(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

A small reflection of summer 2011...

Little chapel on Lost Island Lake

Holly on a boat ride

Busy beaches along the shores of the lake

Hot summer days!

Lots of fun!

Lots of friends!

Lots of entertainment!

The gathering at the shoreline...

The removing of the docks... signaling the end of summer.

Thanks for visiting!

The boat is in the water!

We have finally launched the boat for the summer! The official date we rolled it in was May 26. It's also officially the latest we have ever waited to do so. It has been such a cold and rainy spring! Usually the boat hits the water sometime in mid-April.

Since launching on May 26, we have not had a nice enough day to take it out again! Maybe this weekend will bring some calm and warm weather.

Join me on a ride...

Welcome to our house! You can see the sunporch on the upper level. Behind our house, you can see the garage and guest house we built.

Holly loves to go for boat rides... We are slowly cruising the north side of the lake in our pontoon boat. Fun to see the activity as docks, boats and hoists are going into the water!

Here is the eagle carving from the other side. You can read about the eagle here and here. 

A grouping of fishing boats. They were pulling in lots of fish today!

Holly watching the shoreline. Not many boats are in yet. Only one can be seen in this photo and usually every house has at least one boat.

This is such a beautiful time of year when the trees are so pretty and green.

Water-skier drive-by.

Holly has her own stash of toys on the boat.

And she loves playing with them when she gets tired of the view!

Calm water approaching the swimming area.

Not many swimmers yet. This place will be full of people on hot summer days...

Great day to be cruising on the water. Another fishing boat is coming in for the evening.

Check out that Iowa sky! 
This kind of a day -- and this view -- is why I named my blog "Adrift on the Lake"

Thanks for reading!

Seashells Tablescape

My third tablescape!

Setting the table in our sunroom today was so much fun with one of the most gorgeous spring days to embrace northwest Iowa. With temps in the mid 50's, no wind and lots of sunshine -- the ice which covered the lake just two days ago is almost gone! 

While I was setting the table up today, I listened to the Canadian Geese flying overhead as well as the many birds singing outside. The call of a Loon even echoed over the lake. Loons are only here for a short time and easy to miss.

To coincide with the arrival of spring on the lake, I decided to go with a seashell tablescape.

I like keeping everything light and airy when setting the table in the sunroom.

Blues and greens against the lake in the spring.

I picked these dishes up a few months ago.

My flatware is Oneida "Julliard" -- we received all of it as wedding gifts 24 years ago.

Ceramic seashell napkin rings

Salad plate in "sea foam"

Dinner plate in white. The shells are raised on the dishes. Love these dishes!

Seashell placemats. I only use a round or shaped placemat on a round table.

I just picked up this stemware at TJMaxx. Same glasses are also sold at Horchow/Neiman Marcus.

Glass stones in the bottom and seashells surround the candle.

Pewter fish holds the little picks each with a design on the top. These were a gift from my mother many years ago.

Side table holds a giant seashell with faux sea glass.

The view from our sunroom over the lake. Ice is gone and the sparkling open water is back!

For those that read "Between Naps on the Porch" this sign might look familiar.
The moment I saw this in Susan's blog, I looked it up and found out where to buy it and it was here in two days! One of my very favorite songs; and summer breezes are the best.

As always... Holly likes to help!

Happy seashell spring!!

What's on the table:
Dinner plates and salad plates: JCPenney Cindy Crawford Oceanview
Flatware: Oneida "Julliard" (each place setting was a wedding gift)
Placemats, napkins rings, napkins and shotglasses: Home Goods from a few years ago
Small green glasses: CB2
Green and blue goblets: Bahia (sold at Neiman Marcus/Horchow - found at TJ Maxx)
White shell buckets; candle, jar and everything in it: Walmart


Thanks for reading!
 


Show and Tell Saturdays at Be Different Act Normal
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Show off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses
Anything Goes Party at Type A
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Kiss me! I'm Irish! No, really... I am.

Ok, so I'm 1/4 Irish - 1/4 Italian - 1/4 Lebanese - 1/4 English. Quite the mixture, isn't it?

My dad's mother was Irish and I was told my black hair and blue eyes are from the Irish side of the family. My dad had black hair and blue eyes -- as did his mother and about half his siblings. "Black Irish" is the term my father used.

I've occasionally met people who are surprised to hear there is even a twinkling of Irish in me because apparently I don't look the part.

St. Patrick's Day is an e.v.e.n.t. where I live. It goes on for days and is very cool. The town is named for the Irish patriot, Robert Emmet, and there is even a statue of him outside the courthouse in the center of town. We happen to have one of the only 4 statues in existence -- I believe the others are in Dublin, Ireland and California and Washington DC.

I do enjoy aspects of the celebration but for the most part, I'd rather read about it afterwards. Too many people and too much celebrating for me!

Quietly at home is more my speed. And with that said, I'm very excited to share my 2nd ever tablescape today!!

Table is set for brunch and location is in our sunroom at the lake:

Centerpiece is a Shamrock plant still in the florist container with the pretty ribbon
 

A tiny whimsical touch of Irish on each spoon
 

I love the shamrock design on the embroidered cut-work table topper

Closer view
 

Individual butter dish for each person
 

Side table held the Irish coffee mugs with sugar and Bailey's Irish Creme
 

Closer view. You can see the lake beyond the windows. Still ice right now!
 

Place setting



Another angle



Using the flatware I discovered in my own home a few weeks ago
 

View of the sunporch. It's actually on the upper level of our home with a fantastic view of the lake.
 

Using my favorite goblets
 

From above
 

My helper, Holly. She loves to be involved with whatever I am doing!
 

A few glittery shamrocks in the Shamrock plant

What's on the table:
Dinner plates and bread plates: Mikasa Italian Countryside
Salad plates and small fruit bowls: Martha Stewart "Hudson" from Macys
Water goblets:  Villeroy & Boch "Boston Green" Collection
Flatware: S. Kirk & Son "Kingsley" (found in my home!)
Butter dishes: Crate and Barrel
Napkins: Walmart
Table square: Already owned
Shamrock plant centerpiece: local garden center

I had fun with this tablescape! I used the shamrock square top without a tablecloth underneath it as I love the open feel of the glass table.

The individual butter knives were collected from the various flatware sets I have.

Loooove those butter dishes. they are two pieces (the bowl to hold the butter and the lid to cover it). When it is just Hubby and me for dinner, I don't mind using the 'community butter dish' but otherwise, I much prefer giving each person their own.

Each butter dish holds about 4 tablespoons of butter. I usually add 3-4 tablespoons. Just cut them from the stick and put inside the bowl and let it soften to room temperature. You can also soften it in the microwave (as my photo below shows) but it can over-melt if you don't watch it closely. Once softened, I use a tiny fork and give the butter a quick stir and put a swirl on the top!

You could also use the top as a tiny cloche!

Add 3-4 tablespoons of butter to bowl.



Let stand until it is room temperature or soften in microwave (watch it closely!)



Give the softened butter a swirl and put the lid on!

Thanks for reading!



I will be linking up with:

Show and Tell Saturdays at Be Different Act Normal
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Mosaic Monday at Little Red House
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Third Annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl on March 15th at Cuisine Kathleen's