Check out these ways to impress your guest with Al fresco Dining and Entertaining! 
Al fresco. It just sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? Well, that’s how I feel about our lake cottage patio. Dreamy. It’s so peaceful and I’m so excited that we’re finally here and able to share it with others. So, unless it’s pouring down rain or freezing cold, we’ll be al fresco dining to make the most of the picturesque fall weekends.
Last weekend was especially special to me – my sister joined us at the lake! We spent our summers boating with my mom, who loved to ski and longed to live on the water. We haven’t spent a weekend at a lake together since our mom passed 11 years ago, which made boating and floating this past weekend even more memorable.
I put together another simple centerpiece, with candles, some inexpensive eucalyptus, and plumcots, but any fruits and foraged finds will do, in fact, as we were driving around the cove, I spotted very similar leaves. Olive branches would be beautiful as well, but, they’re not accessible in the midwest. I think I spent $6 and of course, it took about 5 minutes to create. Ready?
Ingredients:
candles
plumcots or fruit
eucalyptus, olive branches or your favorite leafy stems
The Flower Recipe:
Starting at the center of your table, place your candles. 
Trim and insert branches between your candles, starting at one side. You don’t need branches between all candles. 
Use smaller branches to layer and fan out. Work around your table and look at it from all directions. 
Place your plumcots near the candles and maybe even nestle one in between. 
Easy, right? I love that you can make a table feel special, without a lot of effort. Even more, I love when you can enjoy your al fresco dining table for days! Eucalyptus dries beautifully and can stand alone so that you have your centerpiece and eat it, too {the plumcots}.
You can read more about our patio furniture and follow along all of my adventures at #calmwatercottage here!
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Beautiful setting for a lovely meal with friends! I love your table and chairs, and the simple, natural centerpiece is so inviting. You’re right about al fresco dining in the fall. Here in the South, it’s actually a lot more pleasant to eat outdoors in the fall than in the hot summertime.
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
So true! That’s often the case in the Midwest as well!
Julie, thanks for the “secret” information; I would never have guessed!
Going shopping!
Lake memories are the best!
Rita
It’s amazing what beautiful furniture and a simple tablescape can do. What a beautiful space.
xo Michael
Thank you, Michael! It’s amazing what a friend can do for your day, too!
Beautiful–such simplicity!
Are your candles flame less? I have a difficult time finding clean, white ones.
Another lake lover, R
They are – I don’t want drips on my furniture and it’s difficult to keep a candle lit outdoors. Want to know a secret? They’re from Walmart of all places! They’re the closest I could find to RH without the cost and I love them!