Thursday, September 24, 2009

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY: END OF SUMMER SUPPER

The days are getting so much shorter now. I feel as if I am trying to squeeze every bit of light out of each day. I love the way the sun moves over my house to the west, leaving my kitchen in long cool shadows. I fiddle on my laptop, glance at the evening news once in awhile and stop to daydream as I hear the children playing on the sidewalks and see dogs being walked on their leashes. Sometimes I feel a little melancholy over times like these when I would call the kids in to wash up for supper, and even the other day I sat wishing that Abigail were just down the hall in her room, listening to her Ipod and texting her friends. But I am in a good place, with new traditions unfolding, a little more time finding the things that I want to do, discovering new interests, maybe a new me!! So, before I look any further toward fall, I decided to a tablescape that represents the end of summer (though technically it ended Tuesday!). Please join me and Susan from Between Naps On The Porch for another Tablescape Thursday, that wonderful day of the week when a group of grown up ladies get to play with their dishes!! After you have left a comment. visit Susan and see the beautiful table she has in store for us and then visit all of the ladies who put off making meals for their own families to make a pretty table for us. ;-)
I have managed to sneak in those home grown tomatoes again in case you didn't get a good long look at them on Tuesday. I am a complete showoff!! It has just been so long since I planted a vegetable garden and I believe I will go back to doing that here in Chicago next spring. And tonight, I am making bruschetta to have with dinner and then salsa to bring to the lake. And then I should have more there and maybe I will start to freeze them.

In this tablescape I have a sunflower theme vaguely going on. I have had this runner and the decorative accents in the window of my family room for awhile as they match a big sunflower bowl (not pictured) and go with the neutral decor in there. I am using the same dried flower arrangement as last week... haven't given it to Megan as a housewarming gift yet as I have a cold and don't want to be near new baby Conor. So I am getting as much use out of it as I can. ;-) I added a raffia bow to change the look. The family room leads to the backyard and this table is for snacking and games and homework, none of which have ever occurred here. The Cleaver's would do these things, but the only time my children have used it, I suspect, is when they have had poker games on the occasion's The Husband and I were out late.







I have little votive holders from the Dollar Tree and vintage (and bent) salt & pepper shakers on the sunflower runner




Next to MY TOMATOES (!!!!!) you can see the fleur de lis glasses I bought at Pier I last winter on clearance for $1.96. They are very cool, a goldish/brown color...




The dinner and salad plates are from HomeGoods, although they are not a set, the flatware is Hampton from somewhere I can't remember, I have had it so long. The napkins and ring are also from Pier I.





A few close ups....




Last night for supper we had Corn Dog Casserole which was a recipe from Paula at Sweet Pea. It was incredibly easy, delicious and filling. Served with a small salad, it makes a great Indian Summer supper. Click here to visit Paula and get this recipe. She has also given suggestions on how to keep the calories and fat down. This is a wonderfully creative recipe that tastes like the real thing!


So I hope you have enjoyed my tablescape. I started very late but I do have time now to go visiting every one's tables, and there are a lot of new and different idea's pouring out with the change in the season. We are still in limbo here in the Midwest. The trees are not as vibrant as they once were, but the leaves aren't changing. Today is a little sticky and humid. Have a look at my Weather Pixie on my sidebar. It gives the time and temp and there is a little Blondie that changes outfits (not as much as I'd like to, but at least my hair is straightened, lol!!) and in the evening I have a little dog, whose, I don't know...it looks like a golden retriever that just wandered in my Weather Pixie icon like it was nobody's business. So, if you are ever lying in bed at night with that burning question, "What is the weather in Chicago?", look at my Weather Pixie.


I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend...




If the weather gets cool, serve Paula's Corn Dog Casserole and bring back those memories of the state fair!






xoxo
Jane













































51 comments:

Deb said...

You put together the loveliest tablescapes Jane! Lovely colours on your Autumn table ~ love the votive candle holders with the maple leaf.

Kathleen said...

Very pretty, Jane..the salt shaker has character!
Still summer here too..need the AC on!
Votives are very pretty..I will have to stop at the Many Dollar Tree to see if they have them!
Have a great weekend!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Good afternoon Jane...your table looks lovely girl...but those tomatoes I just love there is nothing in the worlf like vine ripen tomatoes with salt...I love tomatoes sandwichs...I'll check out that corn dog dish sounds good and I love easy...Girl I use to love to cook but since all the kids left I don't care about it any more...maybe because Len would eat dog food and thinks its great ha ha!! Did you know you can now order online at Dollar tree and have it shipped to the store and it would't cost of shipping that way...Hey it works for me...I just ordered a whole 60 piece Christmas village with trees, people, and all for only $36.00...Now I just need to go pick it up...May you have a great weekend my friend...Hugs and smiles to you...Gl♥ria

Lynn said...

Frankly, I am ready for things to cool down!
over 100 all week. The weather guy said it was 2% humidity one day!
2%! It's a wonder we didn't spontaneously combust!
Your tble is lovely, especially the tomatoes!!!!!!

Kathy said...

Love it all, Janie! I really like those napkin rings. Have a great weekend...Kathy

Megan Lee said...

Thanks for stopping by. I love your tablescape as well. And by the way, I'm a northsider :)

Julie Marie said...

Hello Jane, yes, those tomatoes are Beauties!!! I would show them off too... I love, love, love your little dollar store votives! And your little fleur de lis glases are beautiful! Your weather pixie is cute too! Happy Autumn! Bisous... Julie Marie

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Enjoy your indian summer while it lasts! I'm having trouble letting go of summer myself~

Vicki said...

Hi, Jane,
Your table is so inviting and lovely! I don't blame you for wanting to show off those BEAUTIFUL tomatoes. The autumn votives are so sweet and romantic. Thank you for sharing all of your pretties. Vicki

Laura said...

Everything looks amazing and you are a tomato growing queen!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend,

Laura

Sherri said...

I just love everything. Each detail. I'm hunting red plates myself! The Dollar store holders are too cute and never would have guessed from there. As Momma said about my Goodwill dishes...well you don't have to tell everyone! ;-)

Sandi (Meme) said...

Well you keep that weather nice, cause I'm comin' to Chicago in a couple of weeks and I don't want to freeze! My daughter is running the Chicago Marathon and I get to go with her! Love the tablescape too, Have a great weekend!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Hi Jane...those are some awesome looking tomatoes...made my mouth water! :-) That must have been quite the garden, you had! Beautiful tablescape...I'll miss summer but I'm trying to embrace fall. I do love all the fall colors this time of year. :-) Happy TT...so glad you played in your dishes this week!
Susan

Tammy@InStitches said...

Your table and your tomatoes are beautiful ! Thanks for coming by my table. Good luck with your new sewing machine, if you can get it threaded that's probably the hardest part ! You'll do great.

Lynn said...

No political statement!
Did I mention that your tomatoes are great!!!

Bill said...

Hi Jane,
Just noticed you're tablescaping again this week! It's always fun to stop by your place for a visit! You share such interesting wit 'n wisdom! Those tomatoes look SO yummy .... I hate to think we'll soon be having to settle for the "cardboard" supermarket variety.

Hope you have an enjoyable weekend!

Bye for now,
Bill

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Jane, your table looks so pretty, and again, your tomatoes should be shown off. They are gorgeous. I'd be proud of them too. Your candle holders are so pretty. I'm going to have to check our $ Tree for those. laurie

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Lovely and unique 'End of Summer' Tablescape. Those tomatoes are beeeeeutiful, so you should show them. :-)

I'd not be too concerned with a bit of melancholy, at this time of year. It takes me a bit of time, to ease into it, myself. But then, something clicks, and I begin to see the Beauty of Autumn. :-)

This is the beginning of your 'Empty Nesting Time' and you seem to be doing wonderfully! But please don't think you have to do wonderfully, EVERY day. :-) It's really quite human/normal to have such changes be, 3 steps forward and 1 or 2 steps back... at times. It will all work out........

From your comment in my blog... You're dealing with 'Mom Memories' too. I hope you take comfort and lots of joy, from memories of her. She sounds like she was a great lady.

Hooray for the sewing machine!

Am I tall? No, just 5' 3". 'Up and down.' But sadly, my 112 lb. 'horizontal self'... Well, it's increased, quite a bit. ,-)

Have a lovely 'Brambly Hedge' kind of weekend!!!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Hi Jane,so glad to meet you.Thank you for stopping by my blog.I have been browsing on your blog and I love it ! I will be following you too !
Now onto the tablescape . Love your table and love the bowl of tomatoes.We sure are going to miss those yummy things aren't we ! The candle holders are terrific! It is amazing what good finds you come upon in the Dollar Tree.

SmilingSally said...

I am still drooling over those homegrown tomatoes. I like your goodbye to summer tablescape!

June said...

Jane, you have created a lovely table here and I not only enjoyed veiwing your photos but enjoyed your lovly words as well. And those tomatoes, well, show them off all you want. You should be pleased with them.
Hugs,
June

Brenda Pruitt said...

I wish I could show off those tomotoes! I surely would. My tomato plant died before it got that far. Your table looks lovely with the light reflected from the windows. You'll be fine with all the children off on their own. Really. You will "find" your own schedule and you'll wonder what you did before you had all this extra time to yourself! Happy weekend, sweet girl!
Brenda

Lori E said...

Better late than never. I can picture an enjoyable dinner with lots of laughs over that table. Not too big, very close and comfy. What time is dinner?

Barb said...

Hi Jane, your tablescape is beautiful. It looks so welcoming and just wonderfully comfortable. Of course, you already know I love the colors and I so envy your tomatoes....how wonderful. We can't grow them here because the lake birds eat them all up. Yikes.

Just gorgeous!

Hugs, Barb ♥

Sherri said...

Hey Lady, thanks for stopping by. As far as apples go...my teen daughter LOVED just simple baked apple slices I served up this week. And I found a recipe for something between apple bread and cake on a blog. LOOKS yummy! Here is the link:
http://baskersfunfoods.blogspot.com/2009/09/celebrating-fall-with-gooey-apple-bread.html

Neabear said...

I thought your votive holders looked familiar to me. Rather than go and dig out my decorations which I have not done yet, I looked at my picures. Sure enough I have what looks like the same votive holders. How cool is that? I think I found mine at Walgreen's since we did not have a Dollar Tree yet at that time. Love your tablescape!

bj said...

O, Blondie...I love this table. It is such pretty colors and so fallish. Your bright red tomatoes...just perfect here!!

Charlotte said...

Everything is so beautiful. I share your love for this time of year. It's a time for reflecting and reminiscing.
Hugs,
Charlotte

Winchester Manor said...

What a fabulous tablescape you created! Aren't home grown tomatoes the best?! Love your fleur de lis glasses and I'm a sucker for vintage salt and pepper shakers...dents and all!

Thank you so much for your visit and your lovely comment!

Hugs,
Karyn

April said...

I always enjoy your tablescapes SOOO much! You have quite the talent, that's for certain! I hope you know how much your support and words of encouragement mean to me as I'm preparing to send Brittany off to college next year. Really means a lot!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Ooooh, those tomatoes looks sooo yummy! Love your close-up photography!

I'm off to get the corn dog casserole recipe now - I love corn dogs! :-D

Katherine

Rettabug said...

This is a wonderful table & you go right ahead & show off your tomatoes!! I understand completely as I've done it, too! (only I didn't think to use them as part of the centerpiece..good thinking!)

Paula@SweetPea said...

You set a pretty tablescape for a early fall dinner. I'm glad that you liked the corn dog casserole. We had it for dinner several nights this week.

Unknown said...

Your table is lovely and I love the tomatoes included on the table. They are magnificent this time of year. I went to get my pumpkins the other day and they were selling the most gorgeous tomatoes.

The fall leaves are changing so fast already. It makes you want to stop time so that you can enjoy everything before it has changed into winter.

Have a lovely day. I mailed you package, hopefully you will have it by Monday.

Karen

Rue said...

Hi Jane :)

What a beautiful goodbye to summer tablescape! I am so jealous of your tomatoes. I really wanted to try my hand at them, but hopefully next year now that we're settled... oh and if I ever get over this stinkin' cold... ugh.

Thank you for your sweet answer to my question. I think I do in fact have a fever ;)

xo,
rue

Joyce said...

Thanks for the link to the recipe. I copied it so I can serve it at a football party this season. It is still very much summer here in Atlanta with some floods thrown in by Mother Nature to welcome Fall and to keep us all on our toes or atleast in water and mud. Very sad for so many people here. The sun is shining today and that is a good thing. I wish it would stay summer all year long:)
Joyce

Monica said...

Hi Jane!
Thanks for your recent lovely comments, and I am sure you're creative enough to make a tag!!! I think a stamped one would be a pleasure to receive too! Can you rubber stamp??;)))))))
It is always a delight to 'see' you!
Hugs,
Monica x.

Sue said...

How come every time I go into the Dollar Tree to see all that you gals post, and ours has nothing even remotely resembling what you buy?! Must be the area I'm in or something. Anyway, I love the red, always a favorite in my book, ya know. And those glasses from Pier 1 are just so cute. Hey, I had a brilliant idea for the rooster and his wifey. Just waiting for their arrival. Then I'll let you in on the secret...
xoxo Sue

Mary said...

Are those sunflowers in the window, or little heads with dreads, lol!!!!

Jane dear, you sound a little melancholy. I think when the seasons change, especially to Autumn and Winter, we go through a period of sadness. It's not that we don't like the change, perhaps more worrying about all the new things needing to be planned and done. I heard someone mention Christmas last week when I was in Homegoods!! My stomach turned, my heart thumped and I couldn't bear thinking about all the work ahead! I think I may run away this year, seriously!

I guess we just need to remember 'carpe diem' and keep on keeping on!

Have a fabulous Chicago week dear.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Dearheart...

Just read your sweet note that you left on my Sunday Favorites post...I always enjoy your notes and visits, my friend!!! You're so sweet...always bring a smile to my heart!!!

Girlfriend, I'm happy that autumn has made it to Colorado! Ahhh...I couldn't help but be a bit meloncholy along with you...I miss those days as well...when my home was a hustle-bustle with my three daughters! Ahhh...so as the seasons change...so do the seasons of life! I do enjoy, like you said, having a little more time to do the things I enjoy! That part is sweet!

Well Darlin'...you created an absolutely gorgeous tablescape for us to feast our eyes upon! Ohhh, and I'm just as pleased as punch about your pretty plump tomatoes! They really are gorgeous...and there's nothing like eating a homegrown tomato!!! The beautiful red of them makes for a pretty table centerpiece!!! They match your dinner plates, Girl! Hehe! Lovely place settings...and ohhh, I do love your fabulous fleur de lis glasses! I'd love to have a set of those! So pretty!!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful home...love that pretty backyard scenery...and your beautiful tablescape too!!! By the way...you lucky girl...you have two gardens? One at your lake house too? Sweet!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane! Oh, I love your pretty table and just look at those tomatoes! Everything is so pretty!
Oh, thanks for the visit! Maybe one day you'll be a grandmother! :) I had just about given up!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Lorrie said...

Hi Jane, your opening paragraph has captured my feelings exactly. We moved to this house 15 years ago at this time of year, and something about the light always reminds me of those days when my three kids were still home and would be coming through the door from school each afternoon. The years pass so quickly.

Your tablescape is just lovely!

Martha said...

A very pretty table.

{oc cottage} said...

What a great table!!!!!

m ^..^

Unknown said...

Lovely Jane. I love your little glasses from Pier One. And for the tomatoes - I just went to the Farmer's Market for some of the last ones this year. BLT with avocado one more time.
Happy Twirls

Phyllis @Around the House said...

Wow I am so jealous of those wonderful tomatoes, they look wonderful on your table, I am afraid at my house they wouldn't last long enough to display. Your tablescape is lovely, thanks for sharing...come visit...Phyllis

Anonymous said...

Everything looks so beautiful but I love those Pier 1 glasses above all. The color is so soft and sweet. I'm ready for a meal at your home. Just lovely.

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Its a beautiful tablescape, Jane!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Hi, precious... I have really missed you! Am on a borrowed laptop, but I'm going to try and catch up on some back reading.

Love your tablescape, Janie. It's still summer in Florida, too, and it probably will be till January! LOL!

Love you...

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Janie, I just caught up with your other posts. I am thinking of you and sending you GREAT BIG cyber hugs. Please email me when you get a chance.

XOXOXO,

Sheila

Maryrose said...

Hi Janie,
Just wanted to stop in and say hi. Your end of summer is so bittersweet. It's hard to let go of the lazy days of summer and move on to Fall. I have been thinking about you lately. I always enjoy your visits and sweet comments. Hope today brings smiles.
Maryrose