Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Summer Serenity

Don’t grow up too quickly lest you forget how much you love the beach. –Michelle Held

In the Photo Forum at Recipezaar, I participated in the Grilling Special for July.  The recipe I chose to make was Spicy Grilled Shrimp by bratty.  Wow, this was some delicious shrimp!  If you love shrimp and spicy foods, this recipe is a must try.

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Along with the grilled shrimp, I served Cheddar Bay Biscuits, fries and a garden salad.  It was a wonderful meal!  In the spirit of seafood for dinner, the table was set with a beach theme.

I love the beach…the warm breezes, the amazing colors of an ocean sunset and the soft sounds of the waves lapping at the shore.  You can almost feel your troubles floating away on the waves.  I’ve tried to bring a bit of that tranquility to my table setting. 

I started out with turquoise straw placemats layered over a white tablecloth.  The dinner plates and bread/butter plates were white rimmed with platinum.

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The salad plates each feature a different sea shell/starfish and were found at a local thrift store.

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I couldn’t resist buying these goblets after my daughter spotted them on a shopping trip last year.  They just jumped in my cart and begged me to bring them home!   So what’s a girl to do?  I love how the blue glass at the top fades into a green shade at the bottom. 

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Butter spreaders have a little blue fish on the handles.  This was another thrift store find that I couldn’t resist.  The napkins were recently found at Old Time Pottery and the napkin rings are clear acrylic with seashells on the top. 

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I love how the turquoise blue in the placemats shines through the clear handles on the flatware.

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The bowl I used in my centerpiece is an antique store purchase from many years ago.  It’s depression glass, but I don’t know if it has a pattern name.  The bowl is filled with sand and seashells.

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Place cards were held by seashells and feature a tranquil beach scene.

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The candles have little seashells embedded in them.  Can you spot the tiny starfish in the candle?

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Seashells surround the bowl and are scattered around the table.

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For the finishing touch to a delicious meal, dessert was Lemon Gold Cake.  This is an old recipe from an issue of “The Progressive Farmer”.  My grandmother had cut out the recipe and saved it with some papers in her chifferobe.

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lemon

 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you’ll come back soon.

I’m joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for another fantabulous Tablescape Thursday.  Don’t you want to join in too?

DG

 

 

17 comments:

The Inspired Nest said...

Very pretty! Great find on those plates! The colors scream summer and are so calming to me!

Kathleen said...

I love it! The colors are wonderful and those glasses are so pretty! Now I have to get clear flatware!! Very beachy!

Marlis said...

i love your table!! I would have snagged the glasses myself. Quite beautiful.

Jacqueline said...

Where was my invitation? It must have blown off the door. Hate it when that happens! I couldn't resist anything on your table. I want the spreaders, the plates, the glasses, the flatware - love the flatware - have never seen anything like it before and it really added.

Marigene said...

What a nicely done table, love all the aqua...those candles are adorable.

Entertaining Women said...

It's a good thing for you that you saw those goblets before I did...they are gorgeous! This is one of my favorite colors. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

Dining Delight said...

Dream, what a great 'scape! From the gorgeous aqua placemats on the white tablecloth to the terrific blue/green stemware - it is all lovely! My favourite are the plates with the different shells on them - can't believe they are from TS! Nice to have you participating in TT!

DD

Celly B said...

So pretty, and I love the color scheme. I thought the flatware was aqua at first; it's amazing how the placemat shines through!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

As I started to read your post I thought -- "Oh I do hope I never outgrow the beach!" That would be sad indeed. Love those wonderful glasses! The plates are so pretty and your colors are just perfection. Thanks for a sweet trip to the beach today.

Table Escapes said...

Love your colors and beach setting...very refreshing. Thanks for sharing. -Sharon

Barbara said...

I always love a beach themed table. It just takes me away. I love all the little details on the table, Seashells in the candles? How perfect! That cake looks yummy.

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

Such a pretty beachy themed table and that cake looks so good!

Donna

Beth said...

Your table is just beautiful! I love the turquoise. The flatware, the plates, the goblets, the centerpiece - it all comes together nicely. I really like your placecards,too! Nicely done!
Beth

Unknown said...

What a beautiful color, so lovely table!

Hugs
Charo

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a pretty table, and I so agree with you about the clear flatware on those place mats - stunning! Love all of your extra sea shell touches, and the salad plates from GW are so unique. Sea shell place card holders and beach scene place cards are such a clever addition to the table. laurie

Donna at the Scarlet Petticoat said...

you did a beautiful job of combining all the different elements to create a relaxing tablescape that looks like everything was designed to go together! i love it! those salad plates are a great find!
scarlet

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

This table is so pretty==I LOVE the blue color of the placemats, and the shell dishes, and the centerpiece, and the candles with the little starfish! I am always happy to see beach tablescapes! Linda