Lunch in the Woods

I am posting this previous post with Happy To Design's Sunday Favorites party.  It's an invitation to post one of your favorite previous posts.  It's fun for me to revisit this one.  Not only was it one of my favorite tablescapes, but it is a fond memory of a wonderful day spent with a rather new friend.  A year later, I can't imagine not having this woman in my life. 

Enjoy this re-run!!!!

This beautiful weather was crying for lunch outside, so I made a quick phone call to invite a friend and set up the table in the woods. Lunch was mostly grocery store pick-up, but the table was so much fun for both of us.  She never expected to find out that we were eating in the sun-dappled woods. 

I started with a simple card table and covered it with a curtain panel from Pier One.  I just loved the colors in it and how it made fall tones seem just a little more vibrant.  Then I used our Portmerion "Birds of Britain" dinnerware.

This guy was the centerpiece.  He is usually up in our tv room on the mantle, but I think he enjoyed the fresh air today! 

These few flowers at the base were just stuck into a little bit of oasis.  I was able to find them all in our cutting garden or back yard. 

What do you think drew me to these dishes? The acorns, of course! They're great, classic dishes, but the borders made them must-have.  I used my oldie but goodie Target brown salad plates in between the dessert and dinner plates.

Here's the dessert plate with the Nightingale on it.

And here's the Harlequin Duck dinner plate.

I never heard of this bird, but the colors are great.

Pier One had a stack of four of these wooden bowls in a darling net bag.  I think I'll use them often for nuts and such.  I used them here in place of a bread plate.

I didn't want to use any fine crystal out there, so I grabbed these sturdy Imperial glass stems.  I've had them forever.

This flatware has a good look, but is not very high quality.  Good enough for an outdoor meal, though!  I can't remember where I got it.  It sure works well with the red in this "tablecloth".

I took two of our breakfast room Windsor backed chairs outside and put gold cushions from Pier One on them for comfort.

Here you can see that I just tucked the napkin from Crate and Barrel under the dinner plate.  It was a good space saver on this little table.  I have to admit that by now I was working pretty fast to photograph this before the sunlight shifted.

I thought about using a carpet under the table, but I decided that I already had the most beautiful carpet on the ground already!

I used a nearby stump as a side table for a faux bois tray with the cream and sugar and s/p.  It makes me sad (and poor) to have to take trees down, so it is nice to find a use for the remains.

Here's the close-up view.

So.....what's your feeling about taxidermy on the luncheon table?  It doesn't bother me, but I know some might feel differently.