It's Rainbow Orange in Summer School

Hi Miss Jenny!  Whew!  I sure am glad I made it!  I thought for sure I wasn't going to make it today!  I am so sorry I just needed to finish up my homework.  I knew you didn't want me showing up here empty handed did you?  Oh, no mam, I am not trying to cause you any trouble!  Here, I brought you something again.  I bought these just for you!  They are fresh grown "Gilbert peaches", your gonna love em!

  You see, I was at the store the other day and got some free flowers!  Yes mam, I said, free!  Your right, that is most unusual!  Anyway, I got those flowers and got so busy setting the table with them I forgot all about my homework.  No Mam, I am not making this up!  No mam, it's the truth I swear!  Well, I'll just show you!

 See, here they are, and their orange too, that ought to count for something right?

And I did set the table with them, as you can see here!

Then I got to thinking, I sure do wish I had my wits about me a little more.  Why I could have used these old melamine dishes we had from when we had a camper.  They would have made a fine setting with those old orange flowers, don't cha think?  Yes mam, I meant, do you think so?

It sure would have been nice to have a whole set of these dishes too!  But I don't!  I only have serving pieces in this pattern.  Oh yes mam,  I do know what a pattern is.  Of course, I would love extra credit for using proper grammar on that!

Do I get any points for this?  I know it's not a whole set of orange napkins, but I did take the time to put the orange one on top!

Maybe we will have better luck if I go back upstairs again to my craft room.  I have one of the boys old twin beds set up in the dormer window as a daybed.  Why, just look at it, I see lot's of orange there!

This is where I keep my old pillows and pillows I like to swap out for the season.  I betcha can't guess what season I like to use these in huh? 

That's right!  Boy, you sure are smart!  I guess that's why your the teacher.  I'm talking about that season when orange is all over the place!  I've got several of these here that go on my front porch steps.  Yes, they are wonderful and my all time favorites.  Thank you for saying so, Miss Jenny!

I thought you might want to see a few of the others too!  They seem to find a spot out and about during that season too.

Oh yes Mam!  I sure did make these myself.  I like to put these up the walk to the doorway with little candles in them to lead the way for the trick or treators.  I just took some old coffee cans and spray painted them orange, painted black faces and punched holes in them!  It was easy peasy!  Yes mam, I sure do love to be creative!

Speaking of being creative, this is where I keep my craft paints.  Why, I've got so many little bottles they were getting to be a mess.  So one day, I decided to buy these cute little suitcase boxes for them.  I can stand my paints upright and just pop the top open when I'm ready to paint. Oh yes, I would love extra points for having such great organizational skills!

Excuse me, Miss Jenny, I just remembered I've got some gardening to do outside today.  May I pleased be excused from class early?  I sure hope so, I've got tons to do outside.

  Oh yes mam, I sure do, and while I am out there I gotta look for me some chickens!  You see, I heard someone saying something about rounding up the roosters for tomorrow!  I sure hope I can find a few, not many of those around here!   Yes mam, I will work on my grammar!  Shucks!  Oh yes mam, I about forgot, I did learn something this week!  Orange sure is a lot easier to photograph, without any edits!  Love that!

Well, orange you glad I showed up? 

I am joining Miss Jenny @ http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Alphabe-Thursday

for Rainbow Summer School

A Different Sunset Tablescape

 Monday I was delighted to be the recipient of a most unusual surprise.  I was doing my usual Monday grocery run at the local Walmart (I know, please don't chastise me) when a lady from the floral department offered me some flowers.  She was wheeling a cart full of flowers around the produce section.  These flowers had past their shelf life and rather then throw them away she decided to offer them to customers.  I got to choose from the cart whatever I wanted and they were absolutely FREE!

I actually chose a different bunch then returned those and went back for these.  I didn't pick them to begin with because they seemed to be the saddest of the bunches.   However, I felt like they were literally calling me back!  For some reason, they remind me of the sunset.  I think it is because of the color and the fact that they are fading fast.   So, in order to give them the proper send off they deserve, I am honoring them with a beautiful table scape today.

I love how pretty they look with my tropical runner!

I decided my pretty beaded copper candlesticks would be an excellent addition to the centerpiece.  Then I added two glass votives so I could use the smaller votive candles that I have on hand.

Next, I chose to use my brown place mats with the pretty crocheted edge.

Then I brought out my best pieces for the place setting.  Those flowers certainly deserve this!

This is my wedding china.  The pattern is Charleston by Lenox.  I would be willing to bet you almost every other southern girl in the state of S.C. who married in the 80's registered this pattern too.  How could we not, it would have been unheard of.

I love how dainty and feminine this pattern is, and the fact that it is an off white bone china.

I added these beautiful toile blue green napkins.  The fruit pattern is in off white and light brown.

Then secured them in my newest pearl napkin rings from Lenox.

I put out my silver as well, because I promised only the best right?  I inherited this from my in laws so I am sorry to say I do not know the patten, unless you count the "K" that is engraved on the backs of the handles.  Then I would call them our, "Special K" pattern. 

My wedding crystal also made it to the table today.

This pattern is "Madison" by Lenox.

On the end of the table I decided to add a bottle of red wine and another centerpiece.

I chose the wicker basket, wooden tray and brown napkin to add a sense of warmth to the setting.

Also one of my own handmade and handpainted by me, lavender sachet bags, my newest bird decor and a smaller cloche holding a real nest with real eggs.  Don't worry they each have a small hole in the very back of these eggs that are hollow and never did mature.  Unfortunately, I found this nest this way in one of my ferns this spring.  Too beautiful and precious to throw away, just like these flowers.

I am especially thrilled with how this setting turned out today!

This has been so rewarding because I rarely use my wedding china and crystal because it is quite formal.

  I loved mixing my best pieces with more casual pieces.  It made for a setting that I think is quite elegant but also quite comfortable. 

I have these beautiful flowers to thank for showing me the possibilities, and for reminding me it is never too late until the sun has fully set!

I am joining Susan @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday.  Please be sure and visit the link above if you want to view more gorgeous and inspiring settings.

Thanks for visiting today and I hope you enjoyed your visit.  Have a great day!

Perking Up the Planters

My poor planters on the back deck have been through quite a bit of changes this summer.  I went back and just could not find a before photo of the way they started out this spring!  Basically, I planted two potato vines, two million bells, and one coleus in each planter. 


Over several weeks it was clear the million bells that usually flourish in my planters were showing severe signs of stress so I moved them out, as well as the coleus.  I am happy to report both those plants are doing well in their new locations!  See!

But wait, let's get back to the deck planters!   When I moved those plants out, I replaced them with vinca!  The vinca flowers were doing great along with the potato vines... until just recently.  Here are my "before" pictures of how they looked this morning!

Along with growing rather tall, they seemed not be spreading out like I would prefer.

One of my poor potato vines in this planter is looking very tired, too!

So, today I moved the vinca over and added in some blue daze.

This filled things in much better, don't you think?

I like this look so much better now "after" I have added more flowers AGAIN!

I am wondering how many times I will have to rework these planters this year in particular.  Ughh!!!

I just can't imagine why I am having such issues with them, can you? 

I am joining the following parties today! 

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/ for Debbiedos Before & After Party

And

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ for Outdoor Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! 

Mary

CSN Giveaway Winner and Thrifty Bargains

I have a winner!  Yay!!!  Yippee!  Hoorah!!!  A big round of congrats goes to lucky number 15!  I am happy to report she is one of our own bargain hunters too.  My mercy, I was even over at her place this morning coveting her latest find!  You see, I think her latest find would look good in my house, that 's why I was coveting!  LOL!  It really was a gorgeous piece you see, it's this lovely old settee from Ethan Alan no less and in perfect condition too!  It is totally adorable in a floral fabric that has absolutely no wear an tear whatsoever.  She got an amazing bargain on it too!   


 Ooops, I'm getting off the point here, right, so just who is this winner?  Well, let me first tell you where her place is, then you will know who I'm talking about.  Her place is....That Old House!  You know the one I'm talking about right?  Congratulations to...

Cass @ http://cassthatoldhouse.blogspot.com/

You are the winner of the $40.00 gift certificate from CSN Stores!  Winner chosen by random.org.  Please send me your email so I can let you know how to claim your prize after I get the details.  My email is under contact me in my header.  Thanks so much to all the rest of you for your entries and for making my first giveaway a success!  Please be sure and visit Cass to congratulate her and ogle her new settee if your like me!

Wait!!! Maybe, you could just stick around a minute more though and ogle my bargains too!  I've got a few deals of my own I'd like to share with you today for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday!  Please be sure and check out more thrifty deals at the link above, you may be surprised how far a buck can go!

Last week I went shopping for a birthday present for a very dear friend of mine.  I so want to show you what I got for her but that will have to wait.  She's been out of town and we haven't exchanged gifts yet, but boy, did I want to keep what I got for her!  LOL!  I even took photos of it to show you!  Any who, while I was out I found a few bargains I did get to keep for myself, so it's all good!

I got this plate at TJ Maxx for $1.00!  Wow! I know right?  I have looked at these since they came out back in March!  It's part of some things they got in for St. Patricks day!  It's a dinner plate but since I only got one I plan to use it as a serving dish.

The rope knot designs on here are supposed to have some sort of Celtic meaning, but there wasn't anything in the box.  I guess I will have to do some research on the Internet.

While I was at Michael's I came across these cute mini potted floral arrangements.  They were on clearance for only .79cents each! 

I thought these will be perfect little extras for all the tablescaping fun I am having!  I also picked up some more ribbon since it was half off!  I just cannot go into that store without buying ribbon, IDK why?

Speaking of tablescaping, let me show you a little something I am using unconventionally.  I bought this wrought iron piece a few months back at a resale store to go in my half bath.  I wanted it to stand beside my pedestal sink to put a lamp on a few accessories but it would not fit!  As with most things I buy that I'm not sure where to put them they end up in the dining room until I find a permanent place for it.  However, I think this will stay right where it is!

As you can see, I started stacking some of my napkins on this, to keep them handy.  I even put some napkins with the napkin rings right on the stack too!  By having these napkins visually out it helps me to get inspired for the next tablescape!  Pretty cool huh?  Then I even started stacking some rolled place mats, on the bottom shelf.  Not crazy about that, but I am sure I will reorganize this soon.  

I have also been playing around with what to put on the top of the shelf.  This is my latest idea.

It's an electric candle hurricane lamp I picked up a few years ago from an antique store that had a craft section in the back.  I want to paint the base on this now.  I just love the fake flame light bulb!

These napkin rings were a fantastic deal from the Lenox Outlet in Myrtle Beach.  Everything in the store was half off the week I was there.  I paid less then $4.00 for the set.  I got these and a few other other beauties I am saving for another post!

I just love the pearl look to these and think they will be perfect in a setting I am working on for this week.  They really are not this pink, they are actually more lavender in color.

This little beauty is also going to look great in my setting this week.  I also got this from my favorite store in Surfside Beach, Tomlinson's Warehouse.  It was only $3 and some change, can't remember exactly!  There were 3 different styles but I only got the one! 

And finally for the best bargain of the day!  They are the whole reason I just had to do a tablescape this week!  Yesterday, while doing my usual Monday grocery run at the local Walmart, there was a lady from the floral department pushing a cart around loaded with flowers she was giving away!  Yep, you heard that right, they were FREE!  She said they had passed their shelf life and were going to be thrown out unless we wanted them.  As you can imagine, I wasn't the only one thrilled to get these!  I wish more stores would do that!  I have heard the horror stories of what some of these larger chains literally throw away because something has passed it's shelf life or been replaced by newer merchandise.

Thanks for sticking around, be sure and come back later this week to see my setting okay?

Leave me a comment if you visited, because I still love hearing from you!

Renewing the Place Mats

Hi friends, this is not much of a change but it is one I am happy about and glad to be finished with. 

 Since painting the chairs around our kitchen table black (view that post here),  I have been on the look out for new place mats.  This is how our table looked a few days ago.

I absolutely love my natural woven square place mats!  They are so easy to clean with soap and water after each meal!  The only problem is they have a green trim that just disappears on the table.  Not too exciting at all!

You see,  I really wanted something that would coordinate more with the black in our chairs.  I have been on the lookout for several weeks for just the right style.  I have been able to find those round black weave place mats easily enough but not anything similar to what I already have with a black trim.  I even toyed with the idea of adding a new trim to my existing place mats but ruled that out since I didn't want to risk destroying these by removing the trim that was on them already.


  So I decided instead to start searching for some cute black quilted place mats.  Why of course that shouldn't be too hard, should it?  I just know I have seen those everywhere!  Only...why is it when you are on the hunt for something, it often is nowhere to be found.

  After many weeks of searching for just the right look, and perusing fabrics with the idea of making my own, I came to the resounding conclusion that what I really wanted was what I already had!  Only I wanted it with a black trim!  I really do love my existing low maintenance place mats.

So, Saturday afternoon, I took out my crafters acrylic paint and got to work!  After several hours of patience and steady application I was finished!  I know it's a small transformation in the world of blogger greats but I wanted you to see that sometimes everything you need is already in your own hands!

All you need is to look at it with a fresh eye!

I love how much contrast these place mats have now! 

 They look so new now, and are just the style I wanted too!

Hope you like these changes as much as I do!

That's why I am joining Susan @ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for Metamorphosis Monday.

Be sure and visit the link above for more exciting changes!

Thanks for dropping by, be sure and let me know if you did!

Mary