Late Summer Table

We've entertained every day this Labor Day weekend, and this is the last dinner.  We played golf and had our partners over for a quick, easy meal.  For some reason, I didn't want to do red, white and blue, so I decided to do a tribute to the icons of late summer: the sunflower and the tomato.

This color combination is so French, and I have these linens that I love but I rarely use that tie these colors together perfectly.  The tablecloth and the napkins are yardage from Pierre Deux.  Remember that great store?  

On this wicker charger from World Market, I stacked a red Ballard Design dinner plate and a sunflower salad plate by Maxcera that I got at Homegoods.  The colors are a little off in this picture, but you get the idea.

These small bowls with tomatoes on them are by 222 Fifth, and also came from Homegoods.  Here's a red variety of tomato......

and here's a yellow variety.  All four bowls are different. 

This flatware is so old that I can't remember where it came from, but those red bread and butter plates are from Walmart.

The glassware picks up these two dominant colors well.  The yellow tumbler is from Pottery Barn, and the red stem is vintage. 

A couple of years ago, I spied this gold cachepot at a wonderful store in Indianapolis, called Surroundings, and I scooped it up immediately.  I still love the way the fruit and handles are so three dimensional.  The inside is glazed with turquoise, but it needn't show here.  I filled it with the freshest sunflowers that I bought at the Alpharetta farmers market yesterday.  Those cherry tomatoes are from there, too.  I also bought some small yellow pear tomatoes that I thought I would add to the table, but I used them all in the soup I served, a Corn Gazpacho with Crab.  I'll post that recipe tomorrow, because it is soooo yummy. 

This seemed the perfect way to close the door on the weekend.  Some would say to end summer, but not me!  I'll be celebrating summer for a while yet. 

Not red, white and blue for Labor Day, but it seemed perfectly appropriate. 

A year or so ago, I did a table very similar to this with tomatoes and dahlias.  You can see it here.

I love these watercolored cocktail napkins by Cynthia Dunn.  They even added a "Bonjour" to our French/Labor Day/salute to sunflowers and tomatoes.

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Celebrate It Sunday

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Well, Hello Sunshine

Look what we've got here!!!  Sunshine!!!  After living in Cleveland, Ohio three times, you'd think that I'd be used to dreary skies during the winter, but I've been sorely missing our Georgia sunshine this winter.  I can't remember such a grey, grey stretch.

This was a cheerful bunch of Kroger flowers and they begged to come home and replace some of these darned poinsettias that just won't give up.  I have such a hard time throwing good plants out, but I'm so over them.

Here's this morning's cheerful breakfast table.  Since today is MLK day, Mr. Pressed Pants slept in and my mom, who is visiting, ALWAYS sleeps in, I had time to greet them with a bright and sunny table in the breakfast room.

These exuberant plates from Target set the tone.  What's better than a shot of pink and green?

The table accessories were fun, too.  The s/p set and the cow creamer are both from Pierre Deux years ago.  The majolica leaf dish is a good choice to hold sugar packets, both full and then empty.  The French butter dish and twig spreader finish it off. 

The pink napkins are from the Palm restaurant line of linens, the knot napkin ring from Old Time Pottery, and the flatware is from Cost Plus World Market.  Nothing precious here but the guests!

This glass stoppered bottle and Ikea green glasses both held the oj.

Just a cozy three for homemade French toast and strawberries.  (You can tell it's a holiday when I make French toast, and not use frozen.)

My soul must have needed some pink, because it sure makes me smile. 

See the sunshine out there? 

"Bartholomew" is enjoying it, too.  Now, if this holds, there's a round of golf for me this afternoon.

Joining:

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Show and Tell Friday

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My Romantic Home

The Scoop

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Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Inspire Me Tuesday

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A Stroll Thru Life

Table It

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Rustic and Refined

Home Sweet Home

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The Charm of Home

Sheltered Nest Friday

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French Country Home

Wow Us Wednesday

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Savvy Southern Style

Make It Pretty Monday

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The Dedicated House

Fridays Unfold

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Moonlight and Mason Jars (Wed.)

"EPIC" Winter Storm Breakfast

 

The Pink Pagoda is such a lovely blog and I follow it regularly.  Jennifer is hosting a blue and white linking party and she's particularly looking for seasonal posts, so here's my offering.  It's an old post taken during a freak snowstorm here in Georgia.  We made the most of the event and snuggled in with lots of hot chocolate and fires.  I pulled out these blue and white snowman dishes that I hadn't used in a long time.  Here's the post:

 

 

You won't believe this, but we have more snow in Atlanta!!!  This is being hailed as historic, even EPIC by the weathermen and newscasters.  Mr. Pressed Pants even closed his business today.  Actually, he never opened, as the roads are truly impassable and he didn't want any of his employees to even try to drive in this.

So this is the way the (late) breakfast table looked.  To reflect the weather, I dug out some old pottery that I haven't used in years.  I've said before that I used to be a blue and white girl, but that has changed.  However, I still have a ton of blue and white, and even though it doesn't look too hot in our green breakfast room, I really wanted to use Mr. Snowman.

I started with a tablecloth that I made years ago from Pierre Deux fabric and co-ordinating border. 

Then I used these plates that I think I got at Macy's many years ago.  They say Cooks Club on the back.  Wasn't that Macy's house brand?

I used the two sizes of plates.....

and the matching bowl.

 

The flatware is from some discount store, and the napkin is from the Palm restaurant line of linens that Homegoods carries.  I've had the napkin rings for years, too.  It has Blue Willow designs on it.  As a matter of fact, I think I got them at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Georgia.  (That could be another post!)

I'm really glad that I picked up these cute snowman glass coffee cups at Kroger the other day.  I just had a feeling that I "needed" them.  They were on sale for 50 cents a piece!

This thermos pot is another oldie.  I don't remember where I got it, but I love the Blue Willow design.

I served these delicious cranberry and orange muffins.....

from a box mix!!!!  I keep them on hand all the time.  They only take a sec to whip up and please note that they are "fat-free"!!!  Delish!!!  I also made hot oatmeal, but unfortunately I was out of our favorite oatmeal from Trader Joe's freezer foods.  They come two to a pack and they are the chewy, steel-cut kind.

With fat-free milk and Splenda, they are a low cal breakfast that REALLY sticks to your ribs.  You gotta try both of these!

Mr. Pressed Pants uses butter on his muffins, and I served it on this darling antique wooden butter dish with a Blue Willow china insert.  I am soooo careful of this little plate, because I know I could never find the right sized replacement if it broke.

This is cranberry apple butter in a white porcelain dish from Pier One, served with this cute white faux bois spoon from Christine's Creations.  It was a sweet store that has gone out of business in Woodstock.

After breakfast, we decided to take a walk in the snow and take some pictures of the "historic" event.  My mom sent this tray out for us with hot chocolate.  Sure wish she had known where the marshmallows were!

Sitting on the stone wall overlooking the lake, we couldn't believe how cute it was.  What's that?  Snowballs? 

 I had no desire to make a whole snowman, but couldn't resist a few snowballs. 

We wish that everyone could have stayed home today, safe and sound as we did, but by watching the news, it was obvious that that was not the case.  I hope that all those accidents were just fender benders.

So, after our brisk walk, here's what Mr. Pressed Pants did next.   

Z Z Z Z Z!!!!!!

Red Rooster and Eggs For Breakfast

Easy, non-fussy tablescapes are a must for breakfast.  This one doesn't even have flowers.

I put this one together on the drop-leaf table in the bar of our house.  It has a French feeling with the heavy linen and roosters. 

This combination of red and camel is simple and easy to use.

This set of linens is one of my very favorite.  It is a heavy linen fabric that really feels like French ticking.  The napkins are so luxurious and hug.  I used a simple woven napkin ring from World Market with them. 

This flatware is a twisted resin.  I can't remember where they came from, but the color is perfect here.

The bottom plate is from Sear's Country Living Collection.  I was walking through there to get a gift certificate, and I just "happened" to stroll into the homegoods department.  This is the Belgian Rose pattern.

Here's a close-up of the rim.  This photo makes it look a bit grey, but it really was a great match.

The smaller plate, cereal bowl, and coffee mug are from Ballard's.  All the edges are scalloped.  Again, the color in this photo is a bit orange, but they are a deep, tomatoey (is that a word?) red.

The coq plate is also from Sear's Belgian Rose collection.  You can't tell in this picture, but those polka dots you see are camel, which also match the linens.

Here's how the plates stack up.  You can also check out the wonderful texture of the tablecloth.

I love, love, love these Juliska juice glasses.  They are a gift from a dear friend who has exquisite taste.  She is, from time to time, a very welcome guest here.  You'd welcome her, too, with gifts like this, wouldn't you?

Take a good look at these babies!!! 

Pottery Barn had these placecard holders on sale a few weeks ago.  Perfect for this table.

Mr. Red Rooster jumped into my cart at Old Time Pottery.  Or is it Olde Tyme Pottery?  Whatever.  He sure holds court on this table.

I added two dishes of brown and white eggs in place of flowers.  They are in a nest of raffia.  Good colors again!  These dishes are from the floral warehouse, but you could find something similar almost anywhere.  I think you can figure out where to get the eggs!

I also love these small pewter pieces from Pierre Deux.  This sweet cow cream pitcher catches any drips in his own bowl.

And these chickens (or maybe geese) hold salt and pepper so sweetly.  I keep this by my stove top and use it every time I cook.

This is a great room for breakfast.  The sun pours in through the windows and doors, as long as breakfast isn't too early!

A toile chicken.  Love it!

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday blogparty.  Please go over there and see some dazzling tables.