A "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea...

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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Today I thought I would share a tea that I set out on my blue cottage veranda.  I actually created this tea table and took the photos last summer, however I never did a post.  I'm not sure what I was waiting for...hehe!  Anyway, I hope that you will enjoy it today!

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A "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea

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Here we are...out on my blue cottage veranda.

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I have set a "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea today!  Won't you join me?
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I decided to use a "Pretty-n-Pink" place setting today.

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This pretty china teacup and saucer will work perfectly!

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The china pattern is called "Roselet"...manufactured by Harmony House.

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This beautiful set of china belonged to my late mother-in-law.  I have a six piece place setting for twelve.  I just adore the bands of delicate pink roses on this set of china!!!

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I have also added a dinner plate to the tea setting...more pink and more roses!

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This pretty-n-pink china is called "Norway Rose"...manufactured by Cunningham & Pickett. 
I love the soft shade of blush pink on the band...oooh...sooo pretty!  I think that these two china patterns compliment one another beautifully!

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A lidded sugar bowl and cream pitcher from the Roselet china.

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I am using one of my favorite teapots for this "Pretty-n-Pink" tea table today.

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I found this little beauty at TJ Maxx for just $9.99.  I love, love, LOVE the delicate, three dimensional roses on the teapot!  A Norway Rose salad plate under the teapot brings a little more pink to the scene...and a pretty white metal charger plate called "Lace" works nicely for the tea tray! 

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A "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea Centerpiece...

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One of my favorite things to do...is to create the table centerpiece!  I like to think of the centerpiece as a "table top vignette". 

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A tall cloche on a pedestal plate, a pair of pearl candleholders, and a lovely "lady in blue" figurine...make up the table top vignette for this "Pretty-n-Pink" tea.

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My "teacup cloche" is the star attraction!

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I love how the stack of pretty teacups and saucers look under the cloche!  Do you see the roses at the base of the pedestal plate?  These pretty roses are made out of soap flakes!  I found a box of nine roses at the Dollar Tree.  Not only are they pretty...but they have a lovely scent as well!

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Two pearl candleholders sit to the left of the teacup cloche.

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A pearl-like glass mosaic and pearl beads decorate the bowl and bases of the candleholders.  I found these beauties at Hobby Lobby and have gotten miles of use out of them!

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The lovely "lady in blue" figurine sits to the right of the teacup cloche.

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She looks like she is dressed and ready for tea...don't you think?

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The "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea Linens...

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I layered two crochet doilies on the tea table...a large ecru colored doily...with a smaller white doily on top.

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Vintage Handkerchiefs and White Lace Tea Napkins...

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I also layerd the tea napkins...a white tea napkin trimmed in lace and a vintage handkerchief makes for a pretty combo!  The silver basket holds more tea napkins.  I love the beautiful colors and designs on the vintage handkerchiefs...sooo prefect for a tea table!

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Silver teapot napkin rings for the tea napkins.

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You can see a little bit of my blue cottage veranda in this photo. 
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Last summer I gave the veranda a long, over-due makeover.  I sewed a new cover (top) for the swing and I made a quilt to place over the seat of the swing as well.  New pillows out of coordinating fabrics were made and frilly little chair slips to dress the chairs.

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If you look closely...you will see a little cherub on the small table beside the swing!

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This sweet little cherub is holding pearls and a pretty gold filigree brooch on the leaf!  Oh yes...and there are a few decorating books to look at while sipping tea!

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And Voila...there you have it...a "Pretty-n-Pink" Rose Tea!  I hope you enjoyed!!!

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I am joining these fabulous parties...

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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

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Tuesday Tea for Two...hosted by Wanda over at The Plumed Pen.

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Tea Time Tuesday...hosted by Sandi over at Rose Chintz Cottage.

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Thank you, dear ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!

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Well my friends...I am so happy that you came by today for a visit!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!

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Warmest Summery Wishes!

Sunday Favorites...No. 106

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Welcome to the 106th "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!!!

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Welcome to the 106th run of "Sunday Favorites"
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I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend!  It's another "beautiful weather" weekend here in Colorful Colorado!  I just love summer...don't you?   
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Today for Sunday Favorites, I thought I would share a post from June, 2009...called "It's a Cloche Party...A Few of My Favorite Things".  I hope that you enjoy!

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Have a super Sunday!!!
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Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria
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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!
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Thank you!!!

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Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

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If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

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Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.

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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

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Sunday Favorites

My favorite post from: June 18, 2009

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It's A Cloche Party!!!

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*Hello my friends...the day has finally arrived for the Cloche Party!!! I've been soooo excited!!!
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*This fabulous Cloche Party is being hosted by a very dear friend of mine...Marty from A Stroll Thru Life blog. If you haven't ever met Marty, you really must go over to her place and do so...she's just the sweetest gal and she has the most delightful blog! I can guarantee you that you'll make a dear friend and be totally inspired by her beautiful home and many great ideas and never ending talents!!!

While you're over at Marty's, you'll find a list of all the participants or should I say, "party-goers"! Hehe!!! I just know that there will be so many beautifully decorated cloches and apothecary jars on display!!! I'm always ready for some new and innovative ideas when it comes to decorating!!!

Pre-party Excitement...

This week, due to all of my excitement about the Cloche Party, I did a little pre-party posting!

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Monday I posted my "Cherub in a Jar"...apothecary jar, that is!

Tuesday..."Bird's Nest Under Glass" cloche!

Wednesday..."Bunny in a Jar"...another apothecary jar design!

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You can just scroll down to those posts to see them...I sure hope that you'll take a peek at them!

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Without further ado...here is my contribution or little "party favor" for the Cloche Party!

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"Cloches & Buttons and Creamy White Ironstone"

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...."

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My Miniature Cloche

This is a miniature cloche that I found at an antique shop several months ago. It was on sale for just $2...that incuded the little glass pedestal plate that it's sitting on as well! This little cloche only measures 6 in. tall (10 in. tall including the pedestal plate).

I searched and searched for something pretty to put in my miniature cloche...and finally decided to add a bunch of pretty gold, black, and white buttons! I tied a feathery white ribbon to the handle and added an vintage looking key!

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In celebration of the Cloche Party...I wanted to make a vignette using my newly decorated cloche.
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 I took one of my silver handled trays and added a few of my favorite things...a creamy white ironstone soup tureen...a silver beaded rope with tassels...a silver frenchy looking ornament...a couple of silver candleholders with white candles...and my newly decorated cloche filled with pretty gold buttons!
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A New Vignette for the Living Room
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In my olive colored living room, I have a beautiful picturesque window...it's very large and situated right next to the front door of our home...so it recieves much attention. I have an antique mohogany sofa table placed in front of this window. I think this will be the perfect place for "A Few of My Favorite Things" vignette!
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I placed the silver tray with my newly decorated cloche in the center of the sofa table. I added a large crystal vase full of white hydrangeas to the left side of the tray...and a couple of old books with my favorite french girl bust...to the right side!
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Voila!!!...now I have a brand new vignette for my living room table!
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My french girl bust...isn't she sweet?

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A few "artsy" photos of the buttons in a cloche!

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I found a new toy...the frosted window frame around my cloche photo is an effect that can be found at Flickr!
I love how this pretty frosted frame looks!!!
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Ooooh...so many pretty kinds of buttons!
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Another photo framing technique from Flickr!
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I have just learned how to make mosaics with my photos...I've been having soooo much fun doing this!
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Well my friends...thank you for letting me share a "Few of My Favorite Things" with you today! I hope that you enjoyed my new vignette and my miniature cloche full of pretty buttons!!!

Summer Entertaining...and a Seaside ~~Water~~ Tablescape

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A Seaside ~~Water~~ Tablescape
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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It's here...it's finally here! 

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Summer that is! 

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 As of June 21st, we "officially" entered into the summer season.  Summer offers a multitude of opportunities...don't you agree?  The warmer temperatures bring about all kinds of change...inside and outside...of our homes.  It's time to "lighten and brighten" up our decor.  It's time to get out in the garden. 

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and...

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It's time to do a little summer entertaining!  One of my most favorite things to do!!!

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Today I thought I would share with you a summer tablescape that I created two years ago (June 2009) called ~~Water~~A Seaside Tablescape.  One of the first things that summer brings to mind...for me...is the seaside.  Maybe it's because I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas for 30 years.  I loved spending time at the beach and it was especially extraordinary during the summer!  Of course I am now living in Colorado...no where near the water...but that doesn't stop me from creating a summer "seaside experience" in my dining room!  Hehe!  I really loved how this summer table turned out and I hope that you enjoy it as well!

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It's time for a little summer entertaining...will you join me?

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~~~Water~~~
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The Tablescape scene is set...

I have set the table in our French Country dining room.
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Setting the Scene...Ambiance

The definition of ambiance is: the mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment.

Just like setting the scene for an act of a play...ambiance sets the scene for your table!!! The lighting...the music...even the type of dishes, table centerpiece, and linens contribute to the ambiance of your dining experience!!!

Ambiance can take a great tablescape and lift it into the realm of FABULOUS!
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*The lighting...the soft romantic glow of candlelight!
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The centerpiece...seashells and sea glass in soft shades of blue & green...a little moss and rattan...and what speaks ~~Water~~better than a few starfish scattered about!
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The Place Setting...

As I mentioned earlier, I purchased these dishes several weeks ago. I have seen some gorgeous "coastal" tablescapes in blogland and I really wanted a set of "coastal or shell" dishes. This set is called...yep, you guessed it, ~~Water~~ from JC Penneys. When I first saw them, I thought Ooooh...I want those but they were to expensive for my pocketbook...soooo....I waited (as any good little bargain shopper would do...hehe!)

Ohhh yea....they went on sale...they were really marked down...and on top of that, I had a 20% off discount coupon! Yeeeehawwww!!!

This set was originally $162.00 for a 4 piece place setting for four.

I paid only...are you ready?...can I have a drumroll please...

I paid only $59.60 for the entire set!!!

(Oh yea...oh yea...I'm still doin' the Happy Dance over this one! Hehe!)
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~~Water~~

Home Collection by JC Penneys

Dinner plate (a nice sized 11" plate, ivory, with embossed shells and starfish)
Salad/dessert plate (8 7/8 in., ivory, embossed with shells and starfish)
Soup bowl (7 x 3 in. tall, shell shaped, ivory)
Canape plate ( 7x5 in., shell shaped, ivory)
Water/Iced Tea goblets from Dollar Tree...$1 ea.
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The Shell Soup Bowl...

These shell soup bowls are really nice sized! A healthy serving of soup or a salad can be served in these pretty shell bowls!!! They are large enough that they could be used for a vegetable serving dish as well.
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*The Salad/Dessert Plate...

I just love the embossed design on the salad/dessert plates...shells, starfish, lobster & crabs swim around the border!*

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*A close-up so you can see the pretty pattern!
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*The Dinner Plate...

Ohhh...I do love these pretty seashell plates...the shells are nearly 3-dimensional! These plates measure 11 in. They are actually large enough that they can double as a charger plate.
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The Canape Plate...

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*The Table Dressing...

Just as ambiance is important to setting the scene of the tablescape...so is the dressing of the table!

The table linens and placemats act as the foundation for your tablescape!

The Table Cloth & Napkins...

I found this beautiful striped tablecloth with matching napkins, called "Kendall", at Pottery Barn. The fabric has a nice substantial feel to it and is 100% cotton. The napkins are a generous 20x20 ins.

I love the washed out look of the off-white, brown, blue, and green stripes!!! It's exactlly what I had envisioned for this ~~Water~~tablescape...a fabric with a distresssed look, if you will!

The Napkin Rings...

I found stretchy shell bracelets at Walmart made by Panama Jack...I attached a seashell and used these for the napkin rings. One of the things that I enjoy most about doing a tablescape is coming up with creative ideas for the table...I just love the seashell bracelets for the napkin rings. $3.97 for a package of 3 bracelets!

The Placemats...

I found these pretty rattan placemats at the Dollar Tree. They're perfect...made of rattan and in soft sea colors of green and blue. I decided to layer the placemats...placing a green rattan mat over the top of a blue rattan mat. Only $1 each!*

 

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The Centerpiece...

Ohhh...I do love making the centerpieces for a tablescape!!!

My New Wire Rattan Finial...

I purchased this large wire rattan finial from JC Penneys at the same time that I got my dishes. I just love the dark French Roast color and it makes quite a statement at 20 ins. tall! It was also on sale for $17.99...I think I will get alot of use from this beauty!!!

I put moss in the bottom of the finial so that I could place a candle in the center. I added different kinds of seashells around the edges of the candle! Then I placed the finial atop a rattan mat. I used fresh fern fronds around the base of the finial...scattered blue and green sea glass...and added a few starfish!
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*Candles and Candle Holders...

Hand crafted Seashell candles...

Ahhh...do you remember these seashell pillar candles? I made these last week! For the tutorial you can click HERE...it will take you to that post!

I had so much fun crafting these. JC Penneys had similar pillar candles that went with my seashell dishes but ohhh myyy...they were $49.99 for just 3 little candles...eeekkkss!!! I wasn't about to pay that much for candles so I made my own...two 6" seashell pillar candles for just $4.85!!!

I had these chunky white glass candle holders...added twine around the base for a "coastal" feel! It's all in the little details...isn't it? Hehe!!! I really like how my homemade seashell candles look with the "coastal" candle holders!!!

Votive Candles...

I found these glass votive candle holders at the Dollar Tree...$1 ea.! They just had a nautical feel to them...hehe! I added crushed seashells to the bottom of the votives...placed a white candle atop and added a few small shells around the candles!

Each place setting has its own votive candle holder!*

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*An "artsy" photo
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~~Water~~
...by day!
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~~Water~~

...by night!

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Well my friends...I hope that you enjoyed my ~~Water~~tablescape!
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I am joining the Blogger Block Party...
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"Summer Entertaining"

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with Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.

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A special thank you to all the dear ladies that have hosted this fabulous, week-long, Blog Party for us!  Thank you, Sherry for hosting the "Summer Entertaining" party at your place!

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Well dear friends...I am sooo happy that you stopped by today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here....I would love to visit with you!

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Warmest Summery Wishes!