FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

End of Summer Bash.. 8/31/11 and a WINNER

is having a PARTY...
and we are ALL invited...

Since I don't have a pretty outdoor space this summer 
DUE TO LACK OF RAIN,
I went back in time to another party I had outside,
when things were green and beautiful...  
End of Summer Celebration
TEXAS STYLE
LET'S HAVE A PARTY....
A TEXAS SIZED BAR-B-QUE...
abundant rains fell here in my part of WEST TEXAS the summer of 2010
Rains...how WONDERFUL they are for our lawns
....flowers....our souls..
We added a table...
added a few chairs....
...a bottle or TWO of BLACKBERRY WINE...
and a few bottles of icy cold BEER.

Out here on the plains, if you're going to be OUTSIDE for very long...
you pretty much NEED to wear a hat, cap...something to shade the face...
I've put out a few hats for you to choose from..but...
.the "GOT WINE" cap....
  ALL MINE !!
Paper plate..
Paper napkins..
makes for an easy party....
You will notice that I changed the table settings throughout the party...
gotta keep things fresh and fun, ya know.. 
I LOVE THIS CAP of mine...
and I love this photo...:))
These little SALT & PEPPERS look just like REAL eggs, don't they...

This is the vintage love seat MR. SWEET bought for me 50 years ago...
It was in excellent shape when he bought it and.....it still is.  



My Rose of Sharons have just OUTDONE themselves this year....the flowers are BIG...



MR. SWEET decided to grill for us...beef ribs of some sort...
...it won't be too long until he will
RING THE DINNER BELL...

so....I brought out the REAL plates...paper isn't too good with this kind of food....
we'll be having grilled meat, potato salad, baked beans with bacon...


I also have a pie cooling in the kitchen...
I seldom buy beer...we don't drink it simply for the reason that we aren't crazy about the taste...
but I was at the market the other day, and while buying our BLACKBERRY WINE,
I noticed these tiny, cutest BOTTLES of BEER and I just had to buy them...

.... just think how cute the empty bottles will be with wild flowers in them...
Can't wait... let's see...I can use beer in making bread...anything else ??
Is it BEER that's a good rinse for your hair ??
I've cleared the table somewhat...time to put the plates out...
The meat is almost done on the grill...
Did I mention that I am VERY proud of my pretty yard this summer ??
Well, I AM ! (remember, this is 2010)
tee-tiny little flowers on my CROWN OF THORNS plant...
Did I ever tell you that MR. SWEET makes hot brands for horses and cattle ?
Every time he makes one, he "brands" an area of the backyard fence..
*
It looks pretty cool to us TEXANS....maybe kinda RED NECK to other parts of the country...:))
We don't care...we love our TEXAN traditions..
He makes SPURS, too....WHAT A MAN !

Looks like the beef is just about done, Mr. Sweet....
I'll bring out the barbecue sauce...ummmmm

SINCE I noticed many of you are wearing BOOTS...
Just wanted ya to know that I've set up a
BOOT PARKIN' SPOT...It's waaay too hot to wear sox and BOOTS !
We are going to head back INSIDE to eat our meal, under the comfort and wonderous
AIR CONDITIONING...
so TAKE OFF YOUR BOOTS, get comfy .... and stay a spell..
and, yep...MR. SWEET made that boot jack, too...he never
leaves home without it...
boots next to impossible to take off without one !
AND, of COURSE I have a place to HANG YOUR HAT !! 

ONLY 45 CALORIES PER SLICE of this most delicious bread...
What a deal !!
TEXAS FARE....
 This pie has been coolin' since before we started the barbeque...
 XOXOXOXO  bj

Hope all of you will go by each party and visit a few sites..
I am also joining in with
WOW ME WEDNESDAY 
LADIES and GENTLEMEN...
may I have your attention, PLEASE..
the LUCKY WINNER of the 
generous giveaway supplied by
GIRARDS DRESSINGS
IS........
EMILY at THE FRENCH HUTCH
Congratulations...
I will send you an email today with instructions to get your 
4 BOTTLES OF GIRARDS DRESSINGS.
xoxo bj 

32 comments:

Pondside said...

Oh my but that meal looks wonderful! We may have to grill some steaks tomorrow night.

Maggie said...

Loved being at your Texas BBQ today, we had such a blast!

Theresa said...

Beautiful pictures and looks like a wonderful time! BBQ... YUMMY!

Enjoy your day dear BJ and congrats to the winner! HUGS!

Donnie said...

Another beautiful post where I can picture myself right there. Congrats to the winner too.

Lynn said...

Congrats to Emily! Your BBQ looks great BJ, wouldn't mind a piece of that pie with my coffee:@)

Michele Smith said...

Yummy! Looks delicious and your table is cute!
I looked at the forecast this morning for Houston (my family lives there) looks like theres finally going to be rain heading that way....hopefully that doesn't change!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Would love to be there enjoying the end of the summer...even with the HEAT! I love Texas! Stay cool, my friend! ♥

Barbara F. said...

Your bbq looks like a really fun time with delicious food! I hope that drought ends already, it is crazy. Congratulations to Emily! xo

Balisha said...

You throw the best parties...I had a good time. Balisha

a quiet life said...

what a fun looking texas party!

Rettabug said...

Congratulations to Emily!! I'm on the hunt to find more of those dressings around here. The one we tried was AWESOME!

LOVE your boots on the rack...too cute.

Sure wish scientists could figure out how to send some of that awful rain from the East coast down to you folks. I hear you might be getting some from a storm that's forming in the Gulf now. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, Hon.

Hugs,
Rett

LV said...

No matter what you do, you do it up right.

janis said...

ahh BJ~ First the rain was teasing me! I thought it started raining here again... The volume was low and I had to mute the tv and, yep...that is rain I here! but from you not Indy!
Love the BBQ pictures! I wanna come on over!
Love to you today!

The French Hutch said...

bj, I'm so excited to win your fabulous giveaway, and try the salad dressings. I'm sure they will be delicious and come in handy because we eat so many salads around here. Thanks so much for the contest.

We have the same problem here, lack of rain and everything is dried up.This was a great BBQ, great photos too. We have grilling in our plans for the weekend.
Thanks again bj.

~Emily
The French Hutch

LindyLouMac said...

Great party, we have that pale lilac hibiscus here in our garden but not in such abundance.:)

Diann said...

This is such a fun outdoor party BJ! Every details is wonderful and the food looks great. Congrats to Emily!

Honey at 2805 said...

Oh how cute! How I wish I could have attended this party!

Hope you will bring one of your projects of posts to my first Potpourri Friday Party this week - Friday, September 2. Link-up starts on Thursday afternoon. Without a doubt, your participation will help make the party better!

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi BJ,
what a great party in the garden! I love all the pictures, especially this from your "branded" backyard fence. Great idea.
Best greetings, Johanna

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Sure wish I had been there, you seem to throw GREAT parties and I love to partay!!!! The food looks scrumptious!!! Love the outdoor decor too. I never knew Mr. Sweet did brands, love them on the fence! Hope you get some RAIN soon!!!! XO, Pinky

Blondie's Journal said...

This is just how I would imagine a party in Texas to be like. You really spent a lot of time on it and your yard and gardens looked great. Love the display of hats and boots and how pretty your table and food looks. What a ball this must have been!

I pray all of you get rain soon. I want you to enjoy the great outdoors again before it gets too cool!

XO,
Jane

à la parisienne said...

Your outdoor space looks perfectly inviting. I live in Texas and have never heard of blackberry wine-It sounds delicious!

Mandy

Auntie said...

LOVE those boots!!!

Branding irons and spurs! He does metal working, as well as wood working. Cooooooooooooooool!!!

Me'thinks the same as you do, that Vee is without power. I tried to call over there, and the call would "not go through." -sigh-

Kathleen Grace said...

So sorry about your poor lawn this year BJ, but that is no reason to forgo a party and this picnic looks so pretty!

On Crooked Creek said...

BJ,
Reminds me of a "down home good time"! Lovely lawn party. Hold on to the hope of a future with that same lush lawn to enjoy. This truly has been a Summer of Summers temperature wise!
Fondly,
Pat

jeanne said...

Awwwwwww bj, I was supposed to join in today with a post and absolutely FORGOT. Too much going on here this week. Sound familiar. Well, my cousin Marilyn surprised us with a call and she said will be here for two weeks. She arrives tomorrow but I am getting ready for a big flea market in the community center. I am selling my STUFF. I'm downsizing my extra everything. Thus, I forgot.
sigh.

You know I love your post even it it was in 2010 with some of the pics. Love the hats and the boots but most of all the food. You are a great cook bj. I wish I could eat some of your wonderful food. I knew Mr. Sweet was very clever but he is awesome in the things he makes. Love the brands on the fence. I don't have to be a Texan to appreciate those awesome brands. I am a country girl off the farm you know.

Can you tell I loved your post. Smile.
Love you too my sister friend,
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Hi BJness and congrats to Emily! She's gonna love all this neat dressings!
I love your olden post. Your backyard was so pretty and the picnic looks great too. Love all of the boots and I missed that before that Mr. Sweets makes branding thingys! How cool! Is there anything that man can't do? The barbque looks wonderful!
Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kathleen said...

I heard on the weather you might be getting some rain! I hope so!
That's a great end of Aug. party you have going there! Everything looks so good.
What name brand is that bread?
Love that fence, so Texan!

La said...

BJ, you are such a gracious hostess. Your garden makes a wonderful setting for a Texas BBQ. Hopefully, next year it will be in full bloom again.

As always, your food looks amazing. I can almost taste those beans.

Anonymous said...

I'll take a wonderful straw hat to shade my eyes while I enjoy this great BBQ.
Thanks for sharing,I feel as if I need to shuck the cowboots and take a nap.....so relaxed!
~Jo

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

What a super southern shindig you had last year, BJ! Your menu could have been one straight from the Carolinas. ;)

By the way, love, love, love the "branded" fence!

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

abeachcottage said...

What a wonderful time you all must have had! Lovely BBQ setting :) Thanks for sharing at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.

SueLovesCherries said...

BJ, you've outdone yourself! I haven't had breakfast yet, but I'm ready to sit down to a meal of steak and beans . . . and beer!

Gorgeous yard, and your love seat is so unique - I love it! I hope and pray that the heat/drought leaves and things get back to normal down there!