A Halloween-Themed Birthday Party Celebration

Welcome to the 580th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Halloween to you! I had hoped to Trick-or-Treat with my son/dil and grandsons tonight but unfortunately, my cold has gotten worse. I think it's trying to turn into a sinus infection. Ugh. One of my grandsons had a cold when I first arrived, then my daughter-in-law and I came down with it. I'll be heading back home in a few days so I need to get better fast … [Read more...]




A Fun Halloween Table for Kids

Welcome to the 579th Tablescape Thursday! Today I'm sharing the last of the Halloween tables Marie had set when I visited her home. Marie has six grandchildren and when everyone is here this is often the table where they sit. Unfortunately, my photos of this table didn't turn out that great but it was too cute to not share.   Marie again used these hilarious light bulb glasses at each … [Read more...]




An Autumn Fireplace & A Realistic-Looking Artificial Christmas Tree

My daughter-in-law, Nancy, has the fireplace all decorated for autumn. In the evening the flameless candles glowing in the fireplace are sooo pretty, much cozier and inviting than photos can really show. For many years the chief decoration in front of the fireplace was a baby gate, but with the youngest now 3 years old, the baby gate is no longer needed.   I asked Nancy where she found the … [Read more...]




Beautiful DIY Lit Pumpkin Centerpiece for Autumn

Welcome to the 560th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning from Ohio. I'm visiting family over the next few days and looking forward to sharing some of Ohio's beautiful autumn foliage. My Before and After for this week's Met Monday is a wonderful idea my daughter-in-law, Nancy, created for a beautiful fall table centerpiece.   She placed a pierced ceramic pumpkin down inside a gorgeous autumn … [Read more...]




Easy, Last Minute Outdoor Halloween Decorating Idea, Great for a Halloween Party!

Years ago I came across this awesome "haunted" house while on a tour of historic homes in Atlanta. This home wasn't on the tour, we just walked by it en route to one of the tour homes. I loved it and thought it was one of the most cleverly Halloween decorated homes I had ever seen! Looking more closely at all the components needed to create this look, I thought this really wouldn't be that difficult to … [Read more...]




Whimsical Halloween Table with Light Bulb Glasses

Welcome to the 578th Tablescape Thursday! Marie has three tables that she normally keeps set for the holidays and one is here in her family room. This table doesn't get used as much as her breakfast room and dining room table do but it's a great place to eat a snack while watching a game on TV or as extra space when having a large group over for a sit-down meal.   Marie's six grandchildren … [Read more...]




Inside Marie’s Home for Halloween & What Happened to the Porch Column Dilemma

Thanks so much to everyone who left a comment on yesterday's post. The information you shared and your suggestions were outstanding! Unfortunately, I'm having to start my estimate process all over again. My porch was due to be painted yesterday, but the company that was scheduled to do it blew me off after the project manager came out on Monday and he saw the peeling paint on the columns. He informed me … [Read more...]




A Few of My Favorite Halloween Decorating Ideas & Detailed Tutorials for Creating Them

Happy weekend to you! Are you busy decorating for fall or Halloween? I'm not doing any decorating right now because I'm having the whole house and both porches pressure washed early next week, hopefully on Tuesday if it doesn't rain. After that, the front porch will be getting a fresh coat of paint. So the most I've done so far is hang a wreath on the front door, but I thought it would be fun to share a … [Read more...]




On the Porch for Halloween

Welcome to the 577th Tablescape Thursday! I set this table inside, then moved the whole thing outside onto the porch. Though overcast, it was just too nice out to be cooped up inside.   I tried to explain to Mr. Pheasant that he's an autumn centerpiece better suited for Thanksgiving tables, but he wasn't having it.   He insisted on holding our Halloween bouquet of black … [Read more...]




Halloween: Imagine Being 8 Years Old Again & Trick-or-Treating Here!

Oh, to be a child again and get to visit Marie's house at Halloween! Imagine being 8 years old and trick-or-treating here on Halloween night!   If you made it past the fire-breathing dragons...   ...with massive wings beating back and forth to scare you away...   ...would you be brave enough to walk under this guy to collect a treat? :)   Marie's … [Read more...]




A Visit to Marie’s: A Halloween Table Setting and My First Bubble Tea

Welcome to the 576th Tablescape Thursday! We're off to Marie's for this week's Tablescape Thursday! Marie and I got together for lunch recently and the place we were lunching was right next door to Tiny Bubbles Teatime. We stopped in for a glass of bubble tea before heading next door for lunch. It was the perfect day to dine outside, not too hot and just the nicest breeze, so we sat outside and … [Read more...]




Halloween-Thanksgiving Dinnerware Shopping & What I Couldn’t Leave Behind

Welcome to the 574th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday I stopped by two of my favorite stores to check out the autumn dishware offerings. At first, I was completely underwhelmed, every table I saw was done in neutral tones. There were at least four dressed that way. I didn't take photos of all of them because I was really in the mood for some gorgeous fall color.   If you love neutral colors … [Read more...]




An Enchanting Candlelit Table Setting for Fall

Welcome to the 571st Tablescape Thursday! I'm back home now, had a great drive yesterday in beautiful sunshine the whole way. And no wayward ties attacked my car as I drove home this time! Whew! After the 9+ hour drive, it was too late to put a table together once I arrived, so today I'm sharing a wonderful table from Noemi who wrote: Hey Susan! I have been a fan of your blog for a couple of years … [Read more...]




Fall-Autumn Table Inspiration & a Stunning Autumn Pumpkin Candlelit Centerpiece

Welcome to the 570th Tablescape Thursday! I always love it when I hear from readers of Between Naps On The Porch, especially when they share photos their beautiful porches and tables with me. Autumn weather and the holidays are just around the corner! Hard to believe, isn't it? Recently I received an email from Maureen with pictures of a beautiful table she created for Thanksgiving this past year. … [Read more...]




Celebrate the 4th of July: 5 Decor Ideas, 5 DIY Crafts & 5 Patriotic Table Settings

Welcome to the 543rd Metamorphosis Monday! The 4th of July is just a little more than a week away! Wow, summer is passing way too quickly for my liking! Do you have any special plans for your 4th of July celebration? For this week's Metamorphosis Monday, I'm sharing a round-up of some fun and easy ways to get ready for this festive, patriotic holiday. (Note: Click the title name of each post below … [Read more...]




A Memorial Day Table Setting with a Beach-Nautical Theme

Welcome to the 557th Tablescape Thursday! With Memorial Day weekend almost here, it's time for a patriotic table to honor those who have so valiantly served in our armed forces. As I did last year with a 4th of July table, I decided to give this table a beach/nautical vibe.   Do you have any special plans for this holiday weekend? Are you heading to the beach, planning a Memorial Day … [Read more...]




Dining in Mr. McGregor’s Garden: A Spring Table Setting with Peter Rabbit

Welcome to 552nd Tablescape Thursday! I would love to have placed this table out on the screened porch, but that would have required wading through a few feet of Georgia pollen just to reach the table. It's that time of year when I normally break down and give the porch a thorough cleaning, but I'm trying hard to resist since I know it will be covered right back up with pollen again in just a few days. I … [Read more...]




Shopping the Big Tabletop Sales & the Cutest Peter Rabbit Plates for Spring and Easter!

I stopped into both Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma today and picked up some really cute things for spring. Both shops have some great sales going on right now. Pottery Barn has all of their tabletop items on sale, 25% off and their Easter goodies are on sale up to 40% off. I scored some adorable napkins for 40% off. You'll find the sale here: Tabletop Sale. I had to check out this pretty blue and white … [Read more...]




Welcome Spring!

Welcome to the 549th Tablescape Thursday! At 61 degrees, it was almost warm enough to set a table out on the porch today. At least it was warm enough to have the door open for a while. It's pollen time here in Georgia, which reminds me, I should probably bring in the cushions from the porch until it passes. Pssst: We're using the old linking system for today's party. InLinkz is working hard right now … [Read more...]




A St. Patrick’s Day Dinner with Friends

Welcome to the 546th Tablescape Thursday! Recently I received an email from Agnes with photos of a beautiful table she had set for St. Patrick's Day. Agnes wrote, "We love to have friends over....my New Year’s resolution (again) was to do something each month (I usually only get to February)."   "St Patrick’s was a good choice (I had the green cabbage leaf plates and bowls). We invited … [Read more...]




Welcoming Spring with a Floral Table Setting Perfect for Easter or a Garden Party

Welcome to 545th Tablescape Thursday! It was so beautiful out today with temps reaching into the high 60's, I was super tempted to set a table outside on the porch. In the end, I stayed here in the breakfast room for this week. But it won't be long before we're out on the porch for Tablecape Thursday.   I bought two Shamrock plants this week with full intentions to set a St. Patrick's Day … [Read more...]




A Springtime Haul & Everything Was On Sale!

It reached the 70's here yesterday and my daffodils have been in full bloom for the last two weeks. With all this beautiful springtime weather, I couldn't resist heading out for a little spring dish shopping. I stopped by one of my favorite places, Pier 1, and was so happy to see they are having a big spring sale. I found so many cute things I couldn't leave behind!   You may remember … [Read more...]




A Romantic Candlelit Table for Valentine’s Day

Welcome to the 541st Tablescape Thursday! Never seems to matter what time of the morning/day I begin putting a table together for Tablescape Thursday, I never seem to complete it until after nightfall. Candlelight pictures are nice, right? :) But I would still like to share some daytime photos with you, so you'll find those further down in this post. These were taken last night and the daylight … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day & The 50 Greatest Love Letters of All Time

Welcome to the 524th Metamorphosis Monday! Years ago I had a bunny-painted window hanging atop the windows in the upstairs family room.   After a while, I began to crave seeing the windows in their wide-open, natural state, so I took Miss Bunny down.   She now stands guard in the garage over a potting bench. I may move her back to the bonus room one day, but for now I really … [Read more...]




2 Beautiful Christmas Table Settings: Elegant in Silver, Festive in Red

Welcome to the 534th Tablescape Thursday! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Hope you are having a special time visiting with family and friends! We're all still in a holiday state of mind here as the new year approaches. Over this past week, I received wonderful photos of beautiful Christmas table settings from two lovely BNOTP readers. Norma set an elegant Christmas table in shades of white and … [Read more...]




The Big Present Puzzle & Making It All Fit

Thanks so much for sharing in the comments on yesterday's post how you keep track of recipes you find online that interest you and that you may want to make some day. I learned so many new things from you and I'm impressed with the systems you have devised for keeping up with recipes! One of the reasons I asked that question is because I was contemplating adding a recipe Plugin to BNOTP that would let … [Read more...]




5 Christmas Recipes That Will Having Them Coming Back for 2nd’s and 3rd’s

Welcome to the 533rd Tablescape Thursday! A Question For You So I've been wondering, what's your favorite way to keep up with a recipe you find online and would possibly like to make one day? Do you pin the recipe post to Pinterest? Or, do you have a recipe file on your computer where you just bookmark the post or website? Or, do you print it out right then and there? What is your favorite way … [Read more...]




A Wreath Switcheroo: Staying With a Natural Green Wreath From Now On

Welcome to the 516th Metamorphosis Monday! A week or two ago I shared how the porch was decorated for Christmas. You may remember I wasn't thrilled with how this ornament wreath looked against my red door. I'm using it elsewhere, it looks great out on the screened porch.   So, here's how the porch looks now.   I was a little worried at first about the performance of … [Read more...]




Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages, I Want Some of These!

Update: If you have trouble seeing links below, please exit out of the post and load it again to see if that corrects the problem. This will be my last gift idea post and this one is geared toward the little ones who steal our hearts every day. I will continue to add gift ideas to this post as I've been doing with the other gift posts I've put together, so be sure to check back if you're still looking … [Read more...]




Favorite Gift Ideas for the Men in Our Life

Update: If you have trouble seeing links below, please exit out of the post and load it again to see if that corrects the problem. Recently, I shared a few gift ideas that would make great stocking stuffers. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Stocking Stuffers They'll Love on Christmas Day.   A few days later I shared suggestions for the ladies in your life. That post can be … [Read more...]




The Star Was Too Big, But at Least the Presents are Wrapped

Christmas is just 11 days away! Wow, this month is flying by! I have the presents all wrapped, but I'm doing something a little different this year. I don't think I'm going to add bows to the presents, well at least not right now. If I do, they will all get crushed when I pack them into my SUV to head north for Christmas. Maybe once I arrive, I'll add some bows then. That sounds like a good … [Read more...]




A Christmas Vacation Table Setting with Dept. 56 Lit Houses

Welcome to the 533rd Tablescape Thursday! This has been such an interesting, busy week. Yesterday I was awakened at 4:15 in the morning by a trembling bed. Having experienced two earthquakes during the last 10 or so years, I was pretty sure we were having another one. A quick check of Twitter confirmed it. I rarely visit Twitter but it's a great place to go if you're wondering if an earthquake has just … [Read more...]




Gifts Any Woman Would Love, Even The Picky Ones!

Update: If you have trouble seeing the links below, please exit out of the post and load it again to see if that corrects the problem. Recently, I shared a few items that I thought would be much-appreciated stocking stuffers this year. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Stocking Stuffers They'll Love on Christmas Day. Today I thought I'd share a few goodies that I think would make wonderful … [Read more...]




16 Ideas for Celebrating Christmas and the Holiday season

Welcome to the 515th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Did you attend any holiday home tours? We had one here but it was just too rainy and cold, so I stayed in and wrapped presents. I got a lot done, but still have so many more to wrap. It's really been an enjoyable task since I've been watching documentaries on the life of Jane Austen on my iPad while wrapping. I should be watching Christmas … [Read more...]




Stocking Stuffers They’ll Love on Christmas Day

Update: If you have trouble seeing links below, please exit out of the post and load it again to see if that corrects the problem. Happy Weekend! How is your Christmas shopping going? I've finished mine now, just waiting for a few additional items to arrive. Today and tomorrow will be gift-wrapping day and it's gonna take a while since I tend to go a little crazy buying gifts at Christmastime. If … [Read more...]




12 Days of Christmas Table Setting with a Guest Appearance by One of the 6 Geese

Welcome to the 532nd Tablescape Thursday! Today I'm wishing I had a table that seated 12. I'd love to share all 12 place settings of this pattern with you for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   I had planned to place this table in the breakfast room, but at the last minute I decided to set it here in the dining room.   I took these photos late, late last night. Picture … [Read more...]




If You’re Feeling Behind Right Now, Hope This Makes You Feel Better

If you're feeling behind right now, know that you're not alone. I feel a little like that guy on the old Ed Sullivan show (dating myself here) who is up on stage spinning 20 dinner plates at one time. I think that's the way my brain works best, though. I'll start a Christmas decorating project, get 2/3rds of the way in, starting feeling a bit bored and start another one. Last night, determined to get the … [Read more...]




Pottery Barn Inspired Christmas Garland: Bigger and Better Second Time Around

Welcome to the 514th Metamorphosis Monday! I had hoped to do an update on the installation of the Ring Doorbell today, but I need one more part to fix an issue it's having. Hopefully, the part I've ordered will arrive this week, then I'll be able to complete that final post. So watch for that coming up real soon.   Pottery Barn Inspired Christmas Garland Gets an Update Many, many years ago … [Read more...]




Create a Little Snack Center, A Small Thank-you to Our Delivery Men & Women

My day had a not-so-great start. I awoke, turned on my computer and it began making an odd whirring sound. I think the fan in the CPU tower has gone out. Again. ~~~sigh~~~  It shut down by itself and made a terrible "siren" sound when I attempted to restart it. So I'll be packing a lunch (because it takes that long to get there and back!) and driving to the other side of Atlanta today to leave it for … [Read more...]




Plaid Everything! Yes, Please!

Welcome to the 531st Tablescape Thursday! Just before I left to fly north for Thanksgiving, I stopped into Pottery Barn to scope out all their Christmas dinnerware. They always have such fun holiday dinnerware. I love seeing it all and it really gets me excited for the holidays. Since Thanksgiving was just a few days away, they no longer had Thanksgiving dinnerware on display. I just noticed today, … [Read more...]




Finally Doing It–I’m Adding a Security Camera to My Front Porch

I've been thinking about adding a security camera to my front porch for a long, long time. Fortunately, I've never had a package or anything go missing from my porch, but a camera could come in handy for that, as well. The main reason I've been wishing to add a camera is in hopes of avoiding unnecessary interruptions. So often when I'm working in the office or somewhere in the house, I'll hear the doorbell … [Read more...]




A Family Christmas Mantel & The Best Cyber Monday Shopping Finds

Welcome to the 513th Metamorphosis Monday! My sweet daughter-in-law, Nancy, has been sick the past few days with a yucky cold, but this weekend she was feeling much better and started pulling out the Christmas decorations. It was so much fun seeing my grandson's reactions to the trees, lights and pretty decorations. There were a lot of Ooohhs and Ahhhs and WOWs! One of the areas that saw a makeover … [Read more...]




My Favorite Black Friday Sales

I don't think I've ever been more excited for a Black Friday than I am today. The sales are pretty much the best you'll find throughout the year, and I love that I can stay at home in my PJs and still take advantage of all the best deals! Noritake is having their BIGGEST sale of the year with everything sitewide at 30-50% off!   These beautiful Christmas accent plates are on sale 30% off. … [Read more...]




Happy Thanksgiving to You!

Welcome to the 530th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving to you! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing links to 8 previous Thanksgiving table settings. If you're looking for any last-minute ideas this morning, I hope these will provide a bit of inspiration for your Thanksgiving table. Click on any title or picture below to open that particular Thanksgiving Tablescape … [Read more...]




Hanging Wreaths & My Favorite Tartan Flannel Sheets Are On Sale

Have you completed your autumn decorations? I didn't really decorate a lot this year since I was out of the country for most of October, then under the weather with a nasty cold/virus for 10+ days of November. About the only decorating I did prior to leaving for Egypt was to hang a fall wreath on my front door. (See more of this wreath in this previous post: Autumn Wreath for the Front … [Read more...]




Christmas Shopping This Weekend & Taking Advantage of the Best Sales

During the day on Tuesday, my lights went out three times. They weren't out long, just long enough to get all the clocks in the house flashing away. Later that night as I was getting into bed, they went out and stayed out for good. I have no idea what was going on with the power in our neighborhood that day but when I looked out the window, I could see the whole street was out. I never felt panicked … [Read more...]




As Requested: Instructions & Resources to Make a Beautiful Colonial Williamsburg Fruit Fan for Christmas

Welcome to the 510th Metamorphosis Monday! I awoke this morning around 4:00 am. I would say I'm still on Egypt time but I was doing this even when I was in Egypt. I wonder if that's why I got sick, not getting enough sleep. I don't know what's up with my body wanting to wake up so ridiculously early every day, but I wish it would stop. I'm still sick but feeling better each day. Thankfully, the fever … [Read more...]




A Spooky but Elegant Halloween Table Setting with a Count Dracula Vampire Theme

Welcome to the 527th Tablescape Thursday! Well, I did it again...got sick on a trip overseas. The last couple of days in Egypt, I felt like I was coming down with a bad cold. I spiked a high fever during the flight home and that has continued. It's been 102 all night. I'm going to try and see a doctor today. I sure hope I don't have a massive fall-out of hair like happened last time I ran a high … [Read more...]




Thinking Ahead to Christmas: Colonial Williamsburg Style Door Idea

Welcome to the 508th Metamorphosis Monday! I had an interesting start to my morning! I awoke around 4 am Egypt time and was laying in bed thinking about my Met Monday post when the power went out. I noticed it immediately because the A/C stopped and everything went very dark. It's a weird feeling to be on the top (5th) floor of a hotel and have all the power go out. Fortunately, I knew where my phone … [Read more...]




Humorous Halloween Centerpiece for a Festive Birthday Celebration

Welcome to the 525th Tablescape Thursday! Sandra recently hosted a little luncheon in celebration of a friend's birthday. She set the most fun table with a delightful centerpiece featuring whimsical Halloween witches she found in Tuesday Morning many years back.   Sandra said, "We lived in Adams, Tennesse for about 9 years, which is the home of the Bell Witch. Great … [Read more...]




10 Halloween Crafts for the Home and Table

Welcome to the 507th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm leaving for Egypt today. I plan to post a good bit while I'm away. Hopefully, I'll have some fast WiFi in the hotels where we'll be staying. I'll also be posting a lot to Instagram while I'm away. Instagram is the easiest and quickest way to share in real time, so be sure to look for updates there each day. If you would like to follow my adventures … [Read more...]




A Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration with Harvest Pumpkin China

Welcome to the 524th Tablescape Thursday! Brenda and Tom are newlyweds, they were just married in August. Together they live at Peaceful Valley Farm in Canada. What a beautiful place! It certainly lives up to its name! Brenda said, "We are retired but we have a hobby farm with two horses, Lady and Foxy. We also have 6 black Angus cows, (Tour of Duty, Rosebud, Daisey, Feiria, Roscoe, and Arlene) over … [Read more...]




5 Creative Tablescapes for Halloween and Fall

Welcome to the 523rd Tablescape Thursday! This week I'm taking you back to a few of my favorite Halloween and Autumn table settings.  If you're new to reading here at BNOTP, you'll find all the Halloween tables linked under the category "Tablescapes" at the top of the blog. To access those, click on: Tablescapes/Holiday/Halloween. Or, you'll find them all here: Halloween Tablescapes. Fall Tablescapes … [Read more...]




Tablescape Thursday: A Halloween Setting by Candlelight

Welcome to the 522nd Tablescape Thursday! We had storms this afternoon and it got quite dark as I finished setting this table to share for today's Tablescape Thursday. I decided to go with it--embrace the cloudy, moody afternoon and photograph this Halloween only table by candlelight. As it got even darker out, I turned on a few lamps.   Love dining by candlelight!   It may … [Read more...]




A New Autumn Wreath for the Front Door

Summer is still very much with us here in Georgia with temps in the upper 80's and low 90's every day. I love the hot weather so I'm not complaining. Though it's not feeling one bit like fall, I came across a beautiful fall wreath recently that I couldn't pass up. I usually have a hard time finding a wreath I like because often they are just too small. I like a nice big wreath that fills out my … [Read more...]




Fall Dinnerware Shopping & Beautiful Embossed White Chargers On Sale

Welcome to the 518th Tablescape Thursday! I always have to be dragged kicking and screaming into fall. I know it's not that way for a lot of folks who can't wait for a bit of relief from the heat. When it comes to checking out the new dishware offerings for autumn, no dragging is needed. Ha! Yesterday I stopped into the Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma near my home to see if they had their fall/autumn … [Read more...]




A Tie for My Son, Summer Sandals & Starting My Christmas Shopping Now

Remember that time I was so obsessed with this polka dot shirt, I had to order it twice? I still love that shirt and wear it a lot, so I'm glad I have two despite the fact it tried its best to run on me. lol Pssst: If you've ever had a problem with colors bleeding in the wash, check out this previous post:  How Color Catcher Saved My Favorite Shirt.   I have a fave shirt for summer this year, … [Read more...]




A Living Room Table: Great for Reading, Working or a Casual Dinner

Welcome to the 511th Tablescape Thursday! Marie always sets several tables when entertaining for the holidays. One of my favorite tables in her home is the one she usually sets in her living area in case additional seats are needed. This room is nice and large, so it easily accommodates a large table for reading, working or dining.   Since this table is also used for other activities … [Read more...]




Festive Table Setting for a 4th of July Patriotic Celebration

Welcome to the 510th Tablescape Thursday! It's always a big celebration at Marie's for the 4th of July! She had several tables set and ready for friends and family when we met up last week.   I love these Uncle Sam hats! They make such a fun statement on any table or in any centerpiece or decor. Marie found those in Pier 1 a few years back.   A mix of tall, glass candle … [Read more...]




Tour this Beautiful Victorian Home Decorated for the 4th of July

Welcome to the 492nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! It's the start of a brand new week, looking forward to sharing it with you! On Saturday I shared a few photos of how Marie's beautiful Victorian home is decorated in celebration of this year's Independence Day.   Let's go in and see how she decorated inside!   The family room was very festive! I bet the mantle is so … [Read more...]




Decorate a Porch for the 4th of July!

Happy Weekend! Hope you are having a wonderful one! Recently, my friend, Marie, and I got together for a lunch date.  Marie has her home beautifully decorated for the Independence Day.   Pictures just never do Marie's home justice, everything is so much prettier and grander in person.   I loved the red, white and blue bunting running down the entire length of the … [Read more...]




A Beach-Themed Table Setting for the 4th of July: Happy Independence Day!

Welcome to the 509th Tablescape Thursday! It's officially summer and the 4th of July celebrations are almost upon us!   We've been getting some heavy storms every afternoon so please excuse the "moody" background. It was only around 4:00 when I took these photos but it almost looks like it's getting dark out.   Whenever I use a tall centerpiece I always get questions, so … [Read more...]




A Red, White & Blue Patriotic Table Setting in Honor of Memorial Day

Welcome to the 504th Tablescape Thursday! We've been getting some really heavy storms here each day, so I decided to place my table inside this week. I've put together a patriotic setting in honor of Memorial Day, but this setting would also work great for the 4th of July or any other patriotic occasion or holiday.   This setting is all about the Red, White and Blue as we celebrate our … [Read more...]




Banana Bread: Delicious with Some Surprise Ingredients

Welcome to 483rd Metamorphosis Monday! Thank you so, so much for all the kinds words left in the comments of Thursday's post! I was traveling all day on Thursday and was out of town over the weekend, so I haven't had a chance to personally reply to everyone, but I'll be working on that throughout the week. I am so blessed by all the lovely dearhearts who stop in each day and want you to know I never … [Read more...]




Home-Made Salsa Recipe: Delicious & Easy to Make

Welcome to the 481st Metamorphosis Monday! I have a yummy treat for you for this week's Met Monday! My friend, Linda, a native Texan, makes a fabulous salsa that's always a big hit with all of her friends and family. Whenever there's a get-together in the works, she always gets requests to bring her delicious salsa. Recently when Linda made it for a party, she took some photos of the process so I … [Read more...]




Bunnies in the Garden & The Scent of Sweet Dianthus

Welcome to the 498th Tablescape Thursday! The Bath's Pink Dianthus are blooming in my garden now and they smell so wonderful!   I thought about using them in today's table but wasn't sure how well they would work since they are more of a ground cover in the way they grow and sprawl. They ended up working great in the little bunny planters I wanted to use for today's table. As I … [Read more...]




Two Beautiful Spring Tables and One Sassy Bunny

Welcome to the 497th Tablescape Thursday! When was the last time you purchased a car? I keep my cars a really long time, the shortest being 11 years, and the longest, 18. The 18-year-old, a diesel, had 325,000 miles on the odometer when my son slid on an icy bridge, sending it into retirement. As the saying goes, I pretty much drive them until the wheels fall off. lol I've been car "shopping" the last … [Read more...]




An Enchanting Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 496th Tablescape Thursday! So excited this morning to share a beautiful spring table setting with you! Gina has her table all ready for a special dinner she's hosting this weekend. This table would be lovely for any spring or Easter table setting. Gina shared all the sources for the treasures she used when putting this table together. I've tried to link out to those that are still … [Read more...]




Easter-Spring Table Setting with a Visit from the Easter Bunny

Welcome to the 495th Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for sharing all the wonderful dream-like places you've visited over the years. It makes me wish I could travel all the time just so I could see them all! If you're looking for ideas for your next travel adventure, be sure to read the comments left on yesterday's post. So many wonderful places to see in this big world! I was so hoping I could … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Table Settings, Through the Years

Welcome to the 494th Tablescape Thursday! St. Patrick's Day is this Saturday, just two days away! For this week's St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be fun to look back at the tables I've created over the past 10 years. Hard to believe Between Naps On The Porch turns 10 years old this August! How has it been 10 years?!   ☘ Click any link to view tablescape in detail. Happy St. … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Table with Limelight Hydrangeas & Belleek Pottery Centerpiece

Welcome to the 493rd Tablescape Thursday! I just realized today, we get to set the clocks forward this weekend. That means another whole hour of daylight starting this Sunday! Yipee! That makes me so happy! Spring is really almost here! St. Patrick's Day is the following weekend on Saturday, the 17th, so it's time to start thinking about pretty St. Patrick's Day table … [Read more...]




Going to Miss the Cozy Tartan Plaids of Winter

Welcome to the 492nd Tablescape Thursday! A few week's back I posted a winter woodland table for Tablescape Thursday.   Shortly after posting that table, Elinda shared photos of a recent woodland table she had put together. Though spring has arrived early here in Georgia (everything is blooming up a storm now!) I had to share this delightful cozy woodland table. Recognize the deer in … [Read more...]




A Sunny, Blue & Yellow Table Inspired By A Spring-like February Day

Welcome to the 491st Tablescape Thursday! Like many years in the past, we've been having early spring-like weather this month. The temps have been in the upper 60's and 70's here for much of February! Normally when this happens, it only lasts a week or so, but this year it seems to be sticking around, which is fine by me. I am not a fan of cold weather and am relishing every moment of these warmer temps … [Read more...]




A Valentine’s Day Table, Plus a DIY Heart-Wreath Topiary Craft

Welcome to the 490th Tablescape Thursday! How was your Valentine's Day? I hope it was lovely and that you were surrounded with lots of loved from those you love the most. I have a beautiful Valentine's Day table to share with you today. Elinda, who reads BNOTP, enjoys entertaining and creating beautiful table settings for her family. She recently shared some wonderful photos of the table she put … [Read more...]




A Feather Tree for Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you are having a lovely one! We are having some amazing springtime weather here right now. The daffodils are already up all over my yard, though not blooming yet. Whenever this happens early, I always panic a little, fearing they will get frozen when the cold weather returns. Then I come across photos like this on my computer and remember it's not the first time daffodils have … [Read more...]




Beautiful Inspiration for Your Spring and Easter Tables

Welcome to the 489th Tablescape Thursday! I always love to stop by Pottery Barn this time of year to see what they have available for Easter and spring table settings. It appears they have a Friends and Family 20% off sale going right now with the code FAMILY at checkout. I'm happy to see they brought back the bunny bowl I purchased last year. I love this bowl! I keep mine out all through spring and … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day Table Setting with a Guest Appearance by the Easter Bunny

Welcome to the 488th Tablescape Thursday! We are in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   It was quite late when I took these photos, so please excuse some of the darker pics.   Update: Adding a photo taken this morning with a bit of natural light coming in through the windows.   Have you ever wondered what the Easter Bunny does during the off … [Read more...]




Nature-Themed Woodland Makeover for a Beautiful Paneled Study

Welcome to the 468th Metamorphosis Monday! The last few days I've been away visiting family. A week or so ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make this trip since I was still quite sick. But the antibiotic worked so well, I was fine to make the drive to see family and celebrate a late Christmas with my grandchildren since we weren't able to be together at Christmastime. The weather turned snowy so I … [Read more...]




A Peppermint-Candy Fantasy Table & Kitchen

Welcome to the 485th Tablescape Thursday! Before I left for Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and took photos of the beautiful tables she had created for family and friends. Marie had all her tables set for an upcoming Christmas dinner party. Marie hosts a lot of events in her home throughout the year, so it's always so much fun to see her decorations. I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to … [Read more...]




Green, White, Silver and Crystal for an Elegant Table Setting

Welcome to the 484th Tablescape Thursday! Just before I left for the Christmas Markets trip to Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and snapped some photos of her beautiful Christmas tables. The dining room has the perfect spot for a Christmas tree.   For her main dining table, Marie created a stunningly elegant table setting. Notice the greenery around the very top of the chandelier. I … [Read more...]




Mixing Plaids and Tartans for a Festive Holiday Table

Welcome to the 483rd Tablescape Thursday! Recently Martha had friends over for "Dinner and Dominos." Doesn't that sound like fun! I haven't played Dominos in so long, I'm not sure I remember how.   Like so many of us, Martha loves tartans and plaids. I think they are so festive and not just for Christmas. They add so much color and happiness to any room, creating a perfect winter … [Read more...]




Christmas in Cologne, Germany

Welcome to the 465th Metamorphosis Monday! Merry Christmas! Since Met Monday falls on Christmas Day this year, I'm putting this post up a bit early. I guess my Before and After this week is a travel one since I'm spending Christmas in a way I've never done before: floating down the Rhine River stopping every so often to visit the Christmas Markets and historic sites we find along the way. The … [Read more...]




Christmas in Heaven

Welcome to the 482nd Tablescape Thursday! Elena always creates the most magical table settings. Earlier this year she experienced a tremendous loss when her sister, Anna, passed away at the age of 62. This Christmas will be the first Christmas since Anna's passing. Elena shared some photos with me of the beautiful table she created for Christmas this year. Elena said, "My idea of a different kind of … [Read more...]




A Whimsically Decorated, Fantasy Porch for Christmas

Welcome to the 464th Metamorphosis Monday! I'll be leaving soon to visit the Christmas Markets in The Netherlands, Germany and France. I plan to post some while I'm away provided the ship has WiFi that will let me upload photos to a post. The biggest issue I've found when traveling in the past is that it seems everyone on the ship tries to access the wi-fi at once, which pretty much brings it to a crawl. … [Read more...]




Last Minute Christmas Deals & The Coat I’ll Be Wearing In Germany for Christmas

A lot of stores are having last minute sales with free shipping for the holiday season. Here are a few that caught my eye. Sundance is offering 20% off this weekend, along with free shipping. I'm eyeing this beautiful cardigan here: Cardigan.   Frye has a great sale going on, 25% off with the code: CHILLY at Checkout. So if you've been lusting after a pair of Frye shoes or boots, this is a … [Read more...]




Woodland Christmas Table Setting with Magnolia Centerpiece

Welcome to the 481st Tablescape Thursday! Remember that crazy snow storm we had recently...   ...the one that left an epic 8 inches of snow in my yard?   The magnolia tree in my front yard lost more branches than I've ever seen it lose during a snow or ice storm. Once the storm was over, I found branches laying on the ground all the way around the tree. There were so many in … [Read more...]




A Christmas Markets Trip Along the Rhine & Soup to Warm You On This Cold Day

I had a big decision to make today. So what did I do? I procrastinated and started cutting up vegetables, instead.   This is the best vegetable beef soup! It smells so insanely good while cooking...makes the whole house smell that way, too.  It's made from a recipe I found in an old Southern Living magazine, if I'm remembering correctly. I always change the recipe a bit by adding some stew … [Read more...]




Winter Wonderland

Snow: some people love it. Some, not so much. I'm afraid I fall into the "not-so-much" category. Wish I could send it all to my son, dil and grandchildren...they love this cold, white stuff.   It snowed off and on all throughout the day.   Earlier in the day I came out long enough to get the snow off the boxwood shrubs and to snap a few pics.   Notice the … [Read more...]




A Christmas Table Setting for Cat Lovers

Welcome to the 480th Tablescape Thursday! We're back in the breakfast room for this week's Tablescape Thursday, only there's no sunshine today. It was a rainy, dreary day out, so I decided to make my own sunshine inside. My centerpiece is a bit tall for this spot, so had to slide the table over slightly due to the chandelier.   If you are a cat lover, you're going to love the dishware … [Read more...]




Making Progress and Visiting Bluebirds

Happy Days! I'm sooo much better! Yesterday was the turning point. I'm way behind on my decorating from being sick for the last ten days, but I got a tremendous amount done today. I purchased a wreath, hung garland around the door, added more ornaments to the tree, wrapped all the presents except two, set a table for Tablescape Thursday, photographed it and had a repairman out to make a few minor repairs. … [Read more...]