Once upon a time, in the bustling town of Maplewood, there lived a peculiar witch named Penelope. Penelope was not your typical wicked witch; she had a kind heart and a mischievous spirit. She had a knack for finding joy in the most unexpected places, which often led her on whimsical adventures. One sunny day, as Penelope was strolling through town, her sharp eyes caught sight of a glittering sign in the distance. It read, "Maplewood Hardware Store." Intrigued by the prospect of discovering new treasures, Penelope decided to pay the store a visit.
" Intrigued by the prospect of discovering new treasures, Penelope decided to pay the store a visit. As she entered the hardware store, Penelope's eyes widened with excitement. Shelves upon shelves were filled with an array of tools, paints, and gadgets.
A Magical Dinner in the Courtyard
On lovely summer evenings, the best seat in the house is outside. That’s why I entertain al fresco every chance I get when the weather is nice. Today, I want to take you back in time a bit, to the courtyard at my old home in Atchison, which was one of my favorite places on earth. For one of my spring open houses, we set the back for a beautiful dinner party. The setting was as delicious as the dinner. I hope it will give you some ideas and inspiration for your own open-air event.
When I entertain, I like to set the mood the moment guests enter. Next to the steps leading from my screened porch was an iron garden urn that we decided to turn into a drinks table, topping it with a silver server. When you build dramatic stands like this, make sure you anchor the server well or you’ll have a cascade of broken dishes the first time a guest grabs a cup. But it’s worth the engineering because multi-level servers pack a lot of visual punch.
This awesome table design was inspired by the centerpiece. Sometimes, we do it the other way, come up with a place setting look we adore then create the centerpiece to complement it. We had a bevy of fresh plants we wanted to use, so we placed them in a mix of green pots that encircled an oversized ginger jar. A showy centerpiece like this one is going to make cross-table conversation impossible. But, oh my, does it make your jaw job when you see it!
We let nature set our color scheme for this party, taking our cue from the fresh summer green in my courtyard. The base for each place setting is a summer placemat turned on its end, trailing over the side of the table. This is one of our favorite ways to use placemats, giving the look a little edge and allowing more space on the table for additional settings.
To make a place setting more interesting, use a variety of dish patterns, with different shapes and sizes adding to the fun. These leaf majolica plates, with their curled edges, add an interesting structural quality.
Try topping your tower of dishes with a smaller dish, like this ramekin. Often, we fill these top pieces, whether it’s a sorbet or a coffee cup, with a little surprise for guests, like a wrapped gift or a delicious treat.
We also like to use different glassware patterns on our tables, often picking up the theme color in one of our goblets.
To encourage guests to mingle before dinner is served, we set up a drinks station where they can help themselves to a beverage, then mill about. This garden accent became the perfect drink server, with its multi-leveled leaf-shaped shelves. One of the secrets to making an outdoor party dramatic is to use your finest pieces, like silver trays and crystal goblets. It’s an unexpected luxury that makes guests feel spoiled.
When you’re entertaining outdoors, lighting is a big part of the party. I didn’t have electric lights in my courtyard, so we harnessed the power of candles. We placed wire lanterns on top of iron pillars, filled with candles.
A beauty of entertaining in the garden is that most of the decorating is already done for you. We made the space more magical by hanging votive cups from the branches of the shrubs.
The winking lights suspended from the branches in the dining area made the outdoor room feel like a fairyland. Once the fireflies started up, and the cicadas began to hum, it was summer bliss.
Next Week … I want to take you to a gem of a restaurant I’ve discovered, with an outdoor dining space that will transport you.
The winking lights suspended from the branches in the dining area made the outdoor room feel like a fairyland. Once the fireflies started up, and the cicadas began to hum, it was summer bliss.
She felt like a child in a candy store, eager to explore each aisle. Unbeknownst to the townspeople, Penelope had a particular interest in brooms. Not just any broom, but brooms that possessed magical qualities. She firmly believed that the right broom could whisk her away to fantastical realms and endless adventures. With a mischievous smile, Penelope made her way to the broom section. As she examined each broom, she couldn't help but notice one broom standing out from the rest. It seemed to emanate a faint glow and exuded an aura of enchantment. Without hesitating, Penelope reached for the broom and gently caressed its bristles. Suddenly, a wisp of magic enveloped her, causing her to levitate off the ground. She let out a delighted squeal as the broom lifted her higher and higher, carrying her through the aisles of the hardware store. The townspeople watched in awe as Penelope soared throughout the store, her long black cloak billowing behind her. Children pointed excitedly, and adults couldn't help but smile at the whimsy unfolding before their eyes. As Penelope landed gracefully back on the ground, she couldn't contain her joy. She thanked the broom for the thrilling experience and decided to take it home. She knew this broom held the potential for extraordinary adventures, and she couldn't wait to embark on them. From that day forward, Penelope's broom became her trusted companion, accompanying her on thrilling escapades and whisking her away to marvelous worlds. She would forever be grateful for the day she stumbled upon the broom at the hardware store. In the end, Penelope's visit to the hardware store was not just about finding a magical broom; it was about embracing the unexpected and finding joy in the most unlikely places. And to the townspeople, she served as a reminder that magic truly exists, even in the most ordinary places, if one only knows where to look..
Reviews for "The Unexpected Shopper: Witch on a Broomstick Surprises Hardware Store Staff"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Witch on a broom at a hardware store" but was ultimately disappointed. The plot was weak and lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The writing style was also choppy and awkward, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and not worth the hype.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I regret picking up "Witch on a broom at a hardware store". The storyline was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were cliché and their motivations were poorly developed. The writing itself was also subpar, with numerous grammatical errors and confusing sentence structures. I expected more from this book but unfortunately got a shallow and uninteresting read.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Witch on a broom at a hardware store" was a disappointment. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on mundane activities and not enough action to keep me engaged. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing with this series.