Backyard Beauty

I am very late with this week's Tablescape Thursday post as I had trouble uploading my pics from Flickr as they changed the format there recently.

 However, without further ado, here it is!

Do you ever wish you had a delightful deck, a pretty porch, a cozy cabana or the perfect patio? 

And if you did, you would be able to set the most beautiful outdoor tablescape, right?

Well, this is to show you, you don't need any of those places!  Just carry out a table to a patch of grass in your backyard and let the fun begin!

That is exactly what I did one sunny day this week!

I chose to use sunny yellow and grass green colours to compliment the surroundings.

This table is usually indoors beside our front windows but out it came!
I also moved over two chairs from our cabana furniture.

Above, are the sunny sunflowers that inspired this 'scape.

I've had this snail, frog and turtle candle set by Partylite for years and years.

I placed a sunflower candle holder (also Partylite years ago) in each bowl. 

Can't believe the breeze didn't blow them out! 
Yes, candles must always be lit - even in the hot sun!

Below, you will notice the sunflower design on the tablecloth.

Each place setting has a froggie for company!

Now, I hope you will discover the beauty you can create on a patch of grass.  Don't worry about having the latest "outdoor space" to set your table. Use what Mother Nature intended!

 Thank you to our gracious hostess, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Head on over!

This Time, We Made It!

 Mr. Delight and I have been away on vacation where we hopped on his Harley and took a motorcycle trip to Sturgis, South Dakota.

Some of you may remember that we had tried to make it there last year but had 
an accident on the way. (see here) 

This time, all went well and we had a fabulous time.  

It was quite an experience to see so many motorbikes/people in one place!

We also enjoyed touring parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. The highways in the States are fantastic - the back-roads are like our (Canadian) highways!  We can't wait to go back again and tour some other areas! 

Since I haven't done much tablescaping lately and in keeping with the theme of our vacation, I thought I'd do a repeat broadcast of the Harley Davidson setting I posted last year at this time. Sorry to those of you who remember it!

Mr. Delight challenged me to do a table setting and dinner (for 5 couples including us) incorporating something we all enjoy doing which is riding our Harley Davidson motorcycles. (I'm a content passenger, i.e. no desire to get my own bike!)  It was so FUN to do because Mr. Delight got involved and while I came up with the place settings/dishes, he did the centerpiece and accessories on the table. You will see, it was a challenge to make them look like you wanted to eat there!



Since the Harley Davidson colours are black, orange and white, I thought it was a good time of year to do it as it was just before Halloween and we were soon going to be putting our bikes away for the winter.

Mr. Delight came up with the idea for two cylinders (do you know your bike parts? lol!) as a centerpiece which were put around a glass vase with a HD print-out inside and a HD bandana tied around. The pipes (heat shields) became a "runner" down the length of the table. Used the skulls for a "bad biker" look as well as the Halloween time of year.

I was thrilled to find these burnt orange coloured plates at a local store (were pricey but I NEEDED them!) which matched the HD colours perfectly. I added a cardboard drink coaster on top of each salad plate and a black charger to complete the look. Two mirrors (one seen) off bike were displayed on the opposite side of the cylinders.

I had two square black plates (could only get 8 of the orange) so used them along with the square white salad plates. I made a HD print-out for on top of the plates (only had 8 coasters too!) which was removed before the salad was served. For the soup course, I used my pumpkin bowls as they went with the orange part of it and the time of year, but forgot to take a pic of them.

Each guest received a take home gift which was a box of chocolates. I bought some small boxes of choc wrapped in orange paper for Halloween so added the HD print-out to go with the theme. The place setting cards were made with print-outs as well and put in photo frames.

A chrome air filter cover makes a shiny candle holder! A HD patch off an old leather jacket makes a statement.

A shock absorber, HD drink glasses used as candle holders and a tail light add to the look.

Hard to read but I prepared a six course meal on top of all the table decorating!

Hope you enjoyed a very DIFFERENT themed tablescape!!  Now that we are back from our motorcycle trip, I'm anxious to host another "Harley Davidson Dinner Party" and share all our adventures with our friends!
Be sure to check out all the other fabulous tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch hosted by the always inspiring, Susan!