4th of July party on Eagle's Nest Lake

Happy 4th of July from Ely, MN!  This was last year's Fourth celebration, the first official 'party' in Kim and Kimberly's new house on Eagles Nest Lake.

Ralph Lauren tablecloth looks like fireworks instead of flowers for tonight's dinner.

Pier One place mats, cobalt blue glass chargers of unknown origin, Williams Sonoma grape dinner plates, Pier One bandanna salad plate, all topped with white star bowls from Pottery Barn.

hors d'oeuvres

Happy hour crowd - Gary and Jan Erchul, Cliff and Barb Cyriacks, Todd and Kathy Cyriacks, and Kim and Kimberly Miller, Ziggy Miller and the Cyriacks flat coats, all bedecked in holiday neck wear for the occasion.

Kimberly telling everyone how big her new house is :-)

Kim regaling the crowd with a story.

Blueberry vinaigrette for the salads

Individual salad dressing servers

Baby red potatoes, toasted almonds for the green beans amandine

Blueberries and feta on fresh mixed greens

Master Party-Thrower for the Master Gardener

Imagine my surprise when I received this invitation in the mail!  Usually, Kimberly and I plan parties together. I must admit that I was TOTALLY unaware of this dinner party, much less that it was being held in my honor for having just completed my Master Gardener Certification with the University of Minnesota!!! 

Every place setting had a different seed packet.  What a clever girl.  Kimberly reproduced vintage seed packets as menu holders, all fitting snugly in a terracotta pot coffee mug and a pair of cotton gardening gloves. 

The garden theme was carried throughout the table with leeks and asparagus spears standing at attention in tall glass cylinders, surrounded by fresh peppers, eggplants, and cherry tomatoes on the vine.

This girl just oozes creativity.  The fresh carrots with their tops still on were used in lieu of fresh flowers.  The "dirt" in the hurricane vases is guess what?  Coffee grounds.  Genius.

Fresh top-on radishes garnished each place setting, echoing the majolica salad plates with a radish motif.

As if the tablescape wasn't enough, she prepared a farmers' market-fresh dinner for four.

Grilled eggplant insalata Caprese - the addition of the grilled eggplant was sensational!

Plating up the haricots vert.

Polenta with gorgonzola

Independence Day with the In-Laws

Happy 4th of July!  Every 4th, I wander around in the yard and pick red, white and blue flowers growing in the ditches, gardens, and lakeshore.  This year, lupines were the blue, geraniums were the red, and daisies and geraniums the white.

Stars and stripes forever.

A denim tablecloth, a burlap runner, and rattan chargers all brought down the shiny, glossy plates and chargers.

While they look gold in the photo, the star napkin rings are silver, as is the Pottery Barn flatware.

Cobalt blue Artland Iris goblets with 'fireworks'

My favorite 'everyday' wine - Home Grown.  I noticed last night that the little saying on the cork is:

Drink your Home Grown, Smoke your Bacon.  ha ha

Garlic baguette with hearts of palm/parmesan dip.  Glenna, your recipe was great!!

Chopped salad with onion, kale, red cabbage, carrot, blue cheese and bacon bits.

Cucumbers with dill, both from my garden - this year I am testing a variety called Patio Snackers -- two thumbs up so far!

Jet Star tomatoes from Bob in Memphis!  What a treat!!!!

The outlaws

Strawberry shortcake using my homegrown strawberries. There is nothing better than fresh strawberries in season!