Oh, bonnie...your table is for REAL people that will REALLY use it...I am so happy about that...love it, love it! And those dishes with the linens are so, so pretty! I LOL at the flowerpot that DD made...I'm sure she will be just "charmed" that you shared that with her BF! Flowers are beautiful! Glad you can use your sunroom, too...like you, our porch table has rarely been used this summer...but Fall is coming! Have fun at 8! TFS! Jeanne S.

Bonnie, your table is lovely and your meal sounds wonderful. Is DH cooking and spoiling you again? It's great to hear you used fresh flowers in the vase DD made you years ago. Hope you enjoy your dinner with DD and BF. Sitting around the fire, roasting marshmellows and sipping brandy sounds like a fun way to spend the rest of the evening.

Punk

Bonnie...such a pretty setting.
The weather sounds perfect for your lovely sunroom.
I love all the pretty linens that compliment your dinnerware. That vase from DD was made to order! I'm sure she'll get a kick seeing it again, and what a fun topic for her BF.
Your menu sounds heavenly..but the part I like best is at the end 'Roasting Marshmallows'!! Love it!

Linens are just perfect with your dishes, look so pretty and fresh. How do you make Cajun crab spread? Sounds yummy, as does the rest of your menu. It's wonderful that you are using a vase your DD made for you! Hope you have a fun evening.

Luvs

Thank you for your sweet comments! We had a fun evening and almost had to escort them to their car

Jeanne, yes real tables for real guests. I don't do tablsescapes for fun, although I enjoy looking at any/all who do enjoy that.

Luvs, the Cajun crab spread was purchased at the supermarket and served over whole grain crackers. It was delicious.

DH and DD's boyfried did much of the grilling. There really wasn't much prepping to this meal, other than marinating the sirloin tips (DH did that), cutting up the veggies (DH did that) and watching the grill (the guys did that). What did I do? I set the table, shopped for the food and that's about it. The pie was store-bought, which is unusual for me because I like to make pies.

The reality of my life right now is that with a new job that involves some travel, I simply don't have the time to spend preparing for guests the way I used to. Also, I've found that it really doesn't much matter what you serve as long as you bring people together around a table for conversation, food and wine. I've loosened up a lot over the last few years, entertain all the time and enjoy it almost always!

Less is more!

Bonnieann Your table looks so pretty and inviting perfect for a late summer evening.

Sounds like your evening was wonderful! I really DO like your DD's blue coil pot...I hope that came across ok when I posted above...I was LOL because we have a "floater" pinch pot (glazed clay vase) that ends up somewhere between our middle DD home or our DS's house (or here at our home)! It was one of their art projects in middle school, too! We all get a big kick out of it when it shows up unexpectedly in one of our homes or gardens with something different planted in it! LOL! Anyway, bonnieann...enjoyed your post! Jeanne S.

Oh my gosh, Jeanne, don't give a second thought to any comment about the blue coil pot. It never came up in conversation last night. I'm thinking it might have been one of our other two DD's who made it, both of whom have been through, never has "claimed it". LOL!

Tonight our youngest DD is making dinner for us. What a treat! She's going back to school next weekend so it really is bittersweet.

Thanks for looking!

Very pretty table, Bonnie. Love the color combo.