Happy Memorial Day! I set a table in celebration of the Red, White and Blue!
Our Memorial Day weekend weather has been a combination of sunny, cloudy, rainy and stormy. It’s been one of those weekends where the sun is shining in the front yard while storm clouds are gathering in the back. ;)
Memorial Day kicks off boating season at the lake and is the unofficial start of summer. I enjoyed a window of sunshine to weigh anchor and set sail into Memorial Day with enamel appetizer boats, ideal for serving Lemon Basil Shrimp Salad and Watermelon, Pecan, and Gorgonzola Salad.
For a centerpiece for the table, I used red, white and blue plaid picnic tin, filled with hydrangeas that are blooming.
For easy and quick assembly, I added plastic cups to the picnic tin, lined with plastic bags to help keep the cups of water secure and in place. Mini flags were added to the hydrangeas for a stars and stripes salute.
To help your cut hydrangea blooms last and prevent them from wilting, use the alum-dipping method.
Flatware resembling rope, adds a nautical touch to the table.
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.
Table Details:
Enamel Boat Dishes / Pottery Barn, several years ago
Red White and Blue Plaid Picnic Tin / World Market, several years ago, used here
Blue Goblets/ Pfaltzgraff All Purpose
Melamine Rope Dishes/ Tommy Bahama, HomeGoods
Rope cocktail plates, Pottery Barn, several years ago, used here
Flatware / World Market, several years ago
Ralph Lauren Paisley Tablecloth / HomeGoods
Napkin Rings, Straws, Placemats/ HomeGoods
American Stars and Stripes Swooper Flags, Amazon
We hope to enjoy a little boating time today between rain showers. What are your Memorial Day plans?
Wishing you a Safe and Happy Memorial Day!
Thank you for your visit!
Sharing with: Tablescape Thursday
Here’s to sunny skies and smooth sailing! The tablescape is beautiful and love the little packs of sparklers. Happy Memorial Day. Thank-you for this patriotic post!
Thanks for tip to prevent flower droop.
Happy Memorial Day to you Mary!!! Safe boating and have a fun day!
Hurray for the red, white and blue! Happy Memorial Day. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Beautiful red, white, and blue! Happy Memorial Day ❤️🇺🇸💙
Mary, you are so patriotic!🇺🇸Happy Memorial Day!😎🌴
Lovely USA patriotic theme. Have a lovely day
Great swooper flags and with your flower arrangement tied to your dock boat riders will slow down to take a good look. Your tablescape is eye-catching. I like your tin of white hydrangeas with flags on your paisley tablecloth with a great stack of plates topped with the cute little boat and sparklers.
Very pretty Mary, love the tin with flowers. Happy boating! Just a small cookout with family, hope to have a bonfire if rain holds off. Your swooper flags are awesome! Happy Memorial Day!
Wishing you a “memorable” Memorial Day, Mary! Your table is lovely & I am head over heels in love with your red/white & blue metal basket that you used for your pretty flowers! Very well done & thank you for the tip about the alum-dipping method. I was not aware of that trick.
Just beautiful, Mary!
Well, you would never know you have iffy weather with this gorgeous table set by the lake. I’ve been attempting to get some outdoor photos, but rain here has hindered the project. ‘-)
Perhaps today I’ll find a window of time to sneak out, get set up, and photos taken. I have one of the metal
baskets. Love the idea of filling it withe hydrangeas. Thanks for the tips. I pinned it for future reference.
All of your patriotic tables and special touches make my heart sing. Enjoy your day, my friend!
Beautiful!!
So kind of you to share these gorgeous pictures and ideas for Memorial Day. Your blog enriches my life every day. I often remember images you have posted long after the fact. I might have to order some of those swooper flags as surprise gifts for my grown kids for the holidays!
Be still my heart… LOVE-LOVE-LOVE that paisley tablecloth! Gonna nose around the net and see if I can find one:@) Happy Memorial Day Mary-enjoy!
So lovely, Mary! Thanks for all your hard work so that we can take in your beautiful designs! I had never heard the alum “trick” so I will be giving that a try as soon as I get to the grocery store to buy some. Also, any hints for growing hydrangeas? Yours are so full and healthy. Thanks again!
Barbara and her sidekick Buddy the Bichon
Happy Memorial Day Mary to you and your family. I just love the hydrangeas in the picnic basket and have successfully tried your alum dipping method, thanks so much for your many helpful hints. We are still enjoying the Manteo waterfront this weekend. Sailing home Wednesday. ⛵️🇺🇸
Wishing you smooth sailing Virginia!
Mary, I hope you and the girls are out on your boat right now! I love those little enamel boats filled with sparklers and that paisley tablecloth is just divine! You not only find the best things but you certainly know how to put them all together!
Love this, Mary! So cheerful as well as patriotic. Do you remember who made the striped napkins and where you got them? Thanks!
Hi Maureen, The napkins came from World Market a couple of years ago :)
We had way more RAIN and clouds this weekend than sun. But we didn’t let it spoil our fun, had guests for dinner and then drinks Fri. night, a picnic sat. and another yesterday. Today git alot done around here and went to Walamrt:) Nice relaxing day. Love your table!!! Hope you got in some baoting!
Alice Walker once said “whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.” I think you, Mary, restore more than your own soul. I know you certainly restore my soul with Your creative beauty!!! Words cannot explain the immense restoration and enjoyment I receive from your post. Thank You!!! ~ they make my day, too :)
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Karen ♥ Happy Memorial Day!
your table is looking amazing…the hydrangeas are gorgeous
Love, love it all but especially the plaid picnic basket!!!? Have a memorable Memorial Day!!! God bless all that gave all for freedom!! ❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️
Hello there Mary! I just adore your posts and am so pleased as you always spark my creativity! I wanted you to know that I lost my younger bichon, LadyBug, last week. It was quite a shock. We never knew she had cancer/ Needless to say, we are struggling. I hope your two are doing well. Chloe is now 13.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful weekend with us.
Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, I’m so sorry to hear about LadyBug. My girls are 12, it’s hard to believe and think about them getting older. Thinking of you. ♥
Love your table and the tin picnic basket with hydrangeas! Really special!
LOVE love the swooper flags! I hope the weather let you enjoy that cute table with the smart hydrangea centerpiece and that you had a wonderful Memorial Day Mary~ we had the same crazy weather!
Jenna
I love the paisley tablecloth. I’ve never seen anything like it. It fits the theme of red, white, and blue in an unexpected way. Very nice!
Ooh Mary, I love your paisley tablecloth and your enamel ware picnic basket brimming with hydrangeas and flags. Your menu sounded perfect for a special Memorial Day outing. I hope you had some fun, pontooning on the lake, with your hubby and the pups!
Your tables are always beautiful. I like patriotic colours and the picnic tin looks great. I hope you had a good weekend.
You always do red, white and blue so beautifully!….Love the hydrangeas in the tin picnic basket and the tablecloth adds just a wonderful classic touch to a table to honor our men and women who give their lives so we can enjoy our precious freedoms. Love the way you dress your dock too!!
Mary – I LOVE your red, white and blue tablescape!! So festive and fun, especially the creative centerpiece! I’ve definitely pinned for inspiration!
Mary, are the Tommy Bahama plates you used in this tablescape the dinner size or the salad size?
Hi Maureen, They’re the dinner size, the PB white rope plates are cocktail size :)
Your tables never cease to inspire me and want me to be a neighbor on the lake, ready to stop in for a lovely meal with Mary! Such a pretty, pretty table!