Outdoor tablescape....Indoors.

It's time for Tablescape Thursday again and tables are being set all across blogland. Sometimes its funny how well things come together even when they weren't purchased at the same time or planned that way. This week I've set my table in a way that would be really cute for an outdoor poolside table.....except I don't have a pool and our backyard is a work in progress with a new carport being built and driveway paved. So I've set my outdoor tablescape....inside.



Welcome to my colorful summer table.



You know I always set a place just for you.



I found a set of these plastic plates and bowls at BJs this spring and thought they would be perfect for the grandgirls.



Here's an overview of the indoor/outdoor table. Let's see how things came together.



The green cloth napkins came from Target last fall and the metal flower napkin rings came from Pier I this spring (around Easter).



I got some pink ones and some yellow ones.



The colorful paper napkins were a hostess gift from a friend a couple of years ago. The fun plastic straw glasses came from Target....all four of the grandgirls love these.



Two pink and two aqua blue. They had lots of colors -- when my sister was here with her grandson he liked the glass too---so I got one for him (he's 10) and two more for him to take back for his younger sister and brother.



For my birthday, my son and DIL brought me this cute runner and two tiered server from Target.



I added two of these green bamboo placemats that I found at Ross about three years ago in Atlanta.



Love the colors in this server.


I thought it would be cute with some little sandwiches for the grandgirls.....



.....and of course cookies! (The twins started calling me Nana Cookie awhile back)





Don't you love it when an odd assortment of things come together to make a bright and cheerful tablescape? How fun is that!

Be sure to check out all the tables this week at "Between Naps on the Porch", it's always fun to peek at all the tables each week!

See ya!

4th of July Tablescape

I love holidays and the 4th of July is one of my favorites! We had already celebrated earlier with our family and Mr. Mid-Atlantic and I both had colds so we just stayed at home this year....We had terrible thunderstorms around here so all the fireworks displays were rained out anyway.....but, I still had fun decorating and setting the table....just for you!




Before the rain started I got some outdoor pictures of my garden flag.....



....and these cute little tin firecrackers for the yard.



I found these at "Through the Garden Gate", one of my favorite local antique, vintage and "what-not" stores.




....I may just leave them up all July.


My little Spunky Man is ready to greet you at the door.



A couple of flags in my door arrangement.



Welcome to our red, white and blue table!


Red, white and blue checked cloth layered over a red one.



Come and have a seat....our menu for our celebration was hot dogs, hamburgers, bbq, corn bread, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, Paula Deen Ooey, gooey cake topped with strawberries, blueberries and cool whip with plenty of iced tea (sweet and un-sweet).



Plates are topped with a paper flag napkin found at Tuesday Morning.




Red salad plates from several years ago - Marshall's.



Red Johnson Brothers transferware -- Strawberry Fair. These belonged to my in-laws.



With my two napkin rule (paper for the mouth, cloth for the lap) - the navy blue napkin with a white star was purchased a couple of years ago at Kohls.



Shell everyday stainless flatware.



red antique goblets.



Antique Betsy Ross postcard.



Wooden stars from Kohls many years ago.



I found three of these (only two designs) at Through The Garden Gate.



I believe this little drum came from Peebles about 10 years ago.



A patriotic nutcracker from my collection.



I've had this patriotic rooster forever too.




The other design on this cute little card/ornament.



It's kind of hard to see, but this is The Statue of Liberty. Antique store several years ago.



overview of the table.



Tip top view of the centerpieces.



One last look --- I sort of put everything patriotic I had on the table....these things will be split up and placed in several places around for the rest of July. I try to keep them out all month.




And lastly a little picture hanging in my kitchen that says, "I'm proud to be an American"......hope you had a wonderful Independence day gathered around tables and backyards, porches and pools with those you love, thankful for our freedoms and liberties! Hooray for the red, white and blue!

I hope you'll get the chance to visit Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" to see all the tablesettings this week. There's sure to lots of inspiration and ideas for your next gathering. Congratulations Susan for 150 weeks of hosting tablescapes!

See ya!

Giving Birth to Independence Day

It's always a delight to visit Colonial Williamsburg (we honeymooned there almost 36 years ago) -- but it's certainly a wonderful place to visit on or close to Independence Day. We were able to walk around for the day last week when our son's family was here. Our first stop was the Govenor's Palace. This was the home to 7 royal governors and after independence, Govenors Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson until the capitol was moved to Richmond.




Our guide for the day in her Colonial dress. The furnishings that are shown are from the time of the last royal govenor, John Murray the 4th Earl of Dunmore. I had a hard time with the interior pictures because I either had to get close up...or get pictures of the other people on the tour in them. So you don't really get a sense of the size of these rooms.



The entryway is where most business would take place .... few people ever got past this point. You can see the dark wood and the display of swords....


....and muskets - rather imposing wouldn't you say?



A peek into the pantry --- wouldn't I love that sort of storage?



The family dining room -- don't you love the floor covering?



This table is being set off the ball room for evening refreshment.



This was one of the beds in the upper chambers.



Lots of beautiful millwork.


Loved the blue and white tiles surrounding this upstairs fireplace.



Beautiful crystal and silver chandelier.




Standing so close I had to get two pictures of this gorgeous bedding.






Ourdoor grounds.



The kitchen was, of course,not connected to the house but an outbuilding. Another guide in colonial dress.



And, yes, she really does cook all this food -- it' real. Wish I had taken a closer shot of the baked apples --- the dough was cut and shaped to make them look like pineapples.



More dish storage.


Love all the pewter plates.



The capital building. Virginia was the first colony to speak for American Independence. This is where on May 15, 1776 fundamental liberties were debated and ended in the creation of a new government. Virginia instructed its delegation at the Philadelphia Contenental Congress to move the question of freedom.







More Colonial interaction on the very ground where the rumblings and debates on independence first started .... giving birth to the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Happy 4th of July everyone!