Vive La France

I love France and anything French.  In school, I did the 6 years of French and loved every minute of it.  And that fact that my teacher in college was the cutest little Frenchman didn’t hurt!  So we always celebrate Bastille Day.  This year I had this wonderful rouge, blanc and bleu table all planned in my little French mind. But the market had these wonderful sunflowers and that colorful little table just flew out the window. 

We were fortunate to be able to spend our 10th wedding anniversary in Europe and we split the time between Italy and France.  I found this fun sunflower table cloth in Grasse, France on one of our little road trips to explore the country side around Cannes.  Knew it would be perfect with my flowers.  

The bright, sunny colors remind me of the fields of flowers that are so typical of Provence.

Found these neat two-tone napkins at Pottery Barn a few years ago and I have been saving them for the boat but the colors were perfect for Bastille Day.

The required Bee…

and fleur-de-lis.

A crusty French baguette, escargot and a Nicoise Salad with cedar plank salmon was the perfect meal to celebrate another wonderful Bastille Day.  Merci beaucoup Chef Gar and Bon appetit!

Till next time….Santé,(AKA Danielle)

Resources:

White Linen Tablecloth: Pottery Barn

Table Topper: Clementine’s, Grasse, France

Napkins: Pottery Barn

Napkin Rings: Pier One

Rattan Chargers: Pier One

White Dinner Plates: Corning Pyroceram, The Corning Store

Red Salad Plates: Country Living, K-Mart

Silverware: 1881 Rogers Stainless by Oneida

Wine Glasses: Dollar Tree

Water Goblets: Gift

This week I’ll be sharing with:

The Tablescaper Seasonal Sundays

Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures Monday

Boogie Board Cottage's Masterpiece Monday

Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A Stroll Through Life's Tabletop Tuesday

Cuisine Kathleen’s Let's Dish Wednesday

Style Sister’s Centerpiece Wednesday

Ivy and Elephants' What's It Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

The Stone Gable’s Tutorials, Tips and Tutorial Thursdays

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

Happy Anniversary to US!!

 

 

June 26, 1996 was a very special day for us.  Chef Gar and I had been together for 6 years and made numerous wedding plans trying to include family from far and wide.  When that didn’t work out, we took the kids out west and did the deed on a bluff in Laguna Beach! It was perfect.  That was 16 years ago and Chef Gar outdid himself with a fabulous dinner.  Why don’t you take a peek…..

All that glitters…

 

Shandon by Waterford

Canna Lilies and ferns from the garden

Escargot ready for the oven

Basil and spring onions from the garden

Lights, camera, action!! It’s time to eat!

Grilled lobster with Thai ginger butter, filet, risotto stack and grilled veggies!!

Happy Anniversary to US!!

Till next time….Santé,

Resources:

White Linen Tablecloth: Pottery Barn

Napkins: Battenberg Lace, Restaurant Style: Old Time Pottery

Gold Woven Chargers: Old Time Pottery

White Dinner Plates: Corning Pyroceram, The Corning Store

Black and Gold Paisley: Gilded Noel, Holiday 08 from Target

Square Gold Plate: Spirit of the Season, St. Nichols Square from Target

Footed Crystal  Bowls: Bed, Bath and Beyond

Flatware: Bamboo Brassware, James Jewelers, Thailand, Circa 1970’s

Wine Glasses: Shandon by Waterford, Coach and Four, FWB

 

This week I’ll be sharing with:

The Tablescaper Seasonal Sundays

Boogie Board Cottage's Masterpiece Monday

Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A Stroll Through Life's Tabletop Tuesday

Cuisine Kathleen’s Let's Dish

Style Sister’s Centerpiece Wednesday

Ivy and Elephants' What's It Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

The Stone Gable’s Tutorials, Tips and Tutorial Thursdays

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

Heellloooo Summer……

 

I’m glad you came, I’m glad you came!

 

I am a summer person.  Maybe it is because I grew up in the Fingers Lake area of New York State and summer usually only lasted one day, 4th of July!!  You still had to find some jeans and a sweatshirt once the sun went down.  How can you call that summer?

Now I think you could call me a Floridian since I have been here on the Gulf Coast since 1977.  And I still love summer.  The hotter the better!! And I love all the citrus that we have available.  Even for centerpieces along with some palm fronds from the front yard.

I picked up these palm salad plates a few months ago from the clearance table at Beall’s Outlet because they just screamed FLORIDA!!

Add a few shells and it is summer!! I had seen this idea of adding the shells to the lanterns at Pottery Barn and loved it!

Don’t you just love the vibrant colors of the lemons, limes and oranges!

Chef Gar got into the spirit also and we celebrated the summer solstice in style!  Crab cakes and salad…just feels like summer, don’t you think??

Dinner was outstanding.  So tasty, refreshing and healthy too!

Local blue crabs with a light yogurt based sauce served over baby spring mix.  And a summer salad….

But not just any salad!!  Watermelon, cherry tomatoes, slivers of red onions and a few chucks of feta cheese drizzled with a light vinaigrette. 

Chef Gar can COOK!! We had a wonderful evening to celebrate the arrival of summer.  Hope your solstice was wonderful also!! 

Till next time….Santé,Resources:

Green Woven Placemats: Old Time Pottery

White Napkins: Restaurant Style: Old Time Pottery

White Dinner Plates: Corning Pyroceram, The Corning Store

Palm Tree Salad Plates: Beall’s Outlet

Silverware: Twilight 1881 Rogers Stainless by Oneida

Wine Glasses: Gifts

 

This week I’ll be sharing with:

The Tablescaper Seasonal Sundays

Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphosis Monday

Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures 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

Cuisine Kathleen’s Let's Dish

Style Sister’s Centerpiece Wednesday

Ivy and Elephants' What's It Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

The Stone Gable’s Tutorials, Tips and Tutorial Thursdays

Between Naps on the Porch'sTablescape 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