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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Texas Independence Day

As a transplanted Texan, I must admit that I could not have told you the date of Texas Independence Day.  But this year, March 2nd marks the 175th anniversary of the day that Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836.  After increasingly strained relations with the Mexican government and with the Alamo in San Antonio under siege, the authors of Texas' Declaration of Independence wrote the document overnight, proclaiming the Texas to be a "free, sovereign, and independent republic."  The Republic of Texas lasted until 1845, when Texas joined the Union as the 28th state. 

When we moved to Texas in 2000, it still felt a bit like we'd moved to another country.  Texans are very proud of being Texans!  It took us a while to learn the words to "Texas, Our Texas," which is sung immediately after the national anthem at football games.  Everyone else in the stands seemed to know the words and sang enthusiastically.  Anyway, celebrating a 175th anniversary suggested a tablescape!

Last year, the Texas grocery store chain HEB sold these melamine plates and star-shaped bowls, and when they were finally marked down to fifty cents each, I bought some! 

The placesetting also includes plain white dinner plates and red salad plates, my red Georgian-Ruby goblets, everyday flatware, plaid placemats, and my mother-in-law's red napkins tied with striped ribbon.

Here's a closer look at the cute melamine pieces.  We'll use the star-shaped bowls for extra barbecue sauce!

I didn't have any red flowers on hand, nor is it time for the bluebonnets to bloom just yet, so I made do with a red lantern as a simple centerpiece. 

Here's a view of the table, set in the breakfast area. 

And one from a different angle. . . .

We have enjoyed living in Texas, and have found the natives very friendly.  For example, shortly after we moved here and before we'd gotten our Texas license plates, the woman who took my groceries out to the car (I told you HEB was great!) spotted our out-of-state plates and said, "I see you're new in town.  Have you found a church home yet?"  She then invited me to hers!

Here's to the great state of Texas! 

Thank you for visiting my table this week!  I will be linking it to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, so be sure to check out other tablescapes there tomorrow! 




36 comments:

  1. What a fun and colorful tablescape. You got a great bargain on the dishes. They are so cute!

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  2. Love your new header. Happy Texas day! What a great red lantern too.

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  3. Love the Texas tablescape! I lived in San Antonio many years before moving to Iowa and miss Texas. Mostly I miss HEB. LOL!

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  4. As a Native Texan I'm glad to see you celebrating the day. HAPPY TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY.

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  5. What a cute table...I agree, Texas is like a country on it's own!

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  6. I can't think of a single person I've encountered (in real life or online) from Texas who was anything short of delightful.

    Seriously, the state just seems to bring out the best in folks.

    I love your table, especially those great TEXAS plates. Wonder if they had Georgia ones? And I like the blue lone stars.

    Happy Independence Day!

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  7. Hi Tricia, I love posts with interesting information like this one, and your table is adorable too! The napkin ring ribbons are perfect with the dinner plate borders. What are we having for dinner? I'm good with anything as long as there's BBQ sauce! I have NEVER been to Texas, but would really like to go someday. All of my blogging buddies from The Lone Star State are so friendly. I can't wait. Linda

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  8. My sister is a transplanted Texan, about 25 years now. She still has her Long Island accent.
    I love your Texas table, very smart looking!
    Pass the ribs!

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  9. Hi lovely Texas Lady.
    I love your beautiful tablescapes of Texas Independence Day !!! I also have a home in Texas~~~ Im your newest follower on your Blog.I hope you come over and join my Blog. I hope you have a nice evening !!!
    Diane

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  10. This is such a pretty tribute to your state. Love the look. I really love those red footed water goblets. Nice job!

    Donna

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  11. I love this post! God bless Texas! (and I love my HEB too!!) All my college friends who don't live in Texas anymore miss HEB too.

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  12. Your table looks great Tricia! Always love R-W-B and your goblets are so pretty-enjoy:@)

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  13. Welcome to Texas! ....must tell you a neat story about Independence Day. My 94 year old dad is a Texas historian and discovered about 12 years ago that there was not a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence.... the original is in the Archives in Austin. My mom designed one and Dad had it copyrighted and printed. If you will email me, I will send you one, and you can have it framed. Looking at your table, I feel the urge to sing "The Eyes of Texas" are upon you.......lovely table and a great celebration of "the" day!!!!

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  14. Wonderful newcomer story. Very patriotic looking table. You're all set for July 4th too.

    I have to say, every time I run across the name of your blog, I have to chuckle.

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  15. Tricia, bless you for celebrating our great state! The plates are wonderful. Even my husband said i 'needed' those. Too bad we don't have HEB here. Love your table.

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  16. Those dishes are soooo cute. I love your tablescape.

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  17. Tricia, I hoped someone would do a table for Texas Independence Day. How thoughtful that a newcomer would honor this event. I was born and raised in Texas and have lived here all my life and grown up with HEB stores. So welcome! Great table! ~ Sarah

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  18. Happy Independence Day, Tricia! Thanks for celebrating my home state for me ... since this native Texan got transplanted to Tennessee! I miss the Lone Star State with its kind and colorful people, bluebonnets as far as the eye can see (pleeeease enjoy them for me this year!), BBQ brisket (although Renaissance Man makes a mean brisket and has converted several Tennesseeans), the music, and -- most definitely -- HEB! Fun table!

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  19. Wow Tricia such a great tribute! You can repeat this for the 4th of July too! I've always had a thing for red white and blue. I used those colors in my nautical family room. I love the Georgian Ruby glasses...nice a chunky! Thanks for stopping by my blog too!

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  20. Hi, Tricia! Texas sounds like my kinda state!!! I am proud of how friendly Kansas Citians generally are, but it sounds like Texans could give us a good run for our money! I have only visited the Lone Star state once when I was a kid, and I don't remember much. I think I'll have to make it a point to get there again someday if for nothing else but the incredible hospitality & friendliness! Great tribute to the state. I really like those plates a LOT. EVERY state should have those readily available! I would buy a bunch!!! With the luncheon for my Mom's retirement from the Senate just around the corner, they would be a great favor for the guests!!! Hmmmmmm. Oh, well! Have a great week! Yours truly, "Alycia Hitchcock" ;-)

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  21. I still miss a lot of things about Texas. As a returning adult student at UTA, I was required to take Texas history! I enjoy history, so I enjoyed the class. Your plates are very cute, and I miss HEB too.

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  22. This Oklahoma girl could not decide whether to look at a Texas tablescape or not!! Ha! I did enjoy it. That is actually pretty neat that the grocery store sold the plates. I did an Oklahoma tablescape last April on the landrun anniversary. I agree about the friendliness of Texans and Okies. They are just good people! Lori L

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  23. Very cute! If my husband and I are every lucky enough to move to Texas (like I want!) I'll have to get some Lone Star dishes too!

    Happy Thursday!

    http://lessonsofanewlywed.blogspot.com

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  24. I love Texas! My son lives in Frisco, and as I child, my family lived in West Texas. I'm your neighbor North of the Red River. So glad that you've become an adopted Texan. So what did you tell her when she asked if you'd found a church home? Did you go visit? Thank you for sharing your delightful design and for stopping by my post. Cherry Kay

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  25. I love your Texas Independence Day table! Your lantern is the perfect centerpiece! My family lived there a few years when I was in college so I was only there during the summers but I have a special place in my heart for Texas :-)

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  26. I am a newbie to Texas and I know where there is an HEB!!!! I have been looking for some summer plates to use when my NY family comes to visit. I just love your table and tribute to Texas!
    I would love to get together with other Texas boggers...can we arrange something?
    Thank you for sharing...
    Blessings My Friend,

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  27. I love your tablescape, Tricia. It looks very patriotic. The red lantern serves great for a centerpiece....Christine

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  28. I love how you did this table. You had all the perfect "ingredients" for this celebration. Isn't it great how they now make pretty melamine plates...I would never have guessed they weren't china. Thanks too for the history lesson. I knew this information once, but I'd forgotten.

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  29. Hi Tricia,

    Your tablescape is so nice. I love the idea of an ode to your "new" home state! I've never had the opportunity to visit Texas, but I'd love to see those famed bluebonnets in person. My in-laws went to Austin and San Antonio several years ago, and my MIL brought me a hand-made Christmas ornament decorated with bluebonnets. I always enjoy putting it on our Christmas tree.

    I didn't do a tablescape (I've been sick with a cold), but I'm already planning next week's table. Hope you have a great weekend!

    Denise

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  30. Tricia...this is a great table!! I think you centerpiece is adorable and very clever! Looks like you've really embraced your "inner texan"! Great table.

    Tess

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  31. Hi Tricia, As usual you have hit it out of the park, umm state. Who would guess melamine plates could look so nice. These look stoneware. Everything is perfect down to the ribbon on the mil's napkins. Thanks for the ongoing inspiration. Ginger:)

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  32. You know, it's rodeo time in Houston so your table is perfect and makes me wish I had the makings for a real Texas table. Yeehaw!

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  33. Your table looks great! I love the Texas plates and litle blue star bowls. The simple red lantern used as a centerpiece works perfectly!
    Love the look! ~Susie

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  34. What an adorable table! I love everything you did, and I can't believe you got those cute plates for that great price. You know, this would be a cute Fourth of July table, too. I have a red lantern, but I think yours is cuter!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday and St. Patrick's Day and Texas Independence Day, too!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

    P.S. I love Texas. We have lots of friends and relatives there!

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  35. What a wonderfully colorful post, Tricia! My brother lives in TX & I'm sending a link his way so his significant other can see this. You did a GREAT job...♥ the lantern as a centerpiece. I bet it really looks nice, lit during an evening meal. I am stealing...er, borrowing this idea soon.

    fondly,
    Rett

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  36. What a great table. So full of color and very patriotic.

    - The Tablescaper

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