Wednesday, June 8, 2011



When it is your turn to organize a Girl's Night Out for your family and you decide to host it on your porch.  When you find that...
...you don't have a table big enough.
...you don't have enough dishes to serve dinner to everyone.
...there are not many flowers blooming in your garden at the time.
...and you want to keep within the budget.
...what do you do?

I hesitate to share this with you, especially since grand and glorious tablescapes abound within blogland, but I decided to anyway.  Last evening they were here.  My mother, sisters and sister-in-laws, my daughter, and their daughters.  A few were unable to attend, but the ones that could, came.




Thanks to Walmart for the white paperplates, white and green paper napkins, plastic cups, and the faux real looking flowers that Better Homes and Gardens now has at Walmart.  I am certainly not promoting Walmart, but they did make my job feasible.
I took the flowers and made a simple, very simple bouquet using floral foam.  Don't you think the flowers look real?   I used a few extra flowers to tie around the napkins with thin green and pink polka dot ribbon.

 



I laid one green napkin on the white tablecover to add more color to the white tablecloth and white paper plates.  To extend my table, I added another old table.  Even though they weren't the same height, it worked.




My Mother's contribution was fresh tomatoes from the farm up the road.  They were a hit and disappeared quickly.  Ripe, red tomatoes add a special touch to every dinner.





How does one do seating arrangements, especially when one would love to sit beside everyone of the invited guests.  I numbered each plastic cup with numbers 1 - 12.  After all the guests arrived and the dinner was ready to be served, each guest chose a number from a glass bowl of numbers.  The number chosen told them where they would sit at the table.  It was a fun way to arrange seating, with the older and younger women mixed in with each other.  As always, there was never a break in the conversations.  Along with the tomatoes from the farm, the strawberries from the farm were included.  The dessert was the one I shared recently on a post, with angel food cake and strawberries.



We talked and laughed together until darkness sat in.  Treasured memories of a warm "almost" Summer evening on the porch.
My fun, simple, way of hosting a dinner for some very special people in my life.
Thanks to my sister and neice for most of these pictures.

13 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

The table is beautiful! Love the colors and everything else about it! Great ideas and sounds like a very special time together :)

Miss Debbie said...

I always say... "simple is good!" This time I can say..."simple is excellent!" Beautiful table...and, yes, I thought the flowers were real!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Judy, I LOVED it..... the look was so spritely and joyful. I can just imagine the fun you all had sitting out there until dark.

Bring Pretty Back said...

What a beautiful summer dinner party!
Wonderful memories!!!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin

Christine said...

Well, I got a few more ideas from you!
I plan on seating my guests the way you did. Genius!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

What a great post and beautiful pictures....stayed up a few hours to read blogs....so glad that I stopped by...

Debbie said...

You did an amazing job. I'd have enjoyed just looking at the flowers AND the tomatoes :D. Those flowers look real! Great job!

Judy said...

Simply beautiful! And you gave my an idea or two once again. Thanks.

Lauren said...

What a WONDERFUL evening it was! The food, the table, the atmosphere, the women. SO FABULOUS and SO REFRESHING to sit and talk, laugh and be together. Thanks for all of your HARD work and special touches!!!! Love you!

lindsey said...

Looks and sounds like a lovely evening. I would never have thought the flowers weren't real. And a great idea with the seating plan! I am sure all your guests enjoyed their time together on your porch.

Stacey said...

Judy, I think that looks just wonderful. Great way to set the table. There's absolutely nothing wrong with paper plates and napkins. I like how colorful everything turned out. Perfect spot!

Happy@Home said...

You set a most beautiful table. Everything looks so fresh and pretty. Farm fresh strawberries and tomatoes can't be beat. This sounds like a very special evening for some lucky ladies. I think you came up with a perfect solution for seating everybody. I'm going to remember that one.

Kathleen said...

I have this overwhelming desire to grab my camera and run out to find some flowers and food to immortalize. My chicken/apple brats and TV trays just won't cut it!

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