Sailing into Labor Day~Tablescape Challenge

Hello Ladies!  Hard to believe, but it is almost Labor Day!  Here in Southampton, that marks the end of the “season” for Summer people.  For those of us who live here year round, it marks the beginning of one of the most beautiful months of summer, September!  Blue skies, warm water, and the tourists have gone home.  Back to normal for us!  Peaceful and beautiful!

I decided to go Nautical and Patriotic for the challenge.  I will still be celebrating summer, till at least the 21st, when the season changes. I almost did this bright colored scape…

 

That will be for another post.

The cloth is old and big enough for 2 tables, so I tied off the ends.

A white table cover from Linens N Things.com hides the folding table legs.

Cute little flip fop nautical salt and pepper shakers.

Red placemats serve as a charger.  White dinner plate via Horchow, red salad from CTS and blue speckled bowls , a gift from Alma.  The great thing about the bowls is you can put them in the oven and get them good and hot , then pour in your soup.  Hot to the very last drop!

The blue flatware is by Cambridge, from CTS.  Rounded soup spoon for our chowder from the Restaurant Supply store.  Navy cotton napkins, 20x20 were .50 from the fabric outlet.

Two small centerpieces, filled with roses, red geraniums and diamond frost from the garden with a flag tucked in.

They are flag patterned toothbrush holders I got a few years ago from CTS for .19 each.  I got them for Alma too, and she mentioned they leaked when you fill them with water.  I poured some polyurethane in and swirled it around, and let it dry.  Problem solved!

The blue stems are from Dansk.

Nautical bowls from Christmas Tree Shop. (CTS)

See our 2 little refrigerators? Very convenient to keep the summer drinks cold, and ingredients for the cook outs.  Saves trips to the kitchen!

Some patriotic beer to match the table!  This Bud is for you!

I know I am a little late getting this posted, but I had to tear myself away from this!

It’s Summer, ok.  No thoughts of leaves or pumpkins or any of that F_ _ L stuff here!

Please link only a NEW table that meets the challenge, Farewell to Summer.  NO FALL!  Please only link if you promise to visit at least 5 other entrants and leave a comment.  No word verification blogs permitted.  Blog name first.  THANKS! 

An InLinkz Link-up

What’s in Costco and Christmas Tree Shop?

A new Costco opened 40 min from me.  While we have always made monthly visits to Costco, this one is closer and more convenient.  How you ask?  Well, within 5 minutes of it is WSonoma and PBarn Outlets, and directly across the street is Christmas Tree Shop. 

This one also has a gas station, which is nice!  Locally, unleaded gas is about 4.00 and .10 more a gallon if you use a credit card, which I always do.  Costco it was $3.57 using a credit card, big difference on a fill up.

So while I was going to get gas and a few groceries, I snapped a few pics in case you haven’t been there lately!

The ribbon is out, 6.99 for a 50 yard roll.  Great deal. 

Moving on…

Does that scare you?  Make no bones about it, I won’t be buying one!

Hopping across the street to Christmas Tree Shop!

Blingy pears for 1.99

Red flatware, $1.00

Fabric like chargers, 2.99

Hello Kitty, my TX friend!

Nice, and made in USA!

So cute for a little boy’s room!

Don’t forget the Farewell to Summer Table Challenge next Wed. on Let’s Dish!

Yes, I must!  Hope all of you are well, and thanks for stopping by!

Today is the Official HALFWAY Mark of Summer! Tabletalk

Hello, Ladies!  Today marks the midway point of summer.  That means we have half a summer left  to enjoy!

I am not rushing the season, bad enough the retailers start putting out Cmas on July 4th!  But we are in control of our blogs, so we can mosey through the next half of summer.  After all, winter took so long to leave last year, I can wait for it to reappear!

I had a wonderful visit with Alma, The Tablescaper on Tues.  As you know, she returned to work full time, so we don’t get to go on shopping excursions anymore.  We were both very good though, no impulse table purchases.

We stopped at Duralee Fabric Outlet, and we spent 12 dollars between us! 

I got this pretty yellow and white striped fabric to make a tablecloth. I also got another piece of a blue checked fabric.

The hot pink and white is from CTS, and as you can see , marked down to 3.99 less 20%.

Last Sat., I hosted a luncheon after a Memorial Mass for a friend.  I had planned to have it outside, and had the tables all figured out.  Well, it poured!  I didn’t want to have it in the dining room, so I quickly set the kitchen area table.

It has a leaf, and then dh made a 7 in one to give us more room.  Fits 8 very comfortably.

It doesn’t match , so you have to use a cloth.  The problem, I didn’t have one in a color I wanted that would fit with the added 7 in.

Like I said, I had the tables planned for the porch, but Mother Nature was being witchy!

I quickly whipped up a white cotton with dots cloth from fabric I had.

I had plenty of these blue and white napkins from WSonoma, so I improvised.

I used the white Filigree plates from Pfaltzgraff that I have 112 of! I got them for a dollar. If the weather was good, I could have had 28 people, and those are the only ones I have that many of, besides clear.

I had to keep it simple, men do not care for a lot of frou frou!

Soup was on the menu, so I used white handled Hutschenreuther from Germany bowls that I got at Peter Andrews for $1 a few years ago.

I tucked the napkins in the bowl, and used blue patterned flatware from HG.  Glassware is by Dansk.

The centerpiece was a white wicker watering can filled with white mums and baby’s breath with a napkin scrunched underneath.

The Menu:

Shrimp and Crab Cakes served on a bed of shredded lettuce with Horseradish Sauce

New England Clam Chowder with Bacon and Crackers

Chicken Salad with Cranraisins

Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Snow Peas

Mozzarella and Fresh tomatoes with Basil

Spinach Salad with sliced Filet Mignon

Home Made Cole Slaw

Cantaloupe slices and grapes

Asst. rolls and bread and butter

For Dessert I made a pound cake and had bowls of fresh fruit…sliced peaches, cherries, blueberries and strawberries and a bowl of fresh whipped cream.  I also made a Double Chocolate cake in the Heritage pan and drizzled chocolate ganache over it. 

I also made a roasted fresh tomato soup, but everyone opted for the Chowder.

Didn’t have time to take pictures!  I had ten minutes from the time I walked in the door after church to get everything out.

There was plenty of food, and I would have had enough for everyone if the good weather plan had happened!  Good thing my family came out later.  They ate well for 2 days!

Don’t forget the Farewell to Summer Table Challenge on Aug 27th.  Until then, remember…

Keep Summering on!

Thanks for stopping by!

Joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday