Pinch Me!!!!

I've had these lobster table linens for quite a while and I've been waiting to do a post with them.

This morning when our grandsons came out to the pool in their lobster swim trunks, I knew that today was the day!

I set the table pool side with a red/wht/blue color story.

The placemat and napkin came from Homegoods several years ago.  I used them over a plain white hotel linen cloth.

 I used these chargers from Portugal. They sort of remind me of the Nantucket basket design.

Next was these red dinner plates from Ballard Designs.

Then these crab salad plates from Target.  They are on sale now for $1.25.  What a deal.

These blue glasses have been around forever.

The red flatware and the lobster pick are all from Target.  Most of the lobster themed stuff is from Target from several years ago 

like this bucket that I used for the napkin and the flatware with the lobster pick.

I set one at each place.

Here's the placecard holder.

and here's the individual butter warmer.

I almost never use these kinds of "gems" on a table, because I find them just too kitchy, but this table is all about the kitch!

A simple shell holds the salt and pepper with a horn spoon.

Years ago, some houseguests brought us this three dimensional seafood platter and at the time, I thought it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen.  Well....tastes evolve, and now I love it.

I like to use this souvenier from Seaside, Florida as an ice bucket when we have a casual, beachy dinner.

I got these desert plates from Homegoods about two weeks ago.

This red scolloped pottery bowl holds greens and daisies from our garden.  Then, after I had taken some pictures, my daughter suggested that we add some blue hydrangeas and it looked so much better.  Thanks, Susie!

This made a fun, casual table pool-side.

It's a good thing, since that's where we spent the last day of their Camp Neena/Boppa.

It was 102 degrees today, so this was the perfect place to be.  I'll miss these guys soooo much, as they bring such joy to us. 

Here's a disclaimer:  We did NOT have lobster tonight.  We cooked salmon and had it over caesar salad and the dessert plates were not even used, as we served a very child-friendly ice cream sandwich for dessert.  You go with that they are most likely to eat, and lobster was just not worth the risk.  However, the five year old's favorite soup is Turtle Soup, so who knows....they might have loved it!

I'm joining Susan at Thursday Tablescape

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

Be sure to visit!  

The Boys of Summer

What a great day!!!  We have our two youngest grandsons here from Ohio while Mom and Dad celebrate their tenth anniversary on a well-deserved trip.  This house and the land is made for little boys!  Tonight was a momentous event.  Our seven year old, Teddy, took his first solo kayak ride.  

With Boppa and little brother as the "pilot boat", I loaded Teddy into a kayak and gave him a push off of the dock.

It took a bit of trial and error.....

but in a suprisingly short time, he was circling the lake like a pro.

Teddy is an excellent swimmer and takes direction well.  He's used to boats and has water sports in his DNA.  He was a total natural.

Here's the flotilla!

Owen is just the right size to stick in the cargo space and he thinks he's the captain of the regatta!

How does a kid feel when he masters a new endeavor?

VICTORIOUS!!!!!!!

I am sooo proud!!!!

As a parent, you know your children are going to pattern what they see you do, and then their children will probably do the same.  Most of the time that is a good thing!  Our oldest daughter was much more interested in playing ball with the boys than cooking, but somehow (maybe by osmosis), she began to love cooking and entertaining.  Oh, we DID despair that she would live with rats under her bed, but her inner Martha Stewart kicked in and she runs a beautiful and clean household.  And most importantly, she is a great mother to the sweetest little nine year old boy on the planet. The photo above is the eggs that he made when he sneaked out of bed on his first day of summer vacation to make a surprise breakfast.  If that isn't sweet enough, would you just look at the garnish he put on the plate?????????? 



Yes!!!!  This tough little football/lacrosse/golf player has picked up the finer points of entertaining already!!!  No, you may NOT have him for your family!