JBigg: Life in Kentucky

Dinner With Family & Friends

Don't you love to have friends and family over for dinner? We certainly love to enjoy time with them. There are always funny stories to tell and lots of laughter around the table or on the deck.

It's graduation weekend at Murray State University here in Murray, KY, so the restaurants are packed and busy, busy, busy accommodating the graduates and their families.

We decided to entertain at home and not venture out to the restaurants. This is the second weekend in a row we have had the pleasure of having friends and family over for dinner. We sure love their company.

Right now the magnolias are blooming in our area so my table is featuring a magnolia plate by Peggy Karr Glass in the center of the table.

I thought the plate is perfect with the table runner. My friend, JoAnn, over at Jo's This and That made the runner for me from a tablecloth she wasn't using. She made the runner on my table last week too. Check it out here.

I love the print on the runner.

Crystal candlesticks and white candles anchor each side of the magnolia plate.

The table was sit with white Paula Deen dinner plates topped with salad plates by Royal Norfolk. Flatware is Laurie Gates by Hampton - Sizzle Ivory. Water goblets are bubble glass.

Just as much as we enjoy entertaining, my husband loves to cook on the grill for our guests. The menu included salad made by JoAnn, then on the grill were pork steaks, skewers of tomatoes, small potatoes, green and yellow squash. Plus he grilled fresh asparagus and heated sauerkraut on the grill too.

There you have it, another dinner party at our house. Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavendar Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Celebrate Your Story @ Sweet Sensations

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Swing Into Spring@ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening

Share Your Style Link Party @ The Essence of Home on Thursday evening

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home on Thursday

Inspiration Thursday @ In The New House

Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

DIY Sunday Showcase @ The Interior Frugalista - Saturday

Sundays at Home @ Love of Home on Saturday

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

A Birthday Celebration with Family & Friends

We recently celebrated my husband's birthday with family and friends. The tablescape for the party was designed with a bit of an oriental flair.

The oriental figurines have been in my family for years. The pierced ginger jar was the perfect color and design to use with the figurines.

The table runner was a gift from my friend, JoAnn, over at Jo On Legacy Lane. She made the runner from a large tablecloth. Not only does she create beautiful tablescapes but she sews and creates gorgeous quilts.

The stack of dishes for the table are a couple of my favorite colors to use on the table. The large aqua plates were made in Portugal; the 9 inch square plates are Fiesta (lemongrass) and the salad plates are from Pier 1 and were also a gift from JoAnn.

I love the bird pattern on the plates with the flowers and stems. The background on the plates is a metallic silver and has a shimmer to it. You will notice I tried an aqua napkin but decided to use the green napkin seen at the bottom of the collage.

The stemware is Marquis by Waterford Sparkle. It is brisk and modern, characterized by brilliant crystal cuts. I'm using the wine and the iced beverage pieces. The flatware is Laurie Gates
by Hampton - Sizzle Grey.

My husband choose the menu for his birthday party: grilled ribeye steak, mostaccioli, seven layer salad, and dinner rolls. The meal was a bit on the heavy side but the "birthday boy" was happy. Sorry I forgot to take pictures of the food.

Following the meal, German Chocolate Cake was served. The cake was excellent.

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavendar Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Celebrate Your Story @ Sweet Sensations

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Swing Into Spring@ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening

Share Your Style Link Party @ The Essence of Home on Thursday evening

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home on Thursday

Inspiration Thursday @ In The New House

Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

DIY Sunday Showcase @ The Interior Frugalista - Saturday

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Sundays at Home @ Love of Home

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Looking Out the Window: Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Wow, was I excited when I was looking out the window today. Perched on the feeder filled with black-oil sunflower seeds was a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. He was a new visitor to my feeders and a thrill for me to see.

I read on All About Birds.com that he is a large songbird with a very thick, pale triangular bill.

He has black above and white below with white patches on his wings.

Another identifying marking is the bright, rosy pink patch on the breast. I must say the patch looks pretty red to me.

Then further down on AAB, I read it is a brilliant red chevron extending from the black throat down the middle of the breast.

Both sexes show white patches in their wings and tails.

Soon the female grosbeak started visiting the feeders. I took several shots of her not knowing for sure who she was. But a little research let me know her identity.

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday

Our World @ Our World Tuesday Meme

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern

ABC Wednesday

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

Photo Friday @ Pierced Wonderings

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen

Camera Critters

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

Looking Out the Window: The Northern Mockingbird

As I was looking out, I was excited to see a bird that I hadn't seen visiting before. A Northern Mockingbird was standing on my front sidewalk. Oh I couldn't get to the camera quick enough thinking he would be gone when I got back. But to my surprise, he was waiting for me.

I think he was posing for my pictures. Snapping as fast as I could, he just turned his head a little and allowed me to keep taking his picture.

Soon, I felt like he was looking me straight in the eye. I read he has a reddish brown eye.

I zoomed in on one of my photos to see if I could really see the reddish brown eye. Take a look below.

I read here that Mockingbirds have small heads, a long, thin bill, and long legs.

Think I need to start looking out the window in the front yard more often.

The following day, the mockingbird was sitting in the birch trees off of my deck in the backyard.

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavendar Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Our World @ Our World Tuesday Meme

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen

The Bird De'Pot @ I'd Rather Be Birdin

Camera Critters

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life on Saturday

Looking Out the Window: The Red-bellied Woodpecker

As I look out the window, it's another exciting day at the bird feeders in my backyard. A red-bellied woodpecker is visiting. I have been watching this guy further out in the yard pecking away for insects on one of our trees. Today, he has decided to come closer and let me get a few pics with my camera.

A red cap, white cheeks, and a zebra-striped back distinguish this woodpecker.

The red on his belly is a little hard to see, so look closely and you can begin to see the red.

I read here that their feed behavior includes searching for insects on tree trunks, and major limbs.

Their diet may be more than 50% plant materials at some seasons, including acorns and other nuts, wild and cultivated fruit, seeds. Occasional items in diet include tree frogs, eggs of small birds, , oozing sap, and even small fish.