July 4th, 2014

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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Things have been hit and miss around here this summer. I'm glad to have a spot of time to share our 4th of July celebration, which was hosted by our friends in their home. Most of the tabletop items are mine. Kathy is one of the members of my "co-op"....a group of friends who share with each other, and who are welcome to choose things from my china room for their entertaining needs at any time. Weather our here on the prairie can be fire breathing dragon hot in July, so Kathy wasn't sure whether we would be dining outside by the pool or in the dining room. Answer? She set tables for both locations.

First....the dining room...

My pair of porcelain head Uncle Sam Santas made the trip to welcome the guests as they entered the home. They stood guard over the Wedgwood Countryware dessert plates to be used later in the evening.

The Williams Sonoma linen hemstitched tablecloth and napkins added the perfect punch of American blue to the table. The Wedgwood Countryware dinner and salad plates sat on Kathy's red charger plates.

A pair of simple glass containers held a mixture of flowers in red and white....

The Buleigh Blue Calico tureen amply anchored the centerpiece. I found it at an estate sale some years ago for $30.00.

Kathy's lace runner pulled all the elements together. Centerpiece done.

Finishing touches...

The goblet is Lenox Holiday Gem. They used to be mine, but I sold them to Kathy when I decided to go with a different red goblet.

Kathy placed the cranberry bell that I gave her for Christmas at her place setting. I think that she anticipated that we might be a rowdy group that she might need to "ring in" for dinner. :-)

We ultimately ended up dining al fresco by the pool. Kathy sat two tables for their 10 guests. I made the blue and white striped tablecloth a few years ago. A ceramic lantern did centerpiece duty.

A second table for four was set with Kathy's blue and white checked cloth and a smaller red lantern...

Both tables were set using my Williams Sonoma Outdoor Collection enamelware red charger plate and white enamelware dinner plate.

It was a wonderful evening. We dined on chicken, pork, and beef shish kabobs, a green salad, and wild rice. Dessert was Brandy Ice and an assortment of dessert bars. I hope that your celebration of our beloved country's birthday was fun-packed and delightful. Let freedom ring!

This week I'll be joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps of the Porch

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