Memorial Day is coming! It is the start of summer as far as many are concerned. It means a day for picnics too.
BUT….. Most importantly it is a day to remember our great armed forces and the men and women who have given their blood, sweat, tears and their lives for our freedom and our wonderful country. I am very fortunate to never have lost a loved one to war. Still and all, I’m so terribly grateful to these wonderful people.
This is my tablescape in their memory.
I wanted to make a Red, White and Blue table, but since I’ve just begun tablescaping, I really didn’t have much in these colors. I picked up some blue and red dishes at the local Goodwill for a song. I used a full size white tablecloth on the bottom, with a smaller blue one on top. I didn’t have a table runner so I folded a red table cloth and used it for one. I had the white placemats and the red vase so I just needed some colorful flowers and some cute little decorations, flags and whatnot.
Of course no summer BBQ is complete without fresh lemonade. It tastes so good.
Oh yes, my napkins came from the Goodwill store too. I picked up my star napkin rings at either Kohl’s or Steinmart, I forget. I think they go great on this table.
I was even fortunate enough to find this cute apron at the Goodwill (my new home away from home).
Last night I learned the basketweave at my cake decorating class. I had missed last week because I my face surgery. Consequently, I don’t have any flowers made for the top of my cake. I think I did a pretty good job for my first basketweave. What do you think?
Tonight I’m going to slice strawberries over the top of the cake. I think it will be so yummy.
I hope you all have a wonderful day on Memorial Day.
I will be celebrating with Let’s Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Between Naps on the Porch
In Joy In My Life 
jaz
/ May 23, 2012wonderful and so festive! your basket weaving isterrific. i love to finish cakes this way. this post puts me in a memorial day mood!!!
Barb
/ May 23, 2012Ellen, I LOVE your tablescape. It is such a nice tribute to our men and women in the military!!as well as the veterans. Red and blue are my colors! You have such amazing good luck at Good Will. The cake is lovely . You are becoming quite talented as a cake decorator!
Cherry Kay Clifford
/ May 23, 2012So impressed by your basket weave, and I love those darling napkin rings. Glad that you’re feeling better. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
sagechronicles
/ May 23, 2012Wow! What a gorgeous table and that cake….all I can say is: AMAZING. And I bet it tastes as good.
Glad you are feeling better from your surgery. No matter what it is, it still takes a lot out of you.
Jan
/ May 23, 2012This came out great and the basket weave looks really nice!!! You are getting to be a pro! Only problem is now I want cake with strawberries on it and some of that yummy lemonade too!
Marlis Bennett
/ May 23, 2012Your table is perfect for this holiday. I love your cake, you did a fabulous job!! Lemonade is perfect for hot weather, can’t agree more.. have a blessed week and weekend. xo marlis
The Tablescaper
/ May 23, 2012Such a wonderful celebration!
– The Tablescaper
bichonpawz
/ May 23, 2012I must have missed something! Ellen, I am so sorry to hear that you had to have surgery!! Hope you are feeling much better now. Your tablescape is BRILLIANT! Love all of the patriotic touches!! It could also be used for Fourth of July!! Great Job! I, too, love lemonade!! I have never been to the Goodwill store…will have to check it out!! By the way, Ellen, when did you stop RVing full time? Just wondering…we are getting ready to head out on our road trip!!
xo
Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug
Sarah
/ May 24, 2012Ellen, it’s perfectly patriotic! Your basket weave iced cake is impressive and what a clever idea to add the strawberries. I like patriotic colors and symbols, so your table really makes me smile. The flag apron is a cute touch, and all the little details make this table fun and festive. Perfect for Memorial Day or any of our summer patriotic holidays. ~ Sarah
Alycia Nichols
/ May 24, 2012You JUST learned the basketweave??!?!?!!! I’d say you did an EXCELLENT job of it!!! Wow! I gave up trying a LONG time ago!!! Wonderful tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of this country. I didn’t know you were having surgery. I hope you are feeling much better very soon. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!
Marigene
/ May 24, 2012Beautiful cake…and table!
Sandra
/ May 24, 2012What a beautiful table. Love all of the red, white and blue. Your cake looks amazing! I tried cake decorating once upon a time…it was a failure of epic proportions. You are very talented! Thanks for sharing your festive table. Have a great weekend!
Barbara
/ May 24, 2012Your cake is beautiful! It is hard to believe that is the first time you tried that design. It will look wonderful with strawberries on top. Your table is a beautiful tribute. For someone who didn’t have much red, white and blue, you sure put together a beautiful table. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. I hope you are healing quickly.
Elaine
/ May 24, 2012For not having much in red, white, and blue, I’d say you put an amazing table together! Great idea for creating a runner, and your napkins and star napkin rings are really cute! Beautiful cake, too. I am totally addicted to Goodwill, and have to force myself to wait until senior discount day!
Elaine
Creating Wonderful Spaces
shelia
/ May 25, 2012Hi Ellen! I hope you’re feeling better from your surgery. Your table is so festive and you’ve decorated it just wonderfully. I love your cake! It’s gorgeous and I think the strawberries will look so pretty on top. You’re really doing well with your cake decorating. Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Kathleen
/ May 25, 2012Love your patriotic table, Ellen! You will get lots of use from your red white and blue. Flag day, July 4th Memorial Day!
Your cake looks wonderful! Great job!
Thanks for linking to Let’s Dish!
God bless our service people.
Pat
/ May 25, 2012There’s no way to go wrong with red, white, and blue. Love your table and your cake looks wonderful! Thanks for dropping by and congratulations on the twin girls! How exciting that must be!
Linda
/ May 25, 2012Your table is so perfect. Full of color and great accessories. Great way to remember the lives that were lost. That cake is beautiful. I am sure adding the strawberries, it eillbe so yummy. Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful Memorial Day week-end
A Cottage in the Clouds
/ May 25, 2012I love your festive red, white and blue table! Cute napkin rings. Your cake looks fabulous! I’m picturing it with strawberries on top – perfection!
v.duford
/ May 26, 2012Hi Ellen.thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comment. Patriotic tablescapes are near to my heart as we need to back our loved ones who are still here and the ones we have lost. Love your cake good job on the tablescape
FABBY
/ May 26, 2012Such great patriotic table! Love that cake, yummy!!! Your table for Memorial Day is perfect, fresh and so inviting, wish I was there to enjoy it! Many blessings for the families of the heroes. Thank you for your lovely and generous visit and good wishes for our Sil Enjoy the weekend.
FABBY
Meeka
/ May 26, 2012As always you come up with a great looking tablescape. Have an enjoyable holiday weekend.
Diane
/ May 27, 2012Hi lovely lady.
Wow! What a gorgeous Tablescape for Memorial Day.. and that cake with the basket weave is Beautiful….just: AMAZING. And I bet it tastes as good.I didn’t know you were having surgery. I hope you are feeling much better very soon. Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my Tablescape. I hope you and your family Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!
XXOO Diane
Judy
/ May 28, 2012Great job, I would also say I think your cake decorating class is going pretty good. I took one several years back and now you have gotten me thinking about it. Your tablescape is perfect for Memorial Day.
debbiedoos
/ May 30, 2012How festive and fun Ellen! LOVE your table. I think patriotic red white and blues are so much fun to do. I have one coming up later!
Jane Carter
/ May 30, 2012I think your cake looks awesome!!! I would love to learn how to do that. You always seem to find the BEST STUFF at Goodwill…..how do you get so lucky? The only thing I’ve bought at Goodwill is some Levi capri’s for $3….but, I admit, they were a FIND…..I wear the heck out of them!!!