SKLongImages: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Guess who’s coming to dinner?? The Men of La Mancha…

…Sancho, Don Quixote and Chef Gar!

The weather is beautiful and perfect for long, leisurely meals down on the dock. We wait for that perfect combo, not too hot, not too cold, just right. There is nothing worse than cooking up that special dish and having it cold by the time you are ready to eat. Last night, Chef Gar did one of his best country paellas and pa amb tomaquet, something we discovered in Barcelona many, many years ago.

Pa amb Tomaquet…crunchy bread, garlic, olive oil, tomatoes and a little salt. Doesn’t get any better than this!!

Never tire of this view.

Chef Gar hard at work. We love the outdoor kitchen and the paella cooker from La Tienda . It is one of the best investment we have ever made. The paella pan came home from Spain in our garment bag. As they say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

Dinner is served!

I think Sancho and Don Q had a great experience here on the Bayou! Till next time!!

Sante,
Shirl

Resources:

Tablecloth: Linens shop in Grasse, France

Rattan Chargers: Pier One

Napkins: Pottery Barn

Napkin Rings: Pier One

Yellow Plates: Have had forever...don't remember

White Salad Plates with Silver Rim: Gibson Everyday, Old Time Pottery

Silverware: 1881 Rogers Stainless by Oneida

Steak Knives: New West Knife Works

Wine Glasses: Dollar Tree

Water Goblets: Gift

This week I’ll be sharing with:

Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures Monday

House in the Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Boogie Board Cottage's Masterpiece Monday

Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A Stroll Through Life's Tabletop Tuesday

Cozy Home Scene's Your Cozy Home Tuesday

Ivy and Elephants’s What's It Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday

No Minimalist Here's Open House Thursday

Shabby Creek Cottage's Transformation Thursday

French Country Cottage's Feather Your Nest Friday

My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday

At the Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday

The Charm of the Home's Home Sweet Home Friday

The Tablescaper Seasonal Sundays

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Spring is in the Air…

everywhere I look around!!

Okay, I have a confession to make. As much as I love the shrubs and trees and flowers that bloom every season in our yard, I HATE yard work. We have lived in this house for 12 years this month and when we moved in, the lawns were all grass with some wonderful live oak and magnolia trees. Sometime during that first spring, my husband Gar let me in on a little secret of his, he HATES to mow grass. So the transformation began that very first summer, out with the grass, in with the gardens. Sounds good in theory. Since I had never been a gardener, at least an outside one, first order of business was to take a “Newcomers to Florida” gardening course at the county extension office. Never mind that I had already lived in Florida for 25 years, I was still a newbie. It was a great help and we were on our way.
The way it was….Lots and lots of grass

First project…line the walk way to the dock with palm trees.

And the planting has never stopped!

Now..

I love all my spring blooms and can’t wait for everything to be lush and lovely again. It was an easy winter on most of the tropical plants and they are coming back much earlier than usual. Wahoo!

Today….

Camellias

Day Lilies

Gardenia

Knock Out Rose

Day Lily

Day Lily

Iris

Confederate Jasmine on fence at Dock

Bougainvillea

Dock boxes with Asparagus Fern and Sundial Scarlet Portulaca

Petunias in a Pot

Hanging Basket of Impatiens

Amaryllis

Chinese Snow Balls

Roses

Jasmine flowers

Amaryllis

It has been a glorious spring! Can’t wait for the rest of the yard to come back to life. Oh, I forgot one little fellow. He is on his way out but since I was teased incessantly in the early years about my gardening skills, even by the worst yard in the Hood I had to include him.

They said if I could ever come up with a commercial use for dollar weed, I would be a millionaire! Never could think of anything so guess it is time for a little Agent Orange. Sorry fella.
Till next time,
Shirley

This week I’ll be sharing with:

Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday