Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Dinner, 2010

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. As the holiday season progresses I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.




It's been a whirlwind day, but the Christmas table is set and ready for dinner on the 25th.  I've spent a great deal of the afternoon making Brandy Ice to deliver tomorrow to close friends.  We like for them to have it as dessert for their Christmas Eve dinners.  If you are interested in this delicious treat, check HERE for the recipe.  It was my mama's recipe, and it is soooooo gooooood!


We shall have a small group for Christmas dinner.  My daughter and her husband, my sister-in-love and her friend, and two friends who are unable to join their families this year will join Sweet Mister and me at the table.
The bones of my table are pretty much the same as my post for Snow Bird.  I've maintained the same greenery, and the white Poinsettias are making an encore performance.  

New to the tablescape is Nana's wonderful antique silver, oval presentation bowl...now home to the Poinsettias.  The center bowl is flanked by a pair of vintage Paden City Ruby Glass lidded compotes and Mercury Glass candlesticks.  

The vintage ruby glass pitcher has made the trip from the breakfast room, as seen HERE, to the dining table for our Christmas dinner.  I like to place pitchers or decanters of tea, water, or wine for my guests to refill their glasses during our meal.  This pitcher has been quite useful since I purchased it at an estate sale for a song.

Since we're celebrating the most important birthday party of each year, I've laid our table with one of our precious Nana's lovely antique table cloths and matching napkins.  This cloth is Italian Reticella. Nana loved beautiful linens, and this is one of my favorites.  The Ruby Flash Glass, covered butter dish was a great get from the same estate sale where I found the pitcher.  For our festivities, I'm using our gold flatware, Retroneau, "Holly."  I bought this flatware many years ago.  I periodically look for an additional 12 place settings, but so far no luck....some day.  The hunt is 90% of the fun!

You saw a set of the Lenox, "Original 13 Colonies Wreaths" plates displayed in the Welsh dresser HERE.
Today I've used the plates from the set that belonged to my mother-in-love...we're blessed to be caretakers for this unique set of china plates.  I'm thrilled that some day, each of my children will have a set.


I've layered the plates on a silver beaded charger, atop a red acrylic charger.  Each of the wreath designs is based on items indigenous to one of the original 13 colonies...

Virginia
Maryland
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Delaware
New York
New Jersey
Georgia


After everyone is seated... 
...we'll serve the salad course on one of my estate sale finds...$3.00 each...these Ruby Glass plates.  I really like them with the Waterford, "Simply Pink," goblet and the Lenox, "Holiday Gem," iced beverage goblet.

After dinner, served on a plain white Limoges dinner plate with a gold band, a dessert of Brandy Ice will be served in our Barker-Ellis Silver Mint Juleps.  The mint juleps were a wedding gift 42 years ago, December 21.  We use them for many things, but they've never been utilized for mint juleps.

The Brandy Ice will be presented on one of Nana's antique French crystal dessert plates, so the design of the wreath will still be visible.

On the buffet, I replaced the white poinsettias in Nana's silver champagne buckets with a pair of green mesh sparkling trees.  I exchanged the white porcelain angels for a pair of Indiana Glass, "Ruby Flash," compotes to add a punch of red.



I think that our guests will enjoy our candlelight supper.  I'll end my post with some candlelight shots.  I even came close to capturing a few blue hour pics.  This is still an apprehensive endeavor for me.  Hope that you enjoy them! 

Everything is in place and ready for our feast of thanksgiving and celebration for the birthday of our Sweet Jesus Christ.  I pray that your Christmas holiday is filled with His peace and the joy of fellowship with dear family and friends.  Can you believe that another year has flown by so quickly?  I have been blessed to have met so many wonderful bloggers who share my passion for gracious entertaining.  I look forward to visiting with you in 2011. Merry Christmas!

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, "Tablescape Thursday.  I'll be linking my post to "Tablescape Thursday.  Click on the button below to hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.
Click Here for Tablescape Thursday


I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.  Click HERE to enjoy the talented participants from all over bogland as they share their favorite visions of the season.  Thanks to The Tablescaper for sponsoring this wonderful meme each week!

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."  It is available on iTunes or through her website.  KC is currently the featured artist of the week at http://jivepk.jivewired.com/kcclifford.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!  .




  




Entertaining Women
Entertaining Women

Hello, I'm Cherry Kay I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience.

38 comments:

  1. Wow, what a gorgeous table - breathtaking! Merry Christmas to you and thank you for sharing photos of your fabulous table! I really love the Waterford "Simply Pink" goblets - I am actually doing a Waterford giveaway on my blog right now for Robert Mondavi for Waterford wine glasses - they are beautiful - Cheers:)

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  2. Your table is so pretty, Cherry Kay. Your whole dining room is gorgeous. That tablecloth is to die for, so exquisite and I love your wreath plate collection. You are just so good at this and I like your Persian rug too. I hope you and your family have a Joyful Christmas and lots of blessings bestowed upon you in the coming New Year! ...Christine

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  3. Where do I start? Your table is just beautiful, from the tablecloth to those wonderful wreath plates. I have never seen those before, they are really special! Love the red pitcher, glassware, and your holly flatware is perfect. What a setting for the most special birthday party of the year. I'd better get going on mine!
    Thank you for stopping by my blog and have a wonderful Christmas and blessed 2011.
    Sue

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  4. I am in love with your Christmas plates! I saw them earlier displayed on your hutch, so it's great to see the table set with them. They are magnificent! Your table is now beautifully set for Christmas dinner! Enjoy, and have a very Merry Christmas!

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  5. How beautiful are those plates? You table is absolutely gorgeous and your family and friends are going to feel so special.
    I hope you all have a wonderful time and very Merry Christmas.
    Many blessings,
    Laura

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  6. So, so pretty! All the ruby red glass is fantastic. Great job and Merry Christmas!

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  7. What a beautiful tablescape that you have put together...love those napkins. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  8. Hello my friend,

    Ohhh my...what an absolutely gorgeous Christmas table! I love all of the ruby glassware that you have used...it's stunning and so perfect for the season! This is the first time that I've seen the wreath plates...they really are exquisite! I love that each wreath uses items indiginous to that state! My friend, your Grandmother's table linens are gorgeous...what a sweet and precious treasure to have! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely Christmas table with us...this was such a treat!

    Wishing you and your family a a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

    Chari @Happy To Design

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  9. Oh Cherry Kay, it is breath-taking. As always, you surprise and inspire!
    Have a blessed Holy Week!
    Shel ♥

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  10. It's all simply beautiful and definitly fit for a King's Celebration. I love those plates from the states. They are such a treasure and perfect for this table.

    I laughed that you had used the beautiful mint julep cups for everything except mint juleps. You'll have to throw a Derby party one these days.

    (And blog about it, of course!)

    Beautiful table as I always find here.
    I hope you have the merriest of Christmases, Cherry Kay.

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  11. Your entire dining room is just stunning. The table, starting with the lovely tablecloth, is so beautiful. I love the dishes, the flatware, the centerpiece...everything.
    Have a great Christmas.

    Thanks so much for the tips on WS and how I might get those cute-as-can-be dishes. We don't have an outlet any where near us. However, they are on sale now at just over $4. each, which I think is a great deal.
    "Santa......oh.....SANTA...." :)

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  12. I've been looking forward with much anticipation to your wreath plates on your table! I so love all your beautiful layers, particularly with the French crystal dessert plate waiting for a serving of Brandy Ice! Thank you for sharing your talents & wonderful collections! Merry Christmas to you & your family :-)

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  13. Oh so beautiful. I loved them in your hutch and love them on your table too. It's so neat how you interperse the ruby glass. I'll have to keep my eyes open for some of that. But the real show stopper are your Nana's linens. That is one FABULOUS tablecloth.

    Have a very merry Christmas.

    - The Tablescaper

    PS I want to see what goes into the weslsh dresser after Christmas!?!?!?!?!?

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  14. Is it bad manners to drool? I promise to wipe it up.. Your sideboard is a wonderful piece.. I loved being able to see the plates on the table, the crystal is spectacular and the centerpiece is perfect. This is truly a beautiful table and will make your guests feel as special as they are. It's been a delightful year blogging with you. Totally a treat for me. Merry Christmas to you and yours and may the blessings of the new year unfold by the thousands!

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  15. That is so beautiful! My eyes immediately went to that gorgeous tablecloth and napkins. Love the red stems, and the New York plate is just wonderful, or am I prejudiced? :)
    Your buffet is stunning!
    A very blessed Christmas to you and yours!

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  16. Hi lovely lady.
    Your Tablescapes are Beautiful starting with your lovely China,and the centerpiece is perfect for this Christmas Holiday ~~ your guests will feel so special to have the Holidays at your home sweet lady. Thanks so much for stopping by my Thablescapes.lol
    Diane

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  17. Stunning. I'm experiencing linen envy! Your Nana must have been a remarkable and discerning woman. You honor her beautifully with keeping and using her beloved belongings. The Christmas plates, red pitcher (what a find!) and all! Thanks for sharing. Blessings, CJ

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  18. Love love the lesson in the 13 original colony plates. Beautiful, beautiful....thank you so much for sharing.....Merry Christmas

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  19. Oh my, simply gorgeous. Those plates are breathtaking and that tablecloth...oh my. I'm really speechless. ;) Beautiful table indeed.

    I'm not really making the Tablescape Thursday rounds today but thought I'd stop by to wish you a very Merry Christmas. New Year blessings to you and your loved ones too. Much love!

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  20. What a beautiful table you have made. I loved all your pieces especially the napkins. Have a Merry Christmas.

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  21. Your dining room is beautiful...love the tablescape and your buffet. I just listened to your daughters song and she is wonderful! I know you must be so proud of her. Merry Christmas
    Sherry

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  22. Stunning setting~~Love your diningroom it reminds me of my parents diningroom~~ I will have to show her your blog entry she will love it too!!...so elegant, warm and inviting!!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday and Merry Christmas!!

    Kay Ellen

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  23. Oh, what a beautiful table...I love everything about it, especially those special wreath plates...
    Merry Christmas!

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  24. Hope you are enjoying the holidays. I took a few minutes to relax and visit with my blogging friends and boy was I glad I stopped by to see you. This is a beautiful tablescape! Lush, full and elegant. Love the tablecloth! Wishing you the best in the New Year.

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  25. Another beautiful table. I certainly wish I had known your Nana -- she must have been the "Hostess with the Mostest!"

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  26. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration, Cherry Kay. I just love seeing your table again...Christine

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  27. What a beautiful table, and the wreath plates are really unique-enjoy!

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  28. The table linens are gorgeous! And, I love the Christmas plates---a wonderful collection!

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  29. Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays. Hope you'll continue to be a part of Seasonal Sundays as we shift into the season of Winter.

    - The Tablescaper

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  30. Belated, but no less sincere, Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful time of year to be married! (My DD's wedding was Dec. 23rd)

    This elegant table is everything one could possibly desire at a Christmas dinner. Your china & linens are exquisite & all the beautiful pink & red stemware just takes my breath away. You are truly blessed to be "caretakers" of such treasures.

    I love coming to visit your blog, Cherry Kay. I never fail to learn something new & see something special.

    fondly,
    Rett

    p.s. BTW, Mint Juleps are highly over-rated! I think they're disgusting tasting! LOL Had my first & last one at the Kentucky Derby. YUCK!

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  31. I LOVE your wreath plates! Isn't it wonderful when a collection of something you love can be shared with others in such a beautiful and practical manner?

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  32. I'm finally catching up on blog reading... Cherry Kay, this table is such a visual treat! I don't ever remember seeing the gorgeous wreath plates anywhere, and they're so pretty with all of the red glassware. I'm glad you used white poinsettias instead of red to soften the table. Perfect choice! Nana's linens... aaaaah! BIG smile! Thanks for sharing your talents! Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  33. What a sumptuous holiday table setting...I enjoy seeing how you combine family treasures, with historic references (Lenox wreath plates), with beautiful colorful glass dishes and goblets!

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  34. Wow, what candy for my eye,,, so many beautiful things to feast my eyes on that I could go on forever! And how lucky for you that your Nana had so many beautiful things that have been passed down to you, and that you use them so beautifully. You glassware, china, linen and accessory collections are amazing!!! I'm so glad I found your blog!

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  35. Sigh. This is such a lovely table for the holidays. I especially love the silver mint julep cups and the red pitcher and stemware.

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  36. This table radiates the beauty of the holidays! I adore those silver mint juleps. When I was a child my mother always dressed us up fancy for the holidays. I would have adored this table and enjoyed sitting at it even then as well as now!

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