Cream of the Crop

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. 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.

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Every once in a while, I am privileged to host an event that is more exciting for me than for the honored guests.  This was one of those occasions. For more than a year, I have been compiling a data base of ladies who lived in my sorority house during my college years.  With the assistance of some dear alumnae, who live near, we issued around 200 invitations for a luncheon to be held in my back yard on Friday, June 17.  The response was fantastic!  We heard from more than 140 sisters, many of whom we had not seen in more than 45 years!  We were blessed that 56 wonderful old friends were able to join us for lunch on the back porch and under the shade tree. They came from all across the country, including Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, Florida, and Mexico.  You would have loved the energy and excitement in their voices as they reconnected after so many years apart.  The conversations began anew, as if they had never ended.  I'm still flying high from our magical day!  This day fulfilled all the criterion for 'collecting with a purpose.'

The back porch and the area under the big shade tree served as the perfect spot for seven tables of eight.  The flip-top table tops, of which you've often heard me speak, came in handy once again.

Our invitations featured a black and white cow with the caption, "Let's Reminisce Until the Cows Come Home!"  The guests were invited to join "The Cream of the Crop" of our chapter for an al fresco luncheon.  The small white creamery bottles held a single red Gebera Daisy and were placed at each place setting.  Each lady took home her creamery bottle as a party favor.  The dark rattan chargers on each table were a great bargain at WalMart.  No, I don't own 56 dark rattan chargers.  Yes, I am blessed to co-op these chargers with two friends.  I really liked them with the toile.  The back porch tables were set with Royal Doulton, "RD199" luncheon plates, on Castleton, "Laurel" dinner plates.

Did you know that you can order bulk flowers from Sam's Club Online?  I ordered the Sunflowers and the Gerbera Daisies, and I was able to specify the delivery date.  It was the perfect choice for today because I created 10 centerpieces for our luncheon.

The pastoral motif of the black and white tablecloths were perfect for our theme.  I bought 8 of them on eBay for less than I could rent two of them at our local linen rental shop.

I created the table centerfpieces in black reproduction French wire baskets that I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby a year or so ago.  In addition to the Sunflowers and Gebera Daisies, I used red Spray Roses, white carnations (our sorority flower), and Hypericum berries.

The goblets on each table are Mikasa, "French Countryside", purchased at Dillard's.  There was a bit of wind when I set the tables, so the stemware was presented "Bottoms-up."  Our menu featured a variety of salads and desserts, so a pair of Reed and Barton, "Francis I" forks at each place setting were the only utensils needed for our luncheon.  Hooray for family silver! 

Under the shade tree...

...Looking toward the back porch.

The tables placed in the shade of the tree were set with Castleton, "Laurel" luncheon plates, which belonged to my mother-in-love, on Wedgwood, "Countryware" dinner plates, one of my patterns bought through eBay.


The Pier One white cotton napkins were tied with narrow "Cardinal and Straw" picot ribbons...our sorority colors.

The back yard is ready to receive my precious friends...the women who hold my history....

....the women who, in their victories and in their defeats...

taught me, by example, how to live my life.  I am blessed to get to welcome them into my home.

The dining table is dressed in the same black and white toile found on the tables in the back yard.  I couldn't resist using the Mottahedeh, "Musee d'Arts Decoratif Motifs" tureen with a pair of black tole containers and the Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks.  Each attendee brought a salad or dessert to share with the others.  It was such a marvelous day.  We plan to meet again in October, 2012.  I wonder how many will be able to come the next time!

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."   Hop on over HERE 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.

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.  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!