MOTHER'S DAY TABLESCAPE AND A GARDEN PARTY

Hi everyone!   I am back from the lake just in time to join Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish.  I am also Joining Tracie for Cottage Garden Party.  Visit her blog, Fishtail Cottage to see all the beautiful blooms sprouting up!

I sort of knew what dishes I wanted to use for this tablescape, a Mother's Day theme suggested by Kathleen.  I've had these dishes by Wedgwood for a very long time.  I found them at an antique shop for $25.00 (service for 4).  Other than deciding on the dishes, I wasn't really sure what else I would use for this table.  While at the lakehouse this past weekend, I was rummaging through a cabinet where I keep my linens and came across this old tablecloth that I picked up somewhere!  I couldn't believe my eyes because the embroidery was the same shade of blue as the dishes I had planned to use!  So I brought it home and put this together this morning.

A little shabby table chandelier and some tea light holders complete the simple look.  White napkins, old silver and every day wine glasses were added.

I love the ruffly rims on these plates. 

So this pretty table setting is dedicated to my sweet mother, who passed away 11 years ago.  This picture was taken of her on Lake Michigan when she was just a teen.  She really was a beauty.  Thanks for being such a great Mom...I miss you everyday. 

Now, for Tracie's party.  Off we went to the lake on Saturday morning.  Actually it was more like afternoon and we didn't get much done other then giving the boxwood a good trimming.  Thankfully our lawn service started a few weeks ago so nothing looked too overgrown.  On Sunday, The Husband went out for some mulch and came home with 2 hibiscus plants and a rose tree.  He must have felt bad because Mrs. Hibiscus II did not make it over the winter.  In fact, she was the only thing I lost.  My ferns need a lot of water and sunshine but otherwise my jade plant and the palm trees survived thanks to my sweet neighbor, Susie, who came in and watered them. 

This is one hibiscus, I never had one in yellow...

...and this one looks just like the one that died so I'll call her Mrs. Hibiscus III.  You can see the rose tree in the background.

While I tended to the inside of the house, The Husband cleaned out all the flower beds and put in dark brown shredded bark.  I like this stuff because it doesn't look fussy.  This is his rock garden.  Note the two trellises on each side*

We can't remember what he planted between the stones but it's very pretty and does well.  We have also forgotten the names of the other plants we have in the bed, but when they bloom maybe it will jog our memories!

*This is one of the trellises I mentioned.  I found them last year at our floral shop in town.  It was too late in the season to plant anything but this year I am going to start sweet peas climbing.  Can't wait!

This is my flower bed which The Husband so kindly cleaned up.  These are daisies that haven't bloomed yet, you might remember them from last summer.  They are SO healthy!  And on the vintage trellis is my climbing rose that I worried all winter about.  It's doing lovely and has a ton of buds on it.

So while The Husband labored outside, I cleaned and scoured inside.  After a few hours the house smelled like Murphy's Oil Soap and Windex!  All I have left to do is one bathroom and the guest house...Yay!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I am back to housecleaning here and tons of laundry.  Yesterday after getting back from the lake, I just vegged out all day.  I'm making up for it today!  Have a good week! :-)