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!  

Memorial Day 2011

Whew!  That was quite a weekend!  Between golf, graduation parties, and a bit of gardening, we only had one chance to sit down together for a nice meal, and it just happened to be breakfast.

The weather called us outdoors, and I really wanted to take this one opportunity to do a Memorial Day tablescape.  It was just the two of us and we took  time for a long, leisurely breakfast.

I started with these hand-painted blue and white Portuguese plates made by Mesa.  I have service for four.  Why didn't I buy more? 

I used the "matching" bowls for cereal.  Blueberries and raspberries on Cheerios made it red, white (sort of), and blue! 

The flatware is from good old Target!

These red and white striped napkins are so old, I don't remember where they came from.  In place of a napkin ring, I used a double faced satin ribbon with a Martha Stewart rosette glued on it.

These star plates were picked up at Walgreens.

This tureen became the flower vase.

The white hydrangeas and gerbera daisies came from Whole Foods, and the blue hydrangeas are from our gardens.

Gerberas don't like to be smooshed into oasis, so I created a grid with tape and just placed all of the flowers directly into the water.

It seems that almost all blue and white goes together, so I used this coffee pot in a blue willow pattern from Royal Wessex.

This reproduction sugar and creamer are also blue willow.

Blue willow shows up again on this set of individual salt and pepper shakers.

I like that the coffee mug that goes with this placesetting keeps coffee warm for a long time. 

I think these blue juice glasses came from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Sunshine, the morning newspapers, Mr. Pressed Pants and Cheerios!  It doesn't get much better.

I'll be participating in Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Using Today's Fabrics

I love today's fabrics.  They are big, bold and graphic.  Yet, they make so much of a statement that I am not willing to commit to them in my upholstery or draperies.  They work great as pillows, or even better for me, as tablecloths.

My daughter and I spent quite a bit of time at the remnant table at Old Time Pottery a while ago.  We each scooped up several patterns and they are a great buy at less than five dollars a yard.

The bright French blue and apple green of this pattern sent me looking for some items that would stand up to these bold colors and large print.  Sitting on my front sidewalk, waiting to be planted was this flat of sun coleus.  Now I have green!

And down on the lower terrace in the flower bed was a blue hydrangea bush that was just beginning to flower.  Ok....that's the blue I need.

They are just beginning to turn.

To tie it all together, I used a blue French urn.

Voila!  I have a super simple and speedy arrangement.

Now, for the place settings.  I knew that I have lots of stuff in these colors, so I went hunting.

I started with these bird's eye maple chargers and layered a white scalloped plate from Z Gallerie, an apple green salad plate from Target, and a french blue bowl that is so old that I can't even guess where it came from.  Same with the flatware!

These blue glass stems are so big that I use them for water.

And I serve wine Italian-style in these wicker covered tumblers from Tennille and Company in Atlanta.

That's it!  No small accessories this time.  This pattern is so bold that it would overwhelm anything else.

I think it still manages to look abundant.

Looking around on the deck, it is clear that I need to spend some time shaping these boxwoods in the corners.  Maybe tomorrow.

One of these pots has this cute little volunteer in it.  I don't know where it came from, but isn't it sweet?  I love it when that happens!

And talk about lime green.  I love the way these pots with creeping Jenny and ferns show up against this wall of brick.

Check out the colors that line the waterfall here just over the railing.  We are going to put koi in this pond this weekend.  I'm a little afraid of the herons eating them, but we'll see.

This always makes any meal special here.  I am always filled with peace and a sense of calmness when I take the time to enjoy this view.  I count myself so lucky to have this in our backyard.

I am linking up to Susan's Tabletop Thursday blog party at Between Naps on the Porch.  If you haven't spent some time visiting these posts, you really should give it some time.  You'll enjoy it.  Click http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

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

I will also be posting on Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

and

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

You can also find me at The Tablescaper's

Seasonal Sunday

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/