Bridal Coffee for my NIECE

It's summertime and there are wedding parties and weddings happening every weekend. Today, I am reposting a bridal coffee for my niece several years ago. The flowers are breathtaking and the food beautiful. Hopefully, you can get some ideas for entertaining maybe on a smaller scale such as the gorgeous limelight hydrangea arrangement and party food.

A Summertime Alfresco Evening

Hello, and welcome to the Alfresco Tablescape Blog Hop sponsored by Chloe Crabtree @ Celebrate and Decorate blog.
Join me for a summertime alfresco evening here in the deep south with a table set for two. I'm in my garden nestled under the shade of the trees enjoying a nice breeze perfect for alfresco dining for my husband and me.

Hydrangeas, my favorite flower, fill a vintage McCoy pot as a centerpiece along with green nadina berries.  
The different hues of hydrangeas inspired my centerpiece and table elements. At this time of the year, the colors of hydrangeas change from blue or pink to lovely shades of blue-green and smoky purple.

Setting a table surrounded by the beauty of God's creation stirs up so many memories for me. 

It's getting close to our anniversary and I'm feeling a little romance in this setting.

 The green hydrangeas on the bush in the background were all blue just weeks before. 

Dining in the freshness of the open air is so pleasant.

The phlox is blooming and butterflies are lazily flitting from flower to flower. Summer flowers make us happy because summer evokes pleasant memories 

of family vacations and a more laid back atmosphere. We want to get outside and enjoy nature.

Summer shades of green in the flowers and garden foliage inspired me to chose green Paula Deen plates for my alfresco tablescape. A floral napkin print with several colors worked well with purple stemware and since butterflies are everywhere in my garden I was reminded to use the butterfly napkin rings purchased on a wonderful trip with my husband to Provence.

Colors evoke moods or feelings and the ambience of the outdoors calms and relaxes.

Are you feeling relaxed and tranquil? It's time to escape the noise of the T.V. and pull of the computer and focus on your dining companions.

Can you smell the flowers and even the fresh clipped rosemary in the tiny votives? Are you getting hungry?

Our menu:
Grilled salmon (my husband's speciality) with lemon-dill sauce 
Roasted asparagus
Tossed green salad
Lemon icebox pie with graham cracker crust

I've enjoyed sharing my Alfresco Tablescape with you today as part of the Alfresco Tablescape Blog Hop. View other alfresco tables here and here. Join all the other fabulous tablescapers all week. Links are given below.

MONDAYStarfish Cottage | Knock it Off Kim | Life and Linda | Southern Hospitality | Everyday LivingTUESDAYMy Kentucky Living | DesignThusiasm | Simple Nature Decor  | Living With ThanksgivingWednesday
Red Cottage Chronicles  | The Little Yellow Corner Store | Ramblings of a Southern Girl
CoziNest  | Love of HomeThursdayPanoply | Flourish & Knot | The Painted Apron | Dining Delight
FridayB. Lovely Events | Lolly Jane | A Toile Tale | Bluesky Kitchen | Rattlebridge Farm

Linking to : Metamorphosis Monday, Show and Share,The Scoop, Inspire Me Tuesday, The Enchanting Rose, Wow Us , Share your Style Party, Tablescape Thursday, Thoughts of Home,Feathered Nest Friday, Home Sweet Home, Foodie Friday,Dishing It and Digging ,Your Inspired Design,Celebrate and Decorate, Share It One More Time

You Are Invited to a Blog Hop

Join me and other great tablescapers this week for an Alfresco Tablescape Blog Hop.

MONDAY

Starfish Cottage | Knock it Off Kim | Life and Linda | Southern Hospitality | Everyday Living

Tuesday
My Kentucky Living | DesignThusiasm | Simple Nature Decor | Rowhouse Blog 

Living With Thanksgiving

Red Cottage Chronicles  | The Little Yellow Corner Store | Ramblings of a Southern Girl

CoziNest  | Love of Home 

Thursday
Panoply | B. Lovely Events | Flourish & Knot | The Painted Apron | Dining Delight  |

Celebrate & Decorate

Friday
B. Lovely Events | Lolly Jane | A Toile Tale | Bluesky Kitchen | Rattlebridge Farm

Identifying Different Types of Hydrangeas

My garden pics

Hydrangeas are one of the most bountiful blooms that summer has to offer. The mophead may be the most recognizable hydrangea, but did you know that there are 7 main types of hydrangeas? From the lacecap to the paniculata hydrangea, there are different hydrangea types that actually look quite different from each other. 

Hydrangea pic from the Lake Country-England

To help you identify the different types of hydrangeas, FTD created a helpful guide that features real photo examples along with easy care tips. Checkout the guide above, you’ll be sure to learn something new about this gorgeous summer flower!

Be sure to pin for further reference. I am very impressed with FTD's blog. Check it out here because it is very informative and interesting.

Hooray for the red, white and blue

July 4th is a time to celebrate our country. May we  reflect on our heritage, our bountiful blessings, our customs, and our values of freedom and liberty for all.
As we set our holiday tables in red, white and blue and prepare traditional barbecues for family and friends let us reflect on our wonderful country.

Our Porch is my Favorite Room

You will find us on the porch most of the time with the ceiling fans going.

With a blue slate floor and blue ceiling and the fact that  I love everything blue and white it became my color scheme for the porch.  A much needed find were the accent pillows from Pottery Barn that were on sale.  Actually, all the furniture pieces except the end tables fortunately were on sale.

For the last few years, I've used white flowers on my porch.White hydrangeas, white geraniums and white impatiens fill blue and white chinoiserie and cobalt pots. 

I also have mirrors on the porch.  I think mirrors are great in every room and an outdoor room is no exception. I enjoy the mood they invoke and how they reflect the light. The mirrors at each end of the porch open up the space and make it seem like an extension of the house. (NOTE-Not sure what is going on with Blogger and the spacing today!)

I felt as it the metal wall sculpture was not heavy enough for the large brick wall so I added these leaning wooden shutters. Do you think they look better leaning or should they be hung? Excuse the bug repellent. My eyes struggle with the small thumbnail pics as you load onto your blog and I loaded the wrong pic.

My little bistro table is just right for eating when it's raining or too sunny on the patio.

Our ceiling is haint blue which supposedly tricks bugs into thinking it is the sky, however, the wasps are not fooled.

I'm loving white hydrangeas the last few years and planted these size pots outside. They survived and I am very glad.
My chaise lounge takes up space but I love it for comfort. Comfort has been my main goal for our porch.

Gardenias have the most ethereal fragrance and this time of year I'm enjoying bouquets inside and outside.

Our hummingbird feeder is close enough to enjoy the hummingbirds while on the porch and  can also be seen from inside the kitchen. 

It took a number of years to get comfortable seating and fabric colors to match for the porch. Finally, that has been accomplished  and my porch makes me happy.  I am cringing now, but decided to show you the evolution of the porch. My first purchase was the sofa and being marked down twice and the right size and comfort I bought it, but the fabric did not match my chaise lounge and it wasn't my desired color scheme. 

This is the sofa before I had slip covers made in a blue indoor outdoor fabric. Also, you can see a small coffee table and one end table that have been replaced with better proportional pieces.You can also see everyday living in this pic. LOL!

If I wanted to take the blue slip covers off and use terra cotta accents for fall and winter I could. Life is so full I haven't done this so far but  knowing the option is there is nice. However, I would need a slipcover for the chaise lounge to coordinate or a new pillow.

So here we are today with a larger coffee table and end tables with my chosen color scheme and comfortable seating. Also a smaller table for more room.  A great place for a nap, reading or blogging. 

Watching the birds and butterflies dart about, hearing the wind chimes tingling as I dream and scheme of new things to add to my garden my porch is my favorite place to be. What about you? Do you have a favorite place outside?

So glad my hydrangeas are blooming this year. Have a wonderful week.

Linking to : Metamorphosis Monday, Show and Share,The Scoop, Inspire Me Tuesday, The Enchanting Rose, Wow Us , Share your Style Party, Tablescape Thursday, Thoughts of Home,Feathered Nest Friday, Home Sweet Home, Foodie Friday,Dishing It and Digging 

St. George Island

The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands.