It's hard to believe Memorial Day weekend is a few days away. 2017 is flying by very quickly. Most of us will gather this weekend with family and friends for the unofficial start of Summer and enjoy a picnic or cookout. Hopefully all will pause and remember the reason for the holiday and the number of service men and women that died to protect our freedom.
I will spend most of my day Sunday in front of the TV watching the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in the evening. Growing up in North Carolina I was in the heart of racing country. Over the years I have attended many NASCAR races and was a pilot for one of the drivers in the 90's. I spent my Sunday's at the track inside of a car hauler waiting for the race to end then fly he and his family home. I have a large collection of NASCAR memorabilia and I enjoy bringing out a few items to decorate my racing table on Memorial Day weekend. The Indy 500 is on my bucket list of races to attend one day. I took a tour of the speedway in 1985 while making my way home to North Carolina from a Montana vacation. The Indy race will not be the same this year with Florence Henderson (Carol Brady) in attendance. I also always looked forward to Jim Nabors singing Back Home Again in Indiana. He was unable to attend last year due to declining health.
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| Memorial Day race weekend tablescape. |
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| The stack starts with the red woven place mat. I painted the charger plates a couple years ago using oil based Sharpie's. It took a good while to finish them, but I was pleased with the final product. The harvest gold dinner plate is next then topped with a white woven edge salad plate. The logo is a paper decal. |
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| The layers. |
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| I found the Indy 500 souvenir glasses at Goodwill last year. The most recent one is dated 1979 which makes them 38 years old. |
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| Overhead view of the table. |
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| The napkins are the colors of the racing flags. I used a hose clamp as the napkin ring. |
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| I used checkered flags in the centerpiece. They are surrounded by assorted race cars that were driven by my friend Sterling Marlin. |
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| The only souvenir I could find from my visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a box of matches. I'm sure I have other things packed away. |
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| Assorted stock cars in my collection. |
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| I used Yo-Yo's found at Dollar Tree as my place card holders. |
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| A couple of my car carriers on the server. |
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| My friend Sterling Marlin drove the Piedmont Airlines Oldsmobile in the late 80's. Another friend Terry Labonte drove the car prior to Sterling. When Piedmont was taken over by USAir (which became US Airways and now American) they decided to do away with the Winston Cup car sponsorship. Sterling was also sponsored by Underalls. Do you remember Underalls? Panties and hosiery all in one. |
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| Sterling also drove the Kodak cup car. |
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| Cooper on Memorial Day a couple years ago. |
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| Remember those that gave their lives for our freedom. |
This post is linked to the following parties:
Celebrate Your Story #78 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
The Scoop #276 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
453rd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
Home & Garden Thursday - A Delightsome LIfe
Vintage Charm #84 - Blue Willow House
Home Sweet Home #324 - The Charm of Home
Grace at Home #251 -Imparting Grace
Home Matters Linky Party #137 - Life with Lorelai
Foodie Friday and Everything Else - Rattlebridge Farm
Share Your Style Link Party #119 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #150 - Life and Linda
Inspire me Monday Wee #282 - Create with Joy
