Warm, Exotic, Elegant and Fall-ish, Do You Agree?

It's Thursday and it's time to have fun with our dishes and tables. Susan of http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ hosts this meme weekly. If you want to treat your eyes with fabulous tablescapes, be sure to visit her and her participants.
I am also happy to link with Rhoda of http://southernhospitalityblog.com/ for her Fall Party. Thanks for the invitation, Rhoda. You should all go to her party too!
I like using the game table in the family room for tablescaping because it is small and it does not take me a lot of time to put the dishes and table accessories away.
The table cloth is orange and beaded and it came from St. Maarten in the Virgin Islands.

For plate chargers, I used Costa Nova in pearl cream, which were made in Portugal. The dinner and salad plates are made by Tracy Porter in Artesian pattern.
Rattan napkin rings with dolls.

This doll napkin ring looks Mexican.

For a centerpiece, I used a Tracy Porter Artesian cake plate with a peacock serving as pedestal holding it. The pitcher is also made by Costa nova, in pearl green.

I bought the leaf candles from Pier 1 when they went on clearance after the season last year. They were really cheap, about 39 cents each, I think. I used a small leaf plate to hold them. Goblets are amber bubble glasses from Amazon.

Here is another leaf candle. I like the glow of the orange candle. This one is in upright position. I also used little amber turkey taper candle holders, also from Pier 1. All 4 of them were only over $1 and the set included 6 taper candles.

Just another view!

I used 2 types of flatware. I bought the plain squiggly bronze ones on clearance at World Market for 45 cents each but they only had forks and spoons. So I took my Siamese mahogany handled bronze knives, teaspoons and salad forks to complement them.

I really like these candles. I wish I bought more. Their price was definitely right.

Thank you for viewing another fall tablescape of mine.

Thanks, Susan and Rhoda for this fun and exciting game!

Cheri of http://itssoverycheri.blogspot.com/ asked me to feature our house tomorrow, Oct. 2nd so I hope you will all be back here to see it and then visit Cheri also.

A California Garden

Susan of http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ has been hosting Outdoor Wed. Today is no different. Check out her site and then visit all her participants also for great outdoor pictures.

Last week I went to California, not a leisure trip but rather to attend my aunt's funeral. It is sad to lose someone you love and I know I will miss her and yet, I am relieved knowing that she is free of pain now and is enjoying the company of Jesus. I am sure of that because a day before she passed away, she told everybody around her that she just saw God and He told her that He will take her the following day.

My sister from Illinois, nephew and niece from Stockton, and I stayed with my deceased aunt's brother and his wife. I really enjoyed his yard and garden so I started taking pictures. I told my uncle that I will post them on my blog. So, here they are!

Below is my uncle and his wife's home and in front of it is (L to R) my niece, aunt, my oldest sister and my uncle.

me, my sis and aunt
I fell in love with their landscaping. I like how the shrubs are trimmed.

Isn't that a pretty door?

I just love this portico entry.

This is the backyard. It gave me some ideas on what to do with the hill surrounding our gazebo. I did not know I could plant some shrubs. I was just letting grass and Asian jasmines grow but now, I will plant some shrubs too, even small trees.
I love the persimmons.
and the guavas.
Thanks to Susan for another great Outdoor Wednesday and I want to thank you all for coming by. I also want to thank my uncle and aunt for their hospitality while we were in California and for allowing me to feature their beautiful garden.

Triple Post: Minor Met, Skies and Water, Post for Cheri

Oh boy! The week sure went fast and here comes another one. Every Monday, Susan of http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ hosts Met Monday. If you want to get renovation ideas and see beautiful transformations of just about anything, visit Susan and all her participants. You will enjoy all the creativity in Blogland.

I have a very minor one to share for today. This is our guest room where we always put my mom when she is staying with us, although she is not with us right now. I thought the drapes were kinda dark making the room dark.
So, I replaced them with lighter and airy ones. Do you see more changes? I added a lamp on top of the sewing machine and added 2 more smaller throw pillows on the chairs. I also added books and plants on top of the ottomans. Hope you like my little transformation. I like it better cause it brings more light all the way to the hallway.

Every Monday, Sally of http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ also hosts a meme called Blue Monday. You should visit her and her participants, especially if you like blue.

This is a typical relaxing weekend for us. I am reading a book on the lounge chair while John falls asleep on the floater, lol!

Aaaah.......Life!

Last night, we went out to dinner. This is how the sky looked when we stepped out of the restaurant. It really looked weird. Unfortunately, I did not have my better camera with me but I had the little one that stays in my purse all the time, so I was still able to take pictures.

As soon as we got home, I went to the backyard to check out the skies and took more pictures.

The orange color was so intense but I thought the gray underneath looks kinda interesting.

This was taken a few months ago. The moon was so full and pretty and I thought I would share the picture that I took. The light in the pool changes from blue, green, red and white.

Last but not least, Cheri of http://itssoverycheri.blogspot.com/ asked me to post this to let you in on a BIG, no really it's HUGE, maybe GIANORMOUS is big enough, announcement. Be sure to MARK THIS DATE- Oct 1.

All I know, is that you need to head over to Its So Very Cheri on Oct 1 so you don’t miss out on this big event. She’s never done anything this big. So grab the button and place it on your side bar so you don’t forget, plus your friends will be glad you let them in on it too. Will you be there? I know I will.

Well, once again, I want to thank Susan and Sally for being such great hostesses and you all for coming for a visit.

Malaysian Orchids and A Small Disney Town in Florida

Another day for a double post is here. First, it is Pink saturday hosted by Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/. Go and tour Beverly's blog and all her participants' and you will see so many pretty pinks.
For today, I would like to show you our pink Malaysian orchids.
I really like them because the flowers look so unusual.

Well, Saturday is also our sightseeing day so please stick around. If you want to join, I will have Mr. Linky down below. Just add your name and your permalink and please copy the SS button unto your blog.

Would you like to go to a little town in Florida that was developed by Disney? The town is called Celebration and naturally, it is located near Orlando.

After arriving from a cruise in Port Canaveral, we decide to go to Celebration and have lunch there. I lived in FL for 25 years before moving to MS but I have never been here until John decided to drive through there.I am so glad we went there cause it is such a charming town. Just look at that bear topiary right outside a doll shop.

It was summer but I had a great time browsing through this Christmas store.

Right across the restaurant where we ate was this spectacular water view.

And of course AJ and John had to relax after eating.

I love the crape myrtles that line the streets.

A wet deck in a public area where kids can enjoy especially when it is hot.

A lot of people just take bikes around the little town.

and they have these cute little vehicles for rent too that will take you around town.

If you live here, you never have to leave this community cause they have everything, banks, playground, community hall, quaint shops and boutiques, restaurants and they even have their own movie theater.

Beautiful Lilies

Not sure what this building is but it looks interesting.

same with this one.

Beautiful homes.

Abundance of greenery.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Celebration, FL. Thank you all for coming along!

If you want to participate and of course I would love to encourage you, please enter your name and permalink below and I am hoping you will also copy the Sightseeing Saturday button on your blog and I thank you in advance!