Black & White & Fun All Week!

We had my husband's son & his family visit us from Chicago this past week.
He's a computer guru & finally got my computer
cleaned up for me!
Yea! I can upload photos again!!

He suggested I buy a larger external hard drive to store all my photos.
My new Nikon camera does such detailed pictures that they were taking up all my space.
I'm thrilled to be back to blogging!

These photos show various spots around the kitchen that I set up for my guests' convenience.

The coffee/tea/hot chocolate station was available to them all the time

& they could just help themselves whenever.

I had lots of fresh fruit available & an assortment of teas in my Longaberger tea basket.

This cute single layer display rack was only $3 at a thrift store.

It was originally a hideous Colonial BLUE.

I painted it...

what else? ...Oil Rubbed Bronze!

I ♥♥♥ how it turned out!

My new apron & oven mitts from my DD match beautifully with all the black & white damask pieces.

I had chocolate chip cookies tucked inside this cute little container.

They sure didn't last long!

Sadly, I broke my teacup which is the base to the teapot

after only one use... I wanted to cry!

I've glued it back together but its for display purposes only now.

*sigh*

I used all my black & white dishes & table accessories.

The placemats are from the Jaclyn Smith collection at K-mart,

the little black dishes are from Big Lots

& all the white ones are American Antelier

(Bianca Leaf & Bianca Fruit & Bead).

Silverware is Napoleon Bee from Horchow

The Napoleon Bee glassware was a prize I won from Libby at her blog,

Taste & Twirl

I bought 2 of these long trays at our local discount shop, Marc's for $2 apiece.

My Nifty-Thrifty Tuesday bargains.

Now I'm kicking myself for not getting more!

They are perfect for setting out little appetizers or desserts

such as this lemon pound cake over which I served

sweetened strawberries & whipped cream.

Another Nify Thrifty find was this little rooster for only $1.

I almost forgot to get a "before" picture, I was so excited to get started spray painting him.

I saw the one that One Simple Country Girl

painted & thought "I can do that!"

Its amazing how the carved details show up after several

coats of white spray paint.

I used American Accent's color,

Heirloom White.

Its a little too creamy for me, so I'll be giving him a

second coat of a brighter white but for now

he sure looks nice!

I'm joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life

for her Table Top Tuesday

Also Linda's @ Coastal Charm's


and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday




Thank you, Ladies, for hosting these fun events week after week.I wish I could play with you every single time.
A special thanks to everyone who stops by The Gazebo House!
I'll be by your place to visit real soon.

fondly,