Red ~ White ~ Starry Blue

The red and white and starry blue

Is Freedom's shield and hope. ~ John Philip Sousa

Flag Day ~ June 14th

A few thrifty finds just in 

time to honor the Stars and Stripes!

Staffordshire Liberty Blue 

Promotional Pattern Developed for 

Benjamin Franklin Federal Savings and Loan

to Commemorate the Company's 50th Anniversary in 1975

and the American Bicentennial Celebrated in 1976

The dinnerware features fifteen 

different historical scenes, all from Colonial America.

The borders are a typical floral 

often seen on English transferware.

The cereal bowl features Betsy Ross,

the legendary seamstress credited with 

making the first American flag.

Each piece is marked on the back 

with the name of the historic scene.

This dinner plate 

features Independence Hall.

The mark on the dinner plate is much more 

refined and includes specific information about the 

original copper engraving used to produce the scene.

~ Red ~ White ~ Blue ~

~ Stars ~ Stripes ~

The perfect patriotic dishes!

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

I like to buy vintage hankies and scarves to use as 
napkins and tray covers.  The added texture is unexpected.

~ F is for flag ~

It's red for love, and it's white for law, 

And it's blue for the hope that our forefathers saw 

Of a larger liberty.

Unknown

Mary Emmerling's AMERICAN COUNTRY FLAGS

~ CELEBRATE FLAG DAY ~

I'd like to give a shout out to  

Mariette @ Mariette's Back To Basics.

You may have noticed that my feed is now working again, and it's all because Mariette took the time to write and walk me through a step to correct my settings.

THANK YOU, MARIETTE!

Thanks to each of you who have written to enquire about not receiving post updates.  Hopefully email subscriptions are now functional, and my feed is again on track to update with each new post.  You may sign up for email subscriptions at the top of my sidebar.

JOINING

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Be Inspired @ Common Ground
Open House @ No Minimalist Here
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl

Say G'Day @ Natasha in Oz

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Blue Moday @ Smiling Sally

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar HIll Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Muy Bueno

Casual Mexican Buffet

Brightly Colored Serape

Stack of Mexican Pottery

Servilletas

Crispy Tortilla Chips

Fresh Salsa and Pico de Gallo

Guacamole

Frijoles Negros

Arroz Mexicano

Enchiladas de Pollo

ique aproveche

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

When serving buffet style, let the food be the stars of your table.

Now need to have a centerpiece!

Deliciosa Comida Mexicana

Dulce 

Dinner Catered By

La Cocina de Consuelo

Muchas Gracias!

Congratulations to Beth and Bill!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We hosted this party with a group of friends 

for a young couple getting married.

Though catered, everything about this 

casual dinner party would be easy to replicate.

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl

Say G'Day @ Natasha in Oz

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Masteriece Monday @ Boogie Board Cottage

Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Centerpiece Wednesday @ Style Sisters

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

The Parisienne ~ A Favorite Piece

Favorites on the 1st

The Polohouse

Favorite Works of Art

The Parisienne 

Work By

 Mitsy Easley @ Bliss Following

Collaged Quote Photographed On A Building In San Antonio, TX

My husband and I have long considered 

art to be one of the extras in life that feeds our souls.

To single out a favorite piece is impossible.

Instead, I singled out a piece that hangs in my office.

It's special for several reasons.

~ The Artist, My Friend Mitzi ~

~ The Subject, Paris ~

~ The Incredible Layers of Details ~

This piece started with the 

painting of this darling French girl.

Layer by layer, Mitzi added in 

fun details with paper, oils, acrylics, and inks.

~ Pops of Red ~

~ An Audrey Quote ~

The frame is a 

piece of art in its own right.

Even Mitzi's 

signature is a mini work of art.

June 1st

~ A Perfect Time To Plan A Trip ~

~ Yes, Indeed ~

"Paris is Always a Good Idea!"

Joining

Favorites on the 1st @ The Polohouse
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

All I Need is My Flirty Pink Poodle Skirt!

It was this distinguished hare 

in his Courtly Check collar that caught my eye 

in one of the booths at Round Top last fall.  

Drew me right over to this 

charming table right out of the 1950s.

Yep, that's a set of 

Homer Laughlin dishes from the 1950s.

Some of my favorite themes!

~ Black and White ~

~ Plaid ~

Seriously tempted 

to take this set home with me.

Even the alphabet blocks!

Decided to leave it for one of the 

younger set who are mad for Mid Century Modern.

Really!

I gave up wearing my black and white saddle shoes 

and flirty pink poodle skirt before high school. 

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Centerpiece Wednesday @ Style Sisters

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl

Say G'Day @ Natasha in Oz
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Something Fishy

PATRIOTIC CHALLENGE

Let's Dish 

With Cuisine Kathleen

Something fishy here!  

This table isn't exactly patriotic.

But it definitely celebrates  

Red ~ White ~ Blue

Swim on up and 

hook yourself a fish.

A Vietri fish 

in their Fish-Fish Pattern.

The collection was inspired by the 

work of ceramist, Giovanni De Simone.

These new designs are an update from 

the original collection that was introduced in 1990.

The fish plates look as if they are swimming when 

stacked atop the vibrant Vietri Marina Blu dinner plates.  

The rattan chargers, with their beaded 

edges, remind me of a sandy beach.  

Both echo the bright colors of this happy pottery.

The cabana stripes and the chevron 

design are a perfect fit for the beach theme.

As is the 

sea blue glassware.

Just for fun, 

more fish swim across the table.

With the occasional 

piece of branch coral.

These colorful hand painted dishes 

come in several sizes and shapes.  

Though I took these photos at a local shop, 

the hand painted pieces of Fish-Fish are available 

here at www.Vietri.com

A special thank you to my friend Grant 

for allowing me to share his beautiful tablescape

created to display Fish-Fish by Vietri.

Memorial Day

A time to honor all those who have given selflessly to their country.  From the Civil War soldiers to those fighting today on foreign soils, we remember the men and women who have died while serving in the US Armed Forces.  In addition, this year we remember all in Texas and Oklahoma who have recently suffered great loss with the recent tornadoes.  

Joining

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen 

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Festive Friday Fiesta @ The Home Girl

Say G'Day @ Natasha in Oz

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Centerpiece Wednesday @ Style Sisters