With Him In Mind. . .

Father's Day came early this year ~
                                              and early On Crooked Creek!

So~o~o. . .

I called my son and daughter ~in~law. . .

               planned a menu

. . . then set the table for our 2ND Annual B~B~Q!

On Crooked Creek . . . here's
                                         What's On The Menu:

2ND Annual B~B~Q 

B~B~Q Beef Short Ribs

"Bill's Brats"

Creamy Coleslaw

Baked Mac & Cheese

Butterflake Rolls

Iced Tea

Peach Cobbler

Half & Half

Now a Father's Day tablescape ~ with him in mind!

I began with a sage green window pane check tablecloth, then borrowed the coffee table lower level display for the centerpiece. Guess you could say, "I was fishin' for ideas"!

Next, I tried several place mats. I had three different ones on the table at once. Then I called in the 'resident decorator' for his opinion. His choice was the paisley! So~o~o...paisley it is!!!

Keeping  him in mind,
I already knew which dinnerware would be used. . .

"Mr Ed's" Trout plates!!!

From many years past,

a Christmas gift ordered from the Bass Pro Shop catalog!

A complete set for eight!!!

His dinnerware set consists of dinner plates, dessert / salad plates, cereal/ soup bowls and coffee mugs!

The green rim around the dinnerware complements my vintage restaurant dinnerware nicely! We'll be using the serving size bowls for our Butterflake Rolls!

My men hate using cloth napkins!
Perhaps with all the B~B~Q we'll be having today,
                               it's a  'good thing'  to use the paper napkins???



The completed place setting using our wooden handled flatware purchased from our years in Germany.  Our clear bubble glass water goblets will take on an amber hue when filled with iced tea!

Cereal / soup bowls

are awaiting service in the Farmhouse French Style Kitchen!

Today, they'll be used for dessert!

 

Warm,

 fresh from the oven,

Peach Cobbler will be joined with Half & Half for our finale!



Vintage Oven Ware Fire King sugar bowl holds our spoons. . .

while the creamer waits to be filled with

thick, creamy Half & Half!!!

Our table has  been set for four. . .

                   as son and daughter ~ in ~law will be joining us

                                        to commemorate our 2ND Annual B~B~Q!

On Crooked Creek. . .
                                       with him in mind!


Until next time. . .

That's Entertainment!

It's inevitable...
once I begin to make a change in one room On Crooked Creek,
it's only a matter of time before most everything has a re~arrange!

So~o~o. . .
now that the kitchen and dining room cabinets all have a fresh look for Spring. . .it was time to add a few changes to the Entertainment Center!

Long over~due!
Honestly, it was hard for me to believe I hadn't changed anything since last February!


I began with a change in backgrounds and added single floral prints with a silver frame to each side of the Entertainment Center. . .

Keeping a light and simple color palette, I used a Madonna figurine filled with Lily of the Valley and my French Busts.



Vintage soft turquoise vases added a subtle hue to offset the ivory figurines!

Although the clock and frame are of different colors, their similarity of shape keeps the consistency thorough out the cabinet. I adore e v e r y t h i n g about this frame. Its ivory color, the rope detailing, the feminine bow, and especially the dragonfly print!



Remember this is an Entertainment Center. . .
therefore I added a silver tray with two lidded silver crystal jars and an laser cut ivory shell made into a lily pad atop the DVD player on the lower shelf. 

The opposite side holds my CD player. Which, at all times, is fully loaded with calming classical piano selections! Chosen because this model could hold five CD's for continuous play!


Each side was given a sprig or two of ivy to soften the glass. Books in hues of blue, greens and taupe are used as risers and to hide the easels holding the prints.

One of my favorite features of the Entertainment Center is the lighting. The soft lighting showcases our decor items and adds to the overall ambiance in the evenings On Crooked Creek.


Directly below the glass cabinets are open shelves which hold the photos of our parents.
I added similar hued books, a fern filled urn, and a mourning dove alongside of the photos!

The open upper shelf stayed primarily the same. A shift in the direction of books and the addition of a ivy helps to hide the stereo speakers. I did try lying them down flat as suggested by a follower; however, the quality of sound was greatly effected.

The botanical fern prints were added to the Farmhouse window atop the Entertainment Cabinet. Also, the music box. . . elevated helps to balance the arrangement. New soft leafy vines were placed around the bases of the oil lanterns bringing in the green of the Season!

On Crooked Creek. . .
                                        That's Entertainment!


Until next time. . .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com



and, of course, On Crooked Creek will be joining our dear hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! Be sure to visit and come away inspired!

Tranquil Garden Hues. . .

Those who know me well ~
 know I'm NOT an 0ut ~ of ~ doors person!
However,  I do love a beautiful lawn and garden. . .

But ~ once I learned that the garden could contain rooms ~
I began to orchestrate a subtle make ~over On Crooked Creek!


Much like interior decorating ~
I began with a three color palette. 
To keep order and bring tranquility to our urban setting,
I chose. . .

creamy ivory. . .

                                           buttery yellow. . .

                                                         and variations of purple hues. . .

                                                             
against the numerous shades of greens that encompass the lawn On Crooked Creek!



The newest addition, On Crooked Creek,

now in its second year ~
is the Fairy Garden!

Grown from seed, purple hued Saliva serves as backdrop.

Surviving last years drought ~
I could NOT contain my JOY as it began to reach its mature height and delicate, petite purple blossoms burst open!

Giving continual movement ~

a clump of Tiger grass sways

in the ever blowing winds on the Prairie.

As in home decor ~

a pop of color was added in the form of rose variegated Coleus!

A softer, more subtle, shade of rose is found in the Calla Lily

that balances the other side of the Fairy Garden!  

 Oh ~ the thrill that grows from my inner being
as the blooms begins to make their appearance each season!

I adore the feminine,
tranquil appearance of this bloom in its full leaf!

                         Such a vision of beauty and grace for the garden!

I was truly smitten by the beauty and grace

of this Garden Fairy

during an early trip in the Spring 

to our local Lowe's Garden Center.

Certainly appearing at bay ~ 
as she lingers in her very own natural surroundings ~
the Fairy Garden On Crooked Creek!

This is her usual tease ~
as I view her from our deck each morning! 

Positioned to hide her face ~

as one approaches her from any angle in the garden. . .

and yet ~

it is as if she summons me to draw near!

Late afternoon ~

and evening shadows summons me to the indoors

On Crooked Creek!

Perhaps ~

                    another day ~

Season by Season. . .trial and error. . . failure or success ~

we'll explore another room in the gardens ~

                                                                             On Crooked Creek.

Until next time. . .

www.thetablescaper.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek is joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays! This is my first time to join after her kind invitation! Be sure to drop by and enjoy the Seasons inspirations!

Practical Decor. . .

This time around On Crooked Creek. . .                                                                                           it's practical decor!

On Crooked Creek, there is n o  lack of dinnerware!

                                             Quite the contrary. . . to "Mr.Ed's" dismay!

So~o~o . . .
to complete the showing off our green. . .
I put the everyday dinnerware on my two~tier plate rack!

Actually, it was time I devised a practical solution to our over~flowing cabinets!

The built~in china cabinet On Crooked Creek is situated in close proximity to our dining room table.

 Easy enough to grab a bowl for my morning cereal. . .
                                      or a saucer for an afternoon salad or sandwich!

Faux eggplant and a porcelain pear ~ in some vintage bowls ~
bridge the distance between the plates and the ambient lighting!

The cook~book is a wedding gift from my beloved Aunt.
The McCall's Cook Book has been a valuable resource.
It is the "go~to" every year for timing the Thanksgiving Turkey and the Christmas Ham!

Dinnerware is easily replaced after  a quick wash, and again, ready for  daily use!


The Showing Off Our Green built~in china cabinet above. . .

a n d

the Showing Off Our Green vignette below!

On Crooked Creek. . .
                               practical decor for a practical solution
                                                                   to an ever growing problem!

Until next time. . .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek is joining our dear hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! Be sure to visit for inspiration in your own home decor!