Red, White and Blue at Cedar Hill Ranch

Here at the ranch we like to create a relaxed lifestyle and home that is also graceful and beautiful, a place that embraces family and friends in a comfortable way while making them feel special and celebrated. I think of the French life being about family and friends in a beautiful setting, sitting around a outdoor table with good food and good conversation. Cedar Hill Ranch covers how to create a home that embraces your family and guests with interior design ideas, DIY projects, antiques, vintage dishes, great recipes, entertaining, and anything else I find interesting or helpful.

We are proud to be Texans and Americans. We have such a wonderful heritage here in the USA, and on the Fourth of July, I like to remember our founding fathers and the sacrifices they made during those early years. I hope that during this Red, White and Blue Round Up, you will remember them too. Now, take your boots off, and pull up a chair, while we talk red, white and blue.

Daybed on the back porch

Rockers on the back porch

Contemplating what I would do for my red, white and blue post, I began to think of two things that I really love – dishes and food. The good thing is that they go together so well. And, I thought that setting it up outdoors would make it even more special. I know a lot of people like to use paper plates for outdoor dining, but for dish collectors like me, that is just heresy. I mean everything tastes better served on a lovely plate, and even better if I get to use silverware. I remember being in the UK one time, being served tea in a styrofoam cup, and thinking “this dog won’t hunt.” That’s Texas talk for “Not working for me.” Here I was in the land of high tea, and they were serving tea in a …, in a… throw away cup. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around it. I would have brought my own from home, had I known I would be expected to drink out of something that was minutes away from being in a trash can. In their defense, we were taking the tea to go, and I guess they didn’t want us walking away with their nice tea cups. They were awfully nice people, if you can get past the whole cup thing.

Where was I? Right, let’s head back to the front porch, where my newly painted French bistro table sits. I recently painted it with Annie Sloan paints, selecting this soft blue (Louis Blue) and blogged about here.)

Bistro table painted Louis Blue

Then I covered it with my mother-in-law’s vintage tablecloth; and filled my English transferware pitcher with two dozen red roses ($16.99 at Costco.) I found the pitcher at the Round Top Antique Show .

I thought these red roses were unusual and lovely with petals that are red on the top and white on the bottom, two of our colors for the day.

I also used some of my French silverware, blogged about here. I love how the pretty part of the fork is on what we Americans call the back side.

And I used my Rosebud Chintz dishes made by Spode in England. These are vintage dishes I purchased on eBay; look at the wonderful detail inside the cup with the two roses, shown below.

Then I added some fresh blueberries and strawberries

Below you can see the entire table. My plan was to set the table for two, but with the flowers and fruit, I only had room for one, but hey I would be happy to dine here alone. All I need are some good blogs to peruse on my laptop or maybe just a good old fashioned interior design magazine.