
I cannot wait to begin work outside
on the fixer upper, and one aspect of the plan
is to build an insanely long harvest table
to host casual yet elegant dinners.
Did you see the most recent installment
of our renovation? It's here.

The following inspiration for outdoor entertaining
is from wedding receptions, and maybe I am just
getting old, but who says we need to wait
for a marriage celebration to set a
beautiful table outside????

I just don't have that kind of time.
(Read on to see an intimate fete me and my sisters created.)

I need this in my life. (ahem. Casey!) Also an outdoor dance floor.




Sunstone Winery

Who doesn't love a baby baguette in a linen pouch?





luluklein.com

This palette makes me woozy. Yum.
via
Wouldn't this riff (below) on Croque Madam
by Suzanne Goin be amazing for
an intimate alfresco brunch?
It is from her AOC Cookbook, and the recipe
is shared on One King's Lane here.
Brioche with Prosciutto, Gruyère, and a Sunny-Side-Up Egg

If you follow Hello Lovely on Facebook,
you may have seen this photo taken a few
weeks back of the women in my family.
My mom is doing well considering the health
challenges she continues to battle.
While mama slept, me and my sisters planned
a simple colorful brunch in the backyard.
Girly food was served:
Raspberry-apple salad, Quiche Lorraine,
and Casserole Poulet a la Michele.
We basically woke my mom from a peaceful
slumber and gave her 30 minutes to get ready
for her surprise.

We borrowed the table and chairs from her loft/library
(the Windsor chairs are castoffs from me which
I transformed with bright island-y colors).
My mom loved the celebration, and since we are nuts,
we even planned entertainment following brunch
which included grown women in costumes,
dancing, cheering (as in SNL Spartan Cheerleaders)
and standup comedy-ing (yep. we are THAT family.)
Do you agree we need more
intimate alfresco moments???



















