by Debbee | Aug 24, 2020 | Summer, Tablescapes
I’ve set a waning days of summer jungle table outside, on the covered porch.
With Labor Day not until September 7th this year, and temperatures still in the eighties to nineties, it still feels rather tropical here in Pittsburgh. How about in your neck of the woods?
Inspiration for the tablescape came from a set of plates decorated with an exotic animal print.
Yeah, I know; I need more tableware like a hole in the head lol! I had seen the plates months before, and resisted the urge to splurge. But by late August last year, they were on super duper clearance! Besides the plates are heavy-duty melamine, making them great for dining outdoors and dishwasher safe.
So come on outside on the porch with me for one last, fun jungle table of the summer season.
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by Debbee | Aug 12, 2019 | Summer
After a number of false starts and considerable frustration, I’m relieved to finally be able to share a palm leaf and birds of paradise tropical tablescape.
Consider this setting plan Bee. Or, maybe it’s C or D? I had to come up with a new table styling plan when my initial vision didn’t pan out. Finally, a lovely bird of paradise stem provided new inspiration and direction.
Hosted by Chloe of Celebrate and Decorate, today’s post is part of the Late Summer Tablescape blog hop.
I’m really excited to see what so many talented and clever table stylists have to share. With several weeks of August still left, I’m in no hurry for summer to end. Are you? I especially like the opportunity to dine alfresco.
Come on and join me, outside, on the covered porch. Imagine a paddle fan circling overhead, creating a cool breeze while you sip a refreshing, frozen concoction.
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by Debbee | Aug 6, 2019 | Spring, Summer
Ever since I purchased a beautiful tablecloth, embroidered with olive branches, I’ve been wanting to create a Greek tablescape.
Last September, while on a Visit to Amazing Ancient Athens, I noticed shops selling cotton clothing and linens everywhere. Later, on an excursion outside the capital to Delphi: Center of the World, we saw cotton being harvested. Lining the road, on both sides of the highway, were little cotton balls that had escaped during baling and transport. It actually looked it had snowed in Greece!
Our guide explained that Greece is a major producer and exporter of cotton — accounting for more than 80 percent of European production. Neighboring Turkey, imports over a third of the cotton. Making up eight percent of Greece’s agricultural output, high-quality Egyptian cotton is very important to the economy.
The evening before boarding a Small Ship Greek Island Cruise, a tablecloth embroidered with black olives, caught my eye. I knew it would go perfectly with my china back home. And, linens were one of the few souvenirs that would also fit in my luggage!
It’s taken me nearly a year to style a Greek tablescape, and it’s got me longing to return there!
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by Debbee | Jul 20, 2019 | Home Design, Summer
With a heat index of 100+ degrees, I spent the morning in the cool of our finished basement working on a few organization projects. Now, I’m back upstairs on the computer, finishing up the rest of my summer coastal decor tour.
So what are you doing to keep cool during this oppressive heatwave?
Eldest son in NYC called this morning with one of his two central AC units not working. He wanted to consult with his dad, the retired engineer, to try to fix it himself.
All I could do was suggest they go see a movie. After a nice lunch out, with free ice cream desserts, Mr. Buzz and I went to see the Avengers movie yesterday. At first, it was so cold in the theater, I shivered even with a lightweight sweater on. But, mid-way through the three-hour movie, it got stuffy and uncomfortably warm. Theater staff were nowhere to be found before, during or after the movie. At least we missed the downpour outside.
So, not so sure my suggestion for a movie is a good one? Being in a packed theater in NYC during a heat wave may not be such a good idea? Fortunately, our son was in Colorado for the Steamboat Springs Hot Air Balloon Festival during Saturday’s huge blackout. He can skip the subway this weekend, but living in a rooftop apartment makes it hard to avoid taking the elevator!
Click your flip flops together and imagine you’re at the beach instead. Having some coastal decor around the house helps. Let’s pick up from where I left off in, Kitchen Coastal Decor for Summer.
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by Debbee | Jul 10, 2019 | Home Design, Summer
For the summer months, I’ve updated my kitchen with coastal decor, tableware, and accessories.
A mostly red, white and blue color scheme makes for a seamless transition after more patriotic decorations and dishes in the kitchen from Flag Day through July 4th.
Since none of our family members were going to be in town for the holiday, we invited friends to join us for a Pirate game. Even with seats in the shade, it was hot and oh so humid! A heavy downpour held off until the end of the game, but gave us a good soaking as we walked across the Roberto Clemente Bridge into downtown for dinner. Fortunately, the rain ended and we were treated to a great fireworks show over the Three Rivers.
We weren’t so lucky for the supposed “rain or shine” patriotic music concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony on Saturday night. Even though the storm had already passed, flash flood warnings cancelled the performance. There we were with our lawn chairs, picnic dinner and bottle of wine and no 1812 Overture. Hope the weather was more cooperative during you long holiday weekend?
Heading inside now for calmer seas and not-so-warm summer breezes.
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by Debbee | Jun 27, 2019 | Fourth of July, Patriotic, Summer
Just in time for fireworks, I’ve set a patriotic July Fourth table on the covered back porch.
It’s good to bee back in the country to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Hubby and I have recently returned from a nearly three-week vacation in South America. It was a bucket list, post-retirement trip that was about two years in the making.
I’ve been on a blogging break since about the middle of May, after my dad went into hospice and passed in Florida. That was immediately after my niece’s wedding in Charleston (see Hand Painted, Wedding Champagne Flutes).
Although it’s been an extremely hectic two months, the vacation turned out to be good timing for processing my grief and beginning the healing process. We left for Peru and Ecuador, less than a week after my mom went back home. Dad would have absolutely loved all the birds and wildlife we saw up close and personal in the Galapagos Islands.
But, now it’s time to try to get back to normal routines.
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