A Texas Farewell

Our good friends and neighbors moved away at the end of April and we had a little Texas style BBQ send off for them.

We set up the area by the house with tables for 18 and it worked out perfectly.

We were blessed with a beautiful evening, not hot at all, and actually a little chilly later in the evening and then we girls ended up around the fireplace.

I just used burlap for the tablecloths, not hemmed or anything, and bandanas for napkins.

The red lantern is 1 of 2 that I bought at IKEA at Christmas.  They have been fun to use for Christmas, and now a Lone Star BBQ, and they will be great for our 4th of July festivities too.

I used part of their gift in the decor!

The flowers were just daisies and carnations in mason jars and raffia bows.

Simple, but pretty.

We had brisket and pork and the usual sides.  The margarita machine was a big success too.

The neighbors brought most of the sides, and we had the drinks and the meat.  I have to say, it was one of the easiest gatherings I've had ~ I was even gone most of the day at a volunteer event.  

I had the tables all ready to go and the silver all wrapped up ahead of time and Bob set them up easily.

The biggest job was his ~ weeding all the beds and getting the mulch down.

My bluebonnets hung in there ~ barely.

Here is how you prepare for food outside, with lots of covers.

And I'll leave you with a shot of one of the gardens that was looking so pretty this year as I have none of the party guests, not even the guests of honor!

I am terrible about taking pictures anymore.

We all did have a good time, and I miss our friends terribly!

Next up will be our May!

On a Cold and Snowy Day

Ha!

It was 82 here in Texas today.

It's December 1st.

For a girl from Wisconsin and Minnesota this is still hard to believe.  But, I'll take it! 

So instead of working on my inside, which I really should do as I host my Book Club on Thursday and I haven't done my house or read the book, but 82 degrees made me work outside.

I just used white, greenery, and pine cones in my decor and I plan to leave it up till it dries up and blows away or Easter.  Whichever comes first:-)

I'll just go in a circle and show you the details.

First up is the view:-)

The main reason we added this room.  We love to sit out here and listen to the fountain.

Here is my dollar store craft.  This is incredible on several levels.  First of all, I rarely shop the dollar store and I really rarely craft.  That gene skipped a generation as both of my daughters love to craft as do both of their grandmas.

Me, not so much.

I bought a few of these large snowflakes with the intent to use them on the mantel, but I didn't care for that so I just used them for table decor.  A little epsom salt on the candle and done.

I tried a few different looks on the mantel, but I like this one the best.  Plain pine wreath, pine garland, pine cones and snowballs and snowflakes.

My epsom salt snowballs, and dollar store snowflakes.

On the hearth are 3 little birch logs we brought back from our cabin.  We don't have much birch on our property so I really had to hunt for these.  I really like using the logs so we will look a little harder this summer.

More of my snowballs.  And a few little pieces of birch leftover and made into risers for my votives.

I tell you, for me, this is a lot of craftiness:-)

I just clipped some boxwood to put around my pillar candle.

On the counter I filled my tool box with clippings and pine cones and snowflakes.

Our little table got the left over decor and a few candles.

It's magical at night.

And I think with that I"m done.  I love that I spent very little money.  Just a few dollars at the dollar store, and I have decorated until Spring!

Next up, the playhouse needs a good scrubbing and then I'd better head indoors!

Merry Christmas!

I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for the Homespun Christmas Party.

And Richella for Grace at Home.

Joining Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours.