Summer is the season for entertaining

Summer is the season of entertaining. It is a time to show off your best baking, cooking and BBQ, and have friends over to enjoy the great weather.

Johnson Brothers Summer Chintz is a pattern that features spring and summer flowers on a white background. With baskets to display flower arrangements,

Heart plates to serve cookies on

And covered heart boxes for accent and storage pieces,

As well as deviled egg trays,

There is something for every occasion.

Another great summer pattern is The Botanic Garden, by Portmeirion. With hundreds of pieces depicting all the flowers of summer, it is a pattern that always surprises.

With corn holders

Teacups in every floral variety,

And butterfly plates for showing off your favorite entrées,

This pattern is a must for any garden party this summer!

Summer gatherings on the patio can also feature some whimsy, like this great pattern by Lori Seibert.

And no wine tasting soiree would be complete without appetizer plates!

Appetizer plates allow a slot for your wine glass to sit when you are standing! No more searching for a nook in the corner to set your wine glass so you can pick up your fork!

Your guests will have one hand free to sample all the tasty morsels you have prepared, while still being able to enjoy a glass of the latest vintage you have uncorked.

And no party is complete without a nice set of linen napkins. You go to all the trouble of laying out a beautiful table, fine food, good wine, why ruin it with paper! Not only is a cloth napkin more environmentally responsible, it always elevates the level of your gathering.

I know many people still use paper napkins because they think cloth is too difficult. That is not the case! Once you have acquired a versatile collection of cloth napkins, you will never let another piece of wood pulp (which is what paper napkins are made from) rub against your skin. After using emollients to keep your skin smooth and firm, why sand your skin away with paper napkins when you can just as easily use cloth.

The trick with cloth napkins is you must have enough that you do not have to do a load of napkins every few days. I recommend starting with at least 48 napkins and a dozen kitchen towels and cloths. I have found this to be sufficient to only require 3 laundry loads a month. Start with 2 sets of twelve, 2 sets of eight and 2 sets of four napkins. This should cover most situations and allow for some versatility.

Your napkins should be washed with your kitchen towels and cloths, all together once you have a full load. A hanging bag in the kitchen pantry makes for easy storage of soiled linens. A single capful of bleach, in warm water, will disinfect all your linens without damaging the color. Use care to take your linens out of the dryer before they are completely dry, and fold immediately, to avoid having to iron. Be careful not to use excessive fabric softeners, as this will impede the absorbency of your napkins and kitchen towels.

When selecting napkins, as well as tablecloths, stay away from polyester! Polyester and other man made fabrics are not absorbent, which means you are just pushing the moisture around! Cotton and linen are your primary materials, and silk is a nice touch for special occasions. If you know you will have a lot of spills, you can go with a tablecloth that has a polyester blend, for easy stain care, but never 100% polyester! A dark color cotton or linen would be a better choice.

Cloth napkins should not be just for entertaining, they should be used for every meal. Once you get in the habit of cleaning kitchen counters and stove tops with towels and cloths, you will soon find that not only are you saving money, by purchasing less paper towels, you are doing something good for the environment, as well as your skin!