Red, White and BBQ

As today if the first official day of summer, I know many of you if you have not already, will be grilling out more and more.

This table features all things good with a BBQ. Picnic check plates and a vintage picnic check table cloth with white fringe trim make a great base for hamburger and hot dog salt and peppers.

Watermelon salt and peppers along with adorable watermelon accent plates say a summery hello to your table.

I feel in love with this condiment holder that looks like a mini-grill but is actually salt and pepper shakers. There is also a place for ketchup, mustard and your pickles fit in the little tray that is the "grill". Also you can see just the top of the basket of foodie ornaments featuring pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs. I used some of these as napkin rings.

A few essentials for dining outdoors - a food cover and tablecloth weights, these are in the shape of daisies.

Hope you enjoyed this taste of summer ~ I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Please visit there for more wonderful tables!

The Summer Front Porch

I think Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer porch season.

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Please join Madison on a tour of our front porch.

On the black front table I placed three flameless candles (a favorite)

under glass star of David coasters & a watermelon fruit basket.
These candles are great to turn on when company is coming,

since they are flameless I can leave them unattended.

Mr. B hung a fresh new flag outside. We always have an American flag.

All of our landscaping from last year returned (thank goodness)

and we added some red begonias along the sidewalk.

This black urn matches the table. I planted sweet potato vine and red striped petunias.

Here's a long shot from the sidewalk. We need to get

rid of the outdoor carpet, but I'm not sure what I want

to replace it with yet.

After completing the yard work, we headed to Red Robin for some chips and salsa, a burger and . . .
one of these!

Then we drove around a near by subdivision Norton Commons,

which is an example of a mixed use community.

Here everything is within walking distance.

Do you have one of these in your town?
The homes are stunningly beautiful examples of

mixed architecture.

Mr. B and I have a thing for yellow houses.

I love the front porch on this one with the black rocking chairs.

I love the chair swing and white columns of this home.

It's cheery front door.

And delightful little boy sculpture in the front yard.

These homeowners have a sense of whimsy - see the

lady bugs in the bed?

While not a big front porch, I do adore the mix

of oak leaf hydrangea with the style of this home.

Mr. B was ready to head home so I snapped this last picture

from the car of this two story home.

This reminds me of Charleston, South Carolina.

Is your front porch ready for summer too?

Happy Memorial Day ~

Let's give thanks to all those that served our country with the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy this day in freedom.

Today I'm joining Met Monday with Susan at

Between Naps on the Porch.