Chinoserie in the Dining Room

We have a lot of Asian pieces at Linderhof and on our trip to Minnesota we were excited to find this fireplace screen at a consignment shop. I consider this a chinoserie piece -- Chinoserie is French for "Chinese-esque" and this screen certainly fits that description.
It has some age on it but not sure how much -- could be something fairly new, something from mid century or something fairly old.
The frame is made of iron and the paint's a bit scruffed -- but that doesn't really give any clue to age -- for a scruffy piece wouldn't necessarily mean that it was old.
It fits perfectly in front of the dining room fireplace. Although we have Asian in almost every room, the dining room certainly has the most.

The best part of the firescreen was that it was marked $100 but it also had a 25% off tag -- it's not a bad buy for $75! (And, actually, I don't think it is a bad buy for $100 -- but with the $25 saved, I was able to buy some "toys" at Williams Sonoma)

The Weekender . . .and a spin off!

It's Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum and this week it's not food but beverage . . . it's been hot on the prairie and there is nothing like a tall cool drink.

One of the highlights of any trip North is always a Saturday morning on Sunday morning spent at Floyd's in Victoria, Minnesota.

We go there with one thing and one thing only in mind -- their great Bloody Mary with a plethora of garnishes and known on those two days as the

Weekender!

Pickles and shrimps and cheeses and olives . . . and of course, celery are the "garnish". I really call it an "Appetizer" . . . . and it comes with a beer chaser!

There is no better way to start the weekend that with a Weekender at Floyd's.

And so, we brought home to Linderhof, the idea and often, when we serve martinis as our predinner drink, we serve them "Floyd's Style" -- with a skewer of garnishes.
It's both the drink and the appetizer and Husband Jim takes great care in making these skewers. Drinks are always his responsibility -- and that includes the garnishes for the drinks.

It's great fun, these appetizer skewers . . . whose roots are not on the prairie of Kansas but on the prairie of Minnesota.

Join Michael at Designs by Gollum to see what everyone else is doing on this Foodie Friday.

A Welcoming Breakfast

We were gone all last week to visit Daughter Sarah and her Andy in Minnesota. A dear friend watched the house and Cat while we were gone.

Imagine our surprise when we got home to find this in the breakfast room . . .

A clean white tablecloth on the table, one of my blue and white jugs filled with flowers . . .
And the table set for breakfast with my Spode plates and cups, my wheat juice glasses, and clean napkins in my silver napkin rings.
It has to be the best tablescape ever -- it was so welcoming after a very busy and exhausting week and a long tiring drive home.
I was so pleased with the care with with my dear friend set the table -- and added flowers from my garden as well.
But the best surprise of all was the plate of blueberry muffins on the kitchen counter AND the breakfast casserole and bottle of tomato juice that was in the fridge.

Having emptied the refrigerator before we left, it was nice to find breakfast fixings just waiting for us.

We were able to have a leisurely and good breakfast before we headed out to restock the fridge, pick up Oliver, the Corgi and gather our mound of mail.

It is nice to have friends!

Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see what other tablescapes there are this Thursday.

Two Deer in the Woods

When we visited daughter Sarah and her Andy in Minneapolis over the Fourth, we drove up to Mille Lacs Lake (The Walleye Capitol of the World!)

After stopping at Father Henepin State Park and walking down to the Lake, we headed back to the highway -- only to be surprised by this:
An Albino Deer -- and there were not one but . . .

Two!!!!
The pictures are a bit blurry but I was so excited hoping that I could get at least one picture of the deer.
Deer are beautiful animals and we have lots of deer on the prairie. And some of the biggest deer in the country can be found in our part of Kansas.
But I've never seen a white deer before and to see two -- THAT was exciting!

I've since learned that there is an albino deer herd at Father Henepin State Park. Protected they are which may be why we could stop the car and snap pictures without their running away as deer usually do.

I felt that they almost expected us to feed them!

Seeing these rare and unusual deer was certainly a highlight of our trip to Minnesota.

Please join friend Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see what else everybody has been doing outside this Wednesday.

A Capital Three

It's Three or More Tuesday hosted by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner. Come see what other three's there will be this Tuesday!

We left Linderhof and the prairie and headed north over the holiday weekend. Arriving in Minnesota in time for celebrations for the Fourth of July.

And we had a "Capital" time -- for we visited the . . .
Minnesota State Capital in St. Paul. A beautiful capital in the heart of a very busy city.

And on the way home, we stopped off in Des Moines . . . .
To visit the Iowa state capital. Fond memories of the capital include the summer that Daughter Sarah worked in Des Moines and from her apartment window you could see the capital -- it was especially awesome at night with the lights shining on it.

And then we took a detour far into Missouri and the town of Jefferson City . . . .
Where we visited the Missouri state capital. With the most amazing mural by Thomas Hart Benton Here.

It was a Capital trip and we had a grand time at three of our State Capitals.

A Provencal Luncheon

It's too hot for luncheon in the garden but a Provencal luncheon is just the thing to beat the heat.

The lavender is blooming profusely and I'm making wands or bottles of as much of it as I can -- the perfect centerpiece instead of flowers. And what better addition to the centerpiece of a Provencal table than a big bowl of lemons!
At Linderhof the dishes are always blue and white (or white edged with gold) and the blue and white goes well with the sunny yellow of the tablecloth. I set the table in the European style with the cutlery face down. A menu, of course, at each place and the napkins in my silver napkin rings.
The soup in little blue and white covered tureens from Nell Hills. Soup in the heat of summer? Ah, yes, a cold soup -- chilled cucumber soup garnished with a shower of garden chives.
Cool and refreshing and the perfect way to start a summer luncheon.
Dessert is an old favorite -- a German torten made with fresh peaches. A perfect way to end a Provencal luncheon.

Please join my friend Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see the other great tables set up for this Thursday.

My Secret Garden

Beyond the arbor is my secret garden. A grapevine grows up one side of the arbor. Just before the entrance is the sundial -- the base from an old water fountain in Gunn Park. (Special since Mr. Gunn's son lived at Linderhof in the late 20's)
A brick lined path of stone and pebbles winds it's way through this garden. Plants are planted wherever there is room. No order here in the secret garden.
Some bee balm and false sunflower just starting to bloom.
A birdbath and a bunny -- garden art even in the secret garden.
With flowers on the gate, the stone path continues past the hydrangea and back to the front walk.

The Secret Garden blooms early with daffodils and tulips and early July with a riot of lilies and the purple coneflowers. Mid June most of the blooms are absent although the bee balm is blooming nicely and the false sunflower is about to bloom. The butter and eggs are blooming nicely and are a nice touch of yellow that bloom wherever they want.

I call this my higgedly piggedly garden -- no order, no form -- some flowers growing where THEY want (even in the middle of the path).

Join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and see what else is in the outdoors this Wednesday.