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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Texas Independence Day

My good friend Michele reminded me that it was time to set a table to celebrate Texas Independence Day on March 2nd, so I got busy.  For you non-Texans, that date marks the 177th anniversary of Texas' declaration of independence from Mexico.  March 2nd was also Sam Houston's birthdate, and it is celebrated along with independence as a state holiday.  Some state workers get the day off, I understand, and there are festivals in many towns and cities.  As I've mentioned before, I'm a native of Arkansas, but we have lived here longer than in any other state, so I guess I can claim to be a Texan now, too.

The table began with the same melamine salad plates I used for my table two years ago, found on sale at HEB, our beloved Texas grocery chain.  I wonder if other states sell similar plates, or if this is a Texas thing.  Things ARE different here!  I layered the salad plate with a white dinner plate and red luncheon plate.
 
I chose a blue and white tablecloth as a backdrop for the placesetting. 
I tried red glassware and a different blue pattern, but I decided this one looked best.  The four goblets were a gift from Marigene who blogs In the Middle of Nowhere.  After I admired her set, she insisted they were "everywhere" in thrift stores in her area and very kindly sent me some.  Thanks again, Marigene! 
Alas, it's too early for our bluebonnets to bloom, but a Texas table needs them, so I made do with some faux ones in my bud vase napkin rings.  Here you can also see the pattern on the tablecloth -- I'm calling the little critters Texas mosquitoes. 
 I had just polished my silver, so decided to use it, even with melamine plates. 
More faux bluebonnets in a chippy pitcher served as an easy centerpiece. 
Here's a table view:
To carry out the theme, I made shortbread cookies from Yvonne of StoneGable's recipe in Texas shapes.  (The little ones are ten-gallon hats, if you don't recognize them!)  I wonder if the other states all have their own cookie cutters?  I know Louisiana does, because I have a set from the time we lived there.  The cookies turned out to be easy to make and delicious -- not too sweet!  I served them with Texas' own Blue Bell ice cream in cherry vanilla flavor.  Yum!
Thanks for stopping by to celebrate Texas Independence Day with me!  I will be linking to Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.


22 comments:

  1. Oh what a lovely Texan Patriotic table, Tricia. Your table topper is so pretty and so are the dishes with the state in it..who cares if they're melamine, right now they looks so elegant next to your gorgeous flatware and flowers. Happy Texas Day to you!
    FABBY

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  2. I love every single bit of it. I have often wanted to do a Georgia themed table, but I keep missing the Georgia Day opportunity. I love those plates with the state on them. I have nothing like that.

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  3. a friend of mine recently moved to Texas so I've been reading a bit about local celebrations and came across your post. What a beautiful table! So elegantly and well thought!
    I want to help my friend to integrate and I've suggested your post. She does love to throw a dinner. Would you consider this http://www.ornamentsandmore.com/state-of-texas-personalized-ornament.aspx and appropriate gift from me to her, as a texas independence day celebration gift?

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    1. Yes, especially if she has any ties to the University of Texas, whose mascot is the longhorn! If she is an Aggie (Texas A&M) or another Texas university, maybe a different Texas symbol would work better. Thanks for visiting!

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  4. What a beautiful tablescape! Love the centerpiece and the sweet little cookies! :)

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  5. In a word, sensational! I am half Texan.:-) My father was born and raised there. He met my Missouri mother during WWII. We lived in Texas during part of my childhood and I visited my grandparents there often. I love your Texas table!

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  6. Yeehaw!!! So nice to see this table. Gotta love a bit of patriotism. I still love those Texas plates and am still looking for some. One day.. I know they will just be there. I feel horrid now that I missed celebrating this day. drats. But you did us all justice. The table is quite lovely even if you have those dreaded Texas mosquitoes dancing about! Looks lovely.. xo marlis

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  7. Yea for you in celebrating Texas Independence Day! I love your plates and your whole tablescape. The blue bonnets are perfect for the centerpiece.

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  8. I had already decided that those must be Texas mosquitos. I knew it, I just knew it. I adore your Texas table. I've had my eye out for some for my grandsons, son, & daughter-in-love, down Big D way. I also love Texas! I could move there in a 'New York' minute. :-) Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  9. Cute theme!! I like how your tablecloth shows off your dishes. Now you have me craving a cookie!

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  10. Love those Texas plates! The glasses and the bluebells are such a pretty shade of blue and the cookies look delicious. Hope you have a wonderful celebration on the second!

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  11. Don't mess with Texas!!!!! What a fun table, Tricia!!! No...Missouri doesn't have its own plates like this. If they do, I sure haven't run across them anywhere! I would love, love, LOVE to have some with the state of Missouri emblazoned on them!!! But Texas does things up right, so it's only natural they would have these available! Those are some pretty good lookin' faux bluebonnets! I had to take a 2nd look! I recognized the 10-gallon hats right off the bat! Hey...you could do a table in tribute to J.R. Ewing!!! :-)

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  12. The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You! Good for you, Trisha. I didn't even think about setting a table for TX Independence Day. Shame on me!
    Thanks for sharing the Texas spirit. Your table is perfect and the cookies too cute!

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  13. Tricia, love the table and the decorations. Your bluebonnets looks pretty darn natural and the cookies are the perfect touch!

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  14. Wow! Looks wonderful! Love the dishes!

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  15. Love it! There is much I miss about Texas, even though we moved away a long time ago. I do like the mix of the good silver with the melamine, too.

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  16. Love your table! Love the mix of dishes and silver! hugs ~lynne~

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  17. Love those texas plates, so unique, love all the settings on the table and I like the napkin holders so much...of course can't forget about the beautiful silverware, lovely...

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  18. You've proved my point about silver once again -- it goes with everything, including plastic. Cute table and I love that it's -- well -- Texan in its counterpoint between high and low.

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  19. Great celebratory table, Tricia! Cute plates, don't think I have ever seen any other state plates.

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  20. I love your TX themed table! The cookies add the perfect touch!

    Hope you had a great celebration! I need some NY plates!

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  21. This is adorable! I'm a Texan by birth! My Mom still lives in Texas (Houston) so I'm in Texas often and I LOVE HEB grocery stores. I live in Georgia now but I will always be a Texas gal! hugs, Linda

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