Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Dog Day Dining

It's official.
The dog days are upon us. 

That would be one of the reasons that we haven't played with dishes lately.
 Frankly, it's hard to get in the mood to do anything at all
when the temperatures are stuck in the
triple digits.

But then, 
I won this great stemware from the auction at My Place to Yours
and I started thinking...

Don't those ridges make you think of  heat waves?



They did to us. 
And they inspired us to create this table. 

 We're calling it 
The Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer. 

The mood of this table is summer heat. 
To be sure we conveyed that, we set it all up outside.

That's the crazy part...


We filled that stemware with  Gatorade
which gave us our color inspiration.



We found these dishes at our local thrift store and thought they were perfect. The price was perfect, too, at about six bucks for the set.

The Duchess thought they looked like beach balls....


The sister thought they looked like fried eggs...


Me? I kind of thought they looked like kaleidoscopes,  
but then again...I might have been having a heat stroke.  

 The dessert plates are called Red Sunflower and came from TJ Maxx. 
We liked them because they introduced a hint of green.


We used that same color for the flatware. 


I'm not sure which smarty pants put the soup spoon on the table, but it didn't make the final cut.

Pale green sherbets from my favorite antique store did, though.


As did the sunflower napkin rings
and fan folded napkins. 


The centerpiece was a mixture of
 roses, dyed daisies, and asparagus fern 
in a bowl of citrus. 



It shared the stage with this trusty old snail. 


That's the lazy part...



And that's about it.
 Since we couldn't think of a single soul willing to actually sit at this table, 
we didn't bother with  place cards.  


But you're more than welcome to come on over. 
We'll be the ones waving
 at you from the dining room window. 

******
Sharing this with Susan and the other
Porch People for 
and the Tablescaper for

52 comments:

Miss Char said...

I know what you're sayin Debbie, I've been trying to come up with a beach table setting to show off the new shell dishes I received from Deb at Confessions of a Plate Addict.

Your table reminds me of an orange cream cycle. Even with the temps skyrocketing it looks very inviting. I love the dishes and the gatorade even looks temping in the beautiful glass.

Barbara F. said...

My favorite colors, remind me of oranges and lemons, your centerpiece is gorgeous, Debbie! Congrats on bidding and winning the stemware. I won six vintage embroidered napkins from Susan's auction. xo,

Karen said...

You are too funny! But, know what you mean. The tablesetting is beautiful. Love the colors. I could not help but think of the old song "Heat Wave", when you made the comment about the stemware. Try to stay cool!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

This is just tooooooooooo great....I am coming!!! It is now 108 degrees today, we have had over 40 days of 100 plus this summer, and over 30 plus straight days...I have zero energy, but this post just brightened my day....thanks so much!! Now get that poor snail out of the heat.
You have tooooooooooo much fun.

no spring chicken said...

You are SO talented... not just words but I LOVE every detail of every table you do! These colors are amazing and it wouldn't be quite finished without that snail. You rock! Even in the heat...

How about you pack up that tablescape and hightail it to Oregon. We'll set it up on the patio in the cool 78 of the evening here. We won't need gatorade, but we'll keep it because it looks perfect with the dishes!

Blessings, Debbie

Gayle said...

Another lovely table. I'm just wondering where you store all those dishes!!

Sharon said...

Count me in!!

It's about 100 here today, too - and I just don't care anymore about the heat. Give me more Gatorade!!

I just LOVED this table. The last couple of times my husband has brought me a bouquet of flowers, he bought variations of orange and yellow. With the greenery in the background, it's just such a downright *cheery* combination. So, I really applaud the brightness of this summery setting.

Mr. Snail - I'm guessing that he was our "pace car" in this heat - we're ALL moving like a herd of snails...(what is it anyway? A pack of snails, a gaggle of snails, a pod of snails?)

I'm leaning with the Duchess on the plates - I thought of beach balls. And I'm with Gayle - where DO you store all this schtuff??

xo GG

Lynn said...

Love all of the great colors Debbie! Fun dishes and they look great together! Not sure how to say this, but even your pics look hot:@)

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I love this most beautiful and colorful table! Debby, the dishes are so pretty and fun, I like them all, specially your sherbits. Great! Hugs,
FABBY

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I like what you do when it is the lazy days of summer. Beautiful table here with talented arrangement!

Red Couch Recipes said...

Which is better: the funny commentary or the bright dishes? Love them both. I know I always leave your site with a smile on my face. It is such a sunshiney table and I love the snail and the floral arrangement. We have been having rain and rain and rain. I officially live in the "high desert," but this whole summer seems like I live in the tropics. Joni

Crickit said...

These are my favorite colors!! I am so looking forward to FALL.. my fav season! Thanks for putting together this beautiful tablescape, once again.

Hope there wasn't too much sweating going on and that you enjoyed a glass of that cool looking Gatorade! :)

Slice of Pie said...

Beautiful table ... love the bright colors, even it it is HOT! Thanks for sharing ... We'll all get through the dog days!

Custom Comforts said...

I love your table with all the bright cheerful colors. You have so many adorable accessories to go with everything. I always feel so guilty for buying more dishes, probably part of why I send them off to the store for resale. Love everything you did!
Cindy

our daily dishes said...

so bright and cheerful~

Anonymous said...

I would sit out there any day with you. Since we're talking temperature here, I would give you a 105 because I think it is more than perfect. A plus.

Jadehollow said...

Love the colors .. Stunning table .. sure didn't feel the heat looking at it. Thanks for sharing :)

Marlis said...

LOL rotf.. I love your colors! this table looks like summer citrus. Each piece is perfect with the next. So glad you braved the heat to show us this pretty pretty table! xo marlis

Chatty Crone said...

Let me say your table scape is gorgeous - and when I look at it - it takes my mind off the heat. You do the best tables and they are all so pretty. Love the summer colors. I enjoyed it.

xinex said...

I love these colors, orange and green, Debbie. My kitchen in FL was surrounded with them, so bright and happy. I love how you added the orange gatorade too. The flowers in your centerpiece are gorgeous!...Christine

Tami said...

That table is beautiful. All of the colors are just so pretty and summery. Too bad it is too hot to sit there.

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Debbie, I love the vibrant colors of this table, and your new glasses look great. So glad they've found a new home! I sure hope you drank the Gatorade after setting up in S. Georgia heat!

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Your commentary is too funny and the table is GREAT! Love the bright, happy colors! The flowers are beautiful too. I think our heat wave has broken for a few days, thank God! XO, Pinky

CNM said...

So beautiful and bright! I love it. Works so great for summer! Thanks for sharing!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Very colorful and pretty! Glad you are back to tablescaping, you are so good at it!

Thanks for your comment on the book! I'll probably finish it sometime tomorrow (or tonight if I can't sleep, or can't put it down!)

Katherine

Anonymous said...

Well, I just love this tooooo much! What terrific thrift store finds - blending everything together so artistically, and totally capturing your lazy crazy theme. Though I'm not normally drawn to orange as a rule, I do like sunflowers , and the particular way you incorporated the rather mod orange striped plates with all that wonderful green and the sunflower to make it all just pop - well - I'm captivated.
Consider me waving to you in the dining room while I sip some Gatorade. Ya! Who wants to eat in this heat - we'll just drink in the tablescape!
Joy!
Kathy

Aledia said...

Hello!
I just love your tablescape! Such bright and beautiful colors and it just looks so refreshing and inviting.

Thank You for sharing and have a wonderful evening!
Aledia @ Plum Perfect

Maryann said...

I just love your table, perfect for summer, too bad the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor eating. Our days have been hot too, the weatherman was talking about it cooling down tomorrow, it will only be about 90...I remember when 90 used to be a hot day but not this summer. Love your posts Debbie, I always leave smiling.

At The Picket Fence said...

I LOVE it Debbie! The colors are so fun and vibrant and perfectly "summer". But my most favorite part is the snail by a long shot! Where on earth did you find that? Makes me think of a song from a Christian record (Music Machine)called "Have Patience" with Herbert the snail as the main character. I know...I'm weird! :-)
Vanessa

Jacqueline said...

I am more than willing to sit at that table. It was lime and orange sherbet all over the place for me! I loved the color combination, so cool and refreshing and slightly retro! I will even bring the food!

Renée said...

This is just amazingly haute! I love your fresh bright colors so much and pinned it on pinterest for all to see. Thanks Debbie. Keep sipping with your feet up!

Shug said...

Uh...Gorgeous! the dessert plate is perfect with the dishes..Good job.
I know it is so HOT outside (execting temps of 112 today....heat index 116) but this table is so inviting.....I can just taste some great cucumber sandwiches right now, just by seeing this tablescape...
Hugs to ya..

Kathleen said...

That is lovely! Very sherbety! :) Refreshing colors for sure! Love the commentary too!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

you got the best tables....and a great flair for putting them together. It all looks so beautiful.

FrouFrouBritches said...

Well, I'd love to come over, but I think I'd prefer to be at the window with y'all. You gotta be crazy to eat outside in this heat. 110 actual temperature here today. YIKES!

I love, love, love the centerpiece with the citrus fruit in the bottom. LOVE! The fact that you thought to put Gatorade in the stemware cracks me up. So funny! Love the stemware you won, by the way. CUTE!

Kathleen said...

Oh my, I love this colourway, very tropical. You ladies are so talented, I bet you have a great time setting up these tablescapes. I'd love to be a fly on the wall. The last bit made me chuckle.

Alycia Nichols said...

Hi there, Debbie! Wonderful to see this incredibly perfect summertime table! You surely captured the essence of the temps all of us have endured over the last several weeks. Somehow, however, it makes me feel cooler. I think it's all the vibrant popscicle colors included that do that. I am especially drawn to the chartreuese table linen. It's perfect!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog last night. I just got back to BNOTP last week. We are not in Savannah. Long story short, we arrived to find the clinic had been closed...and no one had bothered to tell us. Needless to say, we will be spending some future months in a courtroom. Anyway, we are back in Lee's Summit and I am very happy to be here with friends and family. It hasn't been easy, but at least we are home. Take care, and have a wonderful weekend...and try to stay cool!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

I love this too! Now that is one pretty out door tablescape, too bad it's too hot to enjoy! You are sooo funny! Looks like I may have made a goof too and put out the soup spoons as well. I got two sizes of spoons with my set and wasn't sure if the biggers ones were dinner and the smaller ones desserts or the bigger ones soups and the smaller ones dinner. It's all so confusing to me! I really love the orange and green together in your setting! Very cheery!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Oh and congrats on the stemware! I had thought about bidding on those as well. Glad I didn't! I am sure you, your sister and the Duchess will display them quite well many times over!

On Crooked Creek said...

Debbie,
Love the bright vivid color palette! Those Sunflower plates and napkin rings are just stunning! How cute is that green snail...too darn cute! Whimisical, just what we all nedded in this heat!
Fondly,
Pat

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Oh Debbie, I love this table!! You coordinated these colors so well, and they look oh-so summery. I love how the sun is throwing shadows all over the table. Your flowers in the bowl of citrus fruit are perfect, and your antique green sherbet stems are lovely. But I do adore that snail! Everything looks wonderful; but I doubt you'll find anyone to eat out there today. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,

Denise

Barbara said...

What a beautiful table! It is so summery. Love the colors so much. I love those green sherbert dishes. I laughed at your cannonball post too. I agree with you 100%. I always tell the kids it is because I want to take photos. :)

Karin Şen Cankan said...

Such an beautiful summer table, love it.

Thank you for sharing.

Love,
Karin Şen Cankan
karinsfairytale.blogspot.com

Entertaining Women said...

Glad that you're back! I'll be the one with her nose pressed up against the window begging to come inside. Also just read your post on swimming. Hysterical! We must have taken swimming lessons from the same instructor. I'm all about keeping my hair dry. Cherry Kay

Amy Kinser said...

I love the orange and green together. What an inviting table it is! The fried egg comment was funny because I could totally see it after you said it.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

How pretty and bright and cheerful. So glad that you were inspired to tablescape. Love the citrus colors.

Anonymous said...

Despite the heat you found the energy to do a fun table with all the just right colors of summer. And while we enjoy your table are you inside in the AC?

Sharlotte said...

What a great table with the coolest colors for the season. I love the green snail, too cute! I would love to have a seat at your table, but only when the temps lower a bit! Great finds too!
Sharlotte

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

That's a beautiful table you've put togehter! I really like the dishes you found (what a great price for a set)!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Your writing makes me smile, the pictures make me happy. You did 'good'.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

This is the perfect summer table. I love the colors and all the accoutrements (big girl talk for forks and plates and glasses and stuff). Very, very cute. Those plates are just HAPPY with those cheerful colors. Great job, Debbie!

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Tablescaper said...

LOVE the colors!!!

- The Tablescaper

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