Dinner for Two at Sunset

During the summer when it is just hubby and me for dinner, we really enjoy dining in our sunroom. In the evening, it's especially nice to relax and enjoy the view.

It was the two of us for dinner all weekend... although our daughter is home from college for the summer, she keeps busy with work, school and has her own social life. Unless she tells me she will be home, then I will usually cook for two.

For hubby's birthday, we had dinner on the sunporch watching the boats roll by... eventually a gorgeous sunset appeared.

Dinner for two in the sunroom.

We love dining in this room -- very enjoyable to sit up high over the lake!

I love sunflowers. My mom told me that her mother's favorite flower was sunflowers. It eventually became my mom's favorite because it reminded her of my grandmother. Now it is my favorite as it reminds me of both of them.

The square plates are huge -- I'm using them as chargers tonight.

The bowl with the rooster and sunflower is the same set as the large plate. The flower inside the bowl is so pretty!

When I was looking for colored flatware, I couldn't decide on the color and finally ordered red. Turns out I use this red set almost as much as my everyday stainless!

The view from our seats.

I picked up four of these plates a few months ago -- they are a soft yellow color.

Love the sunflowers and rooster!

The view to the left side...



And the view to the right.



And looking straight ahead...



Candlelight dinner for two!


What's on the table:
Dinner plates and bowls: Maxcera "King Rooster" from TJMaxx
Yellow plates: From TJMaxx -- they are marked with a "B" on the back. I don't know who made them.
Sunflower napkin rings: Pier I
Flatware: Horchow  
Blue wine glasses: Pier IPlacemats and napkins -- from my stash.

Thanks for visiting!



I will be linking to the following fantastic parties this week:

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle 
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Whassup Wednesday at Elements Interiors
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feather Your Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Flaunt it It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Spring tablescape overlooking the lake

Ideas are interesting things... have you ever had an idea of something in your mind and you've planned it out to the smallest detail? But when you decide to go through with the plan, it turns into something completely different?

This is happening to me a lot these days. During the winter, when we're stuck indoors much of the time, I "think." I think a lot. I write down thoughts. I make lists. I plan. To the smallest detail...

Now that spring is here, all my plans are changing!

Change happened with this tablescape... what was originally going to be a monochrome tablescape did not turn out that way at all. And I am much happier! Spring needs green. :)

I found green jumping into my monochrome design...

Green happens to be my favorite color...

These toile dishes are called "Love Poem" -- can you see the script writing on them? Love at first sight with these dishes! The store only had six place settings. I need to find two more!

Square plates with the soft scalloped edges... Beige on cream... They even look like poetry.

More green appeared. Pairing two napkins always makes them pop!



This flatware jumped into my cart the moment I saw it!



Green apples and faux moss rocks stacked in the tiered plates... little bird couple salt and pepper shakers.

Peeking over to the side table and chairs...

Antique crystal bowls. These belonged to Hubby's grandmother. I don't know the maker or pattern.

Green goblets wanted to be in the tablescape, too.

This photo shows the other half of our sunporch.

A little closer...

Looking back at the table... you can see the boats and docks have started to go into the water.

Side table is set up with cocktail glasses and plates and cheese. In the background on the water, our dock and boat lift is in -- but we haven't put the boat in yet. Hopefully soon!

Isn't this cheese platter great? My daughter gave it to me for Mother's Day! It is an actual wine bottle so it's 100% recycled glass. Handcrafted, and takes over 8 hours to create each one. I love it!

These little appetizer plates are one of my favorites! I buy the new designs each year.

They're called Oliver Appetizer Plates from CB2.

I always pick up two of each design.

This was a perfect evening to be on the sunporch for dinner!

What's on the table:
Dinner and salad plates: 222 Fifth "Love Poem" from TJMaxx
Glass napkin holders and napkins: Crate & Barrel
Salt and Pepper shakers: Pier I   
Flatware: Purchased at World Market
Green goblets: Villeroy & Boch "Boston Green" Collection
Wine glasses: Tiffany (have had for years)
Tall martini glasses and Oliver appetizer plates: CB2

Thanks for visiting!



I will be linking to the following fantastic parties this week:

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle 
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Whassup Wednesday at Elements Interiors
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feather Your Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Flaunt it It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

30 Decorated Theme Tables! (Part I)

Earlier this week, I attended a Theme Table fundraiser for a local business. Approximately 30 tables were set up in the gymnasium of the college in our town. Most tables represented local businesses along with a few individually designed tables. I was thrilled to attend the event and witness the creativity put into each table!

I took many photographs and am so excited to share them! I wish I could post every single photo as some of the details on the tables were so special.

This is Part 1 of 3 separate posts, so be sure and check out Part 2 and Part 3 to see all of the tables I am sharing. (I didn't want to put all the photos in one post and have it too photo-heavy.)

(When the event was organized, I wasn't asked to do a table, but I'm hoping next year I will be. I already have a dozen themes picked out! With all the stuff I have accumulated over my life, I could almost decorate 30 tables single-handedly. LOL!) 

The dinner was served by the college food service and it was delicious! Chicken lasagna was the main course. Each course was served on a clear plate which could be set on top of the dishes used for the tablescapes.

The keynote speaker was Jill Swanson. She is a motivational and inspirational speaker/author who talked to us about looking and being your best. I enjoyed her so much! I've been to a few dozen seminars and have heard many keynote speakers and after awhile, they are all kinda similar... Jill, however, was a breath of fresh air! She is a Christian speaker and I hope to hear her again sometime! Check out her website if you want to read more about her.

The entire evening was beautifully done!


Getting ready for the event.

Taking some photos while the tables were being set up.

   

"The Fifties" tablescape. Poodles, malt shoppe glasses and music.

  

Loved the centerpiece! Saddle shoes -- what a cool idea.

Music note salt and pepper shakers.

Chairs decorated with matching colors to the theme.

"Hunters Dream" using camouflage table covering. Hunting jackets and vests on the chairs.



"Garden Party" theme. The purple goblets added such a splash of color and of course I love the napkins!



This tablecape was a Silpada jewelry seller. The catalogs are the placemats!

"Spring Flowers" using vintage Noritake china. Napkins are folded into Lotus Blossoms. This table was so gorgeous!

(My only contribution to the event - I folded the napkins for this table decorator!)

Does anybody know the name of this pattern? It is beautiful! It belonged to her grandmother.

"God Bless the USA" theme. T-shirts adorn the chairs. I am always drawn to anything patriotic and was happy to see this was the first table to be seen as people entered the room.
God Bless the USA!

The plates, cups and glasses were purchased in the 1940's and are still being used at the American Legion in a nearby town.

"Dan the Builder" sponsored by a local construction company. Great idea for napkin rings!

"Travel the World" - Postcards and other items from other countries were in the center.

"Fiesta" - the decorator used her collection to decorate this table for a local pharmacy. The placemats are handmade. I always love Fiesta settings -- they are so colorful! Not sure if it was intended or not, but the candies were perfect for a pharmacy -- they look like pills!

Bows on the backs of the chairs for the "Fiesta" theme.

Be sure and check out Part 2 and Part 3 to see the rest of the tables!

Thanks for visiting!


I will be linking to the following fantastic parties this week:

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Show off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle 
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Whassup Wednesday at Elements Interiors
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feather Your Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Flaunt it It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper