There is still some summer left to enjoy

According to the news, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. But nature does not care about unofficial things. Although the pools are closed and the kids are headed back to school; the mosquitoes are still biting. The flowers are exploding with color and the herbs are at their peak. As the warm breezes flow it sends their perfume into the air. The collards, kale, tomatoes and peppers are still growing and waiting to be picked. We will reap the harvest until the autumnal equinox and the first frost hits the ground. It still smells and feels like summer, so until then, I am going to depend on Mother Nature to tell me when summer is over… not the news.

Denys's Rose of Sharon is in full bloom

Denys's lavender gives the garden its lovely scent

If you look closely, you will see a caterpillar that found its home in Denys's Parsley

Monna's Basil & Oregano make great garden-mates

Monna's tomato's continue to blossom

Monna's inviting porch

This guy was just hanging around in the grass!

Tablescapes

Tablescaping is the art of setting the table.  Back in the day this craft was taught in home economics classes and reserved for weddings, holidays and other special occasions.  If you watch any of the cooking shows on television, you’ve learned that the presentation is as important as the food. Setting the table is no longer just about the proper location of the salad fork and water glass. Decorating the table in the 21^st century is all about, color, pattern, layers and creativity. You can find tableware in every color and theme imaginable in home and party stores. So don’t wait for a holiday to use your best dishes, instead use your imagination and add a table runner, place-mats, a charger and flowers to create a one of a kind tablescape. You just might find that the beautiful tablescape makes the food taste better.