independence day.

i got back from tennessee on thursday after a wonderful week of relaxing & visiting. i can't even begin to express how wonderful it was! i'm not a very emotional person... but leaving franklin to drive home to indy always has me on the verge of tears. this time as i pulled out of town i was in that same state... and when i stopped to fill my gas tank, as i was walking out of the gas station, a gentleman who had already  come in & shut the door behind him, completely turned around and held it open so i could walk out. that just about sent me bawling to the car! it's just a simple act of service that happens all the time in the south but rarely have i witnessed it so purposefully done by a stranger anywhere else.

this visit was quite unplanned this time around and i just made plans as each day came... or as people heard i was in town & messaged me to get together. it was so laid back that way and i loved it! spur of the moment plans are the best anyway:)
other than a couple photoshoots, i wasn't incredibly diligent in using my camera to capture things we did or people i saw but i have so many precious memories stored away in my heart & journal.

on the 4th of july, the girls & i dressed up vintage & went to see yankee doodle dandy at the restored franklin theater with chris. {forgot to get pictures with him:/!} it was such a great movie & everyone agrees that the best part was the medley of patriotic songs that reminded us so much of eleanna's song "dixie doodle"! {which btw dear, we forgot to have you play it ON independence day! :(}
after the movie, we came back to help prepare food as the rest of the family was arriving... that strawberry project gave us a run for our money/time/supplies but was delicious! A few of us snuck in some swimming before eating & then most of us headed out in pick-up trucks to watch fireworks at harlinsdale farm. it was a gorgeous night to be outside... which is a good thing since we ended up sitting in the bed of the truck, chatting & listening to country music for almost an hour & half trying to leave. {in the first hour we only moved 11 car lengths!!}

i love celebrating our country and it's great foundation. because at the end of the day, despite various political things, i'd rather have no other place to call home:)

 oh wait! found a picture of chris! haha 

lemme just say- eleanna has some made hair skills! pin curls, sock buns & vintage twists.

the guys were around somewhere... but not in the kitchen, so no pictures of them! haha

 sittin' on the back of the truck, watching' the cars roll away

 Happy 4th y'all!!

 thanks to bunni & derek for glitter toms! completely festive!