Chuck Wagon Dish Day

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Linderland Thanksgiving

I just love like plants on the table. I found these cute little Norfolk Pines that worked well with
the the tablecloth. We have such a small family that the table seats everyone!

Outstanding in the field! July 31 2011

Our view of outstanding in the field is called for the Love of the Dish. We did it a little different but the concept is similar. Everyone brings some wine and something to prepare with the group. We all learn from each other and find new friendships. Its a hands on experience  We'll be having our 2nd event on September 24th which will be 10 of us getting together to cook and eat. The theme is grilling so everything needs to be "grillable" which is funny in itself because now we have a grill that has a oven, searer, grill,  rotisserie and a griddle. Plus there is the weber option. 

As time goes on we are thinking that possibly we can make our own Outstanding in the Field day with a twist. So we're starting small and hopefully we'll find ways to make it bigger so more of us can get in on the fun. Anyone that is interested, drop us a note and we'll keep you on the list for the next event. If it was up to me, I would have the get together monthly with all different people! 

Outstanding in the field organizes a group of 150-200 people for a beautiful dinner outside usually in a remote location on a farm.

People show up for a 1 hour wine reception followed by a brief overview of how this got started and the direction it is going now.

Then you tour the farm and hear all about how they make it work.  At Heritage Prairie Farm in La Fox IL they grow everything organic and are starting to have a year round crop thanks to the moveable greenhouses that they have spent years developing.

After the tour you find yourself standing in the middle of nowhere with a beautiful table winding through the land.

They set up a remote grilling area complete with all the necessities. 1 server per table of 8 and they are good. The wine is paired with each course on the menu. They keep the glasses full!

This picture to the left and the one below are from each end of the table that was curved right through the trees. It was beautiful. 

You bring your own plates but if you forget, they have plenty. Sit wherever you want and it begins.

They describe each course to you with the farm that it was grown on and how it was prepared.

Great people attend these events. Everyone is after the same experience!












Right through to candle light!!

What a day!

Just Beachy!

So today I decided to pack up the Fourth of July decorations and put something in it's place. I thought with Summer being in full swing; What about something beachy? I wasn't kidding in my previous post, I have a lot of things in my prop closet. So many themes! I buy things when they're on sale. Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely pay full price for anything. I love a good deal and always cruise by the clearance aisle. This was pretty simple to put together.

For the base I used a really cool table runner that I bought on a trip to Hawaii; then I took 3 pillar candles and a votive added a glass plate, some seashells from a trip to Florida and colored beach glass that I got at Target. I took this metal candle holder and set it on it's side so everything wasn't vertical and tucked the votive inside. I also added a semi rolled up bamboo placemat for some extra texture. Voila; a new look for my table!

 

Fourth Of July-It's all about the Table too!

I have so many holiday themed items in my prop closet/basement. Why should 4th of July be any different? I was having a few friends over last weekend so I decided to put something together to make it festive! I am not kidding, it is easy, this took me 5 minutes and it instantly made the day feel special.  So the next occasion you have, look around your house, you'll find something to use. I like to layer and have different levels so everything is not flat across the table.