Dinner On A Tray

More often than not,

dinner here at HFTS is served on

a tray rather than sitting at the dining room table.

No room for a pretty stack,

just a simple dinner plate.

Printemps

by Sigma for Tastesetter.

Cotten linens

 from the South of France.

Little pockets 

to hold the flatware.

Blue glass stem

for a glass of wine.

~ Simple Healthy Dinner ~

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Brown Rice

Grilled Salmon With Preserved Meyer Lemons

Recipe Here

Even dinner on a tray can be pretty!

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Think out of the box 

when you are out shopping.

These cute little flatware pockets 

are actually potholder mitts.

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Dog Days of Summer ~ A Refresher

According to ancient Rome,

Dog Days of Summer 

last from July 23 to August 24.

Well, I'm here to tell you that

with the Texas heat,

Dog Days

of lethargy and inactivity are still here.

It's definitely the season 
for afternoon naps

followed by a refreshing treat.

Like an icy cold 

glass of lemonade.

Along with a slice of

 delicious Meyer Lemon cake.

~ Lorina ~

Delicious ~ Sparkling ~ Lemonade

Nothing better on a hot summer day

than citrus drinks to quench one's thirst.

Any way you slice it,

this lemon cake is full of goodness.

Tangy with a 

touch of sweetness.

Elegant and Light

An afternoon citrus refresher.

"When are you going to stop talking 

and cut the cake, Mom?"

"I'm ready!"

The Perfect  Refresher

~ Dog Days of Summer ~

YUMMY!

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

One of the things I've gleaned from watching my "chef" 

is the importance of mise en place, having all ingredients

measured and prepared before one begins cooking.

This practice enables one to cook efficiently and eliminates

the possibility of leaving out a step or ingredient.

Another tip for you when making 

this recipe is to use a spring form pan.

Using a large flat spatula like 

above also allows easy transfer.

You'll find the recipe here

where I originally shared it for

 Cooking With The Meyers.
Silver trays, flatware, plates, and 
vase were all thrifty finds.

Joining

My Happy List @ Art at Home

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Breakfast On The Terrace

Last week I invited you to 

join me for Cocktails On The Terrace here.

Both mornings and evenings have recently offered 

up pleasant breezes, so this week I thought you might

like to join me for Breakfast On The Terrace.

This cheerful tray is from  Le Cadeaux.

 ~ Fleur de Provence Yellow ~ 

A neighbor's recent return from a week in Provence 
has me reminiscing about our own past 
summer provencal vacances.
No summer trips for us this year,
so I have to make my summer fun here.
Join me for a little provencal escape.

Since retirement, I no 

longer get up with the roosters,

but occasionally one will join me for breakfast.

This handsome fellow, surrounded by some of the 
traditional "les indiennes" designs of the South of France, 
was a thrift store find.  I paid all of $3.00

for this delightful needlepoint pillow.

Most mornings I have a bowl 

of lemon yogurt with fresh berries.

Since you are joining me today 

I sliced up some fresh cantaloupe and

made another batch of lemon blueberry muffins.

You'll find the recipe here when I shared them for 

Foodie Friday Mystery Ingredient Club #1.

Coffee, dark and rich,

served in these sunny mugs.

 ~ Printemps by Sigma ~ 

I guarantee these 

lemon blueberry muffins 

are some of best ever!

I may just linger a while longer with my 
daydreams of sunny provence.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bee Happy

It doesnt' take 

much to make me happy.

Take for instance ~

a simple setting 

for an evening meal.

Italian Pottery

Happy Blues and Yellows

Printemps by Sigma 

Wine Stems 

of Blue Glass

French Provencal Napkins

The Sweetest 

Bee Napkin Rings

Parade of Vintage 

Aqua Ball Canning Jars

Flowers From the Garden

~ Menu ~

Spinach

Rack of Lamb

Lime Basil Risotto

Lime Basil Risotto

New York Times Recipe here.

This happy little sign 

hanging in my friend's kitchen.

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

My tidbit for the week........

Savor the simple things in your life.

~ Meals with family and Friends ~

~Flowers in the Garden ~

~ Bee Happy ~

My entry into  

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home Party 

sponsored by Appliances Online

.

Joining

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Potpourri Friday @ 2805

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Happy Hour Friday @ Craftberry Bush

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

On the Menu Monday @ Stone Gable

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasures @ Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe withe an E

Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Blue Skies & Sunshine ~ The Italian Countryside

Blue and Yellow

Let's Dish about a 

favorite color combination.

I happened upon this gorgeous tablescape 

at one of my favorite shops in town.

The sunny yellows made me smile and 

pull out my camera so I could share the happiness.

Love the variety of square 

planters filled with yellow gerbers.  

I like the contemporary touch 

they lend to the very traditional china.

The white linen cloth accented with 

these bright lemons gives the table a crisp look.

Notice how the addition of the 

yellow linen placemats anchors 

the blue and white china so it 

doesn't get lost in the sea of lemons.

The blue and white china is 

Blue Italian by Spode.

Considered a design icon, this pattern was 

inspired by the Italian countryside and

features an 18th century Imari Oriental border.

The pattern goes back to 1816 

and is one of the most popular and 

successful patterns in Spode's collections.  

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

My tip for the week:

If you haven't switched over to the new Blogger interface you are missing out on the ability to super size your images on your posts.

I switched over some time ago and highly recommend it.

Joining

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Open House Friday @ Berindeen's Tea Time

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally's

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

You're Gonna to Love it Tuesday @ Kathe with an E

Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style