GREEN HYDRANGEAS TABLESCAPE

Summer is sizzling away, here at StoneGable! So let's move inside for an easy summer meal.  And let's keep it simple... right down to the tablescape!

The Annabelle hydrangeas that kiss the front porch all summer long have turned color early this year! When they change from white to green it is my cue that they are ready to be cut and dried. For a post about drying hydrangeas click here.

These soft green hydrangeas are the inspiration for this light, uncomplicated table... it is too hot to fuss...

Two cool, white linen table runners (Pottery Barn) are spread across the table and take the place of placemats.

They are embroidered with a leaf design running along each side.

Each place is set on a large woven charger (Pier 1).  A natural looking element, like this charger, gives a table a more relaxed feel.

 A stack of green and white dishes are topped off with a pretty flower bowl (HomeGoods and Pier 1).  Using dishes with interesting edges and great detail makes them so interesting!

These well-loved cotton napkins (HomeGoods) are caught up along with the green handled flatware in a small birch wreath.  Again, very casual and unfussy!

I have a box full of these versatile little wreaths (Old Millhouse Shoppe). Today they are being used as napkin rings.

Green bubble glasses (HomeGoods) keep with the verdant theme!

The centerpiece is a galvanized drink carrier (Pottery Barn) filled with hydrangeas! I love the simple look of the galvanized metal with the the blooms! This arrangements suites my farmhouse style kitchen!

It fills the center of the table, but is low enough to see across it with ease.

Just for a little something extra, sweet small galvanized containers (Candle Barn, Intercourse Pa) hold a cluster of hydrangeas. These will be take-home gifts for my guests! 

I am always on the lookout for interesting little "tidbits", like these containers, to add to my tables and give to my guests.

Come out of the heat and join me for a cool summer meal!  How about  a big glass of StoneGable Iced Tea!

THE MENU

(click on each item for recipes)

Chilled Cucumber Soup

Asian Grilled Salmon

Thai-Styled Grilled Eggplant Salad

Peach Dumplings

StoneGable Iced Tea

TABLESCAPE THURSDAYS at Between Naps On The Porch

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ WEEK OF JULY, 30, 2012

I don't want a garden anymore... okay?

 I always feel this way around the end of July. You can have all the garden STUFF until early September!

The weather is so hot and humid, with little rain.. the weeds seem to be winning.. really the only thing that is happy in my garden right now are the tomatoes... and maybe an eggplant or two! And even they seem to be languishing! (WHINE, WHINE, WINE... Oh, yes.. thank you... I think that might make me feel a little better!)

I keep telling myself that the sweat dripping off of my upturned nose and  broken dirty fingernails will be all worth it in a few short weeks. When my freezer is full of great summer flavors, and my pantry holds jar after jar of jewel-toned goodness... I will feel a much fonder affection for my garden!

But right now I am feeling a little (okay... a whole lot) guilty for not being grateful... especially since I just wrote a post earlier today about BEING THANKFUL.

Well, while I work on my attitude...

Here's whats ON THE MENU...


MONDAY

Salmon Cakes

Panzanella Salad

TUESDAY

Killer Fajitas

Refried Beans

Mexican Explosion Salad

WEDNESDAY

StoneGable Hamburgers On The Grill

Fixins'

It's Not Rocket Science Baked Beans

THURSDAY

From The Garden Leek And Onion Tart

Grape and Pear Tomatoes

FRIDAY

Zucchini Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Sauteed Rice

Roasted Carrots

SATURDAY

Caprese Towers

Shrimp Steamers

SUNDAY

Lobster Bisque

Jordan Pond Popovers

STONEGABLE PRINTABLE RECIPES

Salmon Cakes

Killer Fajitas

Mexican Explosion Salad

Refried Beans

StoneGable Hamburgers

It's Not Rocket Science Baked Beans

Zucchini Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Nani's Sauteed Chicken

STONEGABLE CULINARY TUTORIALS

Panzanella Salad

Leek And Onion Tart

Caprese Salad

Jordan Pond Popovers

DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM OTHER SOURCES

Lobster Bisque

FEATURED OTMM RECIPES ...

This picture makes my mouth pucker up! Delicious..  these REFRIGERATOR PICKLES from Kathy, at WIVES WITH KNIVES sound so fabulous. This is a must try! It will be on my menu, for sure!




Patricia, at BUTTER YUM ( I love that blog name!) brings a sweet treat for us to have now and freeze for later too! MINI CRUMB-TOPPED SOUR CREAM BANANA BREADS make 10 little loaves! They are Butter YUM!



Sam, at MY CAROLINA KITCHEN makes food that is swoon worthy! And GUACAMOLE is one of my very very favorites!  She also gives us great tips about Avocados and keeping them fresh!



I know what I am doing with my raspberries! Look at these easy RASPBERRY CHEESE DANISH  from the FRUGALISTA DIARIES.





FEATURED OTMM MENU PLAN...

UNDER THE BIG OAK TREE  is a great place to find an easy and delicious menu for the week. Alison has great pictures and lots of recipes!

I am participating in:
MENU PLAN MONDAY
FOODIE FRIDAY AT Simple Living
MARVELOUS MONDAY at Jam's Corner


NOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MENU...

Thanks, for joining us and sharing!

* Please link your post using your permalink

* Please link back to ON THE MENU MONDAY in the body of your post

* Please visit other OTMM participants

* Please link up only photographs that belong to you.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ July 29, 2012

I recently did a survey on Facebook and asked, "WHAT ARE 3 SMALL THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO NOW THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE?"


The number TWO answer was...

"BE MORE GRATEFUL ABOUT THINGS". 

Here are a few of the responses...

 Come from a place of gratitude, no matter what happens


 express my gratitude more often


 give thanks for one thing daily


 not complain, and be more thankful


 quit complaining 


See God's hand in all things and be thankful

Being THANKFUL would be on my list too!

Thankfulness comes out of an awareness, an inner radar set to pick up blessings... big and small... a choice to notice what is so often overlooked! 

Being more grateful is also about positioning ourselves in a place where we can receive those blessings!  People don't fish in the Dead Sea because there are no fish! We fish in streams and ponds and lakes and oceans where fish survive and thrive!

Same with blessings...they abound in the stream of God's Living Water! In His presence and in His ways! 

 So,  jump in...jump into the blessing stream that is teaming with life! Live in a manner that is bound to SEE God's blessings! I love the idea of splashing around in this LIVING WATER and splashing it on a dry and thirsty world!

And set that inner blessings radar and start thanking God for all the blessings... big and small... that come your way!

God gave Israel a multiple choice test once...

He said...

I SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS... CHOOSE LIFE!

Deut 30:19

Here is the test... 

a. life and blessings

b. death and cursings

c. choose "a"

THE RIGHT ANSWER IS "A"!

Thanks God... for giving us the answer to the test! Now, which will you choose! 

Remember that FACEBOOK survey? Next week let's talk about the number ONE answer!

ANTIQUE WATERING CAN...coming home

I'm been away... visiting my daughter and sister and taking the best ASCP furniture painting class (more on that in an upcoming post)! Going away is fun and refreshing and freeing... but I LOVE coming home! I'm sorta like Dorothy when it comes to home!  

On this trip I fell into an antique shopping opportunity quite by accident!  

And look what came home with me...

...this old galvanized, chippy watering can! I filled it with and armful of Annabelle and PeeGee hydrangeas and put it temporarily on the kitchen table... just to have it in view.

 I knew it was mine the second I saw it... does that ever happen to you? You know if you don't take some thing home you will feel like you abandoned it?  Like it already belongs to you?

How could I resist it's chippy paint and unique handle... 

I have never seen one make like this... I wonder if it was something else at one time and repurposed into a watering can?

Even it's spout is interesting...

The top of the watering can is the most unique of all.  It almost looks as though it had a lid! 

It is marked with a number near it's rim...

Could my new find  have been an oil can or a milk can at one time... or has it always just had great character...

What do you think? Have you ever seen a watering can like the one that came home with me...

SEASONAL SUNDAYS at The Tablescaper

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY at Costal Charm

FAVORTIES ON THE FIRST at The Polohouse

CHRISTMAS IN JULY BLOG HOP

TODAY'S THE BIG DAY! I hope you are digging out your posts of Christmas' past to share festive ideas! Let's get creative and inspired about the Holidays!

Here is a recap of CHRISTMAS IN JULY...

 CARAMEL APPLE CINNAMON ROLLS from ADD Housewife

SNOWMAN COOKIES from Melissa's Cuisine

CHRISTMAS FARE from Go Ahead... Take A Bite

My contribution, WHITE POINSETTIA STOCKING TUTORIAL

 

HANDCRAFTED CHRISTMAS IDEAS from Living On Cypress Hill

HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS from Scraptastic Memories

10 WAYS TO DISPLAY YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS from Mrs. Hines Class


HOW TO HOST A COOKIE EXCHANGE from Laughter And Grace

I hope you have been inspired and are at least thinking of new and creative ideas for this Christmas!

A BIG BIG thank you to my friend Sharon (Mrs. Hines Class) for working so hard and putting CHRISTMAS IN JULY  together!

Now, it's your turn....