Thistle Tablescape

I remember the first time I saw a wild thistle growing along the roadside in the mountains.  I did a double-take -- surely I was mistaken.  I thought they only grew in the Scottish Highlands.  I was wrong; they do grow around here at the higher elevations, but we haven't been able to spot any the last year or two, so I wonder if the farmers or the state park rangers are trying to kill them off.  I've heard they can be invasive, and I know from experience they sport some seriously wicked thorns.      I meant to set up this table some time ago, but I was waiting to find the right dishes (at the right price) for it.  A few years ago, my sweet husband gave me a beautiful table runner with embroidered thistles, along with some coordinating doilies.  He ordered them from the Gretna Green website, where we both like to shop for gifts.  I already had the napkins, thinking I would set a Mardi Gras table, and they were perfect with the other linens.  Then a few months ago, I finally found the dishes on e-Bay.  I would have loved to buy the teacups and saucers, too, but I didn't want to spend the extra money.     

   

Butterflies and Bees Tablescape

Back when it was still spring of this year -- before the heat descended in a big, moist, hot blanket, I set up a table in the dining room using my Butterfly Meadow dishes.  I do a table with these most years because I think they're just so pretty in the spring (and summer).  If you are a regular reader here, you know we went to the beach twice in close succession, had a death in my family, and then Hal and I both caught Covid.  The table just sat there languishing -- dishes in place, but no centerpiece.  I thought about just putting the dishes away because I'd lost the initial spark to take pictures and write a post.  But then, our new butterfly bush bloomed and my limelight hydrangea has about three times as many blossoms as last year, so I decided to make a centerpiece for the table and take pictures.     

   

   

Progress On Our Yard Part 2

Hello Friends.  Are you having a good week?  Ours has been pretty good so far.  Thank you for your comments on my previous post.  We are still sad about Duncan; we do plan to get another dog, but not for a little while.  We have a lot going on right now and more work to get done on the house.  Speaking of that, we have gotten some things accomplished in the yard.  Actually, I should say that the man we hired to clean up the yard for us has gotten some things (a lot) accomplished, and the yard already looks so much better.  We are excited!