I have tablescapes languishing deep in the archives~ I thought I’d revisit and share one a month~
This table is from April 2011, the salad plates are still some of my favorite blooming dishes and the quilt is one I’ve used most recently for Easter with a runner.
I hope you enjoy revisiting a celebration of blooms at the table!
A Reprise of our Independence Day Celebration last year~ complete with a Star-Spangled Menu!
A 4th of July Table with simple white dishes and red & blue accents~ where the food and the party favors are the stars & stripes. . . to celebrate Independence Day~
On the fourth, there will be 17 of us celebrating family members’ and Uncle Sam’s birthday~ while enjoying food, some boating fun, & fireworks on the lake.
I found these little vintage greetings-inspired buckets at World Market last summer and thought they would make the perfect pails for party favors.
A trip to Dollar Tree kept me from liberating all of the cash from my wallet~ where I filled my pails with Red, White, & Blue goodies. . . including a battery operated Fan, Patriotic Tootsie Roll Midgees & Pops, mini Flags and Sparklers.
A family favorite~ Our Flag Was Still There Fruit Pizza
A cookie dough crust using Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough~ sugar cookie or our preference, chocolate chip~ with a layer of sweetened cream cheese, and the fruit of your choice. Brush apple or apricot preserves over the top of the fruit if desired. Fun to make in a flag formation with blueberries, cream cheese and red grape/raspberry stripes, but we enjoy maximum fruit!
A refreshing combination of pureed watermelon & lemonade~ garnished with some watermelon stars and with the addition of some blueberries~
Quench your thirst with an adult version, by adding citron vodka~ just sip sloooowly through your straw :-)
What So Proudly We Hailed Watermelon Cupcakes
I had a trial run at these”cupcakes” with my nephews who were visiting this past weekend. The reviews were mixed~ with the adults more impressed than the boys. Since I pledge allegiance to any frosting~ the best part of a cupcake to me~ watermelon was a surprising & fun frosting-delivery method :-)
I cut pieces of seedless watermelon with a cookie cutter the approximate size of the cupcake liner~ added pineapple cream cheese frosting and decorated with sprinkles. After punching the watermelon pieces out, I placed them on paper towels to absorb some excess moisture, then put a little piece of wax paper in the bottom of the paper wrapper to prevent the “cupcakes” from weeping through the decorative liners. Next time, I’ll make them & frost ahead and put in the liners at the last minute~
Dawn’s Early Light Pretzel Sparklers~ sure to be extinguished quickly :-)
Memorial Day kicks off Boating Season at the Lake!
A reprise of our Memorial Day Fun from last year’s celebration~
I hope you don’t mind weighing anchor with me again :-)
In anticipation of boating over the course of the long holiday weekend, I decorated the pontoon for fun. . .
. . .from Stem to Stern. . .
including a few stems in a mason jar!
A few pillows. . .
Some Red,White & Blue to dine with. . .
A beverage tub filled with drinks to keep us hydrated. . .
A breezy day as you can see, with the wind whipping the flags~
Of course Memorial Day has a much more important significance than boating & picnics. . . it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in military service.
First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
A day to recognize, reflect, and remember
how fortunate we are to live in freedom.
We’re celebrating with a flag formation of Watermelon, Feta, and a side of Blueberries~
The creamy, salty cheese is the perfect partner to the sweet, juicy melon.
I found this idea in Southern Living Magazine where Foods Editor, Scott Jones, fondly remembers the BBQ Sundae served at the Rebel Barn BBQ in Oxford, Mississippi.
An entrée, not dessert, the sundae layers pork, slaw, and baked beans, all covered in thick, sweet red sauce, or Lexington-Style sauce in our case.
Perfect and portable for tailgating or picnicking~
My husband smokes a “Boston Butt”, “Picnic Roast”, “Pork Shoulder” or “Shoulder Blade Roast” ~ all names for shoulder cuts that make great pulled pork.
Our pork shoulder is brined for 24-48 hours, depending on the size & how organized we are :-) . . . in a mixture of ½ cup of pickling salt (which dissolves in cold water), 2 quarts of water and ¾ c of molasses.
Remove from the brine, blot with paper towels, brush on olive oil, and liberally add a dry rub/seasoning blend of brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder etc.
Smoke at 225 degrees over lump charcoal with some soaked hickory or apple wood chips for about 1 1/2 hours per pound. Remove from smoker, wrap in foil and let stand an hour. It should fall apart, with all the fat melted away :-)
Stem to Stern Boating Details:
Picnic Caddy, Salt & Pepper Napkin Holder/ Pottery Barn, last year
Napkins, Plates, Cups/Kohl’s, last year
Flatware & Placemats /HomeGoods, several years ago
RW&B straws/ Dollar Tree, last year
Beverage Tub/ Target, last year
However you celebrate, spend a few moments to remember and give thanks for those who serve & protect us . . .
I’m reposting this table, in honor of Mother’s Day and my Grandmother’s May 20th birthday~
I hope you don’t mind seeing it again!
This quilt came by way of my grandmother~
The quilter’s identity is uncertain~ but my mother thinks it was quilted by my grandmother’s neighbor and best friend, Mrs. Crute~ known to us as “Crutie” :-)
The hexagon quilt pattern is known by several names. . . French Bouquet, French Rose Garden, Hexagon Flower Garden, or more commonly, Grandmother’s Flower Garden.
My maternal grandmother, Lottie, was born in 1901. She was one of nine children and raised her three younger brothers after her mother died. She married at the age of 26 (an old maid in 1927!) and attended Elon College (now University) for one year. She passed away in 1993.
I brought my Grandmother’s (x 2 :-) Flower Garden Quilt outdoors to set this table~ in honor of her birthday and to celebrate my reunion with her quilt~
The little hexagons of calico are breathing a deep sigh . . .
. . . enjoying the fresh air and mingling with the other blooms & flower prints on the teacups & china.
My Grandmother’s favorite flowers were roses. I can remember her filling vases after cutting them first thing in the morning.
There are no roses in my garden, but rose-folded napkins are tucked into tea cups along with roses climbing across the china, that once upon a time, belonged to her sister, Eva.
A demitasse spoon, disguised as a silver leaf, is tucked into the rose folds of the napkin~
You can find an easy-to-follow & beautiful tutorial for these rosette folded napkins from Yvonne at StoneGable here.
I piped frosting onto little brownie bites I picked up from Target’s bakery and added some edible (organic!) violas to embellish them for a quick, sweet treat~
My grandmother confessed she never had a tea set and always wanted one, prompting her to buy one for my sister and me to use when we visited.
We have fond memories of her making our breakfast. . . she would serve our juice and scrambled eggs on our little plates and cups.
It’s hard to say who enjoyed it more . . . us eating off of it, or my grandmother playing with it as she prepared our breakfast and served it :-)
And remarkably, after 40 plus years, it is still intact except for one missing saucer and one plate that was painstakingly glued back together many years ago.
Hexagon quilts made in the Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern, contain a center hexagon~ traditionally yellow~ to represent the flower’s center. The flower center is circled by six colorful printed or solid hexagons with another row of 12 hexagons surrounding the six. This quilt pattern blossomed in popularity in the thirties~ it’s easy to see how the calico prints forming cheery garden flowers would brighten one’s day in a depression-era time.
I was thrilled to have found lilacs sold in bundles at Trader Joe’s last year in May when I set this table. . . a surprise as delightful to me as their fragrance . . . and the only way to enjoy them here since our climate is too hot to grow them.
I stacked two plates with an inverted tea cup on a pedestal to serve these little flower bites~
Open Face Cucumber Sandwiches are decorated with more edible violas along with parsley & basil~
“Collecting can start with the jog of a childhood memory—perhaps a swirl of rosebuds recalls some long-ago cup in which an adored grandmother offered you a bit of sweet, milky tea scenting with cinnamon.” ~ The Essential Tea Companion
I’m reposting this book review from last year for Food for Thought, which I’m thrilled about returning, with our first book selection Friday, Jan. 20th~ The Night Circus!
The weather outside is frightful . . . while we thankfully have not had as much snow as the Northeast, it’s been colder than normal here in the sunny South. Snowbound, I had the perfect excuse to stay indoors and read a couple of weeks ago. This book provided *interesting reading while I was tucked away, cozy indoors, watching the birds and wondering how nature adapts to the frigid temperatures and winter landscape.
(*interesting reading for those defined as a bit of a Discovery Channel or Animal Planet geek :-)
“From flying hot-blooded squirrels and diminutive kinglets to sleeping black bears and torpid turtles to frozen insects and frogs, the animal kingdom relies on staggering evolutionary innovations to survive winter. Unlike their human counterparts, who alter the environment to accommodate physical limitations, most animals are adapted to an amazing range of conditions. In Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, biologist, illustrator, and award-winning author Bernd Heinrich explores his local woods, where he delights in the seemingly infinite feats of animal inventiveness he discovers there.”
“Because winter drastically affects the most elemental component of all life — water — radical changes in a creature’s physiology and behavior must take place to match the demands of the environment. Some creatures survive by developing antifreeze; others must remain in constant motion to maintain their high body temperatures. Even if animals can avoid freezing to death, they must still manage to find food in a time of scarcity, or store it from a time of plenty.”
“Beautifully illustrated throughout with the author’s delicate drawings and infused by his inexhaustible enchantment with nature, Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival awakens the wonders and mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter’s harsh, cruel exigencies.”
I set a Winter World-inspired table with pine cones, lichen covered branches, moss & a few nuts for foraging squirrels. . . on a landscape made of a jute runner layered on a snowy white quilt.
“Perhaps none depends on snow more than the snowshoe hare. The size of this hare’s tracks are out of proportion to the animal’s size. As a result of its low foot-loading, the hare can walk, hop and run very near the top of the fluffiest snow. As a consequence, the more that snow accumulates, throughout the winter, the more easily the hare can reach its food, the fresh twigs of small trees and brush.”
Woodland botanicals, snowy white orbs, and branches fill my lanterns on the table. . .
Rock Salt is sprinkled to mimic an icy coating, rather than to melt the snow on the sidewalk :-)
I was surprised to learn that Crossbills often lay their eggs in winter, so they are able to raise their young when the seeds of spruce or pine cones are most plentiful.
Heinrich is a scientist with a talent for relating his love for nature, his appetite for discovery, and his humorous insights in a fashion that is enjoyable for the reader.
My appetite led me to Pine Cone Cheese for Food for Thought, you can find a recipe here.
Winter can be difficult for birds when the days are short and nights are often cold and long. The natural food supply has been consumed or is hidden by snow. Water can be hard to find, and food needed to provide the energy to keep birds warm might be scarce.
Food for Thought also led me to make pine cone bird treats for our feathered friends. . . snowy day fun for kids if you have the materials on hand, with a recipe found here.
by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian Birmingham
In 1822, a New York clergyman named Clement Clarke Moore spun together Christmas memories for his children. The poem he wrote featured a red-suited Santa in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, a never-empty sack of toys, and stockings hung expectantly above the fireplace. He called it “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and it was then published anonymously in a newspaper in Troy, New York. It captured the public’s imagination. The poem’s opening line—“ ‘Twas the night before Christmas” soon replaced the original title.
A joy to read aloud, Moore’s poem has endured. Beginning in hushed suspense, the poem builds to a dramatic crescendo as the rollicking verses usher in the mysterious midnight visitor.
A tale of anticipation and wonder, “The Night Before Christmas” has become a holiday tradition in itself for many families.
Up to my sideboard, the coursers they flew~
St. Nick’s Milk & Cookies, help yourself to some too :-)
If I don’t see you again before Christmas Day,
May your wishes & dreams be delivered by sleigh!
Thank you for your visit & thanks to my hostesses:
In a Gardening state-of-mind, I’m on the porch enjoying the Season with a few things that make me happy~
A simple Christmas table~ ideal for our casual living at the Lake.
A promise of a flower in an Amaryllis bulb, a few collected watering cans . . .
. . . and a couple of vintage trowels, showing the visible signs of use & hours of happy work~ one red & one green~ the perfect colors for the season :)
Little watering can ornaments (Smith & Hawken from Target) are filled with bits of Cedar & Leyland Cypress and sprinkled at each place setting~
A favorite decorative birdhouse, made with recycled materials~ a vintage glass door knob, old hardware & barn wood~ has a starring role for the Season with its iron finial church steeple & tin-fashioned cross.
The birds will enjoy a gift of seed decorated houses. Purchased from a garden center, these edible bird treats would make a fun (if messy :) project for kids using a cardboard/milk carton house base, coated with peanut butter & decorated with seeds, raisins, cereal (Cheerios, Chex). . .anything that birds can feast on!
My urn, that has hosted tomatoes & pumpkins at the table, is supporting a grapevine wreath with faux berries and a pine cone laden tree.
A found bird’s nest is back at the table this week, filled with blown quail eggs, a feather, and embellished with a bit of lichen~
A few Paperwhite bulbs are waiting to be planted and their fragrance enjoyed~
I fell under the spell of this Witch’s Hat at HomeGoods . . .
I suspect it’s all this Black Cat’s fault~
Before I knew it~ I was scaring up spiders, ravens, & some munchkin pumpkins for a centerpiece & waving my wand in the kitchen to whip up some cupcakes for some Halloween fun~
I cast about Tuesday Morning a couple of weeks ago~ and with a bit of magick spied these plastic spoons~ perfect for spelling some chocolate from candy melts~ microwavable with no cauldron required. . .
Bat Fangs add a sweet Bite to your Witches’ Blend~~ Extra Sharp & 100% Organic. . .
Labels were easily conjured courtesy of Martha Stewart and the aisles of Michaels~
This Witches’ Blend is known to have a bone chilling effect. . .
Choose your Halloween sprinkles & nonpareils wisely. . . custom blending your stirring spoon for the right Spell for your Potion!
Chocolate Stirring Spoons were inspired by spoons found via Pinterest here.
Add some Eye of Newt. . .
Stir in some Brains of Cawing Ravens~ if you dare. . .
My assorted tea cups and tea pots last used here, never thought they would be party to such wicked elixir~
Scrapbooking letters & paper~ framed by a wreath~ designate your parking area. . .
Don’t forget to anoint your temples and Third Eye with a small amount of the flying ointment to prevent a bumpy ride. . .
On the night of the Full Moon pluck two feathers from a Raven’s wing~ place under your hat for good measure~
Potions should be mixed & served with Extreme Caution. . .
Always stir in a clockwise direction just until it starts to bubble~ then immediately stir counter-clockwise~~
These witchy hands had me in their evil clutches from the moment I spied them at Target. Fortunately, like me they are happier with a cupcake in their hand. . .
Cupcakes topped with a Witch Hat~ inspiration provided by Southern Living here.
Witch Hats~ frightfully easy with Oreo Fudge Cream Cookies and Hersey’s Kisses~ a bit of orange icing seals their fate and the peanut butter & fudge is a deadly combination, for me anyway.
I have a case of Halloween Fever curable only with table full of treats!
Since Target is one of my favorite Haunts, I’ve been creeping along the aisles for several weeks now, exercising caution & restraint~ until recently. . .
When these Scary Skeletal Hands reached out and grabbed me~ fortunately they prefer to hold a munchkin pumpkin in their clutches instead. . .
My centerpiece inspiration came from Pinterest~ where I tracked downa candy vasedesigned to satisfy anytrick-or-treater’s sweet tooth. . . filled with an assortment of candy including Ghost Peeps, licorice, and candy corn~ and limited only by your imagination.
Easy to scare up on a budget if you’re shopping the aisles of Dollar Tree.
Inspired by Candy Skewers also found on Pinterest from here~ I combined orange slices, Halloween Peeps, licorice from Target and Dollar Tree.
Polka-Dotted Pails for party favors (from the dollar bin at Target)~ are filled with Pixie Styx, and sinister looking Skull Cookie Pops from Dollar Treefor some frightful fun & tied with ribbon from Michael’s~
Assorted milk chocolate ghouls, ghosts & goblins from World Market (in a $9.99 bag) offered plenty to fill my vases & pails~
Little skeletal hands from Michael’s are offering up tempting milk chocolate Jack O’ Lanterns~
~~~Beware of skeletal hands presenting treats~~~
My vases are enjoying their first Halloween celebration and seem to put in an appearance only at the holidays~ last used at Christmas here, and previously at an Easter table before that.
Literal “Eye Candy” from Target lend a little blood-shot mix to my candy vases :)
A few tricks in addition to treats~
Butternut Squash Soup is a favorite for us that we enjoy in the fall. You can find a tasty recipe that we enjoy here.
These Soup “Shooters” are served up in tulip shaped glasses (from World Market) with an easy trick~
Witch Fingers spelled from String Cheese~ with lines carved for knuckles and sliced almond finger nails attached with cream cheese :)
Candy Corn Parfaits~
Cubes of Angel Food Cake, layered with Vanilla Pudding tinted Yellow & Orange with Wilton Gel, pieces of candy corn and topped with whipped cream~
Served in Pier 1 Mini Cordial Glasses from their Tasting Party Collection~ portion control enforced :)
True Confession Time~
While Candy Corn is the quintessential candy of fall & “screams” halloween~ the taste & texture is frightful to me. . .
It’s festive & fun, but I am not a fan of the flavor :)
