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

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Liberty and Freedom for All

~ Liberty and Freedom for All ~

 As we recognize Memorial Day 2020,
there will not be the usual parades, 
nor the large gatherings.

Here we will set a table for two,
a rememberance of the brave men and women 
who served and gave their lives for our country.

 Originally begun after the Civil War in the 1860s 
and known as Decoration Day, it gradually became known as
Memorial Day and a National Holiday.

 Celebrated on the last Monday in May,
it also welcomes the unofficial start of summer.

Memorial Day marks the first of several 
American patriotic summer holidays,
and traditionally I would set out patriotic 
vignettes to enjoy through Labor Day.
This May, as with everything during 
the Pandemic, I'm keeping things simple.

The beautiful paper products of Hester and Cook 
are from the Love Letter series.
They seem appropriate to honor those 
lost in wars through the years.
I selected one of my vintage napkin rings 
with an F monogram for Freedom.

 The other napkin ring, an L for Liberty.

 A table of red, white, and blue seemed fitting and inviting.
Chargers ~ Ambiance Vintage Garden
Dinner Plates ~ Juliska Country Estate Blue
Flatware ~ MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check
Red and White Napkins ~ Su La Table
Blue Napkins ~ Sue Fisher King from the 90s
Striped Linen Tablecloth ~ Crown Linen Designs

I set a dessert table too.
The vintage table cloth is another hand 
embroidered piece from my mother.

Beautiful bee embroidered cocktail napkins 
are from Crown Linen Designs, 
destined to be heirlooms for future generations.


 As is this Crown Linen Designs hand towel.

Serving up a delicious blueberry / cherry pie 
from our local Central Market Bakery.

 My very special Bee Brave Bear, created by 
Bobbie @ Rolling Hills Cottage and Studio,
is here to remind us to be brave like those who 
serve in the Armed Forces of our country.

 All the brave men and women who gave 
their lives so we can live in freedom.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Memorial Day ~ Celebrate in Red, White, and Blue






America the Beautiful

Celebrate the patriotic holidays of summer 

 and indulge your patriotic spirit.



Fill your favorite 

blue and white container

with blooms from your garden.




Set a festive table, 

 and dine in patriotic style!




Memorial Day Weekend

It's the prelude to the patriotic holidays of summer.

 The perfect opportunity to pack a basket 

in anticipation of a picnic.





Gather together some of your 

Red ~ White ~ Blue 




Spread your quilt and enjoy a picnic 

 at the lake, on the beach, your favorite park,

 or where ever your heart desires.




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.





Joining
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday and Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

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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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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

B is for Breaking News


Memorial Day 2015.

 Austin made the national news once again.

Another Memorial Day Flood

for Austin, Texas.



Area at 15th and Lamar ~ Photo Shared By A Neighbor


Heavy rains have fallen over Austin for more than a week,

 but Saturday night and Monday afternoon

 the rains were torrential, filling creeks and

 rivers with fast moving water.




Shoal Creek Bridge At Park Entrance On Lamar


Shoal Creek runs through west Austin

 down to the Colorado River, known as Lady Bird Lake,

 where the river flows through downtown Austin.




Looking South Down Lamar ~ Photo by Jill Pewet-McCann


The rains started mid afternoon, but by

 late afternoon they had moved out 

 leaving flooded streets behind.





Austin rescue teams were posted at major bridges

 ready to assist and rescue if needed.






By 8 PM water continued to

  roar down Shoal Creek.





But the bridge over the creek near

 our neighborhood was back to normal.





Remember it had been completely covered

 with roaring water just hours earlier.
  ~ SAVE YOURSELF ~ 

  TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!  


Austin is in the heart of what is called

 Flash Flood Alley.

 Flash floods are considered the leading

 natural disaster in Central Texas.


Photo of Missing Corpus Christi Families That Was Posted On The Web

 The small village of Wimberley, TX, 

 just a few miles south of Austin, was devastated

 Saturday night when the Blanco River crested 

 at over 40 feet, washing homes off their foundations.

 My heart aches at the news of the loss, 

 especially the missing families from Corpus Christi

 who are long time friends of many of my own friends.

 Continued prayers and hope that these families will be rescued.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 B is for Breaking News,

 but A is for Appreciation,

 and I'd like to once again thank

 my blogging friends for all the recent emails

 of concern for our safety here in Austin.

 We are safe and fortunate to be high and dry.


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Saturday, May 24, 2014

America the Beautiful




America the Beautiful
Celebrate the patriotic holidays of summer 
and indulge your patriotic spirit.
Fill your favorite 
blue and white container
with blooms from your garden.

Set a festive table, 
and dine in patriotic style!

Memorial Day Weekend
It's the prelude to the patriotic holidays of summer.
The perfect opportunity to pack a basket 
in anticipation of a picnic.

Gather together some of your 
Red ~ White ~ Blue 

Spread your quilt and enjoy a picnic 
at the lake, on the beach, your favorite park,
or where ever your heart desires.
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.


Joining

 Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Best of the Nest @ Simple Details

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