Summer Dining al fresco

 {I think I get as excited for a simple, beautiful table as I do for a simple, beautiful outfit}

I'm inviting you onto our deck again today via photos. Welcommme!

I made this dinner for Cam before he left this week for the field. It's fun to do something a little special for him before leaving to train in the jungle and sleep in the dirt with his marines. I'm no Martha though- we'll curl up on the couch or sit on the floor sometimes for dinner {this is Japan afterall!} rather than at our actual table outside because it's so blazing hot.

 {peonies in mason jars + recycled bottles make a fun & simple summer centerpiece}

Meals are easily one of our favorite times of day.
During the week, we normally get to have dinner together and it's our time to sit down face to face {or bum to bum if we're sitting next to each other!}, talk, drink wine & savor food & each other.
We cherish it. 
Ever since moving out here and having time to actually put quality meals together for us or for friends, I've thought a lot on how important meal-time is.  And on how much we have to be thankful for. The simple pleasure of having food {and good, natural food at that!} on the table each day is such a blessing that we personally take for granted. Traveling a bit more in the Third World and getting to visit tsunami survivors on mainland Japan has made us realize more and more that we can literally never be thankful enough. We all have so much to be thankful for!

...
I'll post this pizza recipe tomorrow.
I'm still dreaming about it, it was that good!