Zinnias in the Meadow

I love to go the the farmer's market and let my imagination run wild.  The produce inspires me to make dishes that I've never tried, the cheeses inspire me to give a cocktail party, and the flowers inspire me to dig out dishes I've not used in a long while.  That's what I've done here.  

I brought home a large bunch of multi-hued pink zinnias and added them to some hydrangeas I had in the garden.  Then I threw in a few miscellaneous blooms and called it a day.  

This cachepot is made by Spode and was a birthday gift from a girlfriend.  I won't say which birthday!!!!

I love, love, love this old table.  I use it in my studio to hold my sewing machine most of the time.  Here, I've placed it in the meadow just on the edge of the woods.

I don't know what it was originally used for, but it is made of ONE board!  It certainly has seen some kind of heavy use.

I noticed how beautifully the sun was hitting the meadow, so I brought everything outdoors to enjoy this beautiful, lazy day.

No neutrals here!  I went for vibrant pink and green to compliment the hot pink zinnias.

I bought these plates on One King's Lane.  I've loved them ever since the postman delivered them.  I wish I had more than four.  

Here's the mark on the back.  I don't know anything about them other than this.  I guess "Pescador" means "Fisherman".

I bought the bow-back chairs from our breakfast room out to the meadow.  Then I added some pillows for comfort.  They are covered with a green french grain sack material.  They usually reside on the sofa in our keeping room. 

These napkins are from the Palm line of linens and these knots are from Old Time Pottery.  I've seen them in lots of high end shops.  The flatware is old and I can't remember just where I got it.  Everything went on these bright leaf green placemats, which added a real punch to the table.

The glassware is a mix of high/low for sure.  The green stems are from the Dollar Store, and the other are very old etched cranberry glass.  I have no hesitation to use them together.  I'm just glad that they all made it back into the house without incident. 

The salt and pepper shakers are as old as our marriage.  They are made by Imperial Glass. 

I swear it was a few degrees cooler here in the grasses. 

This wasn't terribly far from the house, but it felt like sort of a break with reality!

Joining:

 Tablescape Thursday 

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Between Naps on the Porch

Dishing It and Digging It (Sun.)

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Rustic and Refined

Share Your Style (Wed.)

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No Minimalist Here

The Scoop (Mon.)

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Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Inspire Me Tuesday

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A Stroll Thru Life

Be Inspired (Tues.)

Elizabeth And Company

Home Sweet Home (Fri.)

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The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday

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French Country Home

Foodie Friday

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Wow Us Wednesday

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Monday Funday

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Make It Pretty Monday

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The Dedicated House

Moonlight and Mason Jars (Wed.)

Celebrate It Sunday

at Celebrate and Decorate

Share It One More Time (Sat.)

designthusiasm.com

Share Your Style (Thurs.)

21 Rosemary Lane

The Creative Exchange (Thurs.)

The Happy Scraps

Zinnias in the Meadow

I love to go the the farmer's market and let my imagination run wild.  The produce inspires me to make dishes that I've never tried, the cheeses inspire me to give a cocktail party, and the flowers inspire me to dig out dishes I've not used in a long while.  That's what I've done here.  

I brought home a large bunch of multi-hued pink zinnias and added them to some hydrangeas I had in the garden.  Then I threw in a few miscellaneous blooms and called it a day.  

This cachepot is made by Spode and was a birthday gift from a girlfriend.  I won't say which birthday!!!!

I love, love, love this old table.  I use it in my studio to hold my sewing machine most of the time.  Here, I've placed it in the meadow just on the edge of the woods.

I don't know what it was originally used for, but it is made of ONE board!  It certainly has seen some kind of heavy use.

I noticed how beautifully the sun was hitting the meadow, so I brought everything outdoors to enjoy this beautiful, lazy day.

No neutrals here!  I went for vibrant pink and green to compliment the hot pink zinnias.

I bought these plates on One King's Lane.  I've loved them ever since the postman delivered them.  I wish I had more than four.  

Here's the mark on the back.  I don't know anything about them other than this.  I guess "Pescador" means "Fisherman".

I bought the bow-back chairs from our breakfast room out to the meadow.  Then I added some pillows for comfort.  They are covered with a green french grain sack material.  They usually reside on the sofa in our keeping room. 

These napkins are from the Palm line of linens and these knots are from Old Time Pottery.  I've seen them in lots of high end shops.  The flatware is old and I can't remember just where I got it.  Everything went on these bright leaf green placemats, which added a real punch to the table.

The glassware is a mix of high/low for sure.  The green stems are from the Dollar Store, and the other are very old etched cranberry glass.  I have no hesitation to use them together.  I'm just glad that they all made it back into the house without incident. 

The salt and pepper shakers are as old as our marriage.  They are made by Imperial Glass. 

I swear it was a few degrees cooler here in the grasses. 

This wasn't terribly far from the house, but it felt like sort of a break with reality!

Joining:

 Tablescape Thursday 

at

Between Naps on the Porch

Dishing It and Digging It (Sun.)

at

Rustic and Refined

Share Your Style (Wed.)

at

No Minimalist Here

The Scoop (Mon.)

at

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Inspire Me Tuesday

at

A Stroll Thru Life

Be Inspired (Tues.)

Elizabeth And Company

Home Sweet Home (Fri.)

at

The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday

at

French Country Home

Foodie Friday

Designs By Gollum

Wow Us Wednesday

at

Savvy Southern Style

Monday Funday

All Things Heart and Home

Make It Pretty Monday

at

The Dedicated House

Moonlight and Mason Jars (Wed.)

Celebrate It Sunday

at Celebrate and Decorate

Share It One More Time (Sat.)

designthusiasm.com

Share Your Style (Thurs.)

21 Rosemary Lane

The Creative Exchange (Thurs.)

The Happy Scraps

Blue Bird

Sometimes a dish can whisper and sometimes it will ask for a colorful party table.  That's the case here.

See this little guy?  I found him at Homegoods and I did not intend to pull the green out of the dish, but it was kinda bossy!

So here we are!  You almost need sunglasses.

I started with a turquoise tablecloth from the Palm line of linens.  If you see them for sale, jump on them, as they are great quality and launder beautifully.  

I'm disappointed at how this charger photographed.  It looks so yellow, but it was really a bright grass green.  I think I got it at World Market.  The dinner plate was so large that the charger barely showed, but the turquoise tablecloth and the turquoise plate needed a break from each other.

The glassware was a mix of green glass stems from Swoosie's and Waterford white wines.

I know you are asking yourself two questions:

1.  Why didn't she iron this cloth?

2.  Why didn't she straighten this spoon?

The white wicker napkin ring freshened up these layered napkins.  I rarely do this, because guests seems so stumped as to what to do with two napkins, but today, I thought they could handle it!

I added a white porcelain bird at each place, and later sat a hand lettered placecard beside him. 

More white birds in the salt and peppers......

and atop the butter dish.......

and around the two vases that held screaming green mums.

In the center of the table, I sat a chicken wire cloche with ferns, eggs, and a little green bird.

Can you see him in there?

I had one more bird dish that I used for rolls.  I didn't even use a napkin in it, as I didn't want to hide the bird.

I wasn't sure I could handle all of this color, but it was perfect for this group and everyone's need for spring.

Besides, I've been using a lot of neutrals and I was getting in a rut.

Here's the tea tray.  Do you see that the lid for the sugar bowl is missing?  Do you have one I can buy?  Really?  Please leave me a comment if you could part with this sugar bowl.  It came from Homegoods a couple of years ago.

Every time I get this out to use, I am afraid that bird will break off.  Probably because I've had a run of klutzyness.

I used this for lemon and mint.

And look who else joined the party......

these little lovebirds in just the right color.

And on the other side of the room, the sideboard held my annual spring display.  You can see how I put it togorether here.  I have a string of spring entertaining planned, so the fact that this is all faux material will make it last.  Come around often and join us!

I guess I did this post just in time to join Cuisine Kathleen's April Let's Dish linky party on April 9.  She is inviting bloggers to join with posts that feature birds, nests, or eggs.  Should be inspiring!

Also joining:

The Scoop

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StoneGable

Feathered Nest Friday

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French Country Cottage

Tablescape Thursday

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Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sunday

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The Tablescaper