sprig of rosemary

signifying remembrance, a simple sprig of rosemary is perfect for each placesetting: decorative, fragrant, and useful for personal flavoring ...I love using it in salads, and soups, and to flavor caramelized onions, ratatouille, and grilled pizzas...

summer afternoon

a simple summer lunch at the boathouse...photographs by tara sgroi, tabletop available at www.thenewgeneralstore.com

summer cheese course

I love to put a few simple white cheeses on a platter with a drizzle of lavender honey on the goat cheese, and some lemon verbena jelly on the side with a basket of carr's water biscuits....a lighter version for summer with more delicate flavors, a manchego, chevre, and gruyere with a big green salad is perfect for a light lunch on these steamy days..."Summer" photograph by matthew mead

candles in a jar

practical and pretty, these white candles in mason jars filled with sand are just the thing for a picnic supper tablesetting...they weigh down the tablecloth, the candles are protected from any breezes, and they bring a chic, simple style to the table from Donna Hay magazine

watermelon salad

on these steamy days of summer, my new favorite lunch from the farmstand is watermelon salad with chunks of feta, fresh mint, toasted pine nuts drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. With a chilled glass of rose' it's easy and refreshing...also perfect for a first course for dinner!

summer at the beach

with a blue sky and sea this color, it sets the scene for a simple tablesetting on a weathered wood table, cream dinnerware, classic glassware and hurricanes, and pretty pale blue napkins...

happy 4th of july!