Last evening we hosted a dinner for a group of our good friends. A few years ago, we all got together when our children attended the same school. The evening turned out to be so much fun, despite the fact that it was the first time that we had visited together as a group that we decided to do it again. It has been a few years since that time, and we try to get together a few times a year.

Last evening we were eager to welcome them to our home. Hesitantly, I will share a few,aspects of the dinner, only because I have enjoyed seeing the many different tablescapes that you all shared in blogland.

Seating 12 adults at my dining room table is not the most comfortable route to go, but since we all like each other and it was my only option, we made due.

The plates are from the Jaclyn Smith Collection at KMart.

The flowers for the centerpiece and favors are from the Spirea bushes that grow along our driveway.

The centerpiece container is one I featured last Spring on this blog, where I purchased a clear glass bowl and a goblet from the Dollar Tree and glued the goblet bottom onto the glass bowl bottom. I then filled the bowl with water and the flowers, added a candle in the goblet, and my centerpiece was complete.

This week, my soft pink peonies will be blooming. They will look so nice arranged in this glass bowl too.

Simple glass vases with the flowers were the favors of the evening, along with name cards created with folded index cards, an ink stamp and some touches of glitter. I am not sure that Martha would be impressed with my style, but that is okay with me.



An upclose photo of the Spirea flowers in the centerpiece.



As always, candlelight was included in my evening. I think candles add a warmth and a coziness to evening visits. This is my kitchen table centerpiece.

For the dessert, I filled crystal parfait dishes with scoops of vanilla ice cream, covered them and put them back in the freezer, until time for dessert. Before serving, I added my frozen fresh peach puree' from last summer, a dab of whipped cream, and stuck a viola with stem through the hole of a chocolate covered pretzel. A delicious and simple dessert.





This bouquet of beautiful pink flowers was a thoughtful gift from my sister. She made the gift even better by getting a vase from my cupboard and arranging the flowers for me. They look so nice of my kitchen island.

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The vibrant pink Ranunculis make a striking arrangement.

Another friend brought me a gorgeous pink special kind of geranium. I look forward to planting this outside in my flower bed.

It was a great evening, with lots of discussions, some serious and some light hearted, and lots of laughter.

I appreciate your visit to my blog this evening, and every time you drop by.

~some of the photographs were captured by my sister.