Celebrate Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day! Let's be aware of our environment and help protect it. Celebrate Earth Day!

When I read that Kathleen is having an Earth Day theme for "Let's Dish", I really had no idea what to create. I started imagining of what is on earth...dirt, trees, birds, animals, people, pretty much what you can see everywhere, I think. I decided to make the tablescape predominantly brown and green because that's what I see when I look on the ground.

I wanted this tablescape to be kinda woodsy since the earth has lots of trees and wood so when I passed by this driftwood case in the family room, which is actually holding a wooden domino set, I moved it on the table and placed my bird s & p shakers on it. I like how it turned out.

This monkey napkin ring holder is such a cutie! I got the set from Z Gallerie at 75% off sometime last year. Love that innocent expression on his face.

The plates are made by American Atelier in "Mehndi Brown" pattern. Dark bamboo flatware from Ross. The stems are Mexican hand blown from TJ Maxx or Marshall's, brown hem stitched napkins (forgot from where) and the plain brown plate chargers are from Horchow.

I had this globe made out of natural semi precious stones, which BTW mostly come from caves and rocks, hiding in the cabinet. I thought it would be cute inside a cloche.

I have 3 little pottery cups which I repurposed into tea light holders. I added my bird with spread wings. Looks like he is celebrating with me. It has leaves etched under him.

Such innocent monkey face!

I like how the beamed kitchen ceiling is reflected in this picture.

At first, I used brown and white polka dotted placemats but replaced them with these natural fiber ones which I obviously preferred.

Hand blown goblet and champagne flute.

A night view of the pool in the background.

The table topper is a very sheer green voile material. from tableclothsfactory.com. If you want to buy very reasonable table linens, go there.

I have a small pussy willow tree that I wanted to use as part of the centerpiece but it outgrew the pot it was in so I transplanted it into a bigger pot last week and I think it will be too big for this table now, so I scratched off that idea.

Instead, I used a faux fern instead. I see them growing wild in the forest especially by natural streams.

I didn't think I would be able to create another table before I left for FL but I found the time in between packing.

I am not just celebrating Earth Day on Aprill 22. I am also celebrating the birth of my youngest daughter Tina, who have given me 3 beautiful grandchildren..

Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love you very much!

I would like to link with Kathleen's Let's Dish at

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Centerpiece Wed at

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Susan's Tablescape Thursday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Kathy's Home & Garden Thursday at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday athttp://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/
Marty's Tableop Tuesday at
http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Thanks for hosting and thanks to all who visit.

Pool Crawfish Party

We had a pool and crawfish party last Friday. The weather was perfect and the water temp was so so nice at 85 degrees.

I was so glad everything turned out so well because Wednesday prior to that, I felt ill so suddenly after coming from a plant nursery. I could not afford to be sick, I had so much to do and we already invited about 25 people. But I could not do anything at home, I was feverish and had a bad sore throat with my muscles and bones aching all over. It was strange cause I was fine before I left for the store.

Anyway, John gave me a Tylenol and an antibiotic at night and I woke up feeling  so much better.

Friday morning, I started putting the table together and cooking. It was easy to just gather pots around the garden unto the table.

I cut some jasmines to add to the centerpiece which added a nice scent to the table.

I asked John what he preferred I use, breakables or melamine, and plastic it was because we had so many kids coming and it was going to be a buffet and very informal anyway.

How do you like my crawfish bowl? I bought it last year from Red Door in Baton Rouge and I finally am able to use it.
The 2 tiered tray was oneo of Debjani's Christmas gifts to me last Christmas. I love it! Thanks, Deb!

I used the chafing dishes that I bought from Florida when my daughter had a baby.

John and I spruced up the deck and garden to make the backyard presentable to the guests.

I replaced the dead flowering plants in pots with fresh ones.

Hardly any more orange trumpets are blooming but we still have lots of other flowers blooming.

I asked John to move this parlor set to the deck.

I kinda like it here so I might just leave it here. It used to be near the fence by the driveway.

Knock out roses topiary is blooming. We had to prop it with a bamboo because it was getting too top heavy.

Goggles ready!

I love the colors of this lantana.

I hang some paper lanterns.

Look at the size of those crawfish!

Centerpiece

I also cooked some corn, mushroom and shrimp pasta and a sweet and sour crispy red snapper. Some guests brought more crawfish, in addition to the 60 lbs. we already had, and ribs.

I baked lemon bars and chocolate saltines for dessert and some guests brought some Filipino desserts and watermelon. I just got too busy later that I did not get to take more pictures.

We also had Whittard of Chelsea's apple and white cranberry tea using my Polish pottery teapot and cups and white Spode shell cups and saucers.

The plastic plates were for guests to take along with them to put their crawfish shells in.

We all had a great time and I felt good all day long in spite of all the work I did. And John hired someone to help me for a few hours, so that helped also.

To our guests, thank you so much for the company. We had so much fun because of all of you.

To the other bloggers, thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your visits.

To the hostesses, thank you for having us all and for your hard work in hosting. I will be joining a lot of parties for this post because I might not have another chance to post again this week since I have to go back to FL.

 I am joining:

The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday at

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Mary's Masterpieces Monday

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Sally's Blue Monday at

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Mellow Yellow Monday at

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Marty's Tableop Tuesday at

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Jean's Bloomin Tuesday at

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tues at

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Tuesday Cuppa tea at

http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

Susan's Outdoor Wed at
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/Watery Wed at
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Centerpiece Wed

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop

http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday at

http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thurs

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Kathy's A Return to Loveliness Party at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Foodie Friday, Michael Lee (Gollum)

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Fertilizer Fri. at http://www.tootsietime.com/

Ms. Burrito's Color Connection on Friday

http://www.kids-e-connection.com/

Sarah's Homemaking Link Up Weekend a

http://bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/

Scenic Sunday at http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com

Shadow Shot Sunday 2http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

It's an Italianated Tablescape!

I am so lucky that my hubby feeds on my vice or it would be so boring otherwise. It's probably not new to you that I have an extreme obsession of dishes (among many other things, lol). It's not an exaggeration to say that I want to own all available patterns out there.

Anyway, right after we brought AJ to New Orleans airport for her flight back to FL, John takes me to a flea market where we bought a few furniture that I can refinish to sell at my booth. Then, he took me to a shopping plaza where they had a Kirkland's, TJ Maxx and Marshall's right next to each other. I tell you, I was in shopping heaven! So, we were walking along the dish aisle (where I always go towards, at first) and John spots these Italian Deruta dishes and points them out to me. I told him I already own a few pieces but my plates are in trapezoid shape. He said that's the more reason I should buy the round ones too to add to my collection. Now, I don't know about you but who can resist that generous suggestion?

And that's exactly what I did. I already owned the pitcher and the oval tray too.I know I had a cake platter somewhere in the house but could not find it anywhere.

Needless to say, these Italian dishes inspired me to create this tablescape. I started with a table runner with yellow embroidered lemons. I found it on Williams Sonoma's clearance table a few months ago.

I do not have a yellow tablecloth big enough to fit this table (Note to myself: be on a lookout for one) so I opted for the runner. Besides, I have not used it yet so this is a chance for an initiation.

I thought I had 4 sets of trapezoid shaped plates but I only have 2 sets, which I bought when we went to Chicago. I would have bought more round plates if I only have known, but there is always a next time.

And that makes sense cause they are heavy and John had to hand carry them in addition to the Queen's turkey plates I also bought from downtown Chicago. I was trying to be considerate, lol.

I thought I could use my Italian chef S & P shaker. The top half comes off and is the salt shaker and the bottom half holds the pepper.

After 2 days of wracking my brain, I decided to search through the plastic bins in my garage dish room and finally found my cake pedestal in the same pattern at a very bottom bin. Yay!

Isn't she pretty? I am glad I found her again.

For a centerpiece, I used an Italian vase with lemons and a pottery and I just popped in some faux plants and flowers in them. I could have cut some fresh flowers from outside but I got lazy and ran out of time. I was rushing to get this done to post because I have a big pool party this Thursday that I have to prepare for. Lots of things to do in the garden and Debjani, my friend, wants me to go with her tomorrow to Jackson airport, to pick up her mom who is visiting from Houston. Then, next week, I am going back to FL for my 3 grandbabies' Christening. Ahhh! Another busy month!

Since I only have 2 sets of the trapezoidal plates, I placed them in the center across each other. I really like the unusual shape.

The centerpiece.

Various but similar designs on the plates.

The yellow charger is a ceramic with I think 5 roosters around it.

a close up of the table runner

 Chris Madden's amber champagne flutes and goblets that I have had for a long time. I thought the colors blend in well.

I don't know why but cherubs always remind me of something Italian so I picked to use these napkin rings.

The flatware were given to me by my son and DIL one Christmas.

Do you see the little amber salt cellar? They were  8 thrown in for free in an auction with other things that we won. I only kept 2 and sold the rest at my booth.

Since we are in the formal dining room, I thought I'd show you our pair of Limoges cherub plates hanging on the wall on either side of the wall mirror. We won them in an auction in Jackson, MS about 2 years ago. I spotted them hanging on a wall and they weren't even being auctioned but I asked the auctioneer assistant if they could possibly include them and they did. I think I only got them for $47 for the pair and I really love them! And they look Italian, don't they?

Thank you so much for your visits again, They are always appreciated! I also want to especially thank our gracious hostesses!

Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Kathleen's Let's Dish at

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop at

http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Centerpiece Wednesday at

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Kim's Wow Us Wed

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Susan for Tablescape Thursday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

 

Kathy's Home & Garden Thursday at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Sherry's Home Sweet Home Fri

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com