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

Sunday Brunch for two in the Garden...

Hello everyone, 
Today I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for "Summer Deck Party 2". I'm trying to participate in all the Blog Parties parties and this is one of my all time favorite linky parties because I simply love, love, love beautiful dishes, tablescapes and summer dining! 


This past weekend here in the Pacific Northwest was just lovely, sunshine everywhere and the perfect weather out on the east veranda (doesn't that sound fun...the "east veranda") which gets beautiful morning light therefore I just couldn't wait to have a Champagne brunch out there. 
OK its really just the deck on the east side of the house but "east veranda" just sounds inviting to me so that's what I'm calling it for now and I'm sticking to it!

The first thing we need is Champagne served in "Rambler Rose" crystal champagne glasses and of course, Roses on the table! 
June is the Portland Rose Festival here in the "City of Roses" and we simply can't have a brunch with them...gasp, what would the Royal Rosarian's think if we didn't !!

And fresh squeezed Orange juice...

and the perfect spring colors for our table setting... 

linen napkins with delicate embroidered baskets from my bonus mom, Sue with my grandmothers silverware...

  

my favorite lead crystal salt dips and sterling spoons...and yes they have that "old patina" on them because I like it and I really don't like to polish silver!

and pink Heisey depression glass plates to compliment the spring colors of aqua, creams and pink...

and on the menu, "Terry's Easy Quiche" just about ready to pop out of the oven...

I hope you enjoyed our little brunch for two in the garden, I know we did!

The details...

plates; "Aqua Coronado" by Franciscan 1940-1950

Liner plates; Pink "Heisey", pattern unknown

Sterling Silver; "South Seas" in Community 1955

Stemware; "Rambler Rose" by Fostoria 1940-1955

Salt Cellars; Lead Crystal 1930-1940

Sterling salt spoons; found treasure in Houston, TX years ago...

Thank you again, Kim for hosting one of my favorite parties!

November Gold

Once again I'm joining my lovely and dear friend Susan from

Between Naps On The Porch for another Tablescape Thursday. If ever I wanted to tell anyone about a blog, Susan's would be the place! She is lovely, imaginative and inspiring and truly puts an incredible amount of work and effort into her posts' so thank you Susan for hosting another great party! You are a joy to know and to learn from my friend!

This year, my husband and I are hosting our Thanksgiving holiday with his beautiful daughter (my bonus daughter) Andrea, her husband, Ted and our two precious grandsons Cole and Blake.

There are no words in the English language to describe the joy this precious little family brings to our lives, what I know for sure is; we love them and are so blessed we are all together on this most thankful of days... 

The details:

Stemware; Cambridge "Rambler Rose" from my grandmother c.1945

Vintage China; Noritake "Revenna" from my grandmother c.1950

Contemporary dinnerware; Williams-Sonoma Porcelain Turkey Salad/Dessert Plates

Sterling Silver; "South Seas" in Community from my grandmother c.1950

Dining chairs; Ethan Allen

Quilt wall hanging; "Rose's Civil War Baskets"

Table runner; Jo Morton fabric, handmade by yours truly:)

Napkin fold; "Pocket Fold" from Susan at Between Naps On The Porch

Photo Location; our home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest

Blessings; my husband, Mark and our family, both near and far...

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone"



Ladies Day Luncheon...

OK I've never done the Tablescape Thursday before but wanted to join the party here. Now anybody that knows me, knows I love to entertain. Not only do I love entertaining but when I do, say its Christmas, Thanksgiving, or an open house for the holidays my favorite part is setting my table. For me, it is the frosting on the cake after all the prep and cooking of the meal is finished. I save this part for last and anticipate what the final "picture will look like".
One such event was a simple "Ladies Day Luncheon" I did for my lady friends. It was my way of celebrating these two women in my life and to let them know how much I cherish their friendship. One of those women is my BFFL, Lori of whom helped me wrap the antique silverware the for the 60th anniversary party on July 17th.
The table was set with part of my collection of "Lady Head vases"...apropos wouldn't you agree?


These are from the 1940's-1950's and were used by florists as a promotional gift to get folks to come in and purchase floral arrangements. Back then they didn't really have much monetary value, but today they can fetch a hefty price depending on the condition, style and color.
I'm posting what I thought was a very sweet little table setting that day...


Enjoy, but please overlook the poor quality photos, this was in my pre blogging days and a funny little camera. Never in a million years did I think I'd be posting these pictures on the Internet:)

(please click pics to enlarge)

Lady in yellow the hat is Verna Mary after my maternal grandmother

 

Lady in the aqua hat is Joan Vivian after my mother

 Below ladies are all named for significant women in my life;

Verna Mary in the yellow, Elizabeth Holland in green, Susan Faith in pink, Joan Vivian in aqua, 

Nancy Jean is in blue hiding behind Joan Vivian with her back to the camera she was bit camera shy.

There is one lady missing, she'll be in another post...stay tuned!

Please click on above pic, its just my favorite for detail like

the rim on stemware, Vaseline lemonade set and book page telling what the day was about.

(above two photos)

my maternal grandmothers antique stemware;

"Rambler Rose" by the Cambridge glass company.

Green 1930's Vaseline glass lemonade set from my husband:)

above, the ladies wearing their finest rose bonnets for the luncheon.

above and below, my chintz plates and my maternal grandmother's silver

"South Sea's" by Community.

 

 

above, chintz tea set and plates on the tea and dessert buffet...

Thank you Susan from Between Naps On the Porch for being our gracious hostess for this fun little party!