Memorial Day kicks off the summer
boating season on the lake!
Although we generally refrain from boating on major holidays to avoid the crowds, we have been known to weigh anchor early in the morning or enjoy a late evening cruise.
In anticipation of the holiday, I’m setting sail into summer with appetizer boats and wooden buoys from Pottery Barn for a nautical and patriotic table!
A “ready-refill” at Lowe’s was proudly hailing its patriotism with a combination of white petunias, red verbena, and blue lobelia.
Drop your refill in your pot, and anchor some flags for quick decorating & smooth sailing into the holiday weekend!
I found an Americana Plaid Seersucker Tablecloth from Kohl’s to top a red quilt for the table. Baskets serving as chargers were brought ashore from HomeGoods several years ago.
Flatware, resembling rope, adds a nautical
touch along with mini glass buoys.
Red, white & blue striped napkins from World Market are casually knotted on the port side of the basket.
We filled our boats with a recipe from Southern Living’s collection of Quick & Delicious Summer Salads for an easy summer meal after watching a regatta on the lake last summer.
Help yourself to a taste of Lemon Basil Shrimp Boats~
Shrimp Salad with a Lemon-Basil Marinade.
And Watermelon, Pecan, and Gorgonzola Salad~
A refreshing summer salad and a combination I have had before, with the exception of Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette~ a surprisingly delicious addition, which added just a little heat in contrast to the salty cheese and sweet melon!
The newest ship added to our fleet,
found docked at HomeGoods~
a boat cooler for beverages.
Of course Memorial Day has a much more important significance than boating & picnics. . . it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in military service.
First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
A day to recognize, reflect, and remember
how fortunate we are to live in freedom.
Anchors Aweigh Table Details:
Dishes/Food Network™ Cafe Red & Blue Dinnerware, Kohl’s
Americana Plaid Seersucker Tablecloth/ Kohl’s
Goblets/ Dollar Tree
Flatware & Napkins/ World Market
Baskets & Boat Cooler/ HomeGoods
Buoys, Appetizer Boats/ Pottery Barn
Wishing you a Safe & Happy Memorial Day!
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
Let’s Dish!~ Patriotic Challenge,
Tablescape Thursday, Marvelous Mondays,
Metamorphosis Monday, The Scoop,
Inspire Me Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesdays,
Foodie Friday, Home Sweet Home
I’d like to sail in for some of your shrimp salad. Love your table. I am hoping our area Kohls has the seersucker plaid tablecloth. I love it. Everything you do always delights and inspires. I love fresh and real. You have the gift.
wow your table looks lovely and inviting…and that cooler is sooo cute!
:D SO flippin’ cute, Mary. LOVE the boats, especially the beverage container/cooler. We are going to the beach this year for Memorial Day. We need a vacation in the VERY WORST WAY!!!
Aw! The table square looks like seersucker…all preppy! LOVE it!
xo,
RJ
You have really inspired me and put me in the mood for this holiday weekend. I absolutely love your new cooler boat. So perfect for you. The new pepper jelly dressing sounds great. Definitely going to give that a try. Enjoy your holiday on the lake.
~Mary~
Happy Memorial Day weekend to you and yours!!
I love the boat cooler, that is soooo neat!! and of course everything looks super, as always !
Paula
In.
God Bless our Troops !!
All the elements of this table are wonderful, Mary. I am taking notes.:-)
Beautiful. Your tribute to remember those who gave us our freedom is simply gorgeous. Love the flowers, went looking for some this weekend and our Lowe’s missed the boat! Still love those baskets. The tablecloth and napkins are a wonderful addition. xo marlis
Love every single detail, from the table covering, to the way you’ve staged the Lemon Basil Shrimp Boats, to the boat drink cooler. Fabulous.
I love your table. Thanks for creating such beauty for us all to drool over. Love the table cloth. The baskets were a great touch. Your talent for decorating a gift. Thank you
Wow, Mary, you really did a fantastic job with this table! I love the seersucker tablecloth and napkins paired with the simpleness of the plates. The little boating details are awesome and echo the beautiful lake setting. Well Done! (as usual!).
Once again you have shared with all such a wonderful table. I recently purchased the same tablecloth from Kohls and was debating as to whether it was a “keeper”. You have helped me make up my mind! As I commented once before, your photography makes a lovely table setting look even more spectacular. Thank you.
You find the BEST things at HG!!! That boat cooler is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!! I do remember those 2 recipes from your outing last year and since we are having houseguests in 3 weeks, I am going to make both for our first dinner. Theyw ill be arriving around 5PM so a light dinner will be perfect. Your table is perfect, again. LOVE the flatware. XO, Pinky
You have truly thought of everything, Mary! I chuckled at your “brought ashore” reference to your shopping excursions…very clever!
Both food items look quite luscious. I hope to get to try them soon.
I bought a very similar floral basket from Loews…love the colors all summer long at the back of the house, while the front is all PINK, courtesy of Ms. C’s shopping with me. LOL
Have a safe & memorable day,
fondly,
Rett
Wow ! What a beautiful Memorial Day table. I would love to be invited. You did a fantastic job. Love the shrimp boat and huge drink boat. Have a fun week end. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely love your blog and look forward to your next creative idea! We too live on a lake and try to avoid the “weekend warriors”!!! Thanks for the inspiration and lovely tablescapes.
Happy Memorial Day! What a lovely table setting. Your new items are perfect and everything looks gorgeous.
Anchors Away…! Every time I look at one of your posts I see at least one thing I wish I could find here…this time its two!…I have lusted after your little appetizer boats before but this time I’m adding the boat cooler to my “I wish I had” list!
Hallelujah! This is yet another big time winner, Mary! I love everything about it! The little appetizer boats with the flatware “oars” is cute, cute, cute!!! I just love it! And a seersucker tablecloth…great find! I really need to start looking in Kohl’s every once in awhile. I hardly ever go in there, but they obviously have some really terrific things! Those plates you used are perfect for this!!!
You, of course, have the perfect back drop for this fabulous table: the water. I hope that you and your family enjoy a wonderful and very SAFE Memorial Day weekend!!!!!
absolutely perfect!
How adorable and soooo patriotic! I just love the boat cooler, I can see many different uses for that:) Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day Week-end!!
so cute my little twinsy, i spy this and that that we share on a regular basis, its always fun to see your nautical side come floating around. i saw that big boat, its always so cold at our beach that cold drink boats are not needed, more like thermos and blankies! wishing you a very happy holiday weekend, we are staying in the country, a little too crowded for my likings too so i am playing with lavender… that i don’t have any of :-( but i am eating well!
Love this table! I would join you in a second for a meal by the water! Gorgeous!
I loved your plaid topper when I first saw it Mary, then was tickled to see it’s seersucker! I may actually stop at Kohl’s, think I’d enjoy one of them! The RW&B flowers are beautiful too-Enjoy:@)
Reblogged this on Here Is What I Like and commented:
Cute cute
How fun this post is! I love everything about it and the red white and blue boating theme is wonderful. The shrimp ‘boat’ looks so yummy too. I wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday weekend. Blessings, Pamela
Happy Memorial Day weekend Mary, it looks like you’re ready! I’m with you on the boat traffic, we usually just watch the water parade from our porch. That boat cooler is too fabulous! I am using a wooden boat with flags for our table too, but I sure wish it could hold iced beverages, that is so cute! I wish you perfect weather and a wonderful time for the holiday weekend!
Jenna
Mary, we are headed to the lake this weekend as well! I am so looking forward to the “beginning” of the summer lake season! We will try to sneak in some boat rides as well!
Enjoy your weekend!
I can’t decide whether my favorite part is the table linen, the rope looking flatware, or that ship shape cooler with the drinks. It all looks just plain out wonderful.
The boat cooler is soooooo cute! Hugs, Holly
Mary, I love every teeny tiny detail of this setting. Pure perfection yet again and I love the new boat cooler. Have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.
Looks like so much fun, Mary, love that wonderful seersucker tablecloth!!
Your table is perfect for the Memorial Day celebration, Mary! The shrimp dish looks so cute served in those darling boats. You’ve thought of everything, as always.
Oh everything is so cute! Love that big cooler boat! Your Kohls tablecloth is great and that red underneath sets the stage! The dishes, stemware and food all look great! I don’t blame you for avoiding the crowds on the lake. We had a pontoon for a while and experienced what it can be like….way too many crazies out there! I hope your Memorial Weekend will be great!
You come up with some of the most unique tables, Mary…I love this table. I think those boat bowls are the cutest thing and perfect for that delicious looking shrimp dish! I never find fun things like that beverage cooler…so perfect for you, Mary.
Have a wonderful week…
This is the perfect place to spend Memorial Day after a ride on your boat!!! What festive detail, Mary!!! I wish our HomeGood’s would have that boat cooler! I don’t live anywhere near water, but it would have come home with me!!!
Lovely lake side dining with a pretty table of red, whte and blue colors. Your darling boat bowls are perfect for the shrimp salad. A very cute cooler for the season! Enjoy your dining on Memorial Day!
Pam
Oh Mary, such spectacular boats! Each filled with the most wonderful of treats.
– The Tablescaper
This is stunning! I absolutely love it. Beautiful! I would love for you to share this at http://hickorytrailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/assets-and-efforts-linky-party-3.html
Thanks,
Angela
Love this table….and those buoys? OMG! such a great table!
just perfect!
Ahoy Mate!!!!
What an excellent boatwoman you are….love your sea worthy tablescape! I am sure you will have fair weather for your picnic by the lake. Enjoy!
Blessings My Friend,
Beautiful table! Gotta try the Watermelon salad!
We are not boaters but used to be – loved sailing and cocktails cruises :). Love the new addition to your fleet :)
Exquisite Mary, both the table and the sentiment. I love those little boats, so cute!
You wouldn’t have been boating here this weekend, cold and windy! Boat is in, but couldn’t go out.
I remember this post! Here we are a year later! Have a great Memorial weekend!
I think that boat cooler was made just for you!! Perfect setting for a Memorial Day picnic, fabulous red white and blue display!!
Lovely and perfect for the holiday!