Whew...I Made It! Summer Cloche Party

     It never happens. I have two posts in one day. I'm really not trying to make up for lost time and I do want you to read my fun Foodie Friday post...I promise it will make you hungry. When I got back to blogging a couple of days ago and saw that Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life was hosting her Summer Cloche Party today, I didn't think I had a chance of getting anything ready so I could play along. However, I couldn't stand feeling left out so I quickly put together a couple of little cloches (would someone please tell me if that is a word) this morning.

     I brought home this sweet little silver compote from my mother's collection. I added a small glass dome and I had a cloche. My love for all things Florida came out in this one with the addtion of beach glass and a favorite shell.

     My second cloche is really special to me. A dear friend from high school, who I haven't seen since my 10th reunion, has once again come into my life via Facebook. During the past few months she has really been a loving, supportive friend. When I arrived at the funeral home for my mother's visitation, you can only imagine how surprised I was to find a sweet little teacup filled with roses. The card said that I could use the teacup for my tablescapes, or drink a cup of tea and think of my mom. I was so touched. What I actually did was allow the roses to dry along with the baby's breath.

     I couldn't fit the saucer under the dome, but I love how this protects the dried roses and reminds me of my sweet friend.

     Please take a moment to visit Marty and see the just how creative people can be when it comes to putting something under glass!

My Visit To Owen's Fish Camp-Foodie Friday

     One nice thing about participating in Foodie Friday with our hostess Michael @ Designs by Gollum, is you don't always have to prepare the food you share. I haven't been doing much cooking lately. I'm still in recovery mode from my month in Florida. The food we are eating at our house certainly isn't blog worthy. However, I did find a new favorite restaurant while in Sarasota and I couldn't wait to tell you all about it.

     I read about Owen's Fish Camp in a magazine while I was at my dad's. The two of us were so busy and I was too tired to cook so we decided to call in a take-out order from the nearly new restaurant. We knew the minute we saw the restaurant that we wanted to go back and eat there...that was even before we tasted the wonderful food! Tucked back onto a tiny street in the "artsy" part of Sarasota is a restored house that comes complete with plenty of atmosphere and fabulous food.

     We decided to go back the one night my husband was in town to pick me up, so I took the camera. Just pretend you don't see my sister in the picture above.

     We ate out on the porch. It was finally an evening where the temperatures were cool enough to be perfect for outdoor dining.

     My dad, sister and I split the Low Country Boil for 2 and it was certainly enough food for 3 of us. Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Andouille Sausage, Potatoes and Corn cooked to perfection. We also had Fried Green Tomato Salads with Goat Cheese, Country Ham Crisps and Buttermilk Dressing. I forgot to take a picture of the salad at the restaurant...but, I did take one when dad and I had the carry out, you can see it on the plate with the Maryland Spiced Shrimp appetizer below. It was delicious. The tomatoes were warm, the greens had a slight bite of arugula and the creamy goat cheese...yummy! My husband had the Seafood Stew and the Fish Tacos with Green Salsa & Spicy Baja Sauce. Of course I was too busy jumping into that crab to think about taking a picture of those gorgeous tacos. I do however have the stew photo from carryout night, also on the plate below is a side order of the creamy Cheesey Grits.

     For dessert we ordered the house specialty, Fried Blackberry Pies with Vanilla Ice Cream. Oh my goodness. We split two orders. Each order had 2 little pies and the ice cream. The crust simply melted in your mouth.

I loved this place. I loved the interesting food, the presentation and the atmosphere. It was very casual, loud and crowded. The parking is horrible and I can't wait to go back!

Owen's Fish Camp is located at 516 Burns Lane, Sarasota, FL.

Giving Dad A Little Help-Tablescape Thursday

     My sister and I brought home so much china, silver and crystal from my mother's collection that you would think my dad would be left eating on paper plates...but, that isn't the case. Actually we left him with quite a bit of all of the above. My dad is still interested in entertaining sometime in the future, when he is ready. I told him I would do a tablescape with some of his things so he could refer to the pictures when he wanted to set a simple, yet pretty table.

I used the soft sea colors that are found all over my parent's home.

A runner with shells on each end (HomeGoods-mom and I bought them together).

Peach seashell placemats are the base of the place setting. The stemware is Longchamps.

Vintage Wedgewood dinner plates.

Square seashell mosaic salad plates. I have these, so I could

look to see who made them, but I'm being really lazy tonight.

Aren't these cute little sand dollar dessert plates?

     When I set this table, dad and I thought that the flatware was his mother's silverplate. But, after I got home, my sister found my grandmother's silverplate in their storage room...so, we don't have any idea where this flatware came from. It is old and needs to be polished. One of many questions we will never have the answer to.

I kept the centerpiece simple, so dad could duplicate it easily.

I grabbed a jar of shells from a bedroom.

A vintage vase (see the swans on the sides), fresh hydrangeas from the Farmer's Market.

I added a couple of cute critters from a living room table.

More shells and a few floating candles.

I'm joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for

Tablescape Thursday. Please stop by and say

hello to her and see all the wonderful tablescapes.

I'm Back! I'm Just Not Sure My Brain Came With Me!

     I got home a few days ago from Florida, where I spent 3 weeks going through all of my mother's things and helping my dad organize and plan for his "new normal" life. We also spent a few days in Orlando so we could see our daughter when she could squeeze us in between her very busy work schedule. It dawned on me when I got home that the last time I was really here and doing my regular things, it was winter. Truthfully, the past few months are a blur. I've spent so much time in Florida that I should qualify for the Florida resident discounts!

     There are many things I've learned the past few months, I thought I'd share a few.

1)  I'm stronger than I thought I was.

2)  We knew my mom loved to shop...we didn't know just how much. If you have tons of things in your closet with the tags on them...stop shopping!

3)  I know I look like my mom...according to every friend of hers I met, I also have her mannerisms. I've yet to figure out what that means! Someone said I move my eyes the way she did. What?

4)  Keeping the little notepads from the hotels where you stay...not a good idea. Imagine years and years of travel...need I say more?

5) I have lost "my person". I didn't see my mom all that often because of the distance between us. I talked to her many times a day, about everything. I still have things to talk about and my person is gone. That is the biggest struggle I'm having. No one listens like your mother does.

6)  There is no reason to keep the shopping bags when you buy something you love. You are never going to use them and they take up lots of space.

7)  I love my dad. I already knew that, but spending so much time with him was a gift.

8)  Buying things in multiples is a good idea, buying things by the dozen...not so good. Does anyone really need a dozen pair of black pants?

9)  Donating beautiful clothing to a shelter for abused women feels really good.

10) My sister and I make a great team.

11) It is okay to laugh even when the situation is sad and  there is no reason to feel guilty about it.

12) It is hard to explain when people say I'm "doing so well". My first thought is "what choice is there" and truthfully, if I had to name my strongest feeling right now...it is gratitude. I'm grateful for the time I had with my mom, grateful I got to say goodbye, grateful that I have had time to help my dad, grateful that my sister and I got to spend a week together deciding who would take home what. It is a sad time, but we had more laughter than tears and I truly feel that my mother is guiding us all. I am a lucky woman.
    

     Now, back to blogging. I am linking to Met Monday with our hostess Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch and Table Top Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life. We have been looking for a new chair for our living room for quite a while. Our sofa and loveseat are espresso colored leather, so I wanted something that would add a little "interest" to the room. We had a taupe recliner that we've had so many years that I remember sitting in it side by side with my little girl, who is now 25. It was long past time to replace it. Even the dog looks depressed sitting in it!

     I wanted something fun, it had to go with the browns and also with the aqua pops of color that bring that beachy feeling to my house. I finally found the perfect chair. I just happened to find it in Florida! It is exactly what I didn't know I wanted, slightly funky, fun and perfect for us. Isn't it amazing how changing one thing in your home can change the entire feeling of the room?

Isn't it fun?

     Of course a new chair meant I needed to update the centerpiece on the dining table. I hadn't touched the centerpiece since February, so it was time for something new.

Before

After (and I do need to press the new runner today)

The vintage wooden vase I found at a thrift shop months ago for $4

     The runner I just found at HomeGoods in Florida. I thought

was perfect with the new chair. I've had my little bird for a while.

     It is good to be home and good to be back to blogging. I hope to start reading all I've missed today and will soon visit each of you. Please let me know if there is something I shouldn't miss.

Giveaway Winner

     There were 106 entries into my recent giveaway for a $50 Gift Certificate at CSN. Using Random.org...the winning number was #73, Monica from Lick The Bowl Good. You really should check out her blog, she has some very yummy recipes and great pictures to go with them. Congrats Monica!