Tablescape Thursday..my peonies are blooming!

This table setting is great for an afternoon soiree. A light snack of crackers, cookies, and fresh fruit like red and green grapes, blueberries, raspberries and scrumptious strawberries....can you say HEAVENLY?

We will have some champagne in these tall fluted glasses to bring out the sweetness of the summer fruit. White dinnerware is set atop bronze chargers and sandwiched between red napkins.

Small metallic bowls are filled with spongy green reindeer moss followed by a luscious pink peony bloom, all which is nestled under
a tall glass cloche.

The final touch is the gorgeous centerpiece filled with blue hydrangeas, peonies, and late blooming lilacs.

Green Vase 3 ways

Sticks from your yard, sunflowers, berries & purple asters

Yellow daisies

Mums

Not candlelight...it's lamplight

Try a little lamplight on your porch or patio tonite.
What a wonderful feast Mary Carol Garrity has lined up for us...
crackers, cheese, olives, grapes. Love how she put the tall skinny
breadsticks coming out of the top of the pewter tiered server.

Lots of textures going on here. Stone, wicker, leather, embossed metal.
The lamp raised up on books give it some definition. Remember,
a FLAT table is a BORING table!
Be sure to have mulitiple levels when designing your tablescapes!

That's all for now...tell me what you think...do you like it?

Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides…” 1 Peter 4:9-11


This is a yummy breakfast casserole I had years ago at a baby shower for my dear friend, Angie. I asked her mom for the recipe and I've made it several times a year. It is awesome and once you serve it, you will ALWAYS get asked for the recipe! The recipe comes from Kay Nielson...thanks Kay!

I usually serve it with granola cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit and orange juice. Oh, and can't forget my favorite gourmet coffee from Starbucks. I love their coffee beans.....they are full of robust flavor!


Breakfast Casserole



8 slices bread (cubed)
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cubed ham

Layer the above ingredients in a greased 9 x 13 baking pan in the order listed above.

Then mix together the following:
3 eggs
1 cup mushrooms (I use 2 cans)
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. dry ground mustard
1 1/2 cups milk

Pour this mixture over the bread mixture. Cover & refrigerate overnight.
Before baking, melt 1 stick margarine or butter and add 3 cups crushed cornflakes.

Sprinkle over casserole mixture.

Bake at 350* for 45 minutes or until set

Spring lunch on the patio..will you join me?

Grab an old milk bottle carrier and fill it with old or new mason jars. Next add your assorted munchies like carrot sticks, celery, pickles, pretzel rods...don't forget the silverware.

Coconut Creme Pie or Banana Cream Pie is delightful! Add height to your outdoor table with an inverted wire basket. A flat table is a BORING table! Don't forget the candles...yes, I break the rules and light candles during the day! It's all about the little touches, after all they could be citronella to keep bugs away!

Spring greens, fresh strawberries, raspberries, pecans and drizzle with a light salad dressing. Add in some crusty rolls from Panera and you have a yummy and light on the tummy lunch. Don't forget the lemonade with fresh lemon or lime slices!



Grab your tray and join me, won't you?

Tuscan Inspired Dining Table

Make your own Lemon Lime Centerpieces

Hey friends, I found this quick & easy lemon lime centerpiece on about.com website. Click on the step by step for more information. Photo courtesy of Glenna J. Morton. Lemon Lime Centerpiece

This colorful centerpiece smells wonderful...

Fresh lemons and limes give this centerpiece a fresh spring look and smell.

Photo by Glenna J. Morton

We simply added 8 yellow mums and a few clippings of leather fern, for an arrangement that will last many days if wilted flowers are replaced or removed as needed.

Get step-by-step photos for this centerpiece
Lemon Lime Centerpiece

• Bowl, platter, or tray
• 24 small lemons and limes (or enough for your container)
• 8-12 flowers
• 3 stems leather leaf, cut up

Arrange fruit in your container.

Next, cut the flower stems to about 3-6" long and insert between the fruit. Note: Ripening fruit can cause fresh flowers to wilt so be sure to add flowers only an hour or so before your party.

Clip 3 stems of leather leaf into shorter sprigs and insert between the fruit, around the rim of the bowl.

Tip: Flowers may last several hours without water. To make an arrangement last longer, fill the bottom of the bowl with water and cut flower stems long enough to reach down to the water. Or, use clear floral water tubes for each flower stem, inserting both a flower and a leaf sprig into the tube.

See step-by-step photos of this centerpiece on about.com website.

Lemony Fresh Spring Table