Happy Tuesday! Tomorrow is the first day of summer, can you believe how quickly it has come?
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
3 John 1:4
One of my favorite days is the third Tuesday of the month when Mary and I share Tea on Tuesdays. Often we welcome a guest to join us!
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With only a glance at this photo you may have guessed that this edition of Tea on Tuesdays has a patriotic theme. I love setting a red, white, and blue table!
Mary and I are excited to welcome back Sarah from Hyacinths Of The Soul. Sarah is an incredibly talented stylist of tables and vignettes. Her attention to detail is stellar!
Spring, summer, and fall finds me setting tables outdoors, most often in the garden. The colors of our flag are well represented on my tea table. The floral ‘Everlasting’ tablecloth from April Cornell was first shared here. As an April Cornell brand ambassador, each season I am gifted linens from selections that I make. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful floral design of this breakfast table square. The tablecloth was my inspiration for a tea table set for three. As you know, I absolutely love color and mixing patterns.
Johnson Brothers ‘Blue Willow’ dessert plates, Spode, ‘Blue Room’ Collection, and Mikasa ‘Trellis’ make an appropriate blue and white plate stack. A cake plate offers more blue and white for my teatime. I, like many of you, am very fond of blue and white!
The Sunshine Cottage porch received a little red, white, and blue. More will be added before July 4th! The tabletop riser moved from the cottage to serve small desserts and bud vases of mini flags!
In the South ladies love pimiento cheese! It is often served at showers, luncheons, and afternoon tea. My semi-homemade version was served in mini phyllo shells. The Athens brand of tart shells are fully baked and frozen fresh. So quick and easy!
According to the weather forecast, I had a small window of opportunity to set up my table and photograph. There wasn’t any sunlight and the skies were cloudy and often dark and threatening rain. Thankfully, I was able to finish before rain. Let’s just say I was dripping wet, not from rain, but the heat and humidity. This is typical of living in NE Alabama.
The AC cloth has a beautiful floral border and I paired it with a Williams Sonoma round cloth that also has a stunning border!
With heat and humidity, it was an ideal day for iced tea, rather than hot tea. The beautiful vintage ‘Blue Willow’ pitcher was a gift many years ago from my long-time friend, Patti, who loves blue and white more than anyone I know. I noticed in the June/July edition of Southern Living a recipe for Watermelon-Basil Sweet Tea. I thought it sounded interesting. I tweaked the recipe by using my own recipe for sweet tea that I shared here. SL called for the addition of fresh basil to the tea as it was steeping. Since I grow basil in the garden, I cut a handful and added. At this point, I tasted and really liked the fresh taste of the basil. Southern Living’s recipe called for a simple syrup made with puréed watermelon. I followed their recipe but added a bit more sugar. My watermelon was not as sweet as I like. For serving, a couple of lime slices, watermelon cubes, and chocolate mint were perfect. SL’s instruction was to add basil, but I love the taste of chocolate mint. The watermelon basil tea was really delicious and refreshing on a hot day! My Renaissance Man was not a fan. He says, “Don’t mess with my sweet tea!”
A treat that RM did enjoy was the fresh lemon pudding served with blueberries and strawberries in the vintage ruby sherbet/dessert cups!
I made a visit to my dear friend’s hydrangea farm for the exquisite Snowflake and Annabelle hydrangeas before they were gone for this season. The macrophylla hydrangeas were bitten by a late frost, but Martha managed to cut me a few of the blues. Grocery store red carnations completed the arrangement in the stoneware crock!
A busy week required grocery store-bought cupcakes! You can have a lovely brunch or teatime without spending time in the kitchen. Of course, I prefer homemade everything, but if time is a constraint go ahead and purchase store-bought food and make plans with friends and family. Unless you decide to tell them, they might not know the difference. After all, the fellowship is what is most important!
Napkins are also by April Cornell.
I am asked so often about the stemware, which I love. It was a long-ago purchase from Horchow, sadly discontinued. I wish now that I had ordered twelve instead of eight…a couple have been broken!
“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”
~Benjamin Franklin
“My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue.”
~Unknown
You will love your visits with Mary and Sarah as they have prepared gorgeous patriotic tables for your enjoyment. They never disappoint!
Mary ~ Home Is Where The Boat Is
Sarah ~ Hyacinths For The Soul
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue Pam! What beautiful floral linens and table setting in your garden with the Sunshine Cottage in the background! Everything looks so inviting and cheery despite the heat and humidity. It’s definitely iced tea weather and the watermelon-basil addition sounds so refreshing with our steamy and muggy weather, served in your pretty pitcher. I’ve always admired your pretty blue stemware! I’ll take a pimento cheese cup and a cupcake! It’s shaping up to be a very wet week here and we’re under a flood advisory with more storms and rain in the forecast. As always it’s a treat to share tea with you. Happy Tuesday! ❤️
Thanks so much, Mary. It is always a pleasure to share tea with you♥️
Good morning dear Pam! Your table set for refreshing tea looks delightful! I had pimento cheese on crackers yesterday, and it was so tasty!
The AC tablecloth, along with your plates and flowers, make for a lovely red, white, and blue theme.
Enjoy your Tuesday!
Thank you, Nancy. It would be lovely if you could join me!
Pam, your red, white and blue outside is wonderfully representative of everything we Americans love about about our 4th of July celebrations! I love your mix of linens, and the Horchow stems especially. I’d certainly not notice store bought cupcakes unless I was told, but those pimento cups look so yummy! I think the iced tea sounds intriguing and would certainly try it if offered, but I may have to agree with RM on the tried and true tea. 😉
I think often the clouds make for better photo color, and it certainly did for your teatime! Happy teatime Tuesday!
Thanks so much, Rita. I agree, it is hard to beat the tried and true tea. I am sitting on the patio enjoying my third cup of coffee listening to birdsong! It is a beautiful morning!!
Oh Pam you never disappoint! Sarah and Mary’s were wonderful also. Thanks so much for all you do.
My sincere regards,
Gina
Thank you sweet friend♥️
Lovely, Pam, so festive for a summer of patriotic themes. Love your red sherbets with lemon pudding and fruit.
Thank you, Carole!
Amazing tablescape. Love those gorgeous glasses. Beautiful dishes and adorable flowers. What stunning tablecloth! Your garden is heavenly as ever… Best wishes, dear Pam.
Thank you, my friend!
Oh, Pam! This explosion of red, white, and blue in your stunning garden setting is making my heart race. Thank you for including me as a guest this edition. I’m honored. As you know, red, white, and blue is how I celebrate the summer months. I love seeing your layered April Cornell linens. I’ve bought April Cornell linens for decades. Her patterns still delight! I gave a cousin all of my Spode Blue Room collection, but still have my Liberty Blue and vintage Blue Willow. It’s fun to see the Spode on your table. I certainly enjoyed many years of using this gorgeous china, but wanted to share with my younger cousin who is has the dish passion!
I love pimiento cheese, so will copy your phyllo shell idea. Excellent! I must try the watermelon-basil tea! And definitely the lemon budding!
Happy Summer and stay cool!
Thanks so much, Sarah. We always love for you to join us for tea. Happy Summer and stay inside and stay cool. Your temperatures sound terrible!
I will definitely visit the other sites! Pam, this made my morning! I love the April Cornell colors and patterns too! The sweet tea, the glassware, the red, white, and blue,…the wonderful watermelon recipe~what a stunning scene near the Cottage at the Richardson homestead! The verse, and quote by Benjamin Franklin, accompany the patriotic pageantry beautifully! It does not go remiss how much time and effort goes into creating these stunning scenes. They take me to a place where dreams, and God’s beauty, are in abundance always. Thank you, Pam! I’m sending love and prayers, daily! Happy Tea and Tuesdays!
Karla, your comments always warm my heart! How wonderful it would be if you could join me for tea in the garden. Your love and prayers are always appreciated, my dear one ♥️🙏🏻. I wish for you a joy-filled day 🥰🎶🇺🇸♥️🫖💙🤗
I’m so glad, Pam! I imagine our tea times quite often. You are both inspirations to me, I hope you know. I’m expecting a wonderful day and visit with oncologist tomorrow. I’m remembering you both daily, even if I don’t “see” you. Much love and prayers 💛💕💚❤️☕️☕️💐💐💐
Praying, dear one 🙏🏻💕🥰
Gorgeous Pam. As always you have the gift of putting together lovely tables for us. Whew, I’m hot thinking of the heat and humid there. Sweet tea is the answer to beating that.I saw that recipe in Southern Living but haven’t tried it yet. Our wet Spring has finally left. Yesterday was our first summer like day with a high of 89. Of course we don’t have your high humidity. Horchow used to send out catalogs but haven’t had one in a long time. I ordered from them often. Have the sweetest of days.
Alice, your visits and comments are always heartwarming and appreciated. I wish I could gather all of the sweet readers to join me for tea!
Love this Pam. Rain or Shine your table is beautiful. Happy New Week. Enjoy.
Thank you, sweet Kris!
You never disappoint when coming up with new ideas to share. Now I have to pop over to see more of what Mary and Sarah created.
Thank you, Karen for your sweet comments!
Oh Pam, this is absolutely beautiful! the AC bright red floral cloth captures the eye immediately and draws you right into the table! The hydrangea arrangement is stunning, such gorgeous blooms! The pitcher of special ice tea makes me thirsty and yes please on the pimiento cheese tarts! The red white and blue lemon pudding sounds good too~ I love the glassware, the flags, and the fabulous celebratory feel of this garden table and the decorated Sunshine Cottage Porch in the background, all so pretty!
Jenna
Jenna, thank you for your sweet comments that warm my heart. Stay cool on the last day of spring!
Oh, how I love everything about this! I’d love to pop in on a third Tuesday! What a treat!
Thank you, Leslie Anne. If you are in the neighborhood, come on over!
Another striking and beautiful patriotic table in your garden! You do mix color and patterns so well! I love the AC and William Sonoma linens mixed with Horchow goblets,Blue Willow and Spode blue and white dishes.The lovely red sherberts holding the pudding and, of course,the patriotic addition of mini flags coordinate well with the blue pitcher and blue and white cake-stand holding patriotic cupcakes.
Your food and yummy sounding tea make for a very inviting summer teatime.
Have a great week.
Bonnie, thank you for your sweet comments that warm my heart. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Thanks so much, Bonnie! I hope the weather has improved at your house!
Oh Pam, this is all so absolutely stunning! I adore a patriotic setting and anything red, white, and blue. This all makes my heart sing! Your floral bouquet is gorgeous, and the AC linens are so pretty paired with all your lovely china and glassware. I recently purchased the same AC tablecloth and matching pillows for my deck. I love them! All of your treats look so scrumptious. I would eat pimento cheese everyday if I could. You made me laugh about Butch not liking the new tea recipe. My husband would have said the same thing. I think it sounds delicious, though, and would love to have a glass right now. It is always a joy to visit your tea settings. Have a wonderful day my dear friend!
Thank you sweet, Shannon! We both love color and pattern!
Mary,as usual what a great tea display. Every detail is so appropriate for July Fourth. Thank You .
Enjoy Your Tea
Joan,Marilyn and Marion
Sorry about calling you Mary. Pam have a great July Fourth God Bless
Marion
No problem!
Thank you sweet friends!
Pam, I love red, white, and blue and you captured it so beautifully. The April Cornell tablecloth makes everything else on the table pop! When I’m feeling a bit peckish around 4 pm, I love a few crackers topped with pimento cheese and a dollop of Bon Maman fig preserves…yum! But serving it as you have in the shells will make it company worthy. Such a great idea! That iced tea looks beautiful and I would drink it for sure, but for every day I would be in the Butch camp!! Oh how I love my sweet tea!
Thank you, Roxanne. You are a sweetheart! Your 4 pm snack is perfect!
All so gorgeous and tasty too, the perfect combo!
Thank you, Jain!
Another splendid tablescape with an excellent used of captivating colors and glassware! I am going to make your iced tea recipe, it looks delectable!
Thank you, Mary. I really enjoyed the tea!
Pam, I love your table. The tea pitcher is so pretty. The AC tablecloth is a favorite as are the tea glasses. Your table looks incredible and so inviting. It’s been a busy week here too. We’re having a delightful day today with lower temps. We’re enjoying it. A perfect day to be outside and do chores. Clara❤️
Thank you, my friend! Enjoy your day ♥️
How special your red, white and blue table is. Gorgeous AC linens. A wonderful way to celebrate our liberty and country’s flag. I bet the tea is fabulous. You brought out all of the stops for this showcasing table Pam. . Love the glassware. The cupcakes looks so delicious. A beautiful setting to celebrate our country’s freedom.
Thank you, Linda for sweet comments! I hope you are having a great week!
So beautiful Pam! LOVE your gorgeous flower arrangements! And the treats. I’ve been inspired to sneak out for some goodies on my break! 🙂 Hope you have a lovely week, and thanks for the lovely tea party!
Thank you, Barbara for joining me for tea! Happy Weekend!
I am always astonished at how fresh, beautiful, and verdant your garden is. Absolutely gorgeous backdrop for your wonderful tea. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful Pam! That AC tablecloth is certainly a show stopper – I love the bright red background with all the other colors and different shades of blue. The flowers are gorgeous and the deep blue hydrangea is stunning. The transferware is lovely and I adore that stemware! Iced tea with lemon pudding, cupcakes, and pimiento stuffed shells sounds delicious – it’s all perfect for your 4th of July celebration. Happy rest of the week to you!
Thanks so much, Kim. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my friend!
It’s impossible to imagine that July 4this right around the corner! Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas? So hard to believe how fast time is flying by. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!
What a STUNNING table, Pam!! That table linen is just gorgeous. I love the dishes that you chose to use. Such a festive and happy looking table for the Summer holiday!