Dinner on the Grounds

James Farmer is a Southern gentleman who looks way too cute in his signature gingham shirts...he's a gardening expert, floral genius, interior designer, and a gourmet chef.

I just got my hands on his latest book...Dinner on the Grounds.

The book is full of his much loved Southern recipes; clockwise...

When James and his sisters were little, their grandmother would make these adorable "ants on a log" for treats.  How cute are they?  There are celery stalks with cream cheese and chopped green olives and some with peanut butter with apples and raisins.  Then there's my favorite...Devilish Deviled Eggs.  These sound perfect with the Wickles Pickles Relish!  I'm a fan of okra prepared any ole' way, but his Roasted Okra recipe is must-try for me.  Lord have mercy, he includes loads of topping ideas for grits...and I'm liking the idea of adding crumbled sausage, sliced mushrooms, baby shrimp, crumbled bacon, and chopped green pepper.

I must admit that I've never heard of an Olive Oil Cake.  This recipe intrigues me because it doesn't call for any sugar at all...just honey.  The name is "Honey Lemon Olive Oil Cake."  In the bottom photo, it is served with and Amaretto Peach Bake.  Be still my Southern peach heart!  Peaches and amaretto liqueur...I'd love this tonight!

I first fell in love with James' tablescapes in Southern Living magazine.  Dinner on the Grounds includes more beautiful settings...love this blue and white tablescape under the tent.

Buffalo check tablecloths--always a winner!  Love the tablecloth, the chairs, the flowers, and the centerpiece!

I'm off to drool over the beautiful pictures and great looking food in this book!

Porch Living

This afternoon I'm enjoying every moment on my wrap around porch with some sweet iced tea...porch sitting and leafing through another James T. Farmer book, "Porch Living."  This one is full of pretty porches and porch vignettes.

The book totally had me with this cutie on the porch!

This porch caught my eye...love the curtains, furniture, and fabric.

LOVE this porch swing looking over all the lush garden plants.

Of course, James Farmer's beautiful tablescapes are included in this book!

You can purchase a copy of "Porch Living" at Mr. Farmer's website.  

James T. Farmer, III

James Farmer is Editor-At-Large for Southern Living magazine.  He's a Southern author, gardener, floral and interior designer, cook, and garden-to-table lifestyle expert.

I was excited to meet him at the Mistletoe Market when I was in Georgia in November.  I picked up his latest book Sip and Savor.  "Drinks for Party and Porch."  Well I love that!

James is a native of Kathleen, Georgia, which is very close to Perry and Warner Robins.  He was taught as a young boy how to pull vegetables, herbs and flowers from the family farm and kitchen garden to provide much of the food, decor, and flavor of his family's everyday life.  He developed an early appreciation for fresh, seasonal foods cooking at the side of his grandmother, whose Southern heirloom recipes he has revitalized for contemporary tastes.

Here are some of his other fabulous books...

Southern Living magazine featured his fabulous blue and white Thanksgiving setting back in November.

He definitely knows how to set a beautiful table!  Love this autumn setting with the black and white buffalo check!

More buffalo check with gingham!

Love this formal setting!

More of his fabulous work...

His floral design...

Beautiful!

Outdoor floral design.

More of his outdoor work...

Here's one of his garden-to-table dishes...Tomato-Onion Pie.  You can find the recipe here.


In the Spring of 2013, he opened his design and antique store in downtown Perry.  If you are ever in Perry, Georgia, stop in and take a peek at his store.  It's right across the street from my favorite restaurant, The Swanson!


Check out his website here and his Facebook page here.

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea

Of course I was attracted to the title of this book God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea and the pretty book cover definitely got my attention!  It's a devotional book written by a Southern lady Rose Chandler Johnson, who lives in a small Georgia town near my hometown.  Rose has been a teacher of English and French for 20 years and is the mother of six.

I have several devotional books...some that are meant to be read daily and some like this one, which you can read all in one setting or pick it up and read one devotion at a time.  Today I sat down with some iced tea and decided to read the entire book.  The author is not preachy at all...she writes from the heart.  Rose brings her personal life experiences and what God has taught her and ties them in with the scripture.

The format for each devotion is short, easy to read, and based on God's word:

Starting with a Bible verse, then a short devotion, suggested readings from the Bible, a place for journaling your thoughts, a closing prayer, the author's own "Sweet Tea Moment," and a suggested prayer focus.

Rose is also the author of a devotional blog Write Moments With God.  I recommend this devotional book for those who want to promote their own spiritual growth and develop a closer relationship with God.  It would be a sweet gift for yourself or others.  God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea is available for purchase at Amazon.