Simple Thrifted Meal on the Porch

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A beautifully set dining table with a navy tablecloth, featuring a large bouquet of red flowers in a vase, elegant dinner plates, crystal glasses, and silverware. The background shows a window with autumn foliage.

Welcome to the Blog today, Friends.

I had such a pleasant surprise when I ventured out the door today…the weather was perfect! The sky was clear and that crystal blue you see once in a while. Wispy clouds danced across the sky, and the sun was bright and shiny. It was a perfect autumn day! I thought how nice it would be to have a simple dinner on the back porch to celebrate this gorgeous day. After all, a beautiful day like this is too good to pass up, and enjoying a meal outdoors seemed like the perfect way to make the most of it.

I started with the tablecloth, which set a solid foundation for the plate stack to come. Although I decided the plate stack would be very short and very simple. Sometimes, a few pretty pieces are all you need to create a welcoming table. With such lovely weather to enjoy, I wanted the setting to feel relaxed and uncomplicated, just right for a casual autumn dinner on the porch.

A decorative porcelain plate featuring colorful floral designs and a central motif of a bird surrounded by plants, placed on a woven placemat against a dark blue tablecloth.
The underside of a white ceramic plate featuring the Wedgwood logo, indicating it's made of bone china and produced in England, with 'Kutani Crane' and a model number.
A woven wicker placemat with a square grid pattern, resting on a blue tablecloth.

There were just the two of us for dinner this evening, so I decided on these gorgeous Wedgewood plates from England in the “Kutani Crane” pattern. I love the delicacy of this pattern, with its colorful floral border around the outer rim and three distinctive floral displays on the wider inner rim. The center features a lovely floral arrangement, with the added pleasure of a crane. There is so much detail to enjoy on these plates, and they make even a simple dinner feel a little special.

Since we were eating outside, I wanted a charger to suggest a more casual look, and I found just the thing in the square woven mat you see above. The variation in the shades of brown throughout the charger is lovely, and the different patterns created by the weave allow for a very interesting presentation. I like how the natural texture of the mat complements the delicate china, creating a nice balance between elegance and a relaxed outdoor setting.

It’s fun to mix a little formality with something more casual, especially when setting a table on the porch. After all, there’s no reason we can’t enjoy our pretty china while keeping the atmosphere comfortable and easygoing!

A gold fork shaped like a branch rests on a blue and white checked napkin, set on a table with a wicker placemat and decorative plate.

Blue and white napkins in a simple checked pattern add to the relaxed setting, while the twig silver and gold flatware keeps things just a bit more upscale. I love how the twig design brings a touch of nature to the table, making it feel right at home in our outdoor setting. The combination of the checked napkins, woven chargers, and nature-inspired flatware creates a lovely balance between casual comfort and a little bit of elegance.

Two elegant crystal glasses on a blue tablecloth, one larger and one smaller, with a blurred garden background.

Crystal by Gorham completes the picture, with water and wine goblets awaiting dinner. The sparkle of crystal adds a lovely touch to the table and brings a bit of elegance to our simple outdoor dinner.

A beautiful centerpiece of multicolored alstroemerias sits in the center of the table. This arrangement makes such a statement and looks stunning on the table. The colorful blooms blend beautifully with the natural elements of the backyard that can be seen from the porch.

Birds are feeding and drinking at the birdbath, while squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits forage in the grass. All is peaceful, and it’s such a pleasure to sit back and enjoy the activity in the yard while taking in the beauty of this perfect autumn day. With the pretty table, colorful flowers, and little visitors in the garden, dinner on the porch becomes a lovely way to celebrate the simple pleasures of the season.

A beautifully set dining table with a dark blue tablecloth, featuring a floral centerpiece of red flowers in a glass vase, elegant crystal glasses, intricately designed plates, and gold-accented utensils.

All of the things you see on the table were thrifted. You can set a very pretty table with thrifted goods and still have it be elegant and beautiful. It’s all about finding pieces you love and bringing them together in a way that feels special. You don’t have to spend a fortune to create a lovely table and make an ordinary dinner feel like an occasion.

Happy Thrifting!