Rose Famille Valentine

"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. During this beautiful season when we celebrate harvest and Thanksgiving, 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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My friend Marsha has been hosting the Garden Friends Bible Study in her home this year.  This week, there was a death in her family, and I was blessed to have the group in our home.  Last night I decided to make a large pot of homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and invite those who could stay after our study to join me for lunch.  It was a good opportunity to play with the colors of Valentines Day, yet again. 

 I had heard on the news that Iran declared that Valentines cards and other heart shaped items are now illegal.  I had never really given any thought to whether or not other countries celebrated Valentines.  I'd pretty much always thought of it as a Hallmark holiday, fairly exclusive to the USA...I know, I know...hardly a global mindset.  The whole topic sent my mind on a stroll.  Do other countries celebrate Valentines Day?  What would a Valentines table look like in Sweden...in Portugal...in China?  That thought sent me to the china closets (pun intended) to pull out some of our Rose Famille, and I was off to the proverbial races.

Today was likely to be a dine and dash moment for some of my guests.  They didn't even know that I had prepared lunch until they arrived for Bible study.  For that reason, I decided to stick with placemats, and keep it fairly low-key.

The scalloped Capiz placemats were picked up inexpensively at an estate sale.  In case you're interested, just this week, I saw them advertised on Horchow's website in several shapes and colors.  The Royal Worcester, "Regency" dinner plate served as the liner for the soup bowl.  Although not pictured, I later added a bread plate to the setting.  The gold-toned bamboo flatware was another estate sale purchase...$65.00 for a service for 16.

 Today the lead role went to the Rose Famille Rimmed Soup Bowl, another estate sale score.  I only have six of them, so they are only used when I'm entertaining small groups.  They make me smile...sigh.

I chose the "Lipstick Red" linen/cotton blend napkins to coordinate with the crystal elements and the Alstromeria's...left over from last week's table.  

The pair of Republic Period, Rose Famille rose bowls were picked up for a pittance at the tail end of an estate sale last year. The pair of Cranberry Glass hurricane sleeves were found in a local antique store.

I recently happened upon the coordinating Rose Famille Tureen on eBay.  It was the floral pattern on these pieces that sent me to the crystal cabinet to retrieve the Waterford, "Simply Pink" goblet and the Bohemian Maroon Crystal wine stem.

The tablescape came together very quickly.  I had time to catch some candlelight shots once evening came...

 I think that I'm going to want to reprise this design for a dinner at some point.  I love the way the candlelight gleams off the Rose Famille.

I can smell the aroma of the Chicken Noodle Soup wafting from the kitchen.  Hmm...chicken...noodles...almost sounds like Chinese food...almost.  If you are one of our bloggy friends across the world, do you celebrate Valentines Day in your little spot on the globe?  Is it a holiday observed throughout your country, or it is just you?  Whatever the circumstance, Happy Valentines, my bloggy friends!

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 and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

Thank you to the talented Tablescaper for hosting "SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Come on over and join the party!

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!