"Dockside" Dinner

Thank you to our hostess, Susan, of Between Naps on the Porch, for another Tablescape Thursday.  It seems like everyone in Blogland is in a hurry for fall but here in Florida it will be summer for a long, long time.  One of my favorite things about living here is dining outside by the water.  The Gulf, the Bay, the River, I don't care!  Just give me a glass of wine, a tiki torch and a view of H2O and I'm in heaven.  Today I will try to get close to that feeling with this tablescape.  The weather cooperated beautifully so I set up a table for four on our pool deck (the "dock").

I started with a Waverly Tablecloth (clearance Ross) layered over a fishnet (Dollar Tree).  Mr. Flies South took the umbrella out of the table so that I could use this square tablecloth.  We love this table (BJ's Wholesale and it's guaranteed not to rust-important here!).  It came with 8 counter height chairs, has storage underneath and a slate top that weighs a ton!

With only 4 place settings there was alot of room to fill on this table.  I used a white wooden tray (Villeroy and Boch outlet) to corral the centerpiece elements. I added a brick lighthouse borrowed from my friend Beth's collection.

Flowers and greens  from my yard (please don't ask what they are) in a heavy glass vase (Ross) perched on an upside down ice cream glass (Walmart) to add height. 

I had to include a boat (Beall's Outlet) if we are supposed to be on a dock!

The place setting started with a straw charger (IKEA or Walmart), a white plate (Federalist Ironstone from my mom) and 4 different salad plates with nautical themes (Beall's).

I layered navy and cream cotton napkins and used a bit of rope tied in a loose knot instead of a traditional napkin ring ( this would look great with a thinner rope tied in one of the more complicated nautical knots). Once again, I turned to my clear acrylic flatware (Ross).

Then I put out my blue wineglasses (Dollar Tree) and clear acrylic ones with a shell design (Ross) as water glasses. It's probably not a great idea to have glass by the pool but with all adults it should be okay.

The sun is starting to set so let's light some candles and enjoy the show.  Most nights we get glorious sunsets but this day there were no clouds to the west so it was just a nice glow.

Instead, Mother Nature treated us to a view of the rising moon complete with a pink and blue color palate.

These little cuties are from Beall's Outlet.  They have a discount program, 15% off every Monday for age 50 and above, 15% off every Friday for 49 and younger.  I won't tell you which one I take advantage of!

This shell came form a local thrift shop.  The women working there thought it may have been an ashtray in it's previous life.  I just stuck some little rocks and tea lights in it.

My Dad made this lantern (everyone in our extended family has one) and it started off with a walnut stain.  I painted it cream and distressed it to give it a new look.

I like the way the pool cage and Adirondack chairs are reflected in our pool in this picture.

Only thing better than dinner outside by the water, is having it at sunset.  And, just like people, most tablescapes look better by candlelight.  Let's light the tiki torches, enjoy the sky and have our dinner "dockside".

Thanks for stopping by.  I love reading your comments so please comment away!  Even better become a follower.  Please stop by my sister Elaine's blog and see her tablescape for this week .  You can find her at Creating Wonderful Spaces.