Celebrating Early Autumn Al Fresco Style

I know I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record but I really do LOVE this time of the year. The sun is still warm and with the cooler air moving in it makes the evenings temps a bit more chilly, you know sweatshirt kind of weather.

Mr. Rosemary Lane and myself are in the process of finishing up our back screened in porch project. All the screens had to be replaced and the wood needed to be repainted. A daunting task at that but well worth it. After I rearranged the seating area I had the brainiac idea to build a new table for the space. Previously we had a little round cast iron table my parents gave to me when they moved to Florida some 20 years ago. It only sat maybe 5 comfortably, and with the new furniture configuration it really didn't make good use of the porch's floor space. So using the base of another table also from my parents home years ago, Mr. RL built a custom picnic-like tabletop for the base. Then the entire table was painted using an exterior paint in bright white. The old chairs from the cast iron table are being used for the side seating. Eventually I would love hunky Mr. RL to build benches so to seat up to 8 people at the table.

The table was set with pops of orange and yellow sunflower plates on top of black and white dinner plates. For a little bling, silver chargers were set under the plates. Then, to make the place setting seem more casual, dark wicker place mats were placed under the silver chargers.

Pretty glass candle sticks contrast the white ironstone salt and pepper shakers from Phaltzgraff's Country Cupboard collection.

Two sweet silver love birds sit center stage to add a little more bling.

Sprigs of bittersweet which haven't quite shed their pods to expose its vibrant orange berry, are dropped into the wine glasses. I love the golden shade of the pod, it's so pretty.
(FYI: All parts of bittersweet fruit is toxic if consumed. All parts of the plant may be toxic.) 

The perfect afternoon lunch venue don't you think?

Wishing you all a warm and sunny last weekend of summer!

XO 

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