Corals, Oranges and Peaches in a Pumpkin

This beauty needed a pretty table to sit on!  I used it last night for a dinner at church, and it is too fab not to use again.  It's a real white heirloom pumpkin with a selection of peach, coral, and orange flowers.

I started with a taupe straw place mat on our dark wood table.  Then I stacked a ruffled burnt orange charger, a white oak leaf dinner plate, and this pheasant embossed salad plate.

Can you see the pheasant?  These oranges are intentionally mis-matched to reflect the colors in the flowers.

 

I used these salad plates a couple of years ago the night before Thanksgiving.  It was a really pretty table you can see here.

I realized that I never took a  pic of the glassware.  Can you see it here?  It is a tortoiseshell water tumbler and a raffia covered stemless wine.

Here's the same selection of flowers that I added on the chunky gold washed candlestick.

Aren't they yummy?  I especially love the brown scabiosia pods.

Here's the secret to using the pumpkin without carving into it: this little plastic prong.  I buy them at the floral wholesaler, but if you can't find them, you can use the piece that comes in the center of a delivery pizza!!!

This, my friends, is the most wonderful product.  That's what I use to attach the prong to the pumpkin.

Then I use a soaked piece of oasis, and it STAYS ON!!!  It will also come off when the flowers fade and I still have an intact pumpkin.

Here's the candle cup and oasis that I used for the flowers in the candlestick.  I did a post on how to use it here.

These will be even prettier when the roses open up a little more.

 

So, here's the way the table came together.

This is a simple cream linen napkin held in a brushed gold napkin ring. I'm not that much of a trend follower, but I find I am certainly using more and more gold these days. The flatware is a cream handled French design.

This seemed to be a perfect day to use these bittersweet place card holders.

I was happy to depart from the bright, bright orange and yellow flowers I have been using lately.  It look much better with our dining room colors, too

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21 Rosemary Lane

The Golfing Gods Come to Dinner

Mr. Pressed Pants took an out of town business associate for golf today and then the foursome came back here for dinner.  I thought it was the perfect time to set a golf themed table.  What????  Did you think I would make them use paper plates?

Here are the linens that were the inspiration for the table.  I can't remember where I got them.

They are embroidered with golfing scenes......

and the napkins have a cool laurel wreath with crossed golf clubs.

Nothing here is special, but I like the way it goes together.  On these wicker chargers, I used our every day white pottery and then a dark green salad plate from Walmart.

I love this flatware.  Can't you tell?  I use it so often.

I found this vintage salt and pepper set at Scott's Antique Market several years ago.  The "P" is worn off of the pepper!

I grabbed these flowers at Kroger's and put them in this dark green pot.  I thought they looked a little too "pretty" for this table and I decided to add something to make it look more rustic.

I remembered these scabiosa seed heads that I dried from this post.

There!  Much better.

I'm happy with this table, but it's not too fussy for the fearless foursome. 

Then I remembered this teapot that I had in the "vault"!  If any of the men want hot tea tonight (Yea! Right!) they're all set.

Well, the shadows are getting longer and they should be back soon.  I think I'm out of here.

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Comfort Food on the Terrace

Last week was a particularly tough week for Mr. Pressed Pants, so I fixed his favorite meal (meatloaf!) and we had a nice meal down on the lower terrace.  We've been missing one of our favorite couples, so I used their names on place cards just for photographing. 

It was a beautiful evening and we relaxed and talked and talked.  This shot is taken from the upper terrace.

I started with this beautiful French script fabric in a pale turquoise with this grey/brown print.  I didn't even hem the edges, but please don't tell my mother!

I picked up the bird theme on the cloth and added small bird nests and a velvet leaf just for a place card.

Yes, Michael, we wish you were here.

And Barb, too!!!!

I added these wire chargers, then a cream plate and a chocolate brown plate, both from Target.  Then this cream faux French flatware.  (Cheryl from JoJo's Joys is looking for some of this to add to her stash.  Does anyone know where this is still available?) 

These cream linen napkins are held in place with these beautiful feathers that I made into a napkin ring.  The colors are perfect for this tablecloth, don't you think?

The glassware is a mix of clear and aqua glass.  The aqua is Martha Stewart's from Macy's.

And these French tumblers are a favorite of mine.  I think these say "a glass of friendship".

That was my inspiration for "inviting" Barb and Michael to the table.

This pewter piece held oil and vinegar.

I loved the "patina" on these candlesticks.  They came from my favorite Atlanta store, Boxwoods.

They aren't old, but they look a bit aged.  The colors couldn't be better for this table.  They are usually in one of our guest bedrooms.

 

I used this faux bois pot for the flower arrangement.  The flowers all came from the floral wholesaler.  The cream gerbera daisies and hypericium showed up nicely against the wood color and......

these scabiosa seed pods were my surprise element.  I just love these.  I never saw them before.

Look how the brown stripes on the pods mimic the wood.  I'm so glad that they are sort of dry, so I have been able to keep them for future dried arrangements. 

Want to look at it again?

This was a very serene table, and a lovely evening, even without our "guests".

Since these pillows from the guest room were the perfect shade of linen and trim, I brought them down for a little extra comfort.

Before and after dinner, we moved to these chaises, which are on the same level as our dinner.  We sat and let the frogs, Canadian geese, and the owl serenade us.

I used this little turquoise tray for our appetizers. (Melon wrapped with prosciutto)

And for sentiment, I added a couple of acorns which have already fallen on the terrace.

Missed you, Barb and Michael.  It would have been a fun foursome!

You could have been another set of love birds at the table!!!!

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