August Calendar Inspiration

 August is almost over and it's time to pull out my old Lang calendar for tablescaping inspiration.  This month features a basket filled to the brim with all kinds of squash picked fresh from the garden.

 So here we are with this weeks tablesetting.  Except since I'm no gardener....mine came from the grocery store and the local produce stand.

 The only thing that came from my yard was the green vine.  This is from the moon flowers that I planted from a seed packet that was actually a part of my May calander inspiration tablescape.  I'll have to do a post about this plant.....we've named it "Audrey II".

In colors that mimic the basket....I've got a basketweave placemat with a white dinner plate, green glass salad plate and bright yellow napkin.

 I've really enjoyed these green goblets for many tables.  Found these thrifting a couple of years ago right around Christmas.  They're nice and heavy.

Casual bamboo flatware seems to be the right accent for a garden fresh table.

A closer look at the place setting.

 Three kinds of squash.......there's a joke around here that you never leave your car unlocked in the summertime....because when you get back you'll probably find a bag of squash sitting on the front seat!

 Tabletop overview.

 Squash centerpiece.

 From every angle.

 What's for supper you ask?

How about a squash casserole....yes.....lets eat the centerpiece!  I've gathered my ingredients.

First I layered a can of diced tomatoes and over that I sliced all the squash and a white onion.

 Seasoned with Italian seasoning, cracked black pepper and garlic salt.

 Topped with two more cans of tomatoes.

 Added shredded parmesean cheese and baked for 80 minutes at 350 degrees.

And there you have it!  The squash was still slightly crisp and while I like it that way, my husband prefers his squash to be soft.  So in that case, I would recommend parboiling the squash and onion first.  This is even better the second day.

Shoot .....Now I need to find another centerpiece.

Oh well.....

See ya!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Toile and Pink Tablescape

I've been absent quite a bit this summer....just busy, busy.  I'm sure that I'm no busier than anyone else, but my time management just hasn't allowed for any tablescaping lately.  But today, I took the time to fill my table with many of my favorite things.....so here goes.....

                  I suppose that you might gather that I really like pink.....a lot!

This afternoon was a nice sunny one, so I grabbed my little camera and snapped away.

 Pink, pineapple and toile just seems like a pretty way to set the table on a sunny, summer, Sunday afternoon.

               The pineapple is the colonial sign of hospitality, so won't you join me?

                                     I've set a place just for you!

I found this little white ceramic pineapple at Bath and Body Works a couple of summers ago.  It's actually a candle.  Last year I found this flower ring.....I was so excited because I had searched for months and months without any luck and I had just about given up, but then one day walked into a local thrift store and there it was!  I've filled my ring with a grocery store bouquet with a few flowers from my garden added in.

                                        A closer view of the centerpiece.

      Pink stems seemed to be the perfect accent for the black and white settings.

 A couple of years ago I gathered several place settings of mis-matched silverplated flatwear from ebay. 

 While I was searching through my china cabinet for stemware and flatware I ran across this little pitcher that came from my inlaws estate.  It rather large for a creamer, but I decided that it would be a wonderful size for salad dressing.  The pink roses seemed to be perfect for this table.

 Toile and black ribbon on this little square cloth I found while thrifting back in the spring.  This sort of looks like the silver intersection.

 These black and white salad plates were a Marshall's find several years ago.  The toile also has some birds and roosters in the pattern.  Toile seems to be something you either love or hate.....I love the old fashioned countryside scenes.  This one even had some people fishing.

 White Gibson china dinner plates are often the base for my tablesettings.  You just can't go wrong with white china.

 I almost never purchase anything for my table setting obsession unless it's on sale or through thrifting.  But these came from Pier One last year and I've never regretted paying full price.  I don't know if they have them still, but I love these!

                                    Here's the other side of the little pitcher.

 I sort of liked the pink napkins moved to the corners of the table.  That white cloth just looked a little bare.


                           
                                            Overview of the table.

 Overview of the flower ring....."Ring around the roses" -- or in this case, "Ring around the pineapple"!

 I bet you would never guess that pink roses are my favorites.....I know too easy.

                                 Long afternoon shadows fall upon the table.

 I love the way the afternoon sun looks on the table through the blinds.

 And while I was playing with the dishes I was baking this pecan praline pie to take to work tomorrow for "Monday Treat".   Just a little goodie to share in the office to make Mondays a little more bearable. 

It's nice to be back again.....thanks for stopping by!

See ya!

I'm joining Cuisine Kathleen at "Let's Dish" http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/
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