It’s the first official Friday’s Fave Five of summer–though in my mind, it’s been summer all month. And it’s the last FFF of June. I pause on Fridays with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story to share the blessings of the week.
1. Father’s Day. We enjoyed having the family over, one of them via FaceTime.
2. July 4th decorations. I love my country and my flag, but I don’t usually have any special decorations for Independence Day–mainly because I don’t like red, white, and blue as a decorating scheme. But I went to Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and found some I liked. They were 40% off, plus I had a gift card to spend.
3. Impromptu date. We went out to Olive Garden, anticipating that they might be busy on a Saturday night. But we were seated right away in a small area with just four or five tables. We really like the smaller seating areas there rather than the restaurant being one big, open, noisy room.
4. Having Tim over while his mom had a doctor’s appointment. After lunch, we just hung out together in the family room. I wondered later whether I should plan something special to do when he’s here. But I think we all enjoy just relaxing together at times, too.
5. Good conversations, one with a friend, one with the folks around our table at our Wednesday evening get-together at church.
How was your week?
Stray Thoughts 
This sounds like a good week! I don’t really have patriotic/July 4 decor either. Your new things look nice and just the right amount of red/white/blue 🙂 How nice that you got a smaller, out-of-the-way to sit at OG. It really can make a big difference in how much you enjoy a meal, I think! And I agree, it’s seemed like summer for a while already I think.
I have just a few patriotic decorations as well but I purchase some items on sale at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and am happy I did as we will be home most of the day on the 4th. Yours are really cute!
I love that your grandson loves to just relax with you and doesn’t need to be “entertained”. I know my mother in law used to love it when my girls would just wanna hang out on the deck with her and their books when she herself was reading.
that cake looks yummy with the chocolate frosting in the father’s day pic
I like your Fourth of July decorations. Hobby Lobby always has so many great choices.
Our grandsons like just hanging out too. Sometimes, they’ll talk, sometimes they just sit around. It’s all okay because they’re here.
Olive Garden does a good job of creating small areas. And their food is yummy.
Have a good week! Willow
I think the patriotic decorations you chose are just enough of a nod to July 4 without overwhelming you with colors you don’t like. I like smaller seating areas in restaurants too. Though they are pretty rare. Fun to have just some hang out time with Timothy.
I don’t have any red/white/blue decor either but like you mostly because I just don’t like that color combination. I used to have some when the boys were smaller and they wore flag t-shirts and things for the 4th and we’d make themed snacks and stuff but as things broke or faded I just didn’t replace them. It sounds like you had a really lovely week.
Sounds like you had a very heartwarming week! I’ve never decorated for July 4th either. The decorations you found are really cute. Conversations with friends are so special!
I know what you mean — summer here starts around May and goes until October, so the “official start of summer” gets a shrug.
Isn’t it great that HL has sales all the time? Glad you found things that worked in your home.
How nice to find a restaurant not too busy. Though, it worries me a bit for the health of the restaurant…
Those two last faves are such good things. They aren’t splashy or photo-worthy, but so enjoyable and enriching.