Sunday, May 27, 2012

Memorial Day Poppy Tribute

When my son asked if I was going to do a Memorial Day Tablescape - my original response was no, thinking that the true meaning of Memorial Day was to Honor those who have died in our nation's service. Sure it is the start of summer, picnics, hot dogs and some great funiture sales but I think we loose the real reason for the Holiday.  After a little research, I decided to go ahead with a Memorial Day table but using the Red Poppies as inspiration for my tribute to our fallen service men and women.


I am sure that many of you have read the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Leiutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915. 
 But I went on to read of Moina Michael who replied with her own poem " We Shall Keep the Faith"  Here is just a small portion of the poem:

We Cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Ms. Michael was a professor at the University of Georgia and was the first to wear and sell poppies with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. 
 This custom would go on to spread to other countries and become a tradition for honoring our fallen patriots.

So here is my Memorial Day Poppy table:

I chose to do a simple table for breakfast before our Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony tomorrow morning.


I laid down a moss mat, and placed some hand made poppies around the simple white candles and cross for my centerpiece.
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day. 
 I am going out to hang up my American Flag now!

I have linked up to Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
and Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Cinco de Mayo Tablescape

Hola!  I am ready for Cinco de Mayo! Well, almost ready - the table is set.

This will be a more casual late lunch, early dinner for my family.
I would have liked to have fresh flowers but I will be traveling for work all week and my boys are not real good about taking care of the fresh flowers - so I settled for some that are guaranteed not to croak while I am gone!
I made some tissue paper flower napkin rings to top my Dollar Tree plates.
I bought the runner at Kohls and the two pitchers at Marshalls. The bowls I used as planters are from JCPenney - only $2 each.  I added my little moss frogs just for fun.

I just need to go to the grocery store now and we will be ready for our fiesta!

I am linking to the Following Parties: