Breakfast and Other Things
Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 9:29AM 
Photobucket's photo editor has a lot of new effect filters. The one used above iin the photo of this morning's breakfast is named "singe.' Toast topped with creamy peanut butter and a sliced banana is one of my favorite morning starters, especially when enjoyed on the lanai in the morning sunshine with birds singing in the background.
Normally in my food photos for the past ten years or so, red woven placemats are featured. They are my everyday kitchen table mats. I am a ceature of habit. I don't like change. I don't practice spontaneity. I don't like suprises. The other day I took a walk on the wild side and purchased eight the orange mats. Get used to them, at least for the next ten years, although they are intended to be used on the lanai. We have purchased all new lanai furniture in a sling style that is much better for wet bathing suits that our prior stuffed fabric deep seating furniture. We designed the furniture and had it made by a local manufacturer. The dining chairs and swivel rockers use this fabric...
The two chaise lounges are done in the fabric shown in the glider below...
I did a lot of sourcing and showroom visits before I found the manufacturer tucked away on a little side street in the small town just west of us. They have no showroom, just an office. They manufacture commercially for resorts and hotels all over the USA and Caribbean and acttually lease and repair the furniture. When we stumbled upon them, we expected a showroom, but instead were ushered into a ratty old office manned by a lovely gal and the salesman who took us on a tour of the several buildings that comprise the factory. We met welders, we saw aluminum extruding machines at work, a man explained how the aluminum is ionized to let the paint adhere and saw the heat room where it's done. Our last stop was the fabric workroom containing six seamstresses and hundreds of huge bolts of fabric and also huge commercial sewing machines. It was all fascinating. The best part was that we've saved about a thousand dollars over what we've had paid for the furniture this place makes that I saw in patio furniture showrooms or internet . It took a lot of investigative work to get there, but I'm so glad I got there and thrilled to as well to be able to design our own furniture from frame style and finish ( a rich brown with gold flecks) to fabrics to dining table size shape and top material. Best of all, we were able to support a local business that employs local workers...that's the cherry on the sundae.
Reader Comments (1)
Does the banana slices stay on the toast or does it roll when you eat? Think I would be inclined to mash it, know I would be crawling all over the floor trying to pick it up. Come to think of it doubt if I would, dogs like bananas and peanut butter. Except to my surprise my new acquision who probably had nothing except his kibble morning and evening. No wonder he was depressed and falling asleep over it. Fortunately having a relaxed and normal dog life seems to have saved him from Prozac although he is such a wimp. Threw his raggy for him, front paw knocked when he ran and jumped to get it, screamed, tail down and rushed to me. If he thought I was going to kiss it better he had another thought coming. He has a beautiful coat but its the type of coat that everything winds itself into. Other week almost an hour unwinding his tail from a long bramble he had caught in it. Even tried to break the bramble but too strong and tough. Thought of rushing home for some cutters but didn't want to leave him there on his own. Result one freezing handler with scratched and bleeding hands, one mangled tail and dog with very messy tail. Next job today, some baggy pants to be tackled for removal of leaves and thistle heads to be removed.
Just not fair Dana, forecast is dreadful here for the weekend and theres you sunning and enjoying breakfast outside. Thanks for sharing such a lovely meal, the deck furniture must really add to the pleasure of it, with those gorgeous mats, too. Can imagine it all glowing in the sunset, must be so cheering to use. Will be thinking of you when gazing out at the anticipated snow and froy. At least we have blue sky today. Jill