Tea parties, picnics, and a plastic tablecloth

Several years ago, I bought this thick plastic tablecloth at a thrift store, I think for fifty cents, but I had never even unfolded it. I decided this might be good to use with my little neighbors when we’re crafting, but once I got it on the table for their snacks, I kind of liked its retro look.

And I was tickled to discover that the tablecloth is reversible, with red, white, and blue stripes on the other side. A flip of the cloth and I’ll move from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July.

I’m aiming to stock a picnic hamper I recently thrifted (more on that next week!), and it occurred to me that I might as well look for red, white, and blue dishes. Then I realized I had some, these vintage enamelware plates I found (new with stickers still on them!) at a thrift store last year. I wanted to try my trusty old Brown Sugar Shortbread recipe with King Arthur's gluten-free flour. It was a little more prone to breakage when I tried to remove the cookies before they'd cooled, but the taste was great and very light. I will happily serve these to my gluten-free-eating friends.

And then I remembered an enamelware teapot that my late friend Ruth gave me years ago. It’s missing some of the enamel in spots, and I’m thinking of crocheting some stars and simply gluing them on. Any other ideas? I enjoy assembling a casual collection of goodies like this, and I’m thinking I’ll treat my young friends to a teatime picnic one day this summer.