Happy July dear friends! I cannot believe 2024 is half over, can you? Hot and humid days continue in our Appalachian Foothills. But, it is the week that we celebrate Independence Day and we can almost guarantee it will be hot!
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV
Many people will celebrate the 4th of July at the beach, boating on the lake, picnics at a park, or perhaps at home with family and friends! We will spend the 4th at home with Butch firing up the grill…and a freezer of home-made ice cream will definitely be on the menu!
It is Monday Morning Blooms with my friends Mary and Lidy! They always share beautiful and inspiring posts that you don’t want to miss. You will find Mary’s and Lidy’s links at the bottom of this post.
Our common theme for this edition of Monday Morning Blooms is seaside/beach. We are 5 1/2 to 6 hours away from our beautiful white-sand beaches of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle! You can always enjoy a beach-themed table no matter where you live!
Our son, daughter-in-love, and grandchildren will be spending time on this beautiful beach in the next few days. As newlyweds, Butch and I would go to the beach a few times each summer, if only for the weekend. Back then, I could spend the entire day on the beach if I had an umbrella and chair, sunscreen, a good book, and a cooler filled with soft drinks and snacks. As the years have passed, I prefer to view the beauty of the ocean from a balcony! (Thanks to our son for this drone photo)
I kept the flower arrangement very simple, a vase within a vase. The inner vase is filled with immature ‘Little Lambs’ hydrangea blooms and ‘Adagio’ maiden grass plumes to mimic sea oats that are common on our Gulf Coast beaches. The outer vase is filled with sea shells. I wonder what happened to all the sea shells that I collected on vacations when I was a little girl!
If you read yesterday’s Simple + Southern Sunday post, Butch mentioned today’s Monday Morning Blooms and the events that occurred.
Last Friday was a partly cloudy/partly sunny day typical of our summer weather. My plan was to have the table set and ready to photograph once the sun had moved off the table, around 6:00. Everything was on go, but all of a sudden dark clouds began to gather. I took a few photos and it was getting darker by the minute. A few raindrops began to fall and Butch helped me remove the flowers and glassware. He had a tarp nearby and we covered the table. I went into the cool of the Sunshine Cottage, had a few sips of sweet tea, and the rain didn’t really ever materialize, just a few very big drops. So, it was back outside, uncover the table, straighten flatware, plates, etc. and set the flowers and glassware in place. I was back in business and more photos were taken as Butch was keeping an eye on the clouds…
… and the radar on his phone app didn’t show anything close, but all of a sudden it began pouring! Quickly we removed the same tall objects and placed the tarp over the table again. It rained hard for a few minutes and we waited. I did not complain or even get stressed because we were in desperate need of rain and after all, it is only a tablescape. The rain stopped, we removed the tarp, straightened the table once again, and replaced what had been moved. I quickly wiped off plates and flatware. But the beautiful Crown Linen Designs tablecloth was wet along with Tommy Bahama napkins. I took a few more photos and, believe it or not, I said “I will go with what I have.” RM was shocked but relieved!
What is interesting, I have only set one other beach-themed table, seen in the above photo. That day I encountered the same surprise off and on rainy scenario. I think I will pass on beach tabletops in the future (haha)!
Since it was dark and cloudy while I was shooting the table, let’s imagine…we are enjoying the beach on a late afternoon, a surprise but brief shower passes, and clouds stay around creating a moody and magical ambiance for the last light of day!
New salad plates were added to an ever growing collection. Tip: Salad plates are less expensive and take up less storage than dinner plates. The Certified International ‘Coastal Landscapes’ in four different designs create a lovely beach vibe for the tabletop!
Water hyacinth placemats and creamy white American Atelier ‘Baroque’ dinner plates that are used over and over on my tablesettings along with Godinger Dublin iced tea glasses added to a table set for three.
Raindrops on the napkins are showing in this photo. I did not have time to dry the linens, possibly more rain and darkness were closing in on me!
This view of our table is looking toward the cottage garden and the Adagio maiden grass. This grass has the closest resemblance to plants that might grow on the beach!
The shell napkin rings were a long ago purchase from a wonderful tabletop shop in Birmingham.
This vintage handmade shell box was found many years ago at an antique shop!
The shell box is a favorite!
The bokeh and the maiden grass made me think of fireworks that will be seen and heard across our land on Thursday!
I made a decision to share a piece on each table setting that evokes a memory, then realized almost every past table had memories attached, many surrounding my beloved Mother. This gorgeous shell platter has been stored away at my Daddy’s for all the years since my Mother’s passing. I wasn’t looking for it, and had actually forgotten about it, when there it was, before my eyes under a table in his living room. I was excited to rediscover this platter and knew it would be perfect for this table!
For beautiful flowers and beach/seaside inspiration, visit Mary and Lidy by clicking on the links below.
Mary ~ Home Is Where the Boat Is
Lidy ~ French Garden House
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a wonderful and safe Independence Day!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Good Morning Pam! Your Beachy Table set in your gardens with the Adagio maiden grass in the background gives us all a feel for the beach! That was brilliant, my friend.
The beach salad plates along with the shells and shell box and your Mom’s platter make me feel like I am in a coastal town having lunch. Such ambiance you created.
The vase within a vase filled with shells and pretty hydrangeas with plumes adds a romantic feel. Even if tarps and rain were involved your ever wonderful Butch was close by to help. Now that’s romantic! 😊
This was such a fun post as you kept it real! Thank you for all your hard work!
Happy July!
Thanks so much, Nancy! It was definitely real but it made a fun memory that Butch and I will laugh about when we get old 😉🤣
Pam, I feel your pain about the rain not showing up on the radar. I was caught on a early morning walk Saturday and got soaked. My husband rescued me but not before I was uncomfortably wet. I’m glad I had my cell phone and had it tucked under my shirt to protect it.
You made the best of it with a lovely table. I do love your shell box! How fun to find your mother’s shell platter for your themed table. Your new salad plates are delightful with pretty colors.
I have company coming so have to make my comments short today.
Happy Fourth of July!
Thanks so much, Bonnie. I can relate to being on a walk and a downpour of rain soaked me through and through. Happy 4th to you and Mike!
Pam, Your beautiful table is evocative of summer and a beachside setting and I love your new ‘Coastal Landscape’ plates! I also love the addition of the maiden grass plumes mixed with your hydrangea blooms, mimicking the sea oats found at the coast. I have long admired your pretty shell box…it would be fun to make one if I had the patience to cover one with shells. 😊 I love your mom’s beautiful shell platter too…what a fun surprise to stumble upon it. Outdoor tablescaping is not without its challenges…too cloudy, too sunny, too HOT and pop-up showers. I was so hot when I was photographing mine, I almost had heat stroke! I admire your ‘Keep Calm and Tablescape On’ attitude with your tarps and rain. We’ve gotten less than ¼ of inch or rain over the past couple of days. I was hoping all the storms passing through last night would bring us more, but no such luck. The humidity is a tad lower as a result which I’m thankful for, but I’m back to lugging the hoses around today. As always it’s a treat to have a virtual seat at your table and join you for some flower therapy. Wishing you Happy Fourth of July week and celebration! ❤️ 💙
Thank you, Mary for your sweet comments. Outdoor tablescaping is a challenge. I can’t stand the heat and humidity, it saps my energy. Even though we have had 2 or 3 showers, it hasn’t eliminated dragging hoses. The ground is parched. Enjoy your week ❤️🤍💙
Pam, Your beach theme is beautiful! Your platter, shell box, and new salad plates are gorgeous! The platter looks like a Fitz and Floyd. It will make a beautiful summer display in the Sunshine Cottage or in your home. I’m really happy you rediscovered it at your Daddy’s home. I always love it when I rediscover items, especially when they’re sentimental! The rain shower is exactly what you get at the beach it seems, almost daily, so the weather was even cooperating with your beach theme. The bouquet is so pretty. The table just makes you feel you’re at the beach without the drive! Happy Monday! Clara❤️
Thank you, Clara. I thought the platter was a Fitz and Floyd, but there were no markings on it. At least at the beach, there are usually ocean breezes. It is entirely sunshine and no rain at all for today, but the humidity is lower. Have a wonderful 4th ❤️🤍💙
Pam your seaside table is charming….love all the elements you incorporated. The hydrangeas and maiden grass do remind me of the sea oats that are present along many of our beaches here in Florida. I am so glad you found your precious Mother’s shell platter. That is so special. I agree with Mary re: the rain interruption, ‘Dance with the one who brung ya!’ to paraphrase an idiom….or ‘don’t change horses midstream’! Your coastal landscape salad plates are perfect for your table. For years now, I’ve tried not to buy dinner plates for the very reason you stated…salad plates take up less room and you really don’t see the full design on a dinner plate.
We are only 10 minutes from the beach which we visited a few times after moving here almost 12 years ago…but as we get older we find we like to stay home beside our pool in our own private courtyard where a beautiful waterfall and spa entertain us. A plus is we can see the bottom of the pool and not see unexpected creatures of the sea which can sting or bite. LOL. Visitors and guests are welcome to take one of our vehicles, drive to the Gulf to lay on the beaches or collect sea shells over by the lighthouse on Sanibel Island all they want….we will be waiting with cool drinks and comfy cushioned lounges when they return.
We will be making homemade ice cream along with a BBQ for the 4th of July….it just wouldn’t be the 4th without that ice cream being cranked, now would it?
Stay cool my dear friend.
Thank you, Kari for your sweet comments! I decided I would not stress over it. Your pool that is private with a beautiful waterfall and spa sounds perfect to me! Home cranked ice cream is the best!
Your seaside table is so pretty. Love it all. Glad you got some rain. We need it up here in Illinois too. The problem is we have all wished and prayed for some rain and now it looks like it will hit us on the 4th ugh! Bad for the fireworks. We will make the best of it. Happy Independence week. Happy 4th. Enjoy. Kris
Thank you, Kris. Maybe your rain will come early. Enjoy your week!
Good morning, Pam! Your beach inspired tablescape is beautiful! Your flower arrangement is so pretty using seashells and blooms from your garden. The grasses do look like fireworks! The seashell box is lovely, and I’m so happy that you found the seashell tray that belonged to your mother. It’s perfect on your table. The photo of your table with sunshine cottage in the background is stunning! Even though it was a challenge photographing your table, I know you were grateful for the rain. My dear friend, I hope you have a blessed day, and I wish you and your dear family a happy Fourth of July!❤️💙❤️💙
Thanks so much, Shannon. We made fun memories with all of the challenges! Happy 4th my friend 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
I love your beachy table Pam, you have brought the beach to your garden! Sorry about the weather challenges, but your determination to get your table photographed paid off, your table is so pretty! I love the elements you chose for the centerpiece and the beautiful shell covered box. The beachy salad plates are perfect and the blue napkins really bring out the colors in them. Grilling and chilling with homemade ice cream is a great way to celebrate the 4th, have fun!
Thank you, Jenna. Wishing you and your family a safe and happy 4th 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
The rain didn’t spoil a thing. It looks beautiful! Although I live on the Alabama coast, we avoid the beach on big summer holidays – but this table brings it right to our door, without the traffic and sunburnt tourists! The perfect solution for sure! Happy Independence Day!
Thank you, Leslie Anne! I would definitely avoid the beach on holidays. I will take a few days in early May and late September! Enjoy the week!
Good morning Pam! This is truly a labor of love and dedication!! Without your behind the scenes story, nobody would ever know what was involved. It all looks like perfection! I am with you about the beach. Growing up on the coast, we went to Sullivan’s Island every single day so our vacations were always spent in the cool NC mountains.
I was trying to keep it real, my friend! Yes, we love the mountains! The ocean is beautiful from a chair on the balcony!
I love those salad plates! I’m not fond of being at the beach even though we live 20 minutes away.😂 We didn’t move here for the beach, my husband’s job transferred us here. However, I do enjoy our weather most of the time.😄 Minus the hurricanes.
Thank you, Nancy. The sound of the waves and the ocean breeze are two things I love and oh yes, the smell of the salty air!
I truly enjoyed your beach table scape it was so refreshing and the cloud burst didn’t take away anything from your beautiful pictures. The weather was ironically very appropriate for a typical gulf coast day. Have a blessed day.
Thank you our friend. The beach is known for afternoon pop up showers. It is always so sweet to hear from you!
Your mom’s platter is beautiful. I’m so glad your eye found it again. And the shell box is gorgeous! I miss going to the beaches in NC. It was definitely a Summer ritual. I had a cut that would not heal in the late 60’s so I took myself to the beach and wouldn’t you know it began to heal while there. Not sure that would happen again. Thankful you received a nice rain and I’m glad to see the results on the blue napkin.
I have visited the beaches of NC from the Outer Banks and southward! The saltwater heal cuts and opens
sinuses! What is your favorite NC beach, Alice?
Emeral Isle is my favorite Pam
I haven’t been there, but I looked it up and it looks beautiful!
Pam, Your beautiful table is so summery and looks like a seaside setting, never mind that it poured off and on! { oh the things we do for our beloved Monday Morning Blooms!} I love your new Coastal themed plates, your floral arrangement is just perfect with the addition of the grass plumes. Like you, I have a love of shell boxes, vintage and antique. Yours is one of the prettiest ones! How wonderful to find your mom’s beautiful shell platter, that just makes your table setting extra special! I was actually lucky this month, no rain, no heat, no squirrels jumping on the table stealing a cookie{!!!} You are a trooper. It’s always a blessing to join you in your beautiful garden for our beloved Monday Morning Blooms. Wishing you and your family a blessed and fun 4th of July! Xo Lidy
Thank you, Lidy. Yes, the things we do for our beloved MMB’s. At least, Butch and I made a fun memory. You hit the jackpot with none of the outdoor tablescaping challenges. Happy 4th ❤️
Beautiful tablescape! Adorable box too.what charming tray, how precious. Thank you for sharing my dear friend.
Maristella, you are so sweet dear friend ❤️
Hi, Pam! I found your beautiful blog here through Lidy’s blog links. I live near her in California. Thank you for a beautiful visit today to the South; my sister lives in Alabama. Beautiful photos, and I enjoy your writing.
Hi Kerry, I am so glad you found me through Lidy. Thank you so much for taking time to visit. Has your sister lived in Alabama very long? Once again so nice to meet you and thank you for your visit!
My first thought was fireworks when I saw the maiden grass tucked into the hydrangeas. This is a really nice beach themed tablescape, Pam. I completely understand your feeling on the rain – we need it so badly! We got caught in one of those “nowhere on the radar” on three different weather apps yesterday morning while walking, which turned into a jog!
I love your use of shells with the antique shell box, the napkin rings, and the vase within the vase. However, that platter is amazing!
ps – I actually love moody, cloudy skies for the overall look on the table.
Thank you, Rita! I have experienced those nowhere on the radar showers while walking. I am glad you liked the moody, cloudy skies. We have had a lot of those the past few days, but not much total rainfall!
Awww Pam, I love your memory piece of your beloved mother. The platter is so pretty and your vase within a vase looks perfect on it. I guess beach themed tables are not the luckiest for you!! I enjoyed reading through your trials in setting up the table, though. It’s nice that Bruce is there to help. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Kitty! I think I might have given up if my sweet husband had not been able to help me rescue the table setting! Happy 4th!
Your beachy table is such fun. I especially love the shells inside your glass vase. It looks terrific. And fun dishes, too1
Thanks, Jeanie. Wishing you a great Tuesday!
The maiden grass immediately put me in mind of Fourth fireworks…great choice.
What a team you and Butch made in defying the elements and getting your tablescape
up, ready and delivered. A Summer win. “Thou shalt not covet”…but oh that beautiful
antique seashell box;a it never fails to complete the setting and raise my amateur envy.
Dare I suggest that your beloved Mother’s hand may be suspected in leading you to
the gorgeous shell platter for just this occasion? Her presence certainly felt through
this beautiful memento… This has been such a refreshing visit to view all the unique
beach tablescapes. May the Fourth settle joyously upon our festivities on that very
meaningful day in our Nation’s calendar…….
As always, thank you for your sweet and encouraging comments! Our 4th was wonderful and I hope yours was as well!
I too have discovered you can’t trust the radar–even moments before planning to be outdoors. One morning not long ago, after noting a clear map on my weather app, I got my Bible study materials, computer, and coffee all set up on the deck, ready to have my quiet time, and it started to sprinkle! Your tablescape looks wonderful as always, Pam, even if a little damp! I never would have noticed the water spots on the napkins if you hadn’t mentioned them!
Thank you, Nancy! I guess we have all experienced a sudden burst of rain that was unexpected! Happy weekend!
I love the real life happenings in this post Pam, with rain, overcast & sunshine all on the same tablescape. We all have those moments in life when things do go as planned.
But it’s how we react & you were a great example in that we just need to realise that this too will pass & the rain is needed as much as the sunshine is in life. 😉
Blessings to you sweet friend, Jennifer
don’t go as planned
Yes, real life happens around here! I find that readers appreciate the honesty that everything does not go as planned. My prayer is that I won’t sweat the small stuff!
Blessings to you my sweet friend,
Pam
So beautiful, sweet friend, and I wouldn’t have known you had all the weather difficulties if you hadn’t mentioned it!
Thank you, dear one!
oh my, what a beautiful tablescape and that shell box is gorgeous! it makes me want to head to the beach. but even though we live 1½ hours from the beach it doesn’t look like we’re going to make there this summer, which is a bummer. however, your tablescape makes up for it!
enjoy your week!
Thanks so much, Tina and for your sweet comments. Maybe you can make it to the beach!