“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit”
Psalms 51:12
Once again I am outdoors for Tablescape Tuesday…but today is a little different! I am enjoying a quiet late afternoon lunch in the garden…alone! Warm tomatoes just plucked from the vine…sweet iced tea…and much loved books make for my peaceful little party for myself! You are welcome to join me, there are two seats…one for me and one for you!
I was so excited when I saw this cute bistro set at Tuesday Morning a few weeks ago. I walked away without buying it, but I told Butch about it. Being the amazing husband he is, he went by a few days later and brought it home in his truck! He is simply the best!
I clipped Rose of Sharon blooms for the vintage Fenton vase!
The menu was simple and summery…a fresh home-grown tomato sandwich and sweet, juicy cantaloupe!
My people often call them “mater” sandwiches. But there is an art to this sandwich…only the freshest white bread, so fresh that you leave your finger indentions…the best mayonnaise (no cheap-off brand). Now, there is much discussion what is the best! Many say it is Hellman’s, many say Duke’s, and most of my people say it has to be Bama from our home state. (Interesting fact – my brother even found Bama mayo in a grocery store in the Republic of Congo)! I always add basil from the garden.
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We planted an heirloom variety of cherry tomatoes called “chocolate”… for extra tomato flavor, I sliced them along with a few grape tomatoes…so delicious!
On a hot and humid day, is there anything better than sweet tea with lemon and mint, especially paired with a tomato sandwich?
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Eating alone always means the company of books!
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”
Proverbs 25:11
Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes
What’d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can’t buy
That’s true love & homegrown tomatoes
Guy Clark
Could you taste the ripe tomatoes, basil, and cantaloupe, and what about the iced-cold tea?
Linking with Pieced Pastimes, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Imparting Grace, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, Poofing The Pillows, What Meegan Makes, Celebrate & Decorate
Perfect setting and menu for one! Your sandwich looks delicious!
Thanks so much, Karen! It was delicious!
You had the perfect spot for the cute bistro table. I love the blue color and darling butterfly back.
Your tomato sandwich looks wonderful. You can tell by the vivid color of the tomato it was homegrown. What a treat! I haven’t had a good tomato sandwich yet! The chocolate heirlooms and cantaloupe look good too.
Thanks so much sweet Bonnie…a tomato sandwich in the summer is so Southern! I am behind on blog reading and emails. Will email you today! It has been raining for almost three hours, yay!
Oh gosh, YES, I could taste the tomatoes! I love tomato sandwiches, and I like to add cheese to mine (sorry to all the purists!).
What a cute, cute bistro set.I love the top. Good man, that Butch. 🙂
Rita, thanks! I love everyone’s variation on the tomato sandwich! Cheese sounds great to me! Happy Tuesday!
I saw those sets at TM and stood there pondering one for a while. I couldn’t justify a “true need”, so I passed. The butterfly set is perfect in your garden. It makes a beautiful feature, as well as being useful. I do love a “mater” and cheese sandwich…on wheat. I can’t make myself buy white bread, even though HH wishes I would. Your meal looks divine! I’d love to taste a chocolate tomato. Rain should be headed your way. We had a good shower last night and have more today. Yee-haw!
Kim, only white bread for tomato sandwiches. We do our best to eat healthy, but occasionally you just have eat something wonderful! I am going to call you today, what is the best time?
Great! Early afternoon would be good, if that’s a good time for you. Or, this evening, as well. It’s raining all day, so, yay…all inside stuff today. 🙂
What a beautiful setting, Pam! Your bistro set is so cute. What a sweet husband to go back and get it for you. That tomato sandwich is the most tempting thing I’ve seen in awhile. With the sweet tea, I am sure it was delicious!
Shenita, thanks so much! Yes, my husband is the best…we have been married 43 years…wonderful blessing! Happy Tuesday!
I love your new bistro set. Your tablesetting looks beautiful, and your lunch looks delicious!!!. I love fresh garden tomatoes. Seeing that sandwich makes me hungry!!!
You are so sweet, Shannon! Happy Tuesday!
Adorable table set Pam, it looks like a fairy tale setting! Your lunch sounds divine, you have me drooling!
Jenna
Thanks, Jenna! We are having a morning of rain and we needed it so badly!
Oh, nothing beats good homegrown tomatoes and basil. I have an uncle from the south and he likes sliced tomatoes with breakfast. I do, too.In northern Illinois we only have Hellman’s or Miracle Whip mayonnaise. I would like to try the others. The butterfly chairs and table are perfection in your beautiful garden. It is like a set for fairies!
Pam, your tablescape for one is so beautiful! I love it! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks sweet Cindy! Love and hugs!
Wow! My mouth is watering over that sandwich! What a gorgeous table setting to enjoy such a wonderful treat! 😉
Rebeca
Thanks so much, Rebeca! Our tomatoes are coming in much faster than we can eat, sharing them with everyone!
My kind of lunch shared with a good book. 😉
Thanks so much, Sarah!
Duke’s is the only mayo I’ve ever liked at all and now I swear by it. Such an adorable table. Hope the humidity didn’t spoil your scrumptious looking lunch!
Leslie Anne, the heat and humidity have been horrible! But it rained yesterday and we are hoping for more today! I personally favor Hellman’s!
So gorgeous and heartwarming, and I love the Scripture verse at the beginning of your post. You have a lovely blog. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. 🙂
Greetings from Alabama, Linda! Thanks so much for sweet encouraging words! Just visited your lovely blog and commented! Happy Wednesday!
I just want to sit right down there and have a glass of iced tea! Beautiful.
Come on over, Karen! I always have iced tea and our tomatoes are prolific this year!
What a heartwarming setting! I love it!
Thanks so much, Anita!
Oh mercy! I love me a tomato sandwich made with Hellmann’s, salt and pepper. It’s simple and so delicious.
Your table is adorable!
Thanks, sweet Stacey!
I can almost smell that basil and taste that delicious sandwich. The little bistro set looks so pretty
Thanks, Cherie! It is hard to beat a tomato sandwich on a hot July day!
That is the cutest bistro set! Kudos to your hubby for picking that up! I love a good sandwich with iced tea!
Thanks so much, Liz! I can see the bistro set getting a lot of use!
Thanks for sharing your lunch with SYC.
Thanks so much, Carol!
My sister says its Dukes. But I like several different mayos. And I LOVE fresh basil on my tomato sandwich. Dill is also good! And now…. my stomach is growling….
🙂 gwingal
My personal preference is Hellman’s! But basil is a must!
You really caught my attention when you said ‘Birmingham’ and ‘mater sandwiches’. Alabama’s my home state although I live elsewhere now. And, I do love those ‘mater sandwiches’.
Thanks so much, Latane! You can’t be raised in Alabama and not love “mater” sandwiches!
Love your new butterfly bistro set. I have a Fenton glass much like yours and love it. It’s just too hot where I live to do anything outside. You are so lucky to be outside! This time of year I go into hibernation! Nothing better than a ‘mater sandwich with home grown tomatoes. Yum!
Thanks so much! I so agree about those mater sandwiches. Fortunately we have had rain over the past few days! So helpful to our garden!
Just saw this,,,,the tomato sandwich is making my mouth water! I’m receiving chemotherapy treatments, which has “played’ with my tummy – I surely hope I will be able to eat at least one fresh tomato sandwich (with white bread & Hellman’s!) before the summer is gone. No bistro set here, but my front porch will do 🙂
Marilyn, thanks so much for your sweet sentiments! Wishing you a complete recovery and a good tomato sandwich with Hellman’s! Blessings and prayers!
A delicious lunch in a peaceful setting, it doesn’t get much better than this!
Thanks so much and Happy Monday!