Almost alfresco

Ahhh it's a beautiful day here in Iowa today, heading up to 70 degrees and sunny! Also one of those rare days when I am home mid-day (unemployed) and my daughter is ALSO home (Spring Break) so I decided to fix a lunch that our little family could enjoy out on the screened porch.

On the menu were grilled hot dogs on toasted buns, and Kraft macaroni and cheese. We always get a laugh when we have this humble fare because we all remember the day a few years ago when we tried to enjoy it out on the un-covered patio... and had our experience ruined by a bird passing directly overhead. (Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking!)

Here were the table elements we enjoyed, in addition to each other's company, starting with our wrought-iron, chippy-white bistro table and a vintage tablecloth which consists of four panels just like the one showing. (I have actually thought of making pillows out of this cloth because the design lends itself very well.)



Vintage off-white plates with pretty aqua cornflowers (or are they bachelor buttons?) - my mother had a whole set of these when I was young. I didn't like them at the time, but I've come to appreciate them and now own three salad/luncheon plates in this pattern.



And my everyday stainless, Oneida's vintage "Chandelier" pattern. (Why yes, that IS a paper napkin hiding on the right!)


For beverages, we just used a set of color-coordinated plastic cups. Altogether a very pretty and practical table, and a yummy lunch on a beautiful day.


More soon!