Heat Domes & Herbs

Wow is it ever hot here in Oklahoma!  The heat dome is over much of the midwest and we are praying for rain!   We had a high of 107 last week and my plants are starting to feel the effects 
of the heat and drought!  Thank goodness for
 sprinkler systems...I've been mulching 
everything to cut down on watering.   

On a positive note... I am thankful  for herbs that love this heat.  My  rosemary and lavender are thriving and never looked better.  

Inspiration came from a few grocery store herbs that led me to create a herb vignette with some herb themed items I have collected over the past few years.   My latest addition is this bee skep...they look wonderful in a herb garden. 

I started with an apron a good friend gave me 

and just laid it down on the table as a runner.  I just love the fabric!

The woven tray serves as a perfect setting for these little herb pots I purchased earlier this year on a trip to California.   The herb pots will be perfect for a kitchen window sill garden this winter.   I try to use only fresh herbs to cook with whenever possible. 

This little herb topiary book I have had for many years and it has lots of great ideas to 

create your own topiaries and very detailed information about herbs.

I like adding a few interesting items and unexpected items to a table too and 
the plant labels are fun and can be used as place cards for guests.

The dishes were  found for $1 each at Goodwill and they have 4 matching bowls and a chip and dip server.   Don't you love those bargains?  The delicate pattern features some of my favorite herbs!

The lavender sachet is a pretty guest favor and looks pretty tucked in the bowl.

The dried lavender is from my garden...when I deadhead my 'Grosso'  lavender I just bundle and bring it in.  I also cut it when it is in it's prime...but even spent blooms don't go to waste...I just make potpourri out of them or replenish my sachets.   'Grosso' is the most fragrant of the lavenders and so worth growing.  I have added a few  more plants to my garden this year so I will have plenty to 
cut next summer!   

This Goodwill find can be used for salad dressing

 or a vase for herbs.

The pretty dish towel was purchased at the Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo...such a wonderful place to shop, dine or stay!

The candle is handmade  from the 

Fredericksburg Herb Farm in Texas  

and is lemon grass scented.   Their candles are wonderful and I discovered them on a trip there a few years ago.  I have to order them in between visits since we don't get there nearly often enough.   

If you are ever in that part of the country the herb farm is a real treat...they have added a spa and darling cottages to stay in!  The restaurant is wonderful too!  It's on our list to re-visit
 next spring. 

Stay cool and hope you find something 

to inspire you even in all  this heat!

I'm linking with:

Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays
Tootsie's Fertilizer Fridays
and 
Susan's Tablescape Thursdays
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

Summer Blue Willow Tea

I love blue and white tables and setting our breakfast table overlooking the garden.  

I have always had an attraction to Waverly 

fabrics and found these placemats on sale at Burlington and thought they

 would look great with my dishes.   

The flatware is King Cedric Oneida and from my  mother-in-law's sterling collection.  I added a soft green napkin with my thrift store 

blue and white napkin rings.

I set my table with my Blue Willow Villeroy and Boch plates.  I recently looked up the mark and found these plates are over 100 years old!  I bought them about 20 years ago in an antique store in Florida when I was home visiting my parents.  I had no idea they were that old!

I used my spring/summer cloche for a centerpiece...the yellow flowers and nest seemed to go well with the placemats.

I started the table with one of my mother-in-law's tablecloths..she always sent her table linens to the cleaners and had them starched and pressed.  She was so organized she had each tablecloth labeled for size and how many leaves it required for her formal dining room table.   This one originally was used on her breakfast table.  I so enjoy using things that belonged to our families. 

I added two egg cups from my collection.  These were purchased on our trip to
 Solvang, California and are delft blue.

The teapot was given to me by my Mother.  She purchased an entire set of  rice china for me when she lived in the Japan.   The tiny one is also from her and is used for cream.

This is one of the china cabinets my Mom gave me when she downsized.   It is  full of  the blue and white she collected while overseas and I am so fortunate to have it!   

Today is my 36th wedding anniversary.

We met and married in Austin, Texas in 1976 when I was attending the University of Texas.   

We laugh at Mr. Bloomer's tuxedo every time we see our wedding pictures (burgundy was the rage back then) ...why didn't someone suggest classic black!  

I'm linking with 
Kathleen's Let Dish
Smiling Sally's Blue Monday
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays
Susan's Tablescape Thursdays

Fourth of July Garden Walk

Fourth of July is all about family, picnics and being outdoors celebrating our freedom with flags and fireworks!  Wouldn't it be nice if it wasn't so hot?  I do enjoy my garden walks in the mornings when it's a little cooler.  Here's a little tour of what's blooming in my yard this week.

My neighbors surprised me with Yard of the Month...I'm not even done with my mulching and plantings but thought I would share my flag buntings and award.   

Knock out Roses 

Tropical Hibiscus

Red Salvia and a few pansies left from fall.

Hydrangeas have changed to lime green color and I love that they continue to change until fall.  When they turn that pretty mauve color I cut them and bring them in for drying.  

French wire flower basket  filled with 

red impatiens, caladium and sweet potato vine.

Shasta Daisies...can never have too many of these flowers....love how they brighten an area and are great for cutting!

Black eyed Susans and Victoria Blue Salvia 

Red Geraniums and Cleome volunteers

Trumpet vine...great for hummingbirds!

Our back patio and Belle relaxing in the shade.

Sunny border from under the shade 

of our oak tree.

Sweet potato vine just loves our Oklahoma heat!

Crepe Myrtles in bloom....love this

 watermelon color!

Dixie Bell hibiscus...this one is 

a perennial.

Have a  Happy Fourth of July!

Stay safe and hope you are spending this day celebrating with family and loved ones!

I'm linking to 

Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays

Tootsie Fertlizer Fridays

Beverly's Pink Saturday

Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday

Fishtail Cottage Garden Party

The Best Birthday Presents

My son who is a filmmaker and editor made this video of my garden for my birthday!    He now works on a television show in Oklahoma called Found Causes and we are so proud of him.   I remember when he and his brothers were small and would make me birthday presents.  Those gifts were and still are the most meaningful.

Hope you enjoy my flower garden!

Thanks Patrick!

For more videos:  http://www.patrickkirk.com

Garden Party from Patrick Kirk on Vimeo.

I am linking with:

 Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays

Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday

and 

Tablescaper's  Seasonal Sunday

Burlap & Bunnies

I didn't get  a chance to share my Spring Easter table...too much going on at the time to get my post finished.  I wanted a natural look for my table and got a lot of inspiration from Pottery Barn. 

What's not to love about bunnies, burlap and twig chargers?

I know PB can be a little pricey if you are buying everything for your table all at once.  

I am all about getting a look for a lot less.  I made my own burlap runner a few seasons ago and have used it for several tables.  So inexpensive!
The hydrangeas were from the grocery store and were less than $10.  

The twig chargers were on sale last fall at Pier One when I purchased them. 

 I think they are one of my best finds...

I use them a lot! 

The placemats were given to me by a sweet friend as she knows 
I love pretty table linens.

They are April Cornell and the
 pattern has soft yellow, blue and green hues.  They had  just the right amount of color I needed to go with
 my china.  

The china was given to me by my grandma when I got married 35 years ago.  The pattern is Brentwood by Franciscan.  I love the color but the pattern is outdated looking to me.  

That's where dish layering saves the day...getting a whole new look with the same old dishes!

The french Gien desert/salad plates look perfect sitting on top of the Brentwood dinner plates.  The Gien plates were one of the best bargains I've ever found at Goodwill.  

 Next I placed one of the Godinger bread and butter plates that are the palest blue color.  
  

Both of these patterns were found at Goodwill for an amazing price.  When I looked up Gien china on the internet I was shocked by the price!  

Finally the Pottery Barn egg cloche to complete the setting.  I did manage to get 2 of  the cloches.  They have sold out for this year...I got mine on clearance with free shipping!!  Can't beat $5.99 a piece.  I do hope I can find a few more..they are adorable and I have a thing for eggs cups.   

Since I set my table for four I also used two of the handled soup bowls from my Franciscan china to finish two of the settings.  I think they are so cute with the tiny little handles.   I have used these for fruit bowls as well.  

 Finished table with all my 
favorite bunnies.

My old collection of bunnies hopped right onto the table.  I have had this big rabbit for 20 plus years.  He is one of my favorites.

The smaller blue and white bunnies were gifts from my Mom and my hubbie.    I snuggled them in the burlap and put some willow twigs along the runner and added a few blue eggs. 

The centerpiece was simply made with three hydrangeas from the grocery store ( since mine weren't in bloom at the time) and a leftover lime green rose from another arrangement I had.

I wrapped some moss ribbon around the base of the vase to give a natural look.

A few votive candles and my table was ready for Easter dinner with my family.

Even though this was an Easter table I think it would be nice for any 
spring meal.

Our menu:

Herb stuffed Porchetta

Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Herbed Gravy
Asparagus

Dinner Rolls

Carrot Cake

This week I'm joining:

Kathleen's Let Dish
Susan's Tablescape Thursday
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday
and
Blue Monday