Labor Day Tablescape

I'm reprising this post for the Picnic Party at:

We were so happy to spend Labor Day at our home with our favorite young newlyweds. One is in grad school and one is in dental school and their lives are very busy. We just love to spend some special time with them and  spoil them just a bit. They are the most wonderful houseguests, and I'm sure it's because they have been brought up by such great parents.  (You know who you are!) They even brought us wine from their wedding.  And boy, did we enjoy it!

I used an old two-piece cachepot for the centerpiece.  I put oasis in it and stuck red carnations in until it looked rounded and full.  Then a couple of small flags were tucked in to finish it off. I have to give credit to Carolyne Roehm for making carnations a chic choice.

Parties at our house usually start at the gates. 

We ate dinner on the upper terrace beside the pool.  The sound of the waterfall just seemed to add to the laughter and good conversation.  This is a tabletop I have done for several years, and I often use it for Memorial Day and Fourth of July, too. 

Most of the items are acrylic and nothing is precious or particularly unique, but I love the way it all comes together.  The tablecloth is from Tuesday Morning many years ago.  I've used it so many times.  The dinner plates and salad plates are from Target a couple of years ago. I don't remember where I got the flatware, but I'm sure you could find it many places.

The star bread and butter plates are from Walgreens and they are pottery.

These glasses are acrylic and came from Target. 

Of course! 

Don't you love these individual reproduction Blue Willow salt and pepper shakers? I bought eight pairs of them at Tenille and Company in Atlanta. I really like what Blue Willow does for this tablescape, and I used it for several serving pieces, too.

These napkins have been with my Christmas linens for a long time.  Who knows where I got them?  The napkin rings are embellishments from the Martha Stewart line of crafts at Michael's. I just applied them to some double-faced satin ribbons. 

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Multi-grain Bread Stars with

Ranch-flavored Cream Cheese,

Fresh Basil and Tomato Slice

Grilled Figs Filled with Saga Blue Cheese

Arugula Salad with Sweet Onion Dressing

served with

Tomato and Carmelized Onion Tart

Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers

served over

Orzo and Vegetable Salad

Vanilla Ice Cream and Blueberry Torte

with Red Raspberry Coulis

Here are a few images:

Mr. Pressed Pants did a great job on the grilling!

Here's the dessert plate.....empty.....how did that happen?

Location

I guess this means it's time to put away our white shoes and send our white pants to the cleaner one last time. Labor Day has come and gone again!