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Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Category Archives: Entertaining

National Ice Cream Day

17 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert

≈ 30 Comments

Hi Friends, Happy Summer!

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

{When Olivia comes for a visit in August, we’ll be headed to the beach at least once}

I’ve been enjoying a relaxing summer so far, how about you? When I’m not working at my day job I’m spending time in the garden (I’ll have to provide a post on some of my successes, and failures, on that score), entertaining via backyard BBQ’s, and reading a few good books.

Today is National Ice Cream Day and I couldn’t let it pass without sharing a few images of summer fun and ice cream.  They truly go hand in hand, don’t they?

Garden, Home and Party: national ice cream day

For obvious reasons I try not to eat ice cream everyday, but when I have an excuse [it’s hot and only ice cream will cool me down; we need a dessert for our back yard BBQ; I’m on vacation so calories don’t count, or it’s the weekend] I like to enjoy a scoop of ice cream in a bowl or prepare an ice cream cake for dessert for a summer dinner party.  I make it a health food by throwing on a few berries! 🙂

Summer activities for Mr. B and me might include a Duffy boat excursion.  There is a group of us that chip in, not only for rental fees, but to provide easy appetizers and a bottle or two of wine. This is one of my favorite summertime activities.  Unfortunately, no ice cream can be included since there’s no way to keep it frozen.

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

This recipe from Southern Living looked too delicious to pass up.  Find the printable recipe HERE This recipe is one I plan on trying for our upcoming backyard BBQ.

Garden, Home and Party national ice cream day

Garden, Home and Party, National ice cream day

During the summer months, ice cream seems to be the ideal treat no matter what form you prefer. I love the idea of individual desserts and this sundae in a pastry shell with freshly made blueberry sauce looks scrumptious.

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

Ice cream sandwiches from Williams Sonoma sound like they would be easy to make and oh, so delicious!

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

{via}

These little ice cream cups look delicious and healthy topped with blueberries.

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

{via}

Pioneer Woman’s Ice Cream Pie with Easy Caramel Sauce looks like something I’d make year round.

Garden, Home and Party: National Ice Cream Day

Now I’m hungry for ice cream!

Garden, Home and Party: National ice cream day

I hope your summer has been filled with more than your usual share of fun and ice cream!  I’m planning to be back to blogging weekly in early September, I hope you’ll stop by!

 

Coffee and the machines that prepare it for us

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Drink, Kitchen

≈ 39 Comments

Tags

coffee machines

I first started drinking coffee when I was in my late teens.  It was a bit of an acquired taste for me and I added half and half and sugar.  When I met/married Mr. B he had lived in Germany for 2 years and loved well brewed coffee.  I dropped the sugar once I tasted a really good cup of coffee and have never looked back, but adding half and half is still my first choice when drinking the dark pick-me-up.  Whipped cream and cinnamon is welcome on a cold day!

Garden, Home and Party: Coffee in kitchens

I  enjoy 1 1/2 – 2 cups every morning but am pretty cautious about drinking it past noon as it keeps me awake.  Through the years we’ve had a variety of different machines to prepare our coffee, including a French press—some of the best coffee was made using our French press.  So today’s post will include some very pretty kitchens and their placement of a coffee maker of some kind.

This is one of my favorite kitchen ideas…utility mixed with the right amount of art and flowers.  If I was confident I could style shelves this well, I’d definitely go for open shelving in some part of the kitchen next time.

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in kitchens

{via}

Oh, and the inspiration for this post was an article in the New York Post talking about how coffee can help reverse liver damage from drinking alcohol.  I don’t drink that much but I do enjoy a glass of wine after work most evenings, so I thought this might be a win-win. 🙂

Now here is where it’s crazy in the GHP house.  We own this beauty.  It makes espresso and steams milk…it’s very pretty, however, we own a drip maker as well.  Seriously, Mr. B!?  My kitchen counter space is limited…2 coffee machines?!

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in kitchens

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in kitchens

After whining discussing this with family, I was given this clever machine by our California kids.  It makes espresso and a regular cup of coffee, all from one machine.

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in the kitchen

But, (there’s always a but) it’s an expensive cup of either espresso or coffee, comparatively.  And environmentally safe disposal of the pods is a bit of a headache.  I love the sleek lines and I appreciate only one machine on the counter.  Am I ever satisfied? Um, maybe not.

The forethought of this kitchen design feature is pretty cool.  A coffee cupboard that has it’s own water source.  And you can close the doors when not in use.  Maybe in another house.

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in the kitchen

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The coffee maker in this kitchen has the bonus of a shelf for coffee cups…convenient.

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in the kitchen

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This lovely kitchen has what looks to be a stove top percolator…a blast from the past. Fitting for such a beautiful kitchen.

Garden, Home and Party: coffee in the kitchen

{via}

An Ikea kitchen, isn’t it pretty?  It looks like their coffee source is an espresso maker tucked in the back corner.Garden, Home and Party: Coffee in the kitchenGarden, Home and Party: Coffee in the kitchenCoffee makers continue to change and possibly improve.

This is a Siphon Coffee maker from Williams Sonoma.

I haven’t read the reviews, but it looks pretty, doesn’t it?

Tell me, are you a coffee drinker?  Several of my friends won’t touch the stuff. If you are a coffee drinker, do you make your own or rely on Starbucks, Peets or some other fabulous coffee house?  Have a great Wednesday and a beautiful upcoming weekend!  ♥ Karen

Table settings with a touch of whimsy

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Dining Room, Entertaining, House and Home, Party Planning, Trends

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

Project Design, spring mantles, tablesettings

Before today’s post I want to invite you to join me, and a talented group of others, this Friday [March 11th] for the next installment of Project Design #ProjectDesignNow.  We will be sharing “How to Style Your Spring Mantle Two Ways”.  It’s sure to be fun and chock full of ideas for putting some spring touches in your home.

Garden, Home and Party: Design Project

Amber B. Design Studio

ciao! newport beach

classic ⋅ casual home ⋅ home

Dimples and Tangles

Katiedid

Lisa Mende Design

Lucy Williams Interiors

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

The Pink Pagoda

Now to Table settings with a touch of whimsey…

I have enjoyed setting a table since I was a little girl.  Once I moved into my own apartment I found any and every excuse to have people over for a meal.  It was very brave of my friends to accept since I wasn’t a very accomplished cook back in the day. The joy was, and still is, the creative process of setting the table.

Garden, Home and Party: setting the table

Once a new bride, I used my china, crystal and silver for every dinner party we hosted. With time, I realized that it was just as much fun, if not more, to keep it casual. Today, I still enjoy setting a formal table for the right occasion, but I mostly use my everyday pottery / porcelain dishes, and simple glassware.  I interchange my sterling flatware with a couple of other, more casual, sets of flatware depending on the dishes I’m using.

of course I have my ruler handy when setting the table to make sure the utensils and plates are the appropriate distance from each other and the edge of the table. 🙂

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

{via}

I enjoy the fun of thinking of new ways of setting a table, and find there are lots of out of the box ideas online that inspire creating a table the reflects a season or a theme. A bit of whimsey never hurts.

Last summer my friend Wendy hosted a birthday celebration.  I love her use of Lori Mitchell figures that reflect summer fun.

Garden, Home and Party: tablesettings

Shells were on the table as well as her beautiful crystal bowl filled with water and floating candles.

Garden, Home and Party: tablesettings

{table setting by Wendy M.}

My winter birthday was celebrated at Carla’s, where she used a winter wonderland theme.  It was lovely and worked well with our cooler than usual weather at the time.

Garden, Home and Party: table settings

Garden, Home and Party: table settings

{table setting by Carla W.}

One year for St. Patrick’s Day I planted little pots of 4-leaf clover that Trader Joe’s sold and then gave each guest a chocolate leprechaun.  I enjoy using nursery plants for the table, you can plant them in the garden afterwards. 🙂

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

Easter of 2014 I pulled out the Beatrix Potter figures and a few of the Beatrix Potter books I used to read to my kids (and now read to our granddaughters).  I planted a concrete planter with sweet pea and viola.  The violet china pattern was my grandmother’s, and a friend made the runner {thank you Gretchen}

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

Garden, Home and Party: Table settings

This image inspired a table setting of my own when hosting our birthday group.  The guests of honor, Tom and John, identical twins, enjoy an October birthday and I felt it called for something more masculine.

Garden, Home and Party: Table settings

This was my version… {sorry for the glare coming through the window}

Garden, Home and Party: table settings

Garden, Home and Party: Table settings

Last month I hosted a birthday dinner for Mr. B and our youngest son’s birthdays.  I wanted to keep it simple and decided this rusty urn went well with the rustic look of my Jan Barboglio candle holders.  I filled the urn with tree fern from the yard and added a bag of Granny Smith apples.  The candles could have been taller but we didn’t light them since we ate early.

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

Moss on a dining table is one of my favorite uses of the sheet moss sold at craft stores. I love the earthy feel to it.  Mixed with roses and other flowers, it’s natural and lovely and transports us to an outdoor setting, even indoors.

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

{via}

Setting the table in an outdoor “room” is where you can enjoy mixing things up a bit. Setting the table with a moss base and using terra cotta pots as the candle holders is clever and fitting for a autumn gathering.  The twigs and berries conjure up an image that a gust of wind blew these pieces to the table top.  This same setting could be recreated indoors.

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

{via Michelle Edwards ~ Sweet Something Design}

I’ll end with a table setting compliments of Martha Stewart.  Woodland creatures, birch tree-looking candles and small pots of moss or fern complete the look.  It’s whimsy at its best. 🙂

Garden, Home and Party: table setting

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I’m out of time, but I’d like to invite you to visit my friend, Kelly over at “talk of the house” for further inspiration for table setting.  This talented blogger takes table setting creativity to a new level.

How do you entertain?  Is there ever a bit of whimsey to your table settings?

Thanksgiving countdown

11 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 28 Comments

With only 18 days until Thanksgiving I thought I’d share some wonderful table setting ideas, compliments of talented folks online, along with a rough draft of our menu for the upcoming long holiday weekend.  Williams Sonoma taste has so many great ideas for making this food-intensive holiday easy and delicious.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

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This year we’re lucky enough to be celebrating Thanksgiving with the entire Bunch clan (our Austin family will be here as well as our California kids).  We’re celebrating Olivia’s 5th birthday at Disneyland early in the week.  Then the meal planning will begin, a collaborative effort.  The fact that our kids like to cook is a great source of joy for me.

This is my favorite season and while I’m thankful for family year round, the Thanksgiving holiday shines a spotlight on family (and friends) and fortunately, we all get along and enjoy each other’s company.  Some of the movies they’ve produced on dysfunctional family life brought to light during Thanksgiving are funny, thankfully they don’t apply! 🙂

Layla of The Lettered Cottage shared this simple centerpiece some time ago.  It’s a reminder that setting the table can be lovely whether simple or elaborate.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

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I’m loving the rustic feel of this elegant table.  There are flowers but the pussy willow and nest give it a natural, rustic feel.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

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Have you seen these placemats with space to write down what you are thankful for?  I love this idea.  A reminder that we all have something to be thankful for.  I like the dried maple leaf as a placecard.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Figs, eucalyptus and candles, brilliant! Less is more.  For oakleaf name cards…

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

this lovely free printable can be found HERE.  If you’ve never visited EAB Designs, prepare to be amazed at the creative forces at work here.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

This is another pretty free printable for place cards if you’re interested.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Our Thanksgiving table sans dinnerware…since I’m posting this early, I don’t have plates and such on the table.  Redfern, our beloved pheasant, presides over the feast.

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Here are dishes that I often use in the autumn, but this year I think I’ll use my white dishes…food looks good on white (or so I’ve been told).

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Traditional, with updates, I love this centerpiece in a planter box.  You can never have too many candles.
Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

Our menu will be some version of the following:

Garden, Home and Party - thanksgiving countdown

 

I’ll be taking some time off.  I know it seems that has become a habit! Family will be arriving and I want to unplug for awhile.  I’ll be back with some Christmas cheer.  I wish you all a joyous Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and good food.  I’m very thankful for my friends here at GHP.

xo,  Karen

 

Entertaining in the autumn

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 37 Comments

I always jump the gun on fall…which is particularly defeatist since Southern California typically doesn’t see truly cool (a relative term) weather ever until late October or early November.  Still, it’s my favorite season {with spring a close second} and I can hardly wait.

Garden, Home and Party: autumn entertaining

{via}

The acorns and sycamore leaves were gathered on my walk that first weekend in September

Garden, Home and Party: entertaining in autumn

When our Austin family visited earlier this month, I found myself decorating the dining room table for fall.  We have several September birthdays in the family and since September always reminds me that fall is close at hand, I thought why not?!  Besides, we had the a/c running so you could pretend it was cool outside. 🙂

I saved the oak leaves from a visit to Big Bear and wrote the name of each guest on a leaf to use as place cards.

Garden, Home and Party: entertaining in autumn

Redfern the pheasant is in his usual spot for the fall season. 

Garden, Home and Party: entertaining in autumn

There were lively conversations among the guests…Olivia (4 years) & Fae (1 year next month) {granddaughters}

Garden, Home and Party

I’ve dropped the ball where entertaining / cooking posts are concerned.  So in addition to the table setting, I’ve included the menu items I served for our birthday celebration {in the season of almost autumn}. 🙂

Our dinner menu was very simple and due to the heat, instead of birthday cake I created an ice cream bar with a variety of flavors and toppings for each guest to create their own sundae.

Menu

assorted appetizers

Costco’s Bill Baily’s Santa Maria Tri Tip [Mr. B. grilled] served with Chimichurri Sauce

Crispy English Potatoes from Barefoot Contessa/Foolproof book

grilled green beans

Happy Birthday Sundaes

The Costco tri tip is pre-seasoned and can be grilled or roasted in the oven.  The fresh herbs and bright lemon flavor of the Chimichurri sauce were a hit.  I prepared Crispy English Potatoes from Ina Garten’s Foolproof Cookbook and you can prepare them earlier in the day and reheat when ready to serve.  Mr. B. grilled the green beans on the grill using a veggie basket.  Son #1 assisted since his signature seasonings for the beans are a family favorite.

Garden, Home and Party: autumn entertaining

I will add some pumpkins and mums during the later part of the month…

Garden, Home and Party: autumn entertaining

spruce up my autumn wreath for the front door, borrowing inspiration from creative people such as Studio Choo…

Garden, Home and Party: autumn entertaining

and give some thought to a dinner for sometime in October…which will be here before we know it.

Garden, Home and Party: entertaining in autumn

Happy Autumn to you all!  Are you decorated for the season, please tell me I’m not the only one overly eager for the season.

July 1st – Happy Independence Day

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Family, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Independence Day

≈ 23 Comments

Before I start on the fun of celebrating Independence Day, I’d like to thank all of you for your prayers, positive thoughts and general care and concern you expressed in response to the news of Mr. B. and his health/surgery.  I’m happy to report he’s doing very well and has only one more hurdle to cross before we can once and for all put this behind us.  I was touched and brought to tears by your thoughtful good wishes! Thank you so much for your support, you are all such dear blog friends.

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

{Martha Stewart}

As you all know, we’re on countdown to the 4th of July!  This holiday has always marked the official start date of summer for me.  Let the games begin, as they say.

Now that I have grandchildren, I’m making note once again of kid friendly holiday ideas. Our 4 year old granddaughter always decorates her wagon (with mommy and daddy’s help of course) for a neighborhood parade.

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

This year she may tackle her bicycle.  Martha Stewart has some great ideas for this annual neighborhood contest.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Independence Day

We typically enjoy a backyard barbeque with good friends to celebrate the big day.  Everyone brings a dish to make it less work fun  for the hosting couple.  When I was growing up my mom would make onion dip, served with Ruffles potato chips for a party crowd.  It was made with a package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix and a 16-oz. container of sour cream.  I came across this Sweet Onion Dip recipe from Martha Stewart that reminded me of that dip and thought it might be a fun update this favorite by using fresh ingredients.

Sweet Onion Dip – Martha Stewart Summer Appetizers

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Independence Day

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Independence Day

The recipe for Chicken Skewers and Blistered Potatoes from Pottery Barn was our Father’s Day feast.  It was delicious and seems like a dish I’d prepare for any summer barbecue, including 4th of July.  I substituted the rub in the recipe for this marinade. We used the sauce in the original recipe to baste on the chicken as it grilled.  Both marinade and BBQ sauce proved to be keepers. {Thank you, Leslie}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Independence Day

Pottery Barn:  Star Melamine Salad Plate, Water Hyacinth Round Place Mat, Isa Ikat Yarn Dye Napkin

Who doesn’t love cupcakes…Cupcake Flag from Country Living would be the perfect dessert for Independence Day and easily made the day before , always a benefit to me when entertaining. (add the fresh berries just before setting the cupcakes out)

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

With the menu for our festivities selected, let’s have a look at a few pretty rooms that feature red, white and blue, shall we?  Homes are where the heart of any holiday begin…

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

Country Living ! Keith Scott Morton photo

Love this toile!  George Washington?

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

House Beautiful ~ Bjorn Wallander photo

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

House Beautiful ~ Victoria Pearson photo

Garden, Home and Party:  Independence Day

Country Living ~ Bjorn Wallander photo

Blue and white rooms always capture my attention.  You could throw an American Flag throw pillow on the sofa and you’d be set for the holiday! This room (below) seems like it could be in a cottage by the beach…I feel relaxed just gazing at the simple and inviting space. 🙂

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

Country Living ~ Keith Scott Morton photo

Garden, Home and Party: Independence Day

Country Living ~ Stacey Brandford

What are your plans for the weekend?  Be safe, enjoy some relaxation and have fun, my friends!

 

 

{Party} Ideas for setting the table for a holiday meal

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Entertaining, Holidays

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Table Settings

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the season

*I know I posted images of table settings for Thanksgiving, but I really love the inspiration for something a bit different each time I get to set the table for a dinner or lunch.  I hope you’re able to retrieve some inspiration for your holiday entertaining.

One week down, already!  Let’s all take a collective deep breath and slow down.  We need to enjoy the beauty that the season has to offer.  Make time to sip hot cocoa or a cup of tea as you review your ‘to do’ list.

This week I’m sharing table settings dressed for the season.  I realized a long time ago that while I thoroughly enjoy setting a table, most guests are in your home to share some quality time with you, and while they may subconsciously enjoy the lovely setting, its not as important as you may think it is.  That doesn’t keep me from always trying to make it as special as possible, but it does mean we can all relax and keep it simple.  It’s all about enjoying the moment this year.

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

This is my table for most Christmas entertaining.  The center piece is made up of a bronze reindeer I purchased one winter while visiting a friend in Snowmass, CO.  I love him and I have a florist set him in a low container with florist foam and then it’s filled with various evergreen pine and pine cones and faux berries.  As long as it’s watered as needed, it lasts the entire month.  

{This is last year’s arrangement, this year I went with white berries, pheasant feathers and pinecones.  I’d love to say that it’s still at the florist, but it is in fact sitting on my dining room table.  It’s just been a crazy week and I did not get a picture of it!}  

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings of the Season

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the Season

This is such a lovely, simple place setting, don’t you agree? White twinkle lights and candlelight, what could be better?

Garden, Home and Party:  Table Settings for the Season

Candlelight, whether achieved with flameless candles or real, makes any tablescape magical.

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the Season

Garden, Home and Party: Table settings of the season

{sorry, unknown}

 You can never go wrong with plaid for Christmas!  Throw in a few nutcrackers and you have the perennial favorite for the season.

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the Season

I like the rustic coasters and name card, paired with sheet music.  I wonder if this is for a caroling party? Wouldn’t that be a fun idea?

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the Season

Garden, Home and Party: Table Settings for the Season

{via}

This is really a great way to introduce some plaid to the table, a couple of plaid throws doing double duty as table toppers.  I do love an English styled room for the holidays. So inviting.

Garden, Home and Party: Table Setting for the Season

All white, even the Christmas trees are set with white lights and nothing else.  It’s simply elegant.

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

Delores over at Vignette Design always sets a pretty table.

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Table setting for the season

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Rustic is a favorite look of mine, this setting makes me think it’s a house in a beautiful mountain town….hmm, I wonder.

Garden, Home and Party: table settings for the season

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This is my table set for New Years Eve last year.

Garden, Home and Party: Table Setting for the Season

What do you like to set the table with this time of year?  

I hope you’ll tune in for next week’s installment—“Christmas Cozy”.  Rooms that are sure to invite you in and help you relax, all the while in a cozy setting.

{Home} Happy Thanksgiving ~ 2014

24 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holidays, Thanksgiving

≈ 30 Comments

Well, the year is entering it’s final laps.  Does time seem to speed by for all of you?  It sure does for me.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

{my friend’s iron pumpkins : Linda ~ Bainbridge Island}

Hopefully all of you have wonderful plans for a beautiful Thanksgiving day.  Maybe you are the chef of the feast, or maybe you’re being entertained by others, either way, I  hope you have delicious, sane, enjoyable day!

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving

Since table settings are one of my favorite things to do to get ready for a meal, I thought I’d share with you some of the beautiful tables I’ve found online.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving

{Cottage Hill Magazine ~ Lauren Holly Photographer}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

{via}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Thanksgiving 2014

We are enjoying the holiday with our new granddaughter and her parents!  You, my sweet blog friends, are on my list of things I’m grateful for!

Garden, Home and Party wishes you a Happy Halloween

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food, Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 39 Comments

Tags

Halloween 2014

This might be cheating, but today I’m simply sharing some Halloween images from Pinterest, blogland, and Martha.  Those of you that adore this holiday probably already have your parties planned and decorations ready.  It’s not my holiday…I enjoy the overall season, and I do like seeing the little trick-or-treaters at our door, but dressing up has never been my thing, so without further alienating the Halloween enthusiasts (many of them my friends)…

Leave it to Martha to pull off the good fairy costume with flair.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

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If I hosted a party, I’d definitely want to copy this cheerful vignette.  Truthfully, we have these black birds (American Crow) in our neighborhood, what are the odds of training a few of them to sit around and look slightly menacing for an evening?

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Country Living – photograph by Matthew Benson}

There is something so welcoming about light radiating from all of the windows in this charming home.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Country Living – photograph by John Kernick}

This is more my speed, white mums, a white lantern and a bushel of white pumpkins!

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{via}

Mark D. Sikes…simply festive and elegant, as always.

Garden, Home and Party:  Happy Halloween 2014

{via}

Kim, at Tidbits and Twine creates a beautiful autumn table as well…

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

Craftberry Bush, in addition to this fabulous table arrangement, is the place to visit if you’re interested in good ideas for recipes/food for any autumn event.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

So while we’re on the topic of a party, here are some really yummy looking sweets for a Halloween party:

Jenny over at Everyday Occasions has a ton of great recipes.  Her iced sugar cookies are my favorite.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Everyday Occassions – Jenny Steffens Hobick}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Martha Stewart}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Martha Stewart – Halloween Whoopie Pies}

and, what Halloween party would be complete without apple bobbing?

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

What’s on your schedule for this Friday night holiday?

Autumn Entertaining

15 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 36 Comments

Tags

Birthday Dinner 2014

I enjoy this season [possibly] more than the others, although spring does play a close second.  By July September, I start looking forward to cooking more.  Or, I should say cooking more comfort foods.  I realize that is often code for calorie-laden, but my take on it is, all things in moderation, right? So with a menu in mind, I started planning a party.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

{Big Bear, California ~ 2012}

The “birthday group” Mr. B and I have celebrated with for umpteen years now, consists of 5 couples and each couple hosts a dinner once a year in celebration of two birthday honorees.  If you’re interested, I have shared previous celebrations HERE, HERE and HERE.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

{Side note: I recently replaced these homely shades with a pair that are better scaled to the barley twist lamps—pictures to come later}

This year I had the good fortune of hosting the birthday party for the two friends I’ve known the longest (we’re talking pre-children friends, Carla & Wendy).  Since it was mid-September I took the opportunity to make the table setting and menu a reflection of the greatest season’s arrival—in just 1 short week from the date of the event, but who’s counting? Was it cool and crisp outside?  NO. But with the aid of the air conditioner we managed to pretend.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

 I’m not usually much of a DIYer, but I did manage to make these invitations and envelopes — I used Paper Source pre-cut cards, a sunflower stamp and their envelop-making kit with paper from Michael’s.  That’s it, easy.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

I used white chargers and a vintage set of Villeroy & Boch, ‘la chasse’ dinner plates in black and white.  They go with the newer pattern by VB called Audun, but they feature vintage pictures with hunters and their dogs. There are 6 different images.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

I confess, sunflowers inspired this table setting.  They always seem the ideal flower for fall.  I added some yellow alstromeria and a few guinea fowl feathers.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

Note: I had to have a saucer under the planter because it seeped water (somehow) through the bottom.  There weren’t any cracks but the very bottom stayed wet.  Fortunately I discovered it before placing it on my table, phew.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

If you look at the left corner of the image (above) you’ll notice some candy.  One of my favorite traditions with the “Birthday Group” is we hand select each person’s favorite *See’s candies and have them on the table.  We all know which candy we consider our favorite and there are a couple of us that can identify each piece that See’s makes by shape and design, in case someone (the men) forget which is the Marzipan (Thomas) or white centered Butter Cream (Tom). 🙂

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

Even though it was only mid-September, I decided to put a few of the fall decorations out.  I’ve really scaled back to mostly pumpkins, wheat stalks, feathers and berries.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Entertaining

My menu was a repeat of one I had done a couple of years ago…fortunately, everyone loves this dish and it is what the birthday girls requested.

Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Herbs and Mustard Cream Sauce

As hostess, I only have to prepare the main course and sides, others bring appetizer, salad and dessert.  I prepared the above recipe with oven roasted potatoes and green beans.

Do you cook differently for the cooler months than you would in summer?  

 

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