We Celebrated the Red, White, & Blue
with a Memorial Day Picnic~
Stars and Stripes were the Guests of Honor!
And a little retro fun~ plaid & portable~ was provided by this metal picnic basket I found at World Market~
Mini MoonPies and vintage-style seltzer waters arrived, but unfortunately RC Colas were unable to attend :)
Parchment paper checked basket liners, and galvanized metal pails, also from World Market served up snacks and drinks~
A galvanized bottle caddy from Pottery Barn, is fitted with jars so it can tote napkins, flags, flatware, & flowers with ease~ and gets pulled into service frequently!
You can see it Picnicking with Pumpkins here, and here, toting BBQ Sundaes last Memorial Day.
(World Market also has a 4-bottle caddy available now, you can find here.)
I found patriotic baskets at Dollar Tree~ just the right size for serving a sandwich & chips or jars of salads~ along with a side of Sparklers and a MoonPie :)
Our salads in jars are not traditional Memorial Day fare, but a little less filling so there’s room for dessert!
Tarragon Chicken Salad ~ chicken, halved red seedless grapes, tarragon, chopped pecans, celery, and mayo~ mixed to your ratio of preference, and seasoned to taste.
And pasta salad~ pasta with chopped sundried tomatoes, black olives, marinated artichoke hearts, feta cheese. Toss with vinaigrette or Italian dressing.
Patriotic Berry Trifle~
Layers of angel food or pound cake, berries, and pudding.
Instead of pudding, I like to mix a jar of lemon curd with 8 oz. of light cream cheese to layer between the cake and berries.
While we had our fun in the sun, Memorial Day is more than picnics and recreational boating~
A day to recognize, reflect, and remember
how fortunate we are to live in freedom.
Thank you to all our military men and women who protect and serve us~
We are humbled and grateful for you and your families’ sacrifices.
Celebrating the Red, White & Blue Picnic
Plaid Picnic Basket/ World Market
Checked Paper Basket Liners, Galvanized Buckets, Round Tray, RW&B Striped Napkins/ World Market
Patriotic Baskets, RW&B Straws/ Dollar Tree
Galvanized Picnic Caddy/Pottery Barn
Flatware/ HomeGoods, several years ago
Hope your celebration was happy!
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
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The Scoop, Inspire Me Tuesday,
Wow Us Wednesdays, Foodie Friday, Home Sweet Home,
Looks like a fun lunch! Lovin’ those striped napkins and that’s such a good idea about the lemon curd and cream cheese for the trifle, sounds great:@)
I haven’t had a RC Cola and a Moonpie is ages! Your picnic fare and decorations are always the best, and I annoint you the queen of styling! And I really like your idea of mixing the lemon curd and cream cheese. Will definitely have to give that a try.
Love all the nostalgic touches…I especially love that R/W/B metal picnic basket…!….Such a gorgeous patriotic picnic display…there is so many creative vignettes to see and wanting to “taste”….How wonderful it is to sit by the beautiful lake and enjoy the view and the wonderful treats!
Oh I love all your red, white and blue! Love it all! Gotta pin some of this!!!! Adore how you used jars for your pasta salad and dessert. Such a lovely display. Your pictures are simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Love it when one of your posts pops up on my email. Your eye for colors, patterns, and details is amazing. You are an inspiration to all to try and fill our lives with beauty whenever we can. Your photos certainly do that for me! I look forward to all the future ones to come. As I was jotting down your recipes for the picnic, I found myself planning an “all girls” luncheon for my closest friends! Please give Chloe and Gracie a hug for me.
I can almost feel the breeze coming off the lake! What a gorgeous setting for your amazing picnic. Love the idea of the lemon curd and cream cheese, YUM! I get sad when I see all the fabulous things you find at WM, none up here, unfortunately. I am hoping next year we can have a picnic, maybe by the pool at the new house!!! XO, Pinky
You always do the best Red White & Blue. I know you, Chloe & Gracie had a ball over the holiday weekend. Elle had a house full too but, we went to the pool instead of the lake. Burned ourselves up… I’m smartter than that & old enough to know better. Have a great weekend. Charlene & Elle
Mary, I do love a good picnic, and this one is A++++++++. I’ll be right over to savor those delicious goodies. Love the idea of lemon curd with the berries. I’ve been eating low fat lemon yogurt with berries lately. It’s usually my breakfast or lunch, but looks and tastes like dessert. You know how I love r-w-b; you can count on me stopping by WM today to see if they have those picnic baskets. I can see this filled with flowers for a centerpiece for 4th of July. Thanks for sharing the joy of a picnic by the lake. ~ Sarah
We would have loved to attend your darling and delicious picnic. Everything looks so festive and the food looks so inviting. What a wonderful day it must have been!
What a fabulous day for a picnic! I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face while reading your post. Your picnic was picture perfect. I love the idea of the salads in the jars. You always have such wonderful ideas.
Beautiful photos! Looks like the best picnic ever!
That was great fun and so delish, how could you stand the heat! We had a wonderful weekend filled with laughter and a bit of time visiting a small graveyard filled with flags, I read unbroken which brought all wars to the front of my mind so painfully… We are truly lucky to be born here and need to remind ourselves that over and over… And you my dear have luck and talent and I love you sharing the finer side of life~
Mary, your picnic by the lake looks wonderful. I love red,white and blue and your patriotic picnic is fabulous. The berries with lemon curd and cream cheese sound wonderful and refreshing. Did you light the sparklers? That was my favorite thing to do when I was a kid. While you were having your picnic did Chloe and Gracie take the boat out for a spin!?! I also loved your last post of them on the boat. Thanks for sharing your wonderful Memorial Day holiday with us. Fun and delightful posts!
I love that red, white & blue lunch basket you picked up at World Market! That is one of the best of the season!! Of course, the whole picnic setting is tops! It’s fun to get tastes from the past every once in awhile. My waistline…oh, wait…who am I kidding? I haven’t had a waistline in years!!! :-) Anyhoooooo….it would be fun to munch on Moon Pies and “real” potato chips! (We’ve been on the low sodium chips for a couple of years now. Not nearly as good as the original!) The flowers are just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful photos, Mary! Makes me want to go out and laze about under the old oak tree!
Fun fun fun in the sun….Everything is so coordinated and fitting for the occasion… Memorial Day is one of those sad and bittersweet ‘holidays’… Wish more people would remember why we celebrate them…!
Adorable picnic! I love your baskets and lunch in jars. What a pretty blend of red, white and blue, Mary!
So much fun! I love how you have everything jarred. It makes for easy transport and a magnificent presentation.
– The Tablescaper
Loved the retro details and all your patriotic colors, Mary! The food looks so pretty and festive all jarred up!! I have to tell you something funny…I had a dream about you. I don’t even know what you look like, but in my dream you had dark brown hair. A bunch of us went to your place and you started to serve us food on paper plates. I was politely thinking to myself…hmm, where are all of Mary’s beautiful dishes, accessories, etc.? Lo and behold, you must’ve read my mind and started bringing out the good stuff!!!
Thanks for everyone’s kind comments! Kitty~ I had to laugh at your comment, I hope in your dream I at least broke out the Chinet paper plates! I’m blonde BTW :)
I just absolutely love following your blog! You always present such pretty post for me to drool over, dream about and pin! LOL! Thanks for sharing another great patriotic posts!
A beautiful setting, fun and fabulous foods and such pretty decorations–Mary, you thought of everything for this patriotic picnic!
I love your patriotic picnic!! Everything is perfect!!!
Love how you presented everything, it truly looks like a magazine spread. The r w b picnic basket is great, very retro!
Too funny about Kitty’s dream. Glad it was your house! We haven’t finished setting up the porch yet, it’s not company ready yet!
Thanks so much for linking to Let’s Dish!
You just brought picnicking to a whole new level!! This is the art of picnic. Love every little detail,it’s amazing!
Just beautiful….as always but please can you tell me ….what is a moonpie? I have never heard of one before.
Suzyq
Such a fun, beautiful picnic. Your red, white, and blue flower combo is gorgeous. The food items just made me drool!!! So yummy!
This is one PERFECT patriotic picnic! I love your attention to every single detail …I learn from you :)
Beautiful in every single way! Thanks for the inspiration.
I love this post! The styling, the colors, the setting! Perfect!
How in the world you can make a picnic with glass jars and tin containers look almost elegant just boggles my mind. I have said before that you need to publish a coffee table book. I now believe you should also publish a magazine.
Weekly.
Hope that’s not too much to ask. LOL
I think this is the most patriotic picnic I have ever seen! Such fabulous attention to detail. I must get that bottle holder…. you have it decked out so beautifully.
Every thing you do makes me swoon, my friend!
Just think what a team we could be if we lived close to each other!!!! One can dream!
How wonderful for a great holiday. Love the picnic basket and the quilt.. I could imagine away some lovely hours in your setting. Have a great weekend. xo marlis
This just fabulous Mary!!! Just when I think you cannot outdo yourself…there you go…again!! I LOVE this picnic!!! I’d love to share just one holiday with you!! That trifle is going to be on the table for Fourth of July!!! Thank you ever so much for sharing your talents with us!! xo
Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug
Hi Mary,
I guess the book blog hop at Food for Thought is no more?
So sad, I was going to try and join up this week.
xxoo,
RMW
Every thing is just so perfect, specially the picnic basket, love it…
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
I am amazed at how wonderful you made your picnic look with just a few simple touches. Everything looks so good that I’d love to sit and have lunch with you. I had to laugh about the RC drinks. I haven’t had one in years either, but sent my dad to the store and told him to buy “Coke” (which in my area is what you call any soda) and he came home with RC. First time I’ve had one in years. I’m having a BBQ & Picnic Party on my blog in a few weeks and would love to have you make plans to link up this post. If you are interested, details are on my blog.
Awesome! This is really the perfect idea I was looking for! This would be a fun and perfect bonding for my family. Maybe we’ll try to make some picnic at the bay by next week.
Just amazing….so much thought and creativity!!! Really very special.
And your photographs are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes,
Bobbie
This is so beautiful… I am so happy you shared this ON THE MENU MONDAY!
Your pictures are amazing! I love the whole picnic setting and the food looks delicious! Moon pies and RC cola are a NC favorite…love the whole setting! :)
I think moon pies are what are called whoopie pies in Maine, and making the best gets to be pretty competitive! I’m not sure I have a favorite as I’d much rather have a blueberry pie. Memorial Day found me lounging with my girls at Lake Austin Spa, no food preparation at all.
Such a wonderful thought out picnic basket. I love your presentations. Whoopie pies are wonderful treats.
Gorgeous, this is so perfect. I am amazed at your creativity. I need to remember all these fabulous ideas. Love it. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
Hi Mary, I’m not sure where to start! This is a fabulous picnic setting. The tin basket from World Market and the galvanized bottle holder are coming to my house. And the lemon curd idea–I love lemon curd so I’m making that for sure!!! Your link to the RC Cola/Moon Pie was so interesting! I don’t think moon pies and whoopie pies are quite the same thing but I’m going to find out. Whoopie pies are really like cake with frosting in-between. I always thought a moon pie was like a cookie with frosting on it, but I’ve never had one so not sure. I’ve also been looking for the waxed paper so thank you for the source idea. Have a wonderful day. Linda
How beautiful! I found picnic settings to be a challenge, but you have done a fabulous job with this!
Beautiful as always. And I love that you paid tribute to our military service members, too. The idea of serving the chicken salad and pasta salad in the jars with the paper toppers is really great, I have to remember that.
A whole year later and I still love this!
What a fun picnic.
Mary, This is a way a Memorial Day picnic should be!
And thanks for remembering our military men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom. Happy Memorial Day!
Another fun one to revisit!