Hydrangeas Just Make Me Happy!

Mother Nature decided that my hydrangeas would not be providing very many blooms this year, but fortunately, they are easy to find in grocery stores and farmer's markets.  There's nothing like cutting your own, but with a little planning, I'll still be having hydrangeas.

This table celebrates the hydrangea and is full of color.

These plates are made by Nature's Home, and the pattern is called Hailey Sky.

The glassware is an large, old blue stem for water and an inexpensive swirled glass for wine.

I sort of promised myself that I would not buy another straw placemat, since I have so many, but this color was so perfect for this plate, right?  The flatware is very old and I've no idea where it came from.

These little Emile Henry pots make fun salt and pepper servers. 

This French urn was an easy decision to hold the flowers.  The French blue color is lovely, isn't it?

I would have loved darker blue hydrangeas, but these are the darkest that Trader Joe had today.  I added lime green hosta leaves to pull out the green in the plates.

Then, for a little extra comfort for lingering conversations, I brought out some French grain sack pillows.

Can you tell that this table sits in the round part of the deck?  It is off of the living room and overlooks the lake.  It's our favorite place to dine outdoors. 

See where the round part meets the straight railings?

We sometimes put extra tables out here if we have more than a dozen people dining outside.  

Pretty as they are, I just know that those hydrangeas will be put on the railing during dinner so we can see each other.  I'm never insulted by rearranging the centerpiece because, after all, we're there to enjoy each other, not the flowers.  Well.....mostly!!!

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Using Today's Fabrics

I love today's fabrics.  They are big, bold and graphic.  Yet, they make so much of a statement that I am not willing to commit to them in my upholstery or draperies.  They work great as pillows, or even better for me, as tablecloths.

My daughter and I spent quite a bit of time at the remnant table at Old Time Pottery a while ago.  We each scooped up several patterns and they are a great buy at less than five dollars a yard.

The bright French blue and apple green of this pattern sent me looking for some items that would stand up to these bold colors and large print.  Sitting on my front sidewalk, waiting to be planted was this flat of sun coleus.  Now I have green!

And down on the lower terrace in the flower bed was a blue hydrangea bush that was just beginning to flower.  Ok....that's the blue I need.

They are just beginning to turn.

To tie it all together, I used a blue French urn.

Voila!  I have a super simple and speedy arrangement.

Now, for the place settings.  I knew that I have lots of stuff in these colors, so I went hunting.

I started with these bird's eye maple chargers and layered a white scalloped plate from Z Gallerie, an apple green salad plate from Target, and a french blue bowl that is so old that I can't even guess where it came from.  Same with the flatware!

These blue glass stems are so big that I use them for water.

And I serve wine Italian-style in these wicker covered tumblers from Tennille and Company in Atlanta.

That's it!  No small accessories this time.  This pattern is so bold that it would overwhelm anything else.

I think it still manages to look abundant.

Looking around on the deck, it is clear that I need to spend some time shaping these boxwoods in the corners.  Maybe tomorrow.

One of these pots has this cute little volunteer in it.  I don't know where it came from, but isn't it sweet?  I love it when that happens!

And talk about lime green.  I love the way these pots with creeping Jenny and ferns show up against this wall of brick.

Check out the colors that line the waterfall here just over the railing.  We are going to put koi in this pond this weekend.  I'm a little afraid of the herons eating them, but we'll see.

This always makes any meal special here.  I am always filled with peace and a sense of calmness when I take the time to enjoy this view.  I count myself so lucky to have this in our backyard.

I am linking up to Susan's Tabletop Thursday blog party at Between Naps on the Porch.  If you haven't spent some time visiting these posts, you really should give it some time.  You'll enjoy it.  Click http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I will also be posting on Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

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Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

You can also find me at The Tablescaper's

Seasonal Sunday

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Cheerful Birdies on a Gloomy Day

Be sure to visit Cuisine Kathleen's linky party featuring birds, nests, and eggs.  It's sure to be filled with inspiration galore!

Listening to the birds chirp the other day, I decided that I needed to do a bird themed table.  This periwinkle blue and white palette came together so easily.  When I started poking around, I couldn't believe how much bird stuff I had.

This Robert Allen fabric was the inspiration.  It seemed to blend traditional and contemporary in its simplicity.  I just hemmed a length for a tablecloth.

I chose the drop-leaf table in the bar for this lunch.  I like to leave it pushed up against the wall and set the ends when we only have four.

Then I replaced the fish plates in the antique French shelves with some old bird plates.  There are no markings on these at all, so I can't share any information other than to say I bought them at an antique show years ago.

 

I love this wicker plant holder for small spring pots.  Today I added a small glass filled with water to each terra cotta pot and then placed a blue hydrangea moppead in each one.  I love the way this watercolor of Cape Cod shares the colors of the flowers.

The double-faced satin ribbon comes from The Paperie at Sam Flax, one of my favorite sources for beautiful papers and ribbons.

Here it is used again as a napkin "ring" on a crisp white napkin from The Palm line of linens at Homegoods.  The little vine nest that I used as a placecard holder is from Michaels and was very inexpensive.  These white bistro plates are some I've had for a very long time.  I think everyone needs to have a simple white set of dishes to play with, and they are available many places at very affordable prices.

I am so fond of the look that a mixture of silverplate flatware gives to a table.  Here I've used it with these mother-of-pearl handled knives that pull the white into the design in another interesting way.

Waterford's Lismore pattern of water and wine stems keeps the look crisp and simple. I think it is the most popular pattern that they make.  I have so many friends that have this pattern.  Great for borrowing!  My mom has gifted me with these pieces for many years.  Thanks, mom!  I love them.

This white faux bois cup held the cream of asparagus soup on a similar faux bois plate.  

 

A larger faux bois plate held a simple salad of arugula, avocado, and fresh apricots dressed with a lemon cream dressing.

My white bread and butter plates were a little large for this table, so I used these little fluted dishes for the rolls with a twig butter spreader.

I almost forgot I had this little French white porcelain butter dish with the bird on top.

This casserole dish has been a favorite of mine for many years.  I am always careful not to bang the bird on the top.  It held a delicious orzo primevera.

This might be one of my very favorite tables I have ever set.

I found this roll basket at the Flower Factory in Chagrin Falls, Ohio last week.  They are closing and everything is drastically reduced.  I think I paid about $3.50 for it.  Great bargain, don't you think?

I used this sweet little dish to serve lemons and dill for garnishing the salmon.

Coffee in these cups with the faux bois design were served at the end of the meal with dessert.  The dessert was a meringue shell (made extra rough to look like a nest) filled with lemon curd and garnished with a whipped cream "egg".  I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I never remember to photograph anything once I start serving. 

One more birdie item held sweetener.

It was a gloomy day, but the friendship was warm and the conversation was light and fun.  We have lots of spring flowers blooming, but the rain has kept me out of the garden.  I did a little clipping a few days ago, but things will have to wait for a sunny day for any more gathering.  I didn't even stick my head out to get a picture of the bird welcome sign on the front door.

The guest bathroom vanity even got a nod to spring and birds.

A metal nest.......

and a cute hand towel round out the theme.

Menu:

Asparagus Soup

with Radish Micro-green Garnish

French Rolls

Arugula, Avocado and Apricot Salad

with Lemon Cream Dressing

Soy-glazed Salmon

Orzo Primavera

Meringue Nests filled with

Lemon Curd and a Whipped Cream Egg

Coffee

Don't forget to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly blog party featuring lots and lots of fun tablescapes.  Thank you, Susan for this forum.