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Happy Tuesday, My Lovelies!  Today I'm sharing with y'all my Americana Tablescape for Summer.  There are seventeen total stylists participating in this Summer Tablescape Blog Hop hosted by my friend Rita from the Panoply blog.  If you're blog hopping in order, then your list visit was at the Mantel and Table blog.  



Thanks so much for hosting these parties, Rita.  They are always so much fun!







One day recently in my inbox I saw a fun Americana napkin set from Terrain.  I loved all four patterns, and as a MacKenzie-Childs collector, I've always enjoyed mixing patterns.  These napkins were my inspiration for this table.  I also purchased the Americana banner as well.  You can see it in the background of the photo below.

I enjoy using red, white, and blue in tablescapes and other decor.  Our classroom/library is painted red, and I used shades of blues, whites and a little red in the upholstery and pillows.  I'm a proud American, and I love our country.  I like showcasing our patriotism in our decor.



I have been collecting some of the MacKenzie-Childs Limited Edition Collectors' Mugs.
The one above with the little gold star is the June 2025 mug.



Above are the four plate stacks with the four different napkins.  The star-shaped placemats are all the same.  I chose Mackenzie-Childs patterns with blues, reds, greens, and yellows to match my table runner.  I also coordinated mugs with the napkins and plate stacks.



Because our breakfast room table is rather narrow, I chose the MacKenzie-Childs Royal Stripe top hat bud vase.  The centerpiece features white spray roses, baby's breath, a mophead hydrangea, red roses, and Aloha Blue Ageratum.  I purchased the flowers at Bloom and Petal, a local florist.
I almost always use red roses on patriotic or Americana tablescapes because the red rose is our national flower.



This is an overhead view of the table.  I have it set for breakfast with bowls, plates, and mugs.
Our breakfast room table has a maple cutting board top, and it has been indestructible.  We have enjoyed many family meals tucked around this table.


For many years I have enjoyed using a couple of Taylor patterns in patriotic tablescapes:  King Ferry (ruffled luncheon plate) and Stoke Gabriel (berry bowl).  I have more pieces from these two patterns because I use them a lot with red, white, and blue settings.  They are two of my favorite patterns.










I hope you enjoyed your visit today!  If you're going in order, my blog is the last one on the list.  Thanks for your perseverance!  If you would like to go back and visit a few of your favorites, below is the list and links for all participants.


Home is Where the Boat Is - Lakeside Table with Thistle and Bees
Hyacinths for the Soul - Marching Into Summer
Pandora's Box - A Berry Good Brunch
Celebrating Everyday Life - Poolside Patriotic Party
Life and Linda - Adventure in the Skies
The Cat's Whizkerz - Come Sail Away
My Thrift Store Addiction - Heavenly Honeysuckle Picnic in the Garden
The Little Yellow Corner Store - What is Growing in the Garden Tablescape
Belle Bleu Interiors - A Quiet Summer's Afternoon
Thrifting Wonderland - Summertime...Living is Easy
Olla-Podrida - A Patriotic Tablescape
Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Summer With a Cherry on Top
The Bookish Dilettante - Americana Tablescape for Summer



Resources

The Vase and all plates, bowls, and mugs:  MacKenzie-Childs (Taylor and Wallcourt Collections)
Napkin set and banner:  Terrain
Table runner and napkin rings:  Pier1 (I purchased these several years ago.)
Star-shaped placemats:  Home Goods (last year)
Table spoons:  Horchow (Hotel Flatware)
Flowers:  Bloom and Petal













Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill



Americana Tablescape for Summer

Tuesday, June 10, 2025




Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies!  On this edition of What I'm Reading Wednesday I'm sharing a Civil War historical novel entitled Measure of Devotion by Nell Joslin.  When TLC Book Tours emailed me to see if I would be interested in joining the blog tour for this book, I jumped at the chance because I rarely run across historical fiction set during the War Between the States.  It seems that there are so many historicals set during World War II, doesn't it!

About Measure of Devotion
• Publisher: Regal House Publishing (May 20, 2025)
• Paperback: 290 pages

According to Goodreads:

In this debut novel set during the American Civil War, a pro-Union South Carolina woman leaves home to retrieve her wounded Confederate son, staking everything in a mission of danger, privation, and emotional turmoil.

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Civil War, this intricately woven novel delves into the life of Susannah Shelburne, a thirty-six-year-old woman residing in South Carolina with her older husband, Jacob. Their son, Francis, defies his parents' wishes by enlisting in the Confederate army, sparking bitter familial discord. In October 1863, devastating news Francis has been critically wounded near Chattanooga, Tennessee.Susannah embarks on a perilous journey to bring her son home, finding Francis delirious with fever and haunted by the horrors of battle. Their reunion is overshadowed by the conflicts at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, culminating in Francis being captured as a prisoner of war. As the war exacts its toll and tensions escalate between mother and son, Susannah confronts impossible choices amidst harrowing revelations from home. This gripping narrative explores themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the profound impacts of war on family bonds, painting a vivid portrait of one woman's relentless fight for survival and reconciliation in a time of unprecedented turmoil.



My Review:

The novel is structured with a plot alternating between the past and present, and this is very effective because we witness how Susannah and her husband Jacob are at crossed-purposes with each other.  Their son Francis rejects his mother's devotion (from the time he was about five years old) and instead scrabbles for his father's perfunctory attention.  This plot structure exacerbates the tragedy of the story during the war because the Shelburnes squandered so much time and opportunity to be a close-knit family during peaceful years.  

I also enjoyed the historical details Joslin inserts into each scene.  I appreciate it when authors heavily research historical minutiae, and each scene immerses the reader in the sights, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds of the era.  Also her vivid depiction of the natural world both at the Shelburnes' home Ardwyn and the battlefield near Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga is a horrifying juxtaposition with the violence both on and off the battlefield.  

Susannah is a relatable, likable, and flawed main character.  She put aside her beliefs in order to aid her son, and she goes to great lengths to save his life and freedom.  Her resilience, care, and love for those in her circle are all admirable qualities.  Rooting for her until the very end makes this book bearable because it's a tough read, y'all.  But the ugliness of war is always tough for me to read, especially a war that tore our country and families apart.

I recommend this book if you enjoy reading historical fiction, family dramas, descriptive historical details (think Diana Gabaldon), and beautiful, lyrical prose.

About Nell Joslin, Author of Measure of Devotion

Nell Joslin is a fiction writer with deep roots in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was born and currently lives. She holds an MFA from North Carolina State University and brings a wealth of experience to her writing, having worked as a public school teacher, journalist, and attorney.

Tour Stops

Monday, June 2nd: Laura’s Reviews

Wednesday, June 4th: The Bookish Dilettante

Wednesday, June 4th: Instagram: @mlbooklove

Thursday, June 5th: Instagram: @judgingby_thecover

Friday, June 6th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Friday, June 6th: Instagram: @seasonedreader

Monday, June 9th: Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

Tuesday, June 10th: Eliot’s Eats

Tuesday, June 10th: Girl Who Reads

Friday, June 13th: Instagram: @mary.mary_library


Disclosure:

I received an ARC of Measure of Devotion from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.








Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Measure of Devotion

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

 






Happy June, My Lovelies!  This edition of the Tales of the traveling Tote will feature our anniversary trip to Amsterdam and our river cruise on the Rhine.  I could write a dissertation about our trip because we saw and learned so much.  But instead I'm featuring my favorite things about the trip.  We left Birmingham on our anniversary (March 19th) which was the opening day of tulip season.

My favorite thing about Amsterdam was the Van Gogh Museum.  We had special tickets and went early.  There were very few people around, so we were able to take our time in the galleries.  Here are some favorites:



The Bedroom
Arles, October 1888
oil on canvas
28.5" X 36"

We had seen this one before when it was on loan at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2016.


Sprig of Flowering Almond In a Glass
Arles, March 1888
oil on canvas
9.6" X  7.6"

Below is one of my favorite paintings.  Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms was the most cherished paintings by his family, and it was heavily influenced by his interest in Japanese print making.  The perspective is looking up through the branches toward the sky.  This perspective loses the view of the tree in its entirety. 



Almond Blossom
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, February 1890
oil on canvas
29" X 36"




We also visited the Rijksmuseum which is located on the same campus.  It was slightly crowded, but we really didn't have much trouble seeing everything in the galleries.  I think most people were outside because it was the first pretty weekend after a cold, rainy winter.  They were in the process of restoring The Night Watch which is Rembrandt's most celebrated painting.  It shows citizens of Amsterdam protecting the city. 





We enjoyed one of our best meals in Amsterdam at the Rijksmuseum.  In the café they had these gorgeous (and huge) Delft tulipieres.


Our first stop on our cruise included an eBike tour of Kinderdijk windmills.  We saw nineteen windmills in all, and we were able to tour one that is a working museum.  It was very interesting seeing the millers go about their day and moving the windmills to catch the wind.


Kinderdijk windmills


One thing that has been on my bucket list as an adult is to see the Cologne Cathedral in all her gothic splendor.  She did not disappoint, and I might have been slightly overhwelmed.







Another favorite activity one afternoon was viewing many, many castles along the Rhine from the boat.  I sketched several of them while enjoying afternoon tea.


Ehrensfels Castle
near Rüdesheim, Hesse, Germany
This castle was actually rebuilt in 1212

One of my favorite places in Germany is Heidelberg.  I've visited there several times, and I wanted Shanley Belle and Christopher to experience it, so we took a little side trip there.  This was the only day without sunshine; it was very foggy for almost the entire day.


This is one of my favorite views at Heidelberg Castle.  This is the moat, and at one time, it was a zoo for a very spoiled queen.
We were a little early in the season, but this area as well as many of the walls and ruins at the castle become covered in wildflowers in spring and summer.

My new favorite region of France is The Alsace, and we visited several World War II sites and villages.  Below is a panorama view of Strasbourg.  This region is known for its gingerbread, and it's enjoyed year round.  



The last thing I want to share about our trip was a visit and hike in the Black Forest of Germany.  This area is known for cuckoo clocks and Black Forest Cake.  We took a class to learn how to make and assemble the cakes.  It was a lot of fun!  After sampling the cakes, it was nice that we had the opportunity to go on a little hike.




Mountainside brook in the Black Forest of Germany


Disclosure:  La Countess de Monet was unable to make this trip because I needed a backpack for many of the biking and hiking tours we did.  She was not happy, I tell ya!  So in order to make it up to her, I took her to a flower arrangement class at a beautiful local farm here in Central Alabama.  You can read about our adventure HERE.


La Countess de Monet at Stone Hollow Farmstead learning about floral arranging

Please visit the other ladies' blogs and read about their travels using the links below.  Rita is hosting our giveaway!





Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney ChildsThe French Hutch   

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box  

Rita with Miss Luna C Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante  










Please join me Wednesday, June 4th for my review of this new Civil War historical fiction novel.


Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill




Tales of the Traveling Tote: Rhine River Cruise and Amsterdam

Sunday, June 1, 2025


Hello, Lovelies!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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