Readying for the red, white, and blue

It was time to switch that red-white-and-blue plastic tablecloth I’ve had on my table for a few weeks and set up the nicer fabric one, which I may leave out all summer. I found a few new goodies at a local antique mall on Saturday, so I was inspired to work on my table scape for the next time my young neighbors come over for tea.

This ruffled basket I found looks so 1980s to me, but the ’80s are having a moment, it seems, and I do love ruffles…

So I decided this would be good for holding things like straws and the red-white-and-blue paper napkins I keep forgetting to buy.

I think I’ve collected about a half-dozen vintage patriotic plates, but this latest one’s blue trim made the center design stand out.

The tablecloth is one I found back in February while visiting Monroe. I’d really like for every decoration I own to have flowers on it if possible. And apparently, even for the Fourth of July, it’s possible.

This clear oval Bicentennial plate is one I bought in the mountains last fall, and it will be perfect for holding the three little boxes of raisins that I always give my young friends as their teatime treat.

And the blue floral plates aren’t quite the right color of blue and needed a little softening, so with a cream-colored dessert plate on top and miscellaneous blue teacups alongside, I think they’ll work just fine. (The only other time I used these blue plates was for a breakfast tea to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, so it’s been a while!) I do enjoy decorating a themed table, especially when much of the décor consists of things I've already collected.