Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Art of Entertaining Outdoors

So here we are today for another "Blog Party" for this week 
hosted by our ever popular Marty at "A Stroll Through Life" for her Table Top Tuesday linky party...you need to pop on over there, she is amazing!


Today its all about outdoor cooking and dining and DIY which I love, love, love to do. Oh and have I mentioned, (I can't bather on enough about this) I love, love, love, setting my table and dining outside when the weather permits here in the Pacific Northwest! 
I also love the idea of setting a beautiful table and taking in the fresh air on warm summer days...and is it me or does the food just taste better when dining Al Fresco?

Now come sit for a while and enjoy, the Butler is waiting!

This little man is waiting to do his job:
serving tasty little things!
 
stemware at the ready for wine...

the rules of the table...

dining Al Fresco on the deck...

White Dahlias from my garden...









Hope you've enjoyed my little dinner party outside...on the menu
just click HERE for the recipes, you'll love em!

Thank you again Marty for hosting this party today!


Plates, cheese tray and Butler: Grasslands; "The Art of Entertaining"
Flatware; Pottery Barn  
Stemware; Cost Plus World Market
Silver Chargers; Cost Plus World Market
Silver napkin rings; Cost Plus World Market
Black place mats; Kohls
Candles; Kohls
Dahlias; "Magic Moment" from my garden collection
Silver Center piece tray; Goodwill





40 comments:

  1. Your table is beautiful! I adore the dishes and the balck and white with the blue is gorgeous! The dahlias are stunning! I can't believe they are from your garden...wow!

    I hope you have a wonderful day sweet friend!
    Cathy

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  2. I absolutely LOVE those dishes!!! Where in the world did you find them?? I have only two sets of dishes and one of them are always in the china cabinet! I don't know why, but I just never do much table settings. My boys would roll their eyes if they came to eat at a table like this in our house!! They would be happier with paper plates so they didn't have to do the dishes!!

    You are such the entertainer! I'll be over for dinner!

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  3. That is absolutely wonderful!!! So whimsical and creative! Love it!

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  4. OOPS! I scheduled this to post on Wednesday the 25th not Thursday the 26th! Oh well, guess I'll just roll with it now:)
    Terry

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  5. Terry , don't you just hate those pesky little computer gremblins..lol... Your table setting is outstanding... the darling plates and the waiter .. ever so sweet!!! XO ..HHL

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  6. Really neat and I love your "tasty little things" plate! Your flowers are beautiful-congrats!

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  7. I love your table.. it's beautiful. the glasses are stunning. Love the plates and the waiter server too.

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  8. Your table is just beautiful. I love the plates and that blue is so refresing. I adore the stemware. It all goes together so well. Thanks for sharing it.

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  9. That table is so pretty. I don't know why, but I get a retro 50's feel from the tablescape.
    Cool.

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  10. Those dishes are adorable ...but I'm in love with your man serving up little treats!

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  11. Love the Rules of the Table~ your stemware and table are lovely! How nice that you have your own personal server :-)

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  12. How whimsical - love the little man!

    Some news: We're staring a Giveaway Friday! link-up party this Fri. 8/27 plus we are giving away custom backsplash! Hope you'll join us.

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  13. I adore this look! The blues are so pretty.

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  14. The colors of your proper table are upscale and so pretty. Mixing a touch of black with blue and white gives it so much life!!! Beautiful table.
    YOur "Art of Entertaining" plates are fabulous.
    I think I can see that they have more than 1 design. What a treat to visit you and your great table!
    Yvonne

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  15. Love the white/black/aqua together...those plates are fabulous!

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  16. Oh my goodness Terry, I love your awesome tablescape! I love the vintage colors, I only say that because my bathroom growing up was in those awesome colors. Brings back great memories! How neat that your sister's name is Nancy, do I have that right? Look at you, you are an Aries too. Are we sisters or what? I love tablescapes and am now addicted to all of these parties. So, I'll stop now.

    Thanks for dropping in on me and leaving such sweet comments. Come back Sis!

    Nancy

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  17. How very pretty and so appropriate for tablescapeaholics....Christine

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  18. Everything is "Perfect"... and quite a bit different and fun!!!

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  19. In December of 1968, my husband and I went to Cost Plus Imports for the first time in San Francisco, one of the stops during our honeymoon. I've never forgotten the plethora of wonderful treasures. Glad to see that it's still up and running. You have set a beautiful sophisticated table...I love the graphic designs on the plates and the sharp contrast of your color choices. Thank you for sharing your charming designs. Cherry Kay

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  20. You're so funny! I tried to lure your little man away, but he wouldn't come -- said that he was staying with you.....yes, I'm such a dish hussey! LOL.

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  21. Terry,
    Love your Tablescape! I love that Susan has motivated so many lovely ladies to share their talents.
    Gwen

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  22. The aqua blue's with the pop of black,so classy.Love the little man(server of tasty treats)and the "rules of table plates" such cute rules to remember.

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  23. Oh, my goodness! I just love that dinnerware! This is a gorgeous color combination. This table just makes me happy to look at!

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  24. HI Terry: You make me feel like I should start to decorate my table with some pretty things. I guess I'll have to go shopping. Aunt Marie

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  25. Your table is just beautiful, but it is also FUN!!! Loved the plates and all the extras...but the things you put them with made it even more special. I have not seen the plates at all. Just loved them! Lori L

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  26. This is such a fun table. I love your dishes (I love dishe too) and the colors are pefect for a relaxing, peaceful dinner outdoors. I really like the picture with the flowers showing through the wine goblets.

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  27. Absolutely stunning. I like how you strung the blue throughout the table setting ~ the candles,stemware and napkins. Love the plates and butler. Well tablescaping is an art and entertainment for us dish-a-holics. I was thoroughly entertained.

    All the Best,

    Requi

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  28. What an absolutely delightful table! I'm happy to find your beautiful blog. You can now count me as one of your newest followers. I can see that I'll be back often and have placed you on my blog roll. Love that little butler and the "Rules of the Table." Beautiful table and dining alfresco is always my favorite! ~ Sarah

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  29. Terry...Hi, sweet friend! I loved your intro...says it all, doesn't it?! We just can't help ourselves...we love playing in the dishes. :) Those are some great dishes btw...love The Art of Entertaining...how cute is that! I know those would have had to come home with me...could not have resisted!
    Thanks for those sweet sentiments on my Pink Sat. post. I promise...all is well. Turning the wilted roses into something beautiful once more just made me "thoughty" last night. :) But all is great! Hugs to you!
    Susan

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  30. Your table is magnificent!! Love the blues and love all those dishes. You are extremely talented.

    I wanted to let you know that although I follow your blog, on my dashboard list none of your posts show up. I had to go in the the Manage section and open your blog from there. Yours is the only blog I follow that is happening to. Weird, huh??

    Have you noticed a decrease in your traffic? I wonder if anyone else is having a problem accessing your blog.

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  31. Beautiful and welcoming!!! love the butler and looks like your garden is providing some beautiful treasures .... happy Wednesday my friend..xo HHL

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  32. SUCH an elegant table...but love the touch of whimsy, too!

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  33. Love the sophisticated combination of black and blue in your setting. Very pretty and I adore your dahlias.
    Happy Entertaining,
    Babs

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  34. Very pretty, Terry! My favorite shade of turquoise all over the place!
    Cute plates, too!
    I'm glad to see you've completed recovered from your hip surgery. Otherwise, you wouldn't be hauling all these dishes in & out. I know, 'cus I do the same thing in the gazebo. Lots of work but soooo worth it. *big grin*

    fondly,
    Rett

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  35. Hi! I'm your newest follower and I just have to say that I love this tablescape, those dishes are adorable and I have never seen anything like them! I also just love those colors! My tablescape last week was in those tones and it was so much fun to work with! Happy 4th of July weekend!!
    Aledia~

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