Farmers Market Tablescape

 I've been using this old Lang calendar for tablescape inspirations....and this was the picture from June.  It reminds me of our weekly trip during the summer months to the local vegetable stand.  So I've named this tablescape the "Farmers Market" table.

So, welcome to the table set for a fresh from the garden (or veggie stand) supper.

 I found this cabbage leaf set of bowls and dishes a couple of years ago at a local antique/thrift store.  They had a few little chips here and there....nothing that a little dab of green nail polish didn't cover up.

Here's my vegetable centerpiece....who says a centerpiece can only contain flowers and candles?   Not me!

 Now you just know you would have to serve a salad at this table!

Actually, I have to confess that a few things in the basket are faux - but mostly everything is real, and much of it will go into a salad this evening.

 Let's peel the layers of dishes....starting with the salad bowl....

....cabbage leaf underplate....

white Gibson dinnerplate.....

 basketweave chargers......

...flatwear from Target a few years ago....loved these and they were purchase by the piece for 99 cents.

 I found the green goblets a few years ago at Goodwill.

 I can't even remember wher I found the green cloth napkins many years ago....the tablecloth was a Goodwill find.

I love the bounty of fresh vegetables from the summer!  Can't wait until the Hanover tomatoes are in their peak here soon.....I'll be cooking up a tomatoe pie soon! 

See ya.....and remember to eat your veggies!

This week I'm joining Tablescape Thursday with Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

"Lasagna Western" Tablescape

I'm sure many of you remember the old "spaghetti westerns" of the 60's?  Well, since our family "cowboy" our son-in-law Brett, requested lasagna for his birthday dinner....I've titled this table.....

                       ....the "Lasagna Western" tablescape

"howdy pardner"

                  I've layered this cowboy fun tablecloth......

                   ....over this red checkered tablecloth.

           Pewter charger plates with red plates and black metal flatware....

       .....pewter goblets and red bandanas make great napkins.

                

          ......did you know that lasagna was cowboy grub?

Wishing our birthday cowboy lots of good luck with a centerpiece of lucky horseshoes.

 Looks like this little cowpoke might just be trying to rope a couple.....

                .....of cute little cowgirls!


   Happy Birthday to our wonderful sil Brett....he's starting seminary in a few weeks and we're so excited for this new journey for him and our daughter and family....
                             

             See ya!

         This week I'll be linking up to "Let's Dish"  and  "Tablescape Thursday".http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

May calander inspiration tablescape

 Some of you know that I've been using an old Lang calendar for monthly tablescape inspiration.  This month has been so busy I almost let May pass me by.

 But with one day left in the month, I took a peek and decided to  build my table around this picture from May 2010 of a bouquet of white and purple flowers wrapped in printed paper with a seed package all tied together with a blue and white striped bow.  The border was navy blue.  So......I went to work and.........

 I found some purple and white flowers at the local grocery store and a seed packet of white flowers at Home Depot.  Moonflowers.....I think I'll really plant them and see what happens.  The directions say that they almost glow in the moonlight.

Even though the flowers are all different and the only printed paper I could come up with was a page of the daily newspaper.....I thought it came together pretty well.

Since the border was navy and white, I used a navy tablecloth and goblets along with white china, chargers and flatware.  I tied the bouquet together with a blue and white striped napkin and also knotted some for each place setting.

Overview of my inspiration table.

                           The bouquet of May flowers wapped in newsprint.

Navy goblets

                                           A place set just for you.

                                            Flowers viewed from the top.

One last picture......

                                    .....before I put the flowers in water.   I'm not
                             sure I would have picked out purple and white flowers
                             for a blue and white tablescape......but in this case....it just
                               seems to work.    I'll be back with June calendar inspiration
                              soon!

                             See ya!

Tuesday Treat

 A couple of years ago I started a tradition of bringing a treat to share with my co-workers each Monday.  We all look forward to "Monday Treats".  For me the reward is that I get to bring something in to share with a most appreciative group....and I also get to "share" the calories....that way, I get a share, but don't over the course of the week end up eating a whole cake....pie.....whatever.   And who doesn't need something to look forward to on Mondays?  This week however, the Monday holiday meant that the treat was moved to Tuesday....and I was looking for something red, white and blue.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of these plated....this was when I was ready to pop them back in the refrigerator for about an hour before I left for work.

I figured that cream stuffed strawberries topped with blueberries fit the bill just perfectly!  Don't you agree?  Thought I would share the recipe for any upcoming patriotic events....and of course, you can always leave off the blueberries too.

Here's the recipe:

1  (3.4) oz) pkg coconut cream instant pudding mix (or flavor of choice)
3/4 C. sour cream
1/4 C. heavy whipping cream
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese softened
3/4 C. confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
1 quart large strawberries washed and dried.

Combine pudding mix, sour cream & whipping cream.  Beat with mixer on med. speed.  Lower the speed to low and add cream cheese, confectioners sugar & extract.  Beat until well combined.  Cover & refrigerate 30 minutes.  With stem side down, make 2 vertical cuts from tip to about 1/4 inch from the stem end.  Spread apart to form petals.  Spoon or pipe filling into each strawberry.

Take this in for an office treat and you'll be everybody's favorite co-worker....at least until they're all gobbled up!

Sanibel Smiles

We just got back from a week of vacation in Sanibel, FL.  We fell in love with it four years ago and have returned each May ever since.

Love the palm trees and flowers!

A beach view from our condo.

Shall we head to the beach?

Beach toes and flip-flops.....

You'll need the flip flops or water shoes because much of the beach is covered in shells.

How about a walk in this direction?

We can check out the beach art display....

forts....

fish.....

                                            made from this sea side art supply.

beach peace....

turtles....

castles....

dolphins.....

a light house....

sharks....

starfish....

a fortress....

and a few friends along the way.

Sky, surf and sand.

Beach walks are.....

one of life's wonderful pleasures.

We love the sights, sounds and scents of the beach.

How about you?  Do you too love the salt air, sun on your face and calling of the gulls?

ahhhhh....bliss......

Have a wonderful week......see ya!