Dinner by Fireworks Tablescape for the 4th of July

Our sunroom is set and ready for the upcoming 4th of July!

Red, white and blue is the theme for Independence Day of course!

I wanted to use a variety of blue and red dishes but it was kinda overwhelming. So I stuck to some basic pieces.

Red salad dishes were a Crate and Barrel find -- blue Queen's dinner plates were purchased at TJMaxx.

These plates have become one of my very favorite sets! The blue and white goes with everything.

From our 2nd story sunroom, we can see the fireworks display each year.

Side table is set up with some sparklers for the kids -- along with cupcakes and red, white and blue reusable straws.

From above...

The red and blue candlesticks were perfect for a centerpiece. In the right setting, they have a 'firecracker' appearance! I put a little bit of mylar garland around the top of each candlestick and then grouped the rest of it at the base of the candlesticks to create the centerpiece.

These gorgeous glass candlesticks were a gift to me from my Aunt. I have been so anxious to use them in a tablescape!

Red flatware and napkins with blue placemats.

Purchased cupcakes and I put them into patriotic cupcake liners with little paper toppers. A huge grouping of these on the 4th of July really makes a "bang!"

My favorite thing when I was young (and yes, today!) -- I especially love the giant sparklers!

Clear stemware with a simple blue rim.

Such an easy centerpiece!

Lighting the candles in the evening. Boats cruise by all night long in the summer. Fireworks start about 10 pm or when it gets dark. We have the perfect seats for the show! 



 Dinner by fireworks!


What's on the table:
Blue dinner plates: "Queens" from TJMaxx
White dinner plates and small white appetizer plates: Mikasa Italian Countryside
Salad plates: Cranberry "Sintra" from Crate & Barrel
Red dessert bowls: Walmart
Glass napkin holders and napkins: Crate & Barrel
Red flatware: Horchow
Blue-rimmed glassware: BonTon
Glass candlesticks: Sur La Table (a gift from my wonderful Aunt!)


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

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!

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