Dinner for the Twelve Disciples!

Mr. Pressed Pants belongs to a wonderful group of people who do a weekly bible study.  It is his Disciple class, and ironically, it has twelve members.  He invited them to our house for their last meeting of the year.  I didn't attend, but of course, I did the set up.  It had to be super simple, since I had only the afternoon to put this together.  My inspiration was these blue hydrangeas and the oak leaf hydrangeas that we have blooming right now.  Just a package of yellow roses from Costco, and a sleeve of white and yellow mums from Kroger, and I'm good to go.  All of the filler came from our yard as well.

I set up things so that they could serve themselves buffet-style from the drop leaf table in the bar.  I threw on this blue and white checked cloth.  All of the linens that I used were from a trip to France.  The stack of white plates are just our everyday dishes.

These blue willow salt and pepper shakers are old, but that pattern seems to go with so much, doesn't it?

I set up these glasses in the bar.  These are caterer's glasses that are a good size to be used for wine, soda, water, or mixed drinks.  Saves finding lots of different sizes.  I just like to use cloth napkins when I can.  These yellow cocktail napkins seem to be used often.

This large old copper pan usually lives in Mr. Pressed Pant's office filled with magazines, but it is just great to hold ice for wine and bottles of iced tea.

I quickly set up the coffee tray.  Nothing fancy here.  You don't see it, but I put a post-it note on it to remind Mr. Pressed Pants to get the cream from the refrigerator.

Since I planned on three tables of four outdoors, I used these same flowers that I had on the buffet table to make three small arrangements for them.

This is what we call the upper terrace.  It is the view as you step outside the bar.  Just down three steps and there's the first table.

This is my favorite set of French linens.  The only thing I put on the table is a napkin with flatware wrapped in it and then tied with raffia, and then I put the glasses upside down so that leaves and junk didn't settle into them.

Up on the round deck, I used another set of linens.

Just blue and white this time.

On the lower terrace, I put the third table.

This third set of linens are also great for this flower arrangement.  I purposely bought these three sets to go together, but not match.

Here's the arrangement on this terrace. 

This very ordinary patio furniture looks much cuter when accessorized. 

These great printed burlap pillows started the vibe.

The little cafe table holds a wicker covered glass bottle filled with some simple grasses and ferns.

Then I set it on this wonderful taupe and white checked cloth with faggoting, which is also from a trip to France.  What's that pink thread doing there?  This might be another one for the blooper file!

Mr. Pressed Pants thinks people who talk to their plants are crazy, but he does threaten them!  He must have scared this hibiscus plant, because a day ago, there was not a bloom open on it, and today it is a beautiful sideshow.

And, of course, no outdoor evening party is complete without offering a helping of bugspray!

Here's Mr. Pressed Pants beginning to cook kabobs as I said goodbye.  I think they had a great evening.  I got home just as they were serving dessert.  How about that!!! 

Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday blog party.  You'll love all the inspiration you'll find from her participants.

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Look for this post at Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, as well.

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

 

 I am also link with Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites.  It's a great blog party to see some past posts that you'd like to revisit!You can see a red/white/blue post I did for last Labor Day.

http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/