It has been so hot here in SW Florida that the Dog Days of Summer are perfect for refreshing cold salads al fresco. 
It has been so hot here in SW Florida that the Dog Days of Summer are perfect for refreshing cold salads al fresco.
I believe we should send those days off in style via paper lanterns.
I loved using paper lanterns in this tablescape as it reminds me of the Japanese lovers from the play “Madam Butterfly”.
Sigh!
Here I go again with the references to old movies.
But look!
This tablescape is as pretty in the evening as it is with the light.
And very romantic.
I remember watching the movie “Madam Butterfly” and then hanging out at the drug store with my friends drinking a 10 cent cherry coke and eating a 5 cent bag of potato chips as we swooned over the star crossed lovers.
Remember?
The pretty Japanese young girl in a kimono under the cherry blossoms and her “soldier” boyfriend saying good-bye never knowing if they might ever see each other again?
Yes, that one where the lieutenant in the Navy marries the Geisha girl named Butterfly?
Sigh!
But I digress…
This tablescape was such fun to set up for an alfresco dinner, and I was hoping the ominous clouds did not produce rain.
Sigh!
I do love a romantic dinner coming together under the moon and with beautifully lit paper lanterns.
I started with bright colored paper lanterns for inspiration and instead of hanging from the trees in my Secret Garden, I sat them on the rectangular table!
Luv! luv! luv! them and they are so pretty at night!
Since the dog days of summer can be sweltering hot, I thought an organic, earthy vibe would work with my tablescape.,
I started with a pad of green grass that I purchased at Michael’s several years ago, which I spread along the center of the table.
To keep with this rustic and eclectic garden scene, I used burlap place mats and positioned flowers and grapevine on wood slices in the center of the table.
I thought the “stick” looking flatware added to the garden inspired theme.
And then I added rattan chargers and colorful dinner plates of turquoise and soft pink.
The pink stemware and the green water glasses match the lanterns, which were placed randomly around the table.
Putting two of the lanterns in sherbet dishes gave them a bit of height.
I doubled pink napkins with turquoise napkins and used a small white rose napkin ring.
The paper lotus or pompoms also add to the colorful tablescape.
I bought them on-line and expanded the tissue paper per instructions.
You may have noticed that the table is set up in the house instead of al fresco in my Secret Garden.
As I was setting the table, it started sprinkling and by the time I moved everything back into the house it was pouring.
Sooooooo……..what is a tablescaper to do???
The meal was light with chicken salad in a scalloped, cut-out tomato half set on a bed of greens surrounded by pineapple chunks, purple grapes and small toasted slices of french bread!
A nice cold salad, perfect for an indoor or outdoor meal as the dog days of Summer wind down.
Have a Blessed Day!
I never cease to be amazed at your creativity and how you make ‘everyday’ meals so charming. You are truly amazing, lady!
thanks Bev…so glad you stopped by. Phil 1:3
Very pretty Kari and so colorful. It’s so nice to eat a cool salad on a hot day.. I do hope it cools down a little. It is definitely summer. I am waiting to get into the pool.
I hear ya Linda…I always love cold salads.
Loved yoir colorful lanterns. I really liked Love is a Splendored Thing and I know the song too! Years later I got to live in Hong Kong. I climbed the long tiny steps, lived where I could see the harbor in the distance and rode the Star Ferry. It was still magical so long ago.
I have to watch it again…I am the eternal romantic for sure. Lucky you to have lived near there.
Kari,
Paper lanterns are one of my favorite, favorite things to decorate inside and outside. They re so inexpensive and colorful though sometimes I just like the white ones to use too.
Probably my most favorite movie is Love Is A Spendid Thing with William Holden set in Hong Kong(I think) about an Eurasian woman who falls in love with an American newspaper reporter who is over there working. It is so romantic but a tear jerker. Have you heard of it or seen it?
Happy later lite summer nights, my friend.
Linda
Linda, not only do I know the movie…I can sing the song …”Love is a Many-Splendored thing”….and do sing it often. You know there was a controversy because Jennifer Jones was not Asian and she played the part of an Asian/Eurasian….. but I don’t care…I loved the movie and I thought her features looked a little Asian/Eurasian. A real tear jerker of another type of Romeo and Juliet. I can cry just listening to the song.Hugs my friend.
What a fun and festive late summer celebration! I am with you, I am really ready for the temperature to come down!!
Oh Kari, how fun is this! I love the colorful paper lanterns, and the night photos are amazing, so pretty!
Jenna
Jenna, The lanterns remind me of New Mexico when we would have the hot air balloon festivals…one evening was dedicated to a “moon glow” when all the balloons would be “lit” up while still tethered to the ground. so pretty.
So pretty!!
Thank you Rita….
Loved the lanterns and centerpiece. The candlelight was perfect!
Thanks Sandra! I do love candlelight dinners…especially more informal ones. Thanks for stopping by.