Thursday, May 4, 2017

Alfresco May Day Lunch




It has been a glorious spring here in Texas.
The cool, sunny days this time of year
remind me of why I love living in Austin.

May 1st is known as May Day around the world.
In many places, it is a day filled with marches and protests,
but for me, May Day is about flowers and 
sharing a sweet bouquet with family and friends.
I fondly remember the tradition of May Pole dances
in the early years of my elementary school days.
We made May Baskets and left them as gifts for others.

When a cousin phoned to say she wanted
to spend some time together on Monday,
I decided it was the perfect opportunity to set an
alfresco lunch out on our terrace.

Everyone knows I love an excuse to set a pretty table,
so the impromptu visit had me gathering up
my favorite MacKenzie-Childs 
dishes to set our table.

A gift bouquet of tulips were added to
another small bouquet of mixed flowers to fill my sweet
Rose Cottage vase from MacKenzie-Childs' Taylor Ceramics.

Each setting began with a Courtly Check charger.
Fluted edged dinner plate in King Ferry
was paired with a mini compote in Dublin Hill.

This setting is a dinner plate in Madison
paired with a mini compote in Glen Park.

Plaid and floral napkins by April Cornell
and golden bee napkin rings were a nod to the
whimsey of MacKenzie-Childs.

Refreshing iced tea .   .   .

With a slice of lemon hit the 
spot as we sat down to enjoy lunch.

Chicken salad in avocado boats and
a side of fruit was served with a choice of soup.

I had a delicious
Canadian Cheese Soup.

Karyn enjoyed a 
cup of tasty lentil soup.

Terra Beauregard Sweet Potato chips
added something crunchy.

Dessert waited under this hand-painted
glassware cloche in the Tulip pattern.

Chocolate covered coconut macaroons
along side cranberry and orange coconut macaroons
were picked up from Whole Foods.

What a treat to have my 
sweet cousin stop by for a visit.
Click here to read another post that features 
Karyn's 50th Birthday Luncheon.

Thanks for joining me today.
Happy Month of May!

For more information about these beautiful 
MacKenzie-Childs dishes, 
pop back over to my previous post here.
You can order these retired patterns through May 14th





Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

40 comments:

  1. Sarah, What a treat for anyone to sit at your beautiful table and dine alfresco! I'm swooning over those lush tulip blooms, they look like peonies. I love your collection of MacKenzie-Childs and your lunch looks delicious too.

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  2. All I have to say Sarah is your cousin is one lucky lady. Remember the show "Queen for a Day?" I bet that's exactly how she felt. I love all your MC accessories. And the food looks absolutely delish. I running over to MC now to see if they still have that darling rooster pitcher. Enjoy your week, sweet Sarah.

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  3. Karen was so lucky to spend the afternoon with you - you are truly a wonderful hostess. Your MC dishes are lovely and the lunch looked delish! Enjoy your beautiful weather!

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  4. Oh, to be a guest at such a beautiful table! It looks divine -- everything from the gorgeous dishes to the beautiful flowers and the wonderful sounding food. Oh, you make May Day fun!

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  5. Looks like you are in Provence..I love that last photo of the two of you w/ the sweet bird nesting above:)Gorgeous..and the artwork tucked to the left♥♥♥♥

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  6. What a wonderful luncheon! The weather this spring here in Texas has been wonderful. The heat has taken its time arriving, and I have been loving all the cool mornings here in Houston!

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  7. Sarah,
    Our spring has been one of the best in many years. Your outdoor space is a perfect place to enjoy lunch.

    Judith

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  8. What a beautiful table and beautiful setting. Everything you have featured is sublime. Love it!

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  9. What an incredibly beautiful luncheon Sarah! I am swooning over all your MKC lovelies! A special setting and treat for your special visit, and I hope you saved some of that Canadian Cheese Soup for me!
    Jenna

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  10. Such a lovely table for two decorated so nicely and the food looks delicious! Good for you going the extra mile to make things special for your cousin. From the flowers to the dishes and the tablecloth, everything looks lovely!

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  11. Beautiful! You are such an incredibly Southern woman, Sarah, with such fine hostessing flair! I adore that h/p tulip glass cloche! The La Rochere is on my wishlist. ;)

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  12. Sarah, such a a lovely spot to serve lunch, which looks delicious by the way. Of course your collection of MC dishes are so perfect for a cool spring alfresco setting. You have such lovely pieces. I'm sure your cousins enjoyed the setting and what fun to catch up! Love the pic of you and Karyn, lovely. Happpy May Sarah...........

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  13. What a delightful day you two must have had! Sarah, your cousin is just beautiful & I see the strong family resemblance. How nice that she was able to visit with you & enjoy your wonderful selection of lunch items on such pretty dishes. You truly have a flair for entertaining!

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  14. Hi Sarah. You always set the most beautiful table and the food looks delicious! Happy May 🌸

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  15. What a lovely setting, your cousin must of felt very special. Just stunning.

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  16. Dearest Sarah,
    I'm far sure that you spent an awesome May Day, what a charm you shared !

    Wishing you much joy for the remainder of this wonderful month,
    I'm sending blessings across the many miles

    XOXO Daniela at - My little old world - (Dany)

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  17. What beauties you and Karyn are, Sarah, and Sadie fits right in, too!! Your table, centerpiece, dishes and menu all make for a fabulous alfresco lunch on your patio. Did your Chef fix the lunch for you lovely ladies?
    Happy May to you!

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  18. You created such a nice setting and menu for your cousin. What a special treat for both of you. Can't help but love the MacKenzie Child's dishes! Those are beautiful tulips 🙂

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  19. Your beautiful table and all of your MC dishes are only rivaled by the delicious lunch you served, Sarah! I love to treat a guest, too, and you made this very special. I know your cousin truly appreciated the time you put in to make this al fresco lunch a treat!

    I'm off to look at some of these recipes!

    Jane x

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  20. You always set such beautiful tables!

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  21. Sarah, your alfresco dining is divine. Love all of your dishware....MC has some lovely piece. The flowers are beautiful as well to compliment you beauty vignette seating. What a pleasure your cousin got to enjoy along with Sadie and you.

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  22. What a beautiful tablescape! I love those dishes.

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  23. Sarah, what a perfect alfresco lunch! The Tablescape with MC is gorgeous and the food looks delicious!

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  24. Oh Sarah, your table was simply stunning. Everything was perfect and the food, WOW. I am sure your lovely cousin really appreciated that wonderful lunch and tablescape. Love all the MC dishes that you used.

    Have a wonderful week.

    Mary

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  25. What a wonderful setting for a celebratory lunch with your cousin, the M-C and delightfully whimsical accessories set off that delicious food perfectly, such a lovely day. Love cushion/pillow with the bee motif.
    Happy MM, dear friend.

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  26. A happy Mosaic Monday, thanks for such a pretty and loving share

    much love...

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  27. What a wonderful lunch! Dining alfresco and on MacKenzie-Childs'! Wow! Happy Monday!

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  28. Oh Sarah, I was amazed when you said the flowers were tulips, I thought they were peonies!!! How beautiful! What a very special table you set for your cousin and the menu sounds wonderful! Wish I had been there too!!! Happy May!

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  29. All the colors and wonderful food make your luncheon look so festive! Very pretty.

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  30. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous ❤︎

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  31. How lovely to be able to eat outdoors already. We'd need jackets and blankets here. Your table is beautiful!

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  32. Sarah, It`s great to have folks willing to spend time. Your table looks great, the food sounds delicious and the company looks like it was very nice. Love the bee cushion. Sylvia D.

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  33. Dearest Sarah,
    Wow, that was a perfect spring weather setting on your terrace!
    This is the best time of the year, no doubt. That is, after all the pollen has vanished!
    Love your linens, silver, china and the Chefs yummy servings.
    Terra chips are the very best and no sodium.
    You are lucky for having a Whole Foods nearby, we have to drive about 2.5 hours one-way...
    Love the photo with you and Karyn, sharing sweet Sadie!
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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  34. Such a lovely setting, a luscious looking lunch and so nice to have company and enjoy a leisurely visit on a beautiful day~

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  35. What a delightful luncheon! The setting and the food all are lovely. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Vintage Charm.

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  36. Sarah I need a little larger peak at your gardens! They are so gorgeous! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  37. Sarah, you are have having delightful weather. So nice that you and Karen were able to spend a joyful afternoon chatting! xxoo

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  38. How absolutely wonderful! I could spend all day out there on your lovely patio with that beautifully set table and delicious looking food. What a sweetheart you are to make such a wonderful setting for your cousin. I love that picture of the two of you :)

    xo

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  39. I just love those April Cornell napkins. Such a fun luncheon. Have a wonderful week filled with sunshine.

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