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Monday, June 25, 2012

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

Sunday, June 17, 2012

On Blue Bayou

A few weeks ago, we were lucky to have our friend Lisa join us for dinner with her fiancée, John. Lisa moved to Colorado about 5 years ago and this is the first time we had seen her since she left the beach. The weather was perfect and dinner on the dock was the only way to entertain our landlocked friend.

Evening started with chilled Spanish cava and a toast to Lisa and her new partner.

The contrast between dark blue and sparkling white always makes me happy and I use this combo often. Chef Gar is a stickler for serving food on white dinner plates so I can only get a little crazy with the rest! But he is an awesome cook and I can live with white plates.

One of my favorites, the hydrangea, was blooming nicely and made a simple and delightful center piece.

Just have to love Old Time Pottery and their inexpensive wine glasses!!

Life is good on the bayou! Wrinkled table cloth and all!

I love this little guy. Great for appetizers or all the goodies for pan tomaquita. Chef Gar did a country paella for dinner. So busy talking I forgot to get any pixs of dinner. It was great!

Till next time….Santé,

Resources:

White Linen Tablecloth: Whitney Plaid by Whitmore House, Beall’s Outlet

Rattan Chargers: Pier One

Napkins: Restaurant Style: Old Time Pottery

Napkin Rings: Pier One

White Dinner Plates: Corningwear Pyroceram from the Corning Store

Blue Salad Plates: Gourmet Basics by Mikasa, Old Time Pottery

Blue and White Fish Plate: Beall’s Home

Silverware: Twilight Burnished, 1881 Rogers Stainless by Oneida

Wooden Steak Knives: New World Knife Works

Blue Wine Glasses: Old Time Pottery

Champagne Glasses: TJ Max