Welcome and Happy Tuesday, friends! With the arrival of summer on Friday, that means the 4th of July is just around the corner! Have you made your plans?
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
One of my favorite days is the third Tuesday of the month when Mary and I share Tea On Tuesdays! Today we are celebrating the red, white, and blue!
We are excited to welcome back Sarah from Hyacinths for the Soul. She is an incredibly talented stylist of tables and vignettes. Sarah loves celebrating the red, white, and blue all summer! You will find the links for Mary’s and Sarah’s patriotic teatimes at the bottom of this post.
Our days heated up last week into the low 90’s with very high humidity. It was so hot that I decided it was definitely a day for serving iced tea!
For May’s edition of Tea on Tuesdays I discovered a delicious strawberry and vanilla tea by Taylor’s of Harrogate. When my two darling granddaughters came the following day, I knew they would want to try the tea, but in an iced version. It was a hit with them and even RM said it was delicious, and he is not one that wants you messing with his iced tea. On this very hot day, I served iced strawberry and vanilla tea with lemon in a vintage ‘Blue Willow’ pitcher from a dear friend of more than fifty years.
Last Tuesday’s flower arrangement was filled with Macrophylla hydrangeas, most of which were blue. Can you believe eight days later they still looked fresh enough for me to use in this arrangement, thanks to Crowning Glory! I only added red alstroemeria and mums to the hydrangeas and arranged them in a favorite blue and white pitcher.
Sweet memories are attached to the blue and white tablecloth. My beloved Mother prepared Sunday lunch every week until she passed away. It was a feast comparable to Thanksgiving and we never knew who besides family would be included. During the summer months, she often used this tablecloth. More delicious meals than I could count have been served on this cloth!
Flags were added to the three wheel Schwinn which has a home in the cottage garden!
I am often asked about this fun stemware. I purchased 8 glasses probably twenty years ago from Horchow. Unfortunately, they were discontinued and I only have 5 remaining.
A spongeware teapot that belonged to RM’s maternal grandmother was filled with wild Black-eyed-Susan’s that grow in one of our pastures. This is the teapot’s first appearance on the blog.
Cloches were placed over the vanilla cupcakes to add a little protection from a few local flying insects that seemed to find them irresistible. Pests have been horrific in the garden this season, aided by rain that seems to come every day!
RM has been hanging bunting around the cottage porch for several years!
Continuing the patriotic theme, I stacked Spode ‘Blue Room’ dinner plates, ‘Baroque’ salads by American Atelier, and cute calico appetizers from Kirklands.
Even though no hot tea was served, why not add more blue and white with Queen’s by Churchill ‘Blue Willow’ teapot?!
“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
~Peter Marshall
You might not notice, but I must point out that in this photo there are 3 servings of fresh lemon pudding with blueberries and strawberries in vintage ruby sherbert cups. You may wonder, why suddenly are there three on a table for two? I realized the day after my table setting that I did not have a close-up of the pudding. Fortunately, I had served this several years ago and found just the right photo in the archives to work perfectly with today’s post!
“My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue.”
~Unknown
A mini flag tops a vanilla cupcake with cream cheese icing! Butch loves cream cheese icing, so I also had to guard the table when he was in the vicinity!
Be sure to visit Mary’s and Sarah’s beautiful patriotic teatimes by clicking on their links below.
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
Sarah ~ Hyacinths For the Soul
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a delightful week!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Pam, Your table is red, white and blue-tiful! Your flowers look so good and fresh a week plus later…three cheers for Crowning Glory! I love those sweet calico plates topping your stack from Kirklands and your iced strawberry and vanilla tea sounds so refreshing for summer. It definitely feels like summer with heat and humidity building…we’re looking at triple digit heat index later this week. I have long admired your pretty footed goblets. Have you check on eBay to see if you can find any more to complete your set? The cloches are perfect to highlight and protect your cupcakes from insects with all the rain. I’m a cream cheese frosting fan like Butch…the best part of a carrot cake or cupcake! Love seeing the Schwinn blooming and planted for summer and flags flying in her basket. As always, it’s a treat to join you for tea. ☕ Wishing you wonderful week ahead. Stay cool! ❤️🤍💙
Thanks so much, Mary! We are experiencing strong thunderstorms again this afternoon with wind gusts up to 50 mph. Our garden needs a week’s dose of sunshine. But, at least we are not watering!
I hope you had a lovely flag day, Pam! You sure know how to celebrate in colorful style! Lovely, every photo!
Thank you, Jeanie. I hope you are having a good day!
Good Morning, Pam.
I am enjoying the refreshing strawberry vanilla tea—perfect for summertime! Your patriotic teatime is set so beautifully in your gardens—always the most lovely backdrop!
How sweet to have your Mother’s tablecloth as the foundation. Sweet memories!
Your ❤️🤍💙 plate stack is quite delightful!
I think I will be copying your lemon pudding dessert. Tasty and pretty!
Thank you for sharing your stunning inspiration. Happy Tuesday!
Thank you, Nancy. The lemon pudding with fresh berries is so easy and refreshing and is lighter in calories! Have a great week!
Good morning, Pam! Your entire tea setting is gorgeous with its patriotic theme. Your dear mother’s tablecloth provides a special memory and perfect foundation to your table. The blue hydrangeas with the pops of red flowers makes a beautiful and striking floral centerpiece in the lovely blue and white pitcher. The cupcakes look yummy, and I have tried that strawberry and vanilla tea. It is delicious! I feel your pain about all the terrible bugs. We have had so much rain. The chiggers, mosquitoes, and Japanese Beetles are taking us over. It isn’t even fun to go outside. We are awaiting another thunderstorm this morning. Hopefully, we will dry out soon. I hope you have a most wonderful day, sweet friend!
Thank you, Shannon. We are having a thunderstorm right now. We had a severe one last night. I don’t remember ever having this much rain in May and June. Wishing you a wonderful week with dryer weather!
Feels like summer here too, and ice tea is a staple for us! I’ll need to try the strawberry vanilla. It’s your beautiful setting that captures my heart. I always love the way your property shines through the seasons, the way you add seasonal and holiday touches to the Sunshine Cottage, and the fresh blooms that abound. The linens, the blue willow pitcher, the sponge ware teapot, the perfect glassware, and of course all the patriotic flags make this a winner/ winner. Thanks for including me in today’s Tea On Tuesday. It’s always fun to join you and Mary! Happy Summer, dear friend!
Sarah, thank you. I hope you are having a wonderful day. I am always happy when you can join us, dear friend!
Pam, Your glass tea pitcher and the blue speckled glasses are a favorite. I hate to hear you only have 5 left. I always get disturbed when I break a favorite piece but it’s fun to use them. Your mother’s beautiful blue and white tablecloth was a perfect choice. I love the cloches as they are a nice way to protect the food from insects. Love the plate stack; the Kirkland’s one are the perfect toppers. Everything is so pretty and inviting. Enjoy your week. Clara, ❤️
Clara, I appreciate all of your faithful visits and comments. Apparently, the glasses are fragile, but I do love them and always hand wash. Have you dried out in your area. We are getting heavy rains and wind on a daily basis. Take care ❤️
Not really! I think we’re going to need duck feet soon! 🤣 It’s getting more humid and hotter but not drier. I’m really tired of not being able to plan anything outside because of the rain storms. It seems we’re in a threat level most of the time. I’m sure when it stops it will be for an extended length of time and then we’ll be begging for it!
Sounds like us here in NE AL. We had a bad thunderstorm this afternoon. Yes, in August we will be dry as a bone and need rain
Good morning, dear Pam! What a lovely and patriotic table. I love seeing flags and bunting everywhere. The addition of the teapot belonging to Butch’s grandmother was a perfect touch. What a treasure! I am a sweet tea girl for sure, absolutely my beverage of choice. Do you have a source for the glass cloches? I found a source on Amazon selling 50 little American flags for $9, gave half away and just ordered 50 more. I went antiquing this weekend and purchase a glass floral frog. The holes are the perfect size for those small flags! It will be “feel like” over 100 today and the humid is already dripping…quantities of sweet tea will be consumed! Stay cool.
Thank you, Roxanne. I have been drinking way too much sweet tea this season, it is the table wine of the South! I don’t have a source for the cloches, I have had these for years. Wish I had more. I hope you are enjoying your day! The glass floral frog will be great for flags, flowers, etc. Stay cool!
Happy Tuesday, precious Pam,
What a joy it was to read your words and see the amazing patriotic tablescapes! Congratulations on that beautiful spongeware teapot that belonged to RM’s grandmother! And your Mom’s tablecloth. There’s so much to love here. From the beautiful flowers, teapots, stemware (I’m thankful you have 5 left!) to the adorable patriotic flags on the cupcakes (Butch, I LOVE cream cheese frosting too–especially on Red Velvet cake/cupcakes too!).
I hosted my son, daughter-in-law, and little grand, Whitley, for her 5th birthday. My DIL’s brother and family joined us. My house was filled with laughter, lots of food, giggles, and special memories. We missed those who have gone before. As I sat in the stillness on Sunday night, I thought of you, Pam, and your precious family, and said a prayer. I’m so thankful for friends/family who cherish the goodness in life. I’m still “recovering” and am grateful for the freedom we have. In this turbulent time, like many times in our history, I thank God I live in a country where I’m allowed so much freedom. I don’t take it for granted! My 4th of July plans will be minimal; but memorable. My grandson’s birthday is on the 5th (and he’s in Alaska) and mine and my twin’s is on the 8th. I’ll think of the cottage (the beautiful bunting!) and your precious family celebrating, too. I love you dearly, Pam, and appreciate you more than words can say!❣️🤍💙 God bless you, RM, and your entire family
Thank you, Karla. How exciting that you hosted your son, daughter in law, and Whitley for her 5th birthday. I know it was exciting to have a house filled with laughter, food, and family. Making memories is so important. I have been sorting family photos and memories flood my mind. I am so glad to be the keeper of the photos to leave for my son and grands. I am writing on the back of each one. It is a big task it and important one. Take care of yourself. You are always in my
prayers! ❤️🙏🏻🎶🥰
Oh, let freedom ring with this festive spread! Love the cloches over the sweet cupcakes. The images have fueled and inspired ideas for the fourth!
Thank you, Mary! I am so glad you got ideas for your 4th! Take care of yourself.
Your table is just lovely! Beautiful stemmed ice tea glasses. I love the story of your mom’s tablecloth.
Thanks so much, Catherine. I appreciate your visit and hope you return!
Pam, I am always a bit envious when your photos show the Sunshine Cottage! Sigh! I’ve always wanted one but our property would not support another building. Soooooo I live virtually through yours…and Mary’s adorable cottages. You both decorate them so tastefully. Your table looks so refreshing, and using the spongeware pitcher from RM’s family is so perfect with your plate stack, glasses and yummy looking cupcakes.
I also love the memories you have with the blue and white tablecloth and your Mother. What a wonderful, thoughtful lady she was to host a Sunday luncheon for any and all. No wonder you are so sweet and kind. What a great role model she was. Hugs and Blessings my friend.
Thank you, Kari. You do have a secret garden which I love. I have so many memories of my precious Mother cooking amazing food, and inviting many different people to her table. She had the gift of hospitality. Mother was a great role model.❤️
Your patriotic tea table is so perfect in your lovely garden setting, Pam. I used to have a blue sponge ware teapot similar to yours. I wonder what happened to it? Your centerpiece is beautiful and so is your stack of dishes and those are those speckled glasses. I’d love a cupcake and some strawberry vanilla iced tea. I will have to look for that. The memories of your loving mom and her meals on the tablecloth made me wish I could’ve known her. Thank you for the beauty of the red white and blue ❤️ 🤍 💙
Thank you, Kitty. With your gift of hospitality, you and my Mother would have been friends! ❤️🤍💙
Let freedom ring. Pam, your table is so delightful. There is something special about enjoying a meal outdoors. Your patriotic table is lovely. Love the glassware.strawberry vanilla iced tea sounds delicious along with a cupcake. Happy summer.
Thank you, Linda. The strawberry vanilla iced tea is a keeper. We love it!
I love your table, Pam! It’s so festive and patriotic. My favorite thing is the fresh lemon pudding with blueberries and strawberries in the vintage ruby red sherbet cups. Brava!
Thank you, Ricki Jill! The fresh lemon pudding with the berries is light and so easy to make!
Oh, Pam, what a beautiful, patriotic setting! I read yesterday, but had a busy day and am back to comment. The plate stack here is total fun. Your salads are just the right amount of red for that patriotic punch! I love the spongeware pitcher! Your memories of your Mother with the tablecloth and serving so many warms my heart. The glassware with pedestals take the ordinary to extraordinary. What a shame you can’t find replacements. The garden setting is wonderful, and the 3 wheeled bike looks especially sharp in its patriotic flair. I love how you used the cloches for the cupcakes, and the tea sounds like a winner if RM- and little people approved!
Things are truly heating up here, much humidity and scattered thunderstorms. Next week looks to be even hotter and no rain! Flood to near fire, a strange spring and start to summer.
Thank you, Rita. We have had daily thunderstorms and our hilltop ground is soggy. We are hopeful for a sunny day Saturday. Our garden is suffering from too much rain. I am sure in August we will be needing rain. I hope you are having a pleasant week, my friend!
Your patriotic flower arrangement [isn’t Crowning Glory amazing!] in the beautiful blue pitcher flanked by flags in blue bottles proudly announces this table is a celebration of the red, white and blue! I have always LOVED that blue stemware and I can’t believe the table cloth belonged to your Mother and has been used so much, it looks brand new! The plate stacks topped with a flag cupcake under a cloche look adorable. I’m with Butch, butter cream icing is hard to resist!
Thank you, Jenna. I love that special tablecloth and cherish the memories! I hope you are having a good week!
Pam, your table settings are always so lovely and I love seeing your table and cottage all ready for the holidays, and particularly for the Fourth in red, white and blue. Cupcakes are a favorite here, and tell Butch with cream cheese frosting:) Hope you are having a wonderful summer.
Thanks so much, Emily. All of a sudden, it feels like summer! Wishing you a wonderful week!
Your table is so lovely… I’m enjoying this 250th year of our country’s birth with a lot of R,W, & B myself – I just love to see it. You’ve arranged everything so beautifully, it looks very inviting.
I want to mention that your goblets are similar to what I’ve recently discovered is called ‘Mexican Confetti Glassware’ – I think you could search for that and find some similar enough to partner with your remaining treasured goblets and have an interesting set, even if they’re not identical.
I found 4 glasses in a thrift shop that I fell in love with so I had to go looking for some more to fill the table with them – that’s how I found Confetti Glass. I thought you might like to explore that option.
Thanks for sharing your lovely talent – have a great summer!
I love the glasses! And the strawberry vanilla tea sounds amazing! I have been hearing so much about the detrimental plastic that is in tea bags, so I was so happy to find some cloth ones recently that I can transfer the tea into before heating it. Now, I can drink more tea and must try to get some of the strawberry vanilla flavor! God bless you, sweet friend.
Thank you, the tea is really delicious!