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03 July, 2010

Lunch on the Patio...and...Merci!

IMG_2339Happy 4th of July, eveyone! The weather has finally cooled down a bit here, so I am having a light lunch on the patio before the big cookout tonight. I have set the table using some thrifting finds and bloggy gifts so we can chat. Won’t you join me? I have lots to share!  I have been busy baysitting grandchildren and granddogs, plus getting in a little vacation, so I haven’t been able to hang out in blogland as much as I would like.  I hope you'll forgive me! First order of business is to say Merci! to some wonderful blogging buddies!


IMG_2327 A large part of my tablescape today came from some very sweet and generous bloggers! The beautiful table runner in all of my favorite colors and the gorgeous red transferware plates from England were gifts from Dawn at Cottage State of Mind! I was lucky enough to win her 200th post giveaway…along with 22 other people! Can you believe it?


IMG_2329 Sweet Dawn generously decided to give a gift to each of us who commented on her giveaway post. She claims that she is cleaning out her attic, but I don’t believe her! The gifts are just too fabulous! She told me that she also has a set of the plates, so now we are twins! And would you look at the card! If you know me, you know that I adore mice wearing clothes (weird, I know)…and there they are! She wrote the sweetest note inside that made me cry!


IMG_2333 The pretty oil/vinegar dispenser is a gift from my friend Carol from the old Rate My Space and Micasa Style days. Isn’t it elegant? The pewter matches my flatware, too. You must know that another weakness of mine is roosters…so frenchy! But the best gift was an invitation! Our Carol invited a group of us to spend 5 days at her wonderful beach house on the North Carolina coast! It was fabulous!


IMG_2326 The sweet little bluebird plate was a gift from another one of the guests…Barb from Grits and Glamour! We actually met in person about a year ago, so it was fun to see her again! She is one busy bee and misses blogging and all of you. I have a feeling that she may be back soon. She invited us to her lovely home nearby and treated us to hors d’oeuvres…yummy! Her house is even more beautiful in person and it was fun to be a tourist…spotting places that I had seen in her posts! I also got to meet her wonderful family…a real treat!


IMG_2334 Another guest for our beachy blogger weekend was Kathysue at Good Life of Design who gave us each a great monogrammed Lands End tote…which will really come in handy for my baby/dog sitting! Isn’t it stylish? She made sure that each one matched the colors in our homes! lol Kathysue has such a great sense of humor and kept us all in stitches! I was lucky enough to get the chance to meet her in person when I met Barb a year ago. The three of us, along with our hostess Carol, became  friends on Micasa before its demise.  Several other Micasa friends were unable to make it, but were in our hearts! I will be telling you about our adventures in the next few posts! And I’ll give you a little peek…see the little flower pot man in the background? That’s a little hint of what is to come!


IMG_2340 And, of course, I can’t create a post without throwing in some thrifting finds! lol I love to eat on the patio, but creating a centerpiece around an umbrella pole isn’t easy! I found this great two piece votive holder at Goodwill for $2.52…but minus the votives. Soooo…I decided to use some punch cups that I found on a previous GW hunting expedition instead!


IMG_2312 I love it! I think the punch cups transform the centerpiece into something special. And…of course…the cups have grapes on them…another favorite of mine!


IMG_2316I also wanted to give you a little update on my shabby picnic basket planter that you see in the background. The begonias are thriving, as you can see! I think it has turned out to be a keeper!

And there you have it… lunch on the patio! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend celebrating our country's freedom!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please visit these wonderful ladies and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
See you next time! A la prochaine!

52 comments:

  1. Isn't this weather perfect! I love your outdoor lunch setting.

    Happy 4th!

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  2. Always a treat Debbie to come and see what you have to show. You must be giddy with excitement over all your blogging gifts and your latest GW finds. Everything looks just lovely. Only thing missing is a kitty or two. ;;)

    Donna

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  3. Enjoy the good weather -- it seems we've got some serious heat coming! Love your pretty begonias. Have a happy 4th!

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  4. Deb so fun to see how you incorporated everything into an inviting tablescape. Boy, do I wish I could be there with you to enjoy lunch and time with you, Miss you friend,Kathysue

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  5. Hi Debbie! Oh, what a lovely setting here outside! I love all of your gifts you've received and I'm sure you had such fun meeting all those bloggers! It's always such a pleasure to visit you.
    Have a happy 4th and be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  6. How lucky for you to have met Barb again. When she still lived in Colorado, I had hoped our paths would cross. Tell her we miss her. I love the pink transferware plates, of course. Enjoy the remainder of the weekend. Sally

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  7. Debbie, your table scape is perfect, lucky you all those wonderful friends and gifts that you have, Everything is just lovely! thanks for visiting my patriotic posting. Hope you a wonderful holiday! Marla

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  8. Wow...you have been busy...love all your goodies!!!

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  9. Debbie, You have some very generous friends and wonderful blogging gifts. Your table setting is lovely. It is always a pleasure to visit you and see what you have been up to. Happy 4TH.
    xo, Sherry

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  10. Your luncheon setting looks so good, Debbie but your vacation with the girls sounds so much fun. Lovely gifts you got but my favorite is your find at Goodwill. I would love to have one of those divided votive holder.

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  11. I am so pleased to hear that you met many of the wonderful women in the blogging community, and that friendships are being continually forged and celebrated!

    Love your displays and it is easy to tell, they are giving you much JOY :)

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  12. Debbie, what a delightful lunch on the patio. You make everything look so elegant, but yet carefree at the same time. I do think you have an incredible sense of style.
    Your get away with blogging friends sounds like a perfect retreat. What fun to share good times with these special ladies.
    Thanks for stopping by to visit. Happy 4th to you, dear freind! ~ Sarah

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  13. Sounds like you had a great visit, and the punch bowl cups look fantastic-enjoy!

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  14. Beautifully set table, Debbie. I love how you used the runner and the punch cups for candles.

    Happy 4th of July!

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  15. Such a pretty outdoor table! Love those thrifty finds...the cups are so much more interseting than voities would be! I love it!

    Miss Bloomer

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  16. The weather really has been perfect lately - what a relief - the heat was killing me LOL!

    Your table looks gorgeous!

    Happy 4th!

    Manuela

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  17. Oh Debbie, you have created such a great lunch tablescape. Such fun treasures you received from all the ladies. Love that wonderful circle votive holder you found too. I can't wait to hear more of the fun stories from your trip. Sure wish I could have been there. Love you. Thanks a ton for joining TTT. Hope you have a super happy 4th. Hugs, Marty

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  18. Happy Fourth of July, Debbie!

    Loved seeing all of your goodies, and isn't Dawn the sweetest? I couldn't believe that she sent all of us gifts! And your other gifts from friends are neat, too.

    Hope you and your family have a very happy and save Fourth!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  19. We are finally having gorgeous weather. Love your outdoor table and all those sweet gifts from friends and your thrifty finds. Have a great 4th!

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  20. Is that Dawn not the sweetest thing...Now I did get in meet her in person last year at the Second Sunday swap meet...Kathysue also lives real close by me but have yet to meet her...Girl I love your basket of flowers you did...Thank you Debbie for your prayers for my Candace...girl I have been so worried after last year when she lost that baby...when I seen her at the hospital yesterday as soon as I walked into the room she cried...and told me Granny make it all better...just like she did as a little girl...Which just made me cry...I wished so I could just kiss the boo boos like I use to....Girl she wants a baby so bad too...Been trying for 5 years now...Give those baby boys of yours a BIG old hug for me my Dear friend...Happy Fourth...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  21. very nice post...great photos...

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  22. Debbie, I love your outdoor setting. It has gotten cooler here hasn't it and it feels so good. What nice gifts you received and how great to be invited to a beach house and to be with Kathysue, too. I would love to meet her some day. I was on rms and micasa, too, but not sure I know who Carol is. Anyway have fun at the BBQ and enjoy the fireworks. I can see and hear some of those from my driveway!

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  23. Hi Deb
    I'm just home from a wedding In Kleinburg, Ontario near Toronto and one of the first things I did was pop over to your post because it is one of my favorite every weekend. Gorgeous setting and wow!the begonias are beautiful. The kitty that you mentioned on my blog does look like your Baby Kitty. He is my son's cat, Cooper. I am kitty-sitting this week so I got a chance to photograph him. Enjoy all those lovely gifts you received and have a great week.

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  24. That is such a wonderful post Debbie! How cool to be invited to a beach home from someone you met online! And that Dawn, isn't she the most generous!
    I love your pretty table, it's so you and I miss your pretty tablescapes!
    Hugs and Happy 4th,
    Cindy

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  25. Hi Dear Friend - hope you are resting from a joyous July 4th celebration. Cole did not make it through all the fireworks. LOL

    Love your table, and seeing all your gifts as part of the tablescape is awesome. I can't wait to read all your posts about our trip together.

    Glad the heat gave us some relief for a few days. Weatherman says the heat wave is coming back this week. Bad, bad weatherman. Boooo!

    Love and hugs, Barb

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  26. Hi Deb
    You sure have been a busy bee. How fun was that to be able to meet blogger friends?
    I do love your wicker basket with flowers, I might just have to steel that idea girl.
    Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July in GA. Glad your having nice weather too : )
    Give kitty a special hug for me.
    Thanks for popping in. Love hearing from you.
    Love Claudie
    oxoxoxox

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  27. What a lovely table filled with wonderful gifts from old & new friends! It makes it all the more beautiful!

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  28. It's so nice that you were able to get together at the beach with bloggy friends.

    I love how you turned punch cups into votive holders. That was a smart idea!

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  29. Hi Debbie~~~hope your holiday has been fun! Ours has been busy, and great!!
    I love the way you put the cups with candles around your umbrella for summer...too cute.
    Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment.
    Debbie@houseatthelake

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  30. Back for a quick visit. I forgot to say that I can't wait to see and hear all about your trip!

    I'm in St. A. today, and someone had a party last night that went on (with a loud band) until nearly 2:00. Suffice it to say, I have toothpicks in my eyes this morning! But it is a beautiful sunny day after raining all day Friday and Saturday. It faired off for the Fourth, and the fireworks were fabulous! The finale rattled the windows and shook the house, and I loved it! LOL!

    Hope you had fun! We spent a quiet Fourth because Mr. Magpie begins a trial tomorrow. I'm glad because I have been so tired lately. Hot weather and I aren't friends! ;-)

    XO,

    Sheila

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  31. Wonderful use of the punch cups.

    Your blog is very pretty.

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  32. Stunning table, perfect setting! and so nice you got to spend time with friends!

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  33. Gracious, Debbie, what a lot of good surprises! You really pulled them together with a beautiful tablescape. It does seem that everyone realy knew you and your style, doesn't it! Still loving that basket planter! Linda

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  34. LOL - I'm having a terrible time posting ...

    What a gorgeous outdoor setting - all your pieces are lovely. Especially like the way you decorated around the umbrella pole!! (That's always a pain) Your basket planter is a fav of mine...

    The strawberries on my blog is something I got from Debbie at Mountain Breaths: http://mountainbreaths.blogspot.com/2010/06/filled-strawberries-revisited.html

    There is a Martha recipe and also Paula Deen has a video demo on Food Network:

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-home-cooking/cream-cheese-and-pecan-stuffed-berries-recipe/index.html

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  35. neat idea with the votives!! I love the mice!! beautiful things!!

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  36. Hi Debbie, OMG, I wish I were there! So you're back from your yearly vaca?

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  37. My fav the votive holder with the punch cups. Great post as usual.

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  38. Oooo I love your kitties and blog! The photos are so cute!

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  39. I'm so glad you're enjoying your gifts. You're right, I didn't send much from the attic, hubby still won't let go of anything! But I had a big enough stockpile of things I wasn't using to more than make up for it!

    Your trip sounds so wonderful! There's notihing like getting away with the girls!
    Hugs,
    Dawn

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  40. I love, love, love your little bluebird plate, and lunch on the patio looks divine.

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  41. Debbie,
    thanks so much for coming to NTT and showing off that neat votive holder that you found at GW...the punch cup idea is super duper "COOL"!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  42. Hi Debbie,
    Love the brunch setting you can invite me over anytime! :)

    Thank you for stopping by to
    "SING AND FLY"

    Bidding you a week of singing and flying :)

    Love that bird plate, as you see I love china as well you can visit my blog to see the bird plates on an older post as you have seen.

    Birds of a feather :)
    xx
    Dore

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  43. Deb, this is gorgeous! I love the votive holder, so perfect for a patio table. And the punch cups are such a great idea, much prettier than plain old votives. Just got back from our whirlwind weekend, will fill everyone in when I catch my breath. Hope you are getting a chance to relax some this week! Hugs, Kat

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  44. What treasures! I especially like the little blue bird plate.

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  45. Great post. I hope you don't mind. I am sharing your blog with a local Goodwill exec. He is very interested in looking at some blogs that often feature Goodwill finds.

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  46. ...wow...I have been reading your blog....I love all dishes & plates!...I have a room for them!...my pantry!...which was featured in a Canadian Mag !
    Love you family of cats too!

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  47. Bonjour Debbie,

    What a wonderful table. I was viewing it while listening to Jardin d'Hiver. It was very refreshing. We are experiencing a heat wave in Montréal. Thanks for sharing such beautiful things. Au revoir!

    Anne-Marie

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  48. Debbie, your table is so pretty, and just look at all of the wonderful gifts. You've put them together beautifully. What a lucky GW find that candle holder was, and it is so much more interesting with the punch cups. I'm amazed at how you can turn something ordinary into something beautiful and you don't spend much money doing it. That picnic basket is another perfect example of how you do that. Your trip sounds fabulous! I can't wait to see pictures. Thank you for linking up to Favorite Things Sat. Have a great weekend. laurie

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  49. such lovely tablesetting and love your red transferware plate. just lovely!

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  50. Oh, everything looks so wonderful!
    And, I love the oil dispenser!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  51. Debbie, Love the lunch on the patio theme! How precious are those plates and that little card with the dressed mice. I learned something new about you today! I didn't realize you loved dressed mice! I've got one to send your way! :) I can't wait till January...we'll have our son through his schooling and I'll have more $$$ to thrift shop again! :) I've been keeping myself on a shoestring budget and when I see your finds, I'm like needing a fix... lol My grandson is growing like a little weed, two weeks old yesterday! Amazing, aren't they? Hugs friend~ ~CC Catherine

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  52. Deb, I missed this post until today so as always Im alittle behind. Love, love this outside setting with all of your beautiful things. The basket with flowers is so gorgeous and fresh looking. You always have the best ideas! Hope you 4th was a good one!

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie