Summer Blessings

Happy June! Our weather has been glorious, with beautiful spring-like weather. As Southerners, we know the humidity is coming soon, but we will enjoy it for as long as possible.

Today, I am joining blogging friends and fellow table stylists for a summer tablescape blog hop sponsored by Rita @Panoply.  Twenty total bloggers are participating. Thank you, Rita, for organizing these hops.

I've set the table on the patio today using my favorite colors, which are blue and white. I've added a little green color and texture using Bordello Pinheiro chargers.

I chose an Asian planter with a footed saucer for the centerpiece container. 

Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, and cutting them from my garden brings me much joy.

Johnson Brothers Blue willow plates coordinate with the blue and white floral tablecloth and say welcome summer. Officially summer begins June 21, but everyone will agree that summer activities begin when the kids are out of school.

You can see a little of my garden in this photo. I have a few white and pink hydrangeas but mostly blue. The last time I counted, I had over 80 hydrangeas of various kinds.  With the extreme cold at Christmas, I was afraid it would affect the hydrangeas, and grateful I did not lose any.

I do have a story to share about the Blue Willow plates. In the late '80s, we lived in Fairbanks, Alaska. There was no Amazon, or eBay, then. Southern Living magazine offered a mail-order sale on these dishes, and what a great blessing that was for a young army wife who loved dishes and did not have a source. I am still enjoying them. According to Google, The Blue Willow pattern's exact origin is unknown; however, it's believed it was first made in England during the late 1700s. There are conflicting stories about who created the pattern, too-some claim that Josiah Spode invented it. While others say, John Turner did.

There are key motifs in the Blue Willow pattern. These include willow trees, pine trees, the bridge with three men on it, a fence, a boat, a teahouse or pagoda, and two birds in flight.

Bamboo cutlery adds more texture and contrast. Blue goblets from an estate sale complete the tablescape.

This is my favorite napkin fold. It is Carolyn Roehm's signature napkin fold. 

"All which we behold is full of blessings." William Wordsmith

I wish all my followers and table stylist friends a restful and happy summer. I named this post "Summer Blessings" because I am thankful to enjoy a slower pace. What summer activities do you have planned?

Click on the links below to view all the summer tablescapes. Each blogger would love to hear from you.

Panoply - Up, Up and Away With Summer Dining

Home is Where the Boat Is - Hydrangeas and Butterflies

Everyday Living - Welcoming Summer With A Garden Tablescape

Life and Linda - A Boho Alfresco Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Summer Plaid and Polka Dot Picnic

Living With Thanksgiving - Summer Blessings

Debbee's Buzz - Alfresco Bee Theme Table and Florals

The Painted Apron - Boats, Floats and Fish!

The Little Yellow Corner Store - Pucker Up Lemony Tablescape - It is Time to Have a Bee-utiful Day!

The Cat's Whiskerz - A summer picnic tablescape for Canada Day

Pandora's Box - Summer Blues

Me and My Captain - Florida Blue Crab Summer Tablescape

From My Carolina Home - Welcome Summer Tablescapes

The Bookish Dilettante - Summer Tablescape:  Old Glory
My Thrift Store Addiction - Summer Picnic Brunch under the Texas Mountain Laurel

Red Cottage Chronicles - Lemon Tablescape for Summer

Hyacinths for the Soul - Long May She Wave

Celebrating Everyday Life - Create a Chic Seashell Table Setting This Summer

Dinner at Eight - A Summer of Colors

Bluesky at Home - Pretty Table for a Ladies Dinner Party

Wishing you many summer blessings! By the way, the as I close this post, the humidity has arrived!

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Monday Morning Blooms

I am honored to be invited to be a 'guest bloomer' for Monday Morning Blooms.  Pam, Mary, and Lidy are very talented floral designers that showcase their talent on the first Monday of every month. Click on the links below to view their beautiful posts.  The theme today is watering cans.I am so happy to join them for this edition of Monday Morning Blooms.

My original plans for this post changed as the wonderful cool morning progressed. My shady garden works well for gardenias, hydrangeas, and other shade-loving plants. I had a delightful time cutting flowers and greenery and deciding where my table would be. The birds were singing, there was a pleasant breeze, and I was happy and thankful to see the fruit of my labor in my garden rewarded with lots of blooms. I wait all year for this time to arrange my own flowers instead of store-bought ones. I'm showing you a little of my garden to set the stage for some of my choices of flowers.

Agapanthus are scattered throughout my woodland setting.

Gardenias have a lovely fragrance and make a great scrub year-round in my garden. It has been very rewarding to root three bushes that are huge now. It is an older variety, and the blossoms are fairly large.

In keeping with the watering can theme, I wanted to use a tole watering can I was gifted some years ago as a vase. Thank you, Johanna. I feel especially grateful because it was her mother's. It has a small opening on one side. A gardenia, pink hydrangea, blue hydrangea, and some dusty miller would all fit.

My mother's smaller tole metal watering can hold agapanthus, solid leaf dusty miler, and hydrangea. If you haven't seen the solid-leaf dusty miller, it is awesome. It adds a pop of white in the garden that catches your eye and is a great filler in arrangements.

It took over twenty stems to make this large arrangement. I love my vintage can that I have had for many years. Gathering flowers and arranging them was so much fun. Greenery, especially variegated greenery, adds so much to the garden and to the arrangements. The texture and color contrast is pleasing. Acuba and Pittosporum are my 'go to's'. 

You can see the Acuba at the back of the hydrangeas. It also roots easily in water.

I can't tell you how satisfying it was to enjoy the gorgeous day as I styled these flowers. God has blessed me with each one. Every day is indeed a blessing. I like to talk to Him as I stroll through the garden. It is a wonderful fellowship time.

After making these arrangements, I decided to make myself a refreshing compote of berries.

The embossed tablecloth was my mother-in-law's. Her brother brought it to her from the Phillippines in the late 50s. I noticed the label says "Made in Spain." I enjoy learning the history of vintage items. While I was smoothing the tablecloth out, it reminded me of a long bridal veil.

The napkin is equally beautiful.

I look forward to viewing Mary, Lidy, and Pam's watering can arrangements. Thank you, ladies, for inviting me to join you today! Click below to view their lovely posts.

Lidy at French Garden House

Pam at Everyday Living

Mary at Home Is Where the Boat Is
Living Thankfully, 🌿🌸🌿🌸

Easter Fun

Today, I am joining twenty other bloggers for a Spring/Easter Tablescape Blog Hop sponsored by Rita@Panoply.
Our weather has been beautiful, so I set the table in my garden for the blog hop. Join me as we celebrate spring and Easter.

Thank you, Rita, for all you do organizing the tablescape hops! You do a fabulous job. 

 

White hydrangeas accented with pink carnations were arranged in a vintage basket borrowed from a dear friend and placed on a pastel stripe napkin for the centerpiece.

Spring has arrived in south Alabama. The azaleas, dogwoods, spirea, flowering trees, and  Lady Banks roses are all blooming.

I wish you could all be here and enjoy the beautiful weather in my garden.

Can you see my Pink Ruffle azalea behind the table?

Grace Tea Ware scalloped bunny plates with pretty pastel colors was found at Home Goods. I knew when I saw the bunny plates they would match my Paula Deen aqua plates. I was thankful to find floral napkins at Home Goods too, that brought out all the colors in the plates. 

This is a close-up of the Nicole Miller floral napkin with a rattan napkin ring. The napkin ring found at a local gift shop tied all the natural elements of rattan, bamboo, and water hyacinth together. 

The sweet pastel hand-tooled real eggs carved with beautiful designs were a birthday gift last year. They are so delicate.

Here is a close-up of the intricately designed eggs. They were such a sweet gift. I placed them in egg cups in several photos.

Natural elements are a major theme unifying this tablescape. Water hyacinth placemats, rattan centerpiece basket, napkin rings, rattan liners for the glasses, and bamboo cutlery are all-natural elements that give great texture to this spring table.

Click here to view the video.

After several days, some of the flowers began to wane. I broke down the centerpiece arrangement and placed it in smaller vases on my kitchen table to enjoy it longer.

"Our Lord has written the promise of Resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime." Martin Luther.

It was the blue hour outside when I took this picture. I know you are wondering where I live because all our spring flowers arrived about two weeks early this year. Usually, in south Alabama, the azaleas open now and last until the end of the month. We had two weeks in late February and early March with highs in the 80s during the day, so everything bloomed earlier. The blooms are all gone now, and it has turned cooler. Monday night, it is forecast to be a low of 28. I guess this is the cool spell before Easter. Did you know the farmers say if the pecan trees have leafed out, there will not be any more cold weather? They have not leafed out yet. All my hydrangeas are full of leaves which is a concern. But, by Thursday, it is forecast to be a high of 80. 

Below, you will find the blogger's links to view their creative tablescapes. 

Panoply - Preppy Pink & Green Spring / Easter Tablescape

Home is Where the Boat Is - Cottontail Farms

Everyday Living - The Blessing of Easter

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - One Happy Bunny

Bleu Belle Interiors - Spring Brings Joy

Living With Thanksgiving - Easter Fun

Hyacinths for the Soul - Springtime Pleasures

Celebrating Everyday Life - How to Style an Elegant Easter Brunch Table

The Painted Apron - Carrots and Cottontails

The Bookish Dilettante - Tablescape Blog Hop: Wildflowers for Spring

Pandora's Box - A Dollar Tree Dessert Station

My Thrift Store Addiction - Egg-cited for Spring Breakfast Table

The Little Yellow Corner Store - Creating Happiness With An Easter Tablescape and a Giddy of a Good Time

The Cat's Whiskerz - The annual spring meeting of the bunnies

Celebrate and Decorate - Spring Table Decor

Red Cottage Chronicles - Blue and White Tablescape for Spring

Me and My Captain - Spring, When Flowers Bloom and Nature Sings

Thrifting Wonderland - Spring Forward Tablescape

Bluesky at Home - Bunnies and Blue Spring Tablescape

Dinner at Eight - Welcoming Spring with a Fluffle of Bunnies

Zucchini Sisters - Lavender and Sage Spring Tablescape

Thank you for viewing my post today. I am grateful for your friendship and support. Reflecting on life's blessings, you are a great blessing to me. 

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                                  Living thankfully,

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. In thinking about Valentine's Day, I remembered a song my parents were fond of named,  Let Me Call You Sweetheart. The song was written in 1910 and Bing Crosby made the song very popular in 1945, the year my parents married. 

Let me call you sweetheart

I'm in love with youLet me hear you whisperThat you love me tooKeep the love light glowing In your eyes so blueLet me call you SweetheartI'm in love with you
Beth Slater Whitson- LyricsLeo Freedman- Music

Welcome to a Valentine Tablescape blog hop sponsored by Rita @Panoply. We thank Rita for her excellent organizational skills in keeping these events happening. You will find many creative ideas from 21 table stylists to inspire your Valentine decorating and  their links are at the end of this post.

 I've set the table for a valentine's celebration with non-traditional colors. 

Multi-colored roses dress up a lady head vase as a centerpiece for my Valentine tablescape. Hellebores, also called Lenton Roses, accent the mirrored tile, and several added to the arrangement add additional texture.

The back view shows her pearls and pink and red glass heart accents.

The mirrored tile table runner holds jasperware vases containing lavender, fuchsia, and light pink roses. And if you look closely, there is a blue and white ceramic heart box. 

The place setting begins with ruffled velvet Crown Linen placemats. Horchow blue and white plates sit atop pink chargers. A Bavarian cream salad plate with gold trim holds different Wedgewood trinket dishes. Several of the small dishes have embossed greek mythology figures. The heart-shaped Wedgwood trinket dishes give a nod to Valentine's Day.

This is a close-up of one of the jasperware vases. Jasperware or jasper ware, is a type of pottery first developed by potter Josiah Wedgwood in the 1770s.

Usually described as stoneware, it has an unglazed matte "biscuit" finish and is produced in a number of different colors, of which the most common and best known is a pale blue that has become known as Wedgwood blue. The unglazed stoneware, decorated with cameo-like motifs, can be found in 18th, 19th, and 20th century versions of the original blues, as well as lilacs, greens, and whites." Wikipedia"

 Wedgwood china is made in Staffordshire, England. I love mixing Wedgwood with blue and white china.

I want to learn more about the embossed figures on the jasperware pieces, but so far, I have yet to have any luck. 

Pink napkins repeat the pink color in the chargers and roses. The napkin rings repeat the gold in the gold cutlery, gold rim goblets, and gold-rimmed china.  

The lovely vintage goblets were a Christmas present from my son's family. I love the beautiful etching. They also gave me the gold budding leaf napkin rings for my birthday last year.

This trinket dish is from Munich. This piece belongs to a friend. 

Valentine's Day celebrates romantic love. My favorite quote about love does not come from a poet but from the bible. 1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter and is often read at weddings.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1Corinthians 13:4-7

 We have had so many cloudy and rainy days it was hard to take good pictures. After a few days of sunshine, the roses opened more, and I added greenery. I really like the arrangement better now.

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Click on the post title to view the blog posts.

Panoply - Valentine Tablescape for 'Just You and Me' 

Home is Where the Boat Is - Love Birds' Bed & Breakfast

My Hubbard Home - Vintage Inspired Rose and Gold Valentine's Table

Life and Linda - Sealed With a Kiss Tablescape

The Bookish Dilettante - Valentine's Day Tablescape Blog Hop: Paris Is Always a Good Idea

Everyday Living - Colors of Love

thecatswhiskerz - A Frosty Galentine's Day Tablescape

Pandora's Box - A Galentine's Table

Living With Thanksgiving - Let Me Call You Sweetheart

The Little Yellow Corner Store - A Glamorous Winter Snowman for Valentine's Day

Karins Kottage - Pink and Red Valentine's Table for Kids

The Painted Apron - Hearts and Flowers

My Thrift Store Addiction - Cupid's Valentine Dessert Buffet

Celebrate and Decorate - A Romantic Valentine's Tablescape for Two

Belle Bleu Interiors - A Day for Love

Dinner at Eight - Valentine's Day - A Table Set for Tea

Red Cottage Chronicles - Fire and Ice Valentine's Tablescape

Hyacinths for the Soul - Where You Go, My Heart Follows

Thrifting Wonderland - Start With Flowers Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Sweet Valentine Tablescape

Wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine's Day on February 14th! 
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