Grace & Favor – A Life Worth Living

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Summer's Beach Table for Two

I live in Michigan...surrounded by water.  Our home is within a couple miles of two rivers and I'm about 35 miles from the big lake (Lake Michigan). The minute Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict notified me that I was the lucky winner of her giveaway of service for eight of Pfaltzgraff Lido Beach I knew I would do a tablescape at Lake Michigan.  Yup, that was the plan.

Fast forward a few weeks and I still hadn't loaded up the car and taken the 30 minute drive over to the lake to get this set up.  My friend Sharon and I planned to do this more than once but something always got in the way, a storm, my comfy chair, hoards of tourist at the lake shore, you get the picture.

Then this morning, when I was sitting at the dam after church enjoying some quiet time with my SIL I saw it.


Do you see it?  Nope I didn't photo shop this shot as you can certainly tell by its out of focus look, that maple tree on the far right is turning its beautiful autumn orange and red.  A quick call to Sharon and we were off to the river to try and do justice to these beautiful dishes here at home rather than heading to the big lake.


This is just a small portion of the dam in my little town, today was a sunny day with the fall poofy clouds just starting to show that they will be upon us soon. This part of the river was our backdrop.



 Soon the cat tails will open and fall will be underway.


We started to set the table up a little north of the dam where we could safely get in the water.  Actually we were at the launch for the canoes and kayaks and as we were setting things up a few people ported their kayaks right along side of us. This is certainly a modified version of what I had planned on doing to showcase my new dish stash.  I used a small cloth (wrinkles couldn't be ironed out at the river and I apologize for that) with just a baby blue placemat for a little color.

The silverware was a GW find for $18 for 45 pieces.  I love the nod to the shells of summer in the pattern.


A simple white napkin with a shell napkin ring from Pottery Barn completed the flatware.



All of this was to call attention to the shell pattern in the dishes.  We don't have an abundance of shells in the Great Lakes like those of you who live near the ocean so I tried to temper the setting with just a few shells.  There wasn't enough room to do a centerpiece so simple it was without one.


I picked up these beautiful shells a few years ago on a trip to Prince Edward Island, the little shell candles were a Home Goods find and for those who look closely that is sugar rather than sand filling the shells.  Our sandy beaches along Lake Michigan are beautiful but I wasn't going to fight the last of summer crowds to drive to the lake to get a couple of hand fulls of sand so sugar it is.


I used corks to fill the stemware rather than wine as we have open container laws and getting hauled off to jail on Sunday for having an open bottle of wine in the river didn't really appeal to me.  Try explaining the world of blogging to a burly sheriff that you were only using the wine as a prop for a tablescape.

I did however bring a bottle of  wine and set it beside the table in a silver bucket I picked up at GW or SA for a song.  Isn't the scolloped edge of the tablecloth beautiful?  I can't remember if I found the tablecloth at GW or at an estate sale.

So thank you so much Debbie for the opportunity to enjoy my new beach dishes and the last days of summer working up this setting.  I normally never set a table for the blog that we don't actually use, this however is the second tablescape that I've done without actually enjoying a meal at the table.  This one along with my Lemonade in the Snow table were just set for the enjoyment of the season.

21 comments:

alissa {33shadesofgreen} said...

Beautiful Char! Just this weekend I noticed the first orange leaves in a maple I can see from my window. I sort of gasped when I saw it - I sure wasn't expecting to see that so early!

Debbie said...

That is so so pretty,especially against the backdrop of that water. That, and the breeze hitting the tablecloth in that one picture both make it perfect. I love the repeat of the shell theme, and the corks in the stemware is such a creative little finishing touch.

Lovely!

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

Your table is set so beautifully. That must have been a chore lugging those pretty things without breaking anything. Sounds like you had fun, though. Shannon

Micupoftea said...

WHat a romantic setting...so pretty. Nice job on the table...love the seashells filled with sand. This post was so fun to read, Miss Char~

Mimi said...

Very pretty ~ think this was the perfect spot for your table!! Love all your GW finds and your beautiful new dishes.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh, Char! It's lovely! I am so glad that you are enjoying the dishes! And they look so pretty in your wonderful setting! I would not have thought of using sugar instead of sand...perfect! Thank you so much for going to all that trouble to let us see them! They definitely went to the right person! :-) Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Something Nice and Pretty said...

I love the tablecloth and the idea of using the sugar! The dishes are just beautiful and I loooove the shell napkin rings....great tablescape!

A Toile Tale said...

Char -
This one was definately worth the effort. Lovely and serene. With the heat down here in Georgia, I would be so happy to put my feet in that beautifully clear water and dine on a bologna sandwich!
Linda @ A Toile Tale

Karin Şen Cankan said...

Perfect place for the table.

love it

Karin Şen Cankan
karinsfairytale.blogspot.com

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I love your Beautiful tablescape for two by the water with a cool breeze.looks like you had a fun time... I would like to thank you so much for your sweet comments on my tablescape with my first new Rooster. I hope you have a great week.
XXOO Diane

Rettabug said...

Absolutely PERFECT, Ms. Char!! You couldn't have shown off your pretty new dishes any better. I love that you have the table actually IN the water...cool idea. Beautiful tablecloth & the wine cooler, too.

I can just see you "... explaining the world of blogging to a burly sheriff that you were only using the wine as a prop for a tablescape." He'd never understand! LOL

Great job, Honey!
fondly,
Rett

Marigene said...

Very romantic!

Carrie said...

Your table setting is cool and elegant and quite witty!

Alycia Nichols said...

You did such an excellent job of creating such a unique setting, Char. You really put a lot of effort into making this so pretty! What a great idea to set the table in the water!!! Beautiful!!! I'm glad you didn't try to tangle with Mr. Big Burly Sheriff. They can get a little testy from time-to-time! :-) Have a great weekend!!!

Miss Gracie's House said...

It is just beautiful...and setting up for the picture is half of the fun!
Thanks for the visit!
Rene

Kathleen said...

I don't think you could get any closer than that, Char! I love your new dishes, and those napkin rings are wonderful! Very pretty table.
Here on Long Island we are awaiting IRENE. I am a block from the Bay, so we are battening down the hatches! Hope we don't lose power~

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

What a setting...can't get any better than that. What a lucky girl to win those dishes. That was one of the best giveaways I've ever seen. Thanks for linking up to Open House Party. Please try to come back next week!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh how pretty your waterside table is. Love the shells and your fabulous new china!

abeachcottage said...

Your setting is so romantic and your table is gorgeous :)

Katherines Corner said...

absolutely gorgeous! I can almost feel the breeze off of the water.Love the seashell napkin rings too. I made some very similar to that years ago. Hugs

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

So pretty~ this is beautiful! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)