I hope you enjoy a lovely, patriotic filled holiday weekend.
Thanks, Heather. There’s nothing that makes me feel more patriotic and nostalgic than bunting on an old Victorian home. I just love it!
Aside from a red, white, and blue wreath on the door, we don’t decorate the house much for the 4th, but I have a red shirt with blue, white, and shiny silver stars and a red, white, and blue headband I like to wear. 🙂 When I’m feeling really ambitious, I’ve been known to paint my nails with red and white stripes on some fingers and blue background with white dots on others, but that takes a while so I don’t do it every year. XD
Hope you have a happy fourth!
Your outfit sounds wonderfully patriotic, E.F.B. And those fingernails? Wow! I’ve never been that ambitious, but I bet it looks awesome!
Fun! We are RV living right now, not much space for decor. But when we had a stick-built home, we always made sure to have our flag flying and beautiful flowers. 🙂
The flag and flowers is a wonderful combination, Angie. I love seeing the flag with Texas bluebonnets. The bluebonnets are long gone by July, but I love the pictures can linger. 🙂
This week my son and I made a red, white and blue banner with silver sparkle stars to hang across our mantle. It looks quite festive. 🙂
So crafty, Christy! I love it!
I hung tinsel stars with my hanging plants, we put the flag out, and I will add some bunting flags soon. We also wear lots of red, white, and blue, and I indulge in some patriotic paper goods. Our favorite tradition, however, is watching “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS. Always a wonderful show. Have a safe holiday weekend!
What wonderful traditions, Janice!
I love how you decorated this post with 4th of July flair, Karen! We’re planning to attend a socially distant fireworks show tonight. Cars will be filing into every other open space in a lot and fireworks will go off overhead. 🙂 Happy Independence Day!
I must say, I like the create ways people are devising to celebrate safely, Becky. American ingenuity at its best. 🙂 Have a great time, Becky!
I love buying a new patriotic fun shirt every few years…they’re getting so creative!🇺🇸 Flags are a must, especially while watching parades. We wave them dramatically to the best of the marching bands. 😜 Definitely will miss those events this year, but still excited to celebrate! “More Than Words Can Say” is an absolute favorite of mine!! 🥰📚
***wave them to the beat of the marching bands like we’re conducting.
As a former marching band member and mother of three others, I agree that nothing is better than a festive march in a parade, Becky. 🙂
We are honestly not big decorators, but we have our flag out! We sometimes decorate our recreation room, which is where we spend most of our time, with bunting and small flags. We live in the country and our house is not really visible from the road.
I’m not a big decorator, either, Sarah. But I do love to see others getting into the spirit, and putting a flag out is one of the best ways to share with the community. Glad yours is waving!
My favorite was when my kids were little. I would hit Old Navy and find adorable little red, white, and blue patriotic shirts, skirts, and shorts to dress them in. I miss those days.
Now that they are bigger, the girls and I paint our nails in patriotic colors and patterns. And then all my kiddos pop 2x boxes of Costco snappers and streamer poppers all over our yard and then we cuddle in front of the TV to watch the fireworks.
What a wonderful family tradition, Gena. I can picture those streamers everywhere. So fun!
I have flags in my flower pots outside and a patriotic metal flower on my bench. I always wear a flag shirt and canvas sneakers with red white and blue stars. Thank you for the chance. Blessings
Love your festive spirit, Lucy!
I bought a shirt with a flag on it that says, “Truth, Principle, Liberty” on it. It is custom-made by my cousin/sis-in-law. Looking forward to wearing it this July 4th!
Very cool!
I love to wear patriotic colors. I don’t decorate the house.
You and I are very similar, Caryl. 🙂
I try to wear red white and blue
We haven’t decorated the house much in the past. This year my kids and I are going to use watercolor paints to decorate our front glass door with patriotic designs. They had a blast painting our door at Easter and we haven’t updated it since, so this is the perfect time. Usually we all dress up in red, white, and blue to go to a parade, but in light of Covid, I’m not sure what we’ll do this year. A lot of my neighbors have bunting on their houses and every time I walk by them it reminds me of More Than Words Can Say!
What a fun idea for your front door, Stephanie!
My sister and I used to wear American flag bathing suits for our neighbor’s Fourth of July pool parties, and I loved that suit! It was also fun to put on temporary Patriotic tattoos when I was younger.
Bathing beauties! How fun and festive, Sylvia. 🙂
I love wearing read white and blue for the 4th of July, I have a Minnie Mouse shirt that I especially love to wear
Sounds perfect, Angeline! I love Minnie Mouse. 🙂
Wearing red, white and blue.
I don’t really decorate the house much since I don’t have much free time, but I do love to coordinate the family in patriotic colors on the Fourth of July!
I don’t do much around the house for the same reason, Beth. I bet your family looks adorable all dressed up, though!
I have some tablerunners and quits that I use around the house. And I always like to place flags outside.
That sounds like the perfect splash of festivity, Jocelyn!
I love wearing red, white and blue clothing. We put the flag up outside too. Sometimes a real estate company chooses a neighborhood and leave little flags by each mailbox.
What a fun idea to festoon a neighborhood. I like that!
I have a t shirt that has patriotic symbols and words together to form a heart shape (which I love). The fact that it’s a good quality lets me wear it for any patriotic holiday.
I like to plant flowers around my home…and around my flag pole!
I love July 4th because it always reminds me that my dear America is free and always will be free!