Showing posts with label May Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May Day. Show all posts

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Alfresco May Day Lunch




It has been a glorious spring here in Texas.
The cool, sunny days this time of year
remind me of why I love living in Austin.

May 1st is known as May Day around the world.
In many places, it is a day filled with marches and protests,
but for me, May Day is about flowers and 
sharing a sweet bouquet with family and friends.
I fondly remember the tradition of May Pole dances
in the early years of my elementary school days.
We made May Baskets and left them as gifts for others.

When a cousin phoned to say she wanted
to spend some time together on Monday,
I decided it was the perfect opportunity to set an
alfresco lunch out on our terrace.

Everyone knows I love an excuse to set a pretty table,
so the impromptu visit had me gathering up
my favorite MacKenzie-Childs 
dishes to set our table.

A gift bouquet of tulips were added to
another small bouquet of mixed flowers to fill my sweet
Rose Cottage vase from MacKenzie-Childs' Taylor Ceramics.

Each setting began with a Courtly Check charger.
Fluted edged dinner plate in King Ferry
was paired with a mini compote in Dublin Hill.

This setting is a dinner plate in Madison
paired with a mini compote in Glen Park.

Plaid and floral napkins by April Cornell
and golden bee napkin rings were a nod to the
whimsey of MacKenzie-Childs.

Refreshing iced tea .   .   .

With a slice of lemon hit the 
spot as we sat down to enjoy lunch.

Chicken salad in avocado boats and
a side of fruit was served with a choice of soup.

I had a delicious
Canadian Cheese Soup.

Karyn enjoyed a 
cup of tasty lentil soup.

Terra Beauregard Sweet Potato chips
added something crunchy.

Dessert waited under this hand-painted
glassware cloche in the Tulip pattern.

Chocolate covered coconut macaroons
along side cranberry and orange coconut macaroons
were picked up from Whole Foods.

What a treat to have my 
sweet cousin stop by for a visit.
Click here to read another post that features 
Karyn's 50th Birthday Luncheon.

Thanks for joining me today.
Happy Month of May!

For more information about these beautiful 
MacKenzie-Childs dishes, 
pop back over to my previous post here.
You can order these retired patterns through May 14th



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Sunday, May 1, 2016

May ~ 2016





Maypole Dance ~ Pease Elementary, Austin, Texas c. 1950s
Photo from Pease Elementary Archives, Used With Permission

May 1st ~ May Day

Though not at all common these days, at one time May Day was 

 traditionally celebrated with festive dances around a Maypole.

 As a young child, I fondly remember dancing around a Maypole

during my early years in elementary school in the 1950s.

 Dressed in a pretty spring dress and holding a brightly colored 

 ribbon, I danced with my classmates around the tall Maypole

 that had been erected in the school yard.   As one group moved 

clockwise and the other counter clockwise, we wove the

 colorful ribbons around the pole, then reversed the motion to

 unfurl the ribbons back into the long streamers which we had held

 at the start of the dance.  Fond memories of a beautiful time!





Another early May Day tradition was 

 the giving of May baskets filled with flowers.

 The baskets were left anonymously 

 at the door of special friends and neighbors.

 I think this lovely custom needs to be reinstated!

Tell me if you have any special May Day traditions.




 May 5th ~ Cinco de Mayo


Cinco de Mayo is a favorite Mexican holiday celebrated here  

 in Central Texas where both the Mexican culture and

 the love of Mexican food are prominent.

 For ideas on hosting your own 

 Mexican dinner party click here and here.




The Polohouse, Used With Permission
May 7th ~ The Kentucky Derby

I've never been to the Kentucky Derby,

 but have long been fascinated with the tradition of this event.

 I think it would be fun to host a Kentucky Derby Party.  

 Have you ever attended the Kentucky Derby 

 or hosted a Derby Party?

 Visit Alison @ The Polohouse for 

 Derby Party inspiration here, here, and here.

Image from Home Is Where The Boat Is


 To view the complet post of Mary's beautiful, 

 Off to the Races table click here.



May 8 ~ Mother's Day

 In the US, Mother's Day is celebrated 

 on the second Sunday in May.

 Though my sweet mom is no longer with us,

 I will plan a special dessert tray in her honor, just 

 as I prepared for a previous Mother's Day post here.





May 30th ~ Memorial Day


A time to remember and honor all those who have given

selflessly to their country.  From 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.
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Thursday, May 1, 2014

May Day Tribute and A Winner!


Happy May Day! 

Congratulations to


the winner of the Anthropologie Gift Card.


Thank you to all who entered. 

Your thoughtfulness and friendship is much appreciated. 




April Showers
Bring May Flowers

~ A tribute to my mom, the gardener. ~






My mother was an avid gardener until

 she moved out of her home at age 90.






She passed away in November at the age of 99.

She was a frugal individual, dedicated to God and her family.

She appreciated and nurtured the flowers of her garden

as she did life long friendships in her community.




Mother's home was filled 

with the fragrance and beauty of 

 fresh flowers from her garden and the 

sweet treats baked in her kitchen.




 Today is May Day, and it is an

 absolutely perfect spring day here.

Want to join me for an afternoon treat in the garden?





I cut some of my spring blooms to fill the

glass basket vases I fondly remember from my childhood.

My mother passed these on to me several years ago.





These elegant etched glass baskets 

were made in the 1920s and 1930s.




They are perfect for a May Day

 basket of May flowers!





I've set the tray with 

my mom's wedding china,

Homer Laughlin's 

Virginia Rose - Jeanette Gold.




This china was made in 1939.  

Virginia Rose was a very popular 

 shape with many different designs.  

 My mom chose Jeanette's Gold 

 with delicate pink flowers and gold details.




Each piece has double 

gold bands on the outside rim.





These pretty linen napkins 

were one of our wedding gifts in 1975.





Mother of Pearl vintage flatware seemed 

the perfect choice for this dessert tray.




Pretty and elegant ~ just like my mom.




Won't you join me

  for a scoop of ice cream?




Happy May Day!


Tomorrow, May 2,

I will be guest blogger over at

   Decor to Adore's Favorite Five

 where I share five ways

  my mother has inspired my life.

Click here to join me at

 Decor to Adore ~ Favorite Five

Perhaps you'll find some inspiration for the month of May.




~ Rum Cake ~ A Family Recipe ~

1 cup shortening or butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 tsp. salt
1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening or butter with sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each one.  Add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately, mixing well after each addition.  Add vanilla.  Bake in large tube pan @ 325º  for 1 hour or longer.  Once out of the oven, invert tube pan.  Gently remove cake from pan, and using a wooden skewer, poke holes throughout the cake.  Coat the cake with a sugar and rum glaze of your choice.  Enjoy!


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What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephant

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