Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Garden Friends' Fix

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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During the summer months, my beloved Garden Friends Bible study group takes a hiatus from our organized studies that we have been sharing for about 25 years.  Periodically throughout the summer months, we still carve out time to gather for lunch and fellowship.  It's always a blessing to be able to share a meal and catch up with each other....praise reports, prayer requests, learning about ministry opportunities that have blessed our lives...I feel especially blessed to have these wonderful sisters sit at my table. This day I needed a "Garden Friends' Fix."

The Williams - Sonoma Tattersall Plaid Tablecloth established an easy going, lazy days of summer tone....Besides, blue, white, and yellow is my favorite color combination.

Kind of a "six degrees of separation" sort of centerpiece grouping...a mix of random elements that each have a "Blue Onion" type motif in common...

The vintage ginger jar, sans lid, was a gift from my dear friend Marsha many years ago.  She gave it to me to use at my daughter's wedding reception.  I filled it with mums called '"Innie-outies"...made me smile.

I like to keep two small blue and white water carafes with lids that serve as drinking glasses on the night tables in one of the guest rooms.  Today, I filled each piece with yellow alstroemerias and called them vases.

The pair of antique Wedgwood "Blue Onion" tureens were eBay finds.  Tip:  I originally bought them as a gift for a friend, who after many years found the dining table of her dreams.  It's a large table, and she wanted a good size tureen to sit on it.  I found these for a great price, and the description said that they were 8 1/2"...not large for a tureen, but I thought that a pair would make them just right.  Big error on my part...I assumed that they were round.  They looked round in the angle of the pictures in the listing...Wrong!  They were oval, and they are a slight 4 1/2" wide.  They are actually sauce tureens and no where close to being large enough for my friend's table.  I learned a good lesson, one which I've shared with you before...Ask questions before bidding...verify that an item is really what you are seeking...and NEVER ASSUME!  You know what they say about "assume"...sigh.  I'll enjoy these, and I'll keep looking for my something just right for my friend's table.

  The Steelite Cobalt Charger has become somewhat of a workhorse for my tables this year.  I still haven't tired of it, and you'll probably see it many more times.  Tip:  I am a huge advocate of charger plates.  I can't tell you how many times I remove the tablecloth to launder it...only to discover that there is not a single spot on my cloth.  Most of the time I'm able to simply fold my tablecloth and return it to the linen closet.

  The Wedgwood "Countryware" dinner plate is another of my go-to-patterns.  It adapts well to a
large variety of designs.

The Miessen "Blue Onion" luncheon plates were a great bargain found at the tail end of an estate sale.  The L'Argent "Sophia Gold" flatware was found at Tuesday Morning and Horchow.  The Williams-Sonoma Navy Hemstitch napkin is caught in a Wedgwood "Countryware" napkin ring.




  Our Vietri Optical Amber goblet, and the AJKA "Arabella" Cobalt goblet continued the color story for my design.

The buffet sported a pair of elevated white reticulated vases, filled with more yellow alstroemerias.

After sharing grace, everyone brought their dinner plates to the breakfast room table where lunch was waiting.  It's so hot that I've had the shades pulled to help keep the house cool.  Do you darken your rooms during the high heat of summer?  Also, can you tell what I've been doing lately?  We have some wonderful peach orchards in our state, and I can always hardly wait for the peach harvest.  We eat fresh peaches daily, and I peal, slice, and freeze as many as possible to take us through the rest of the year.  Sweet Mister and I love peaches!


The Casola Ceramique Poisitano Bread Board was my special gift from Sweet Mister when we made our magical trip to Italy last year.  For dessert I served...what else...fresh peaches resting in a Vietri Leaf Bowl with homemade vanilla ice cream in the Haviland "Ranson" coupe bowls. 


 Lunch was a "Salad Quartet" featuring Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Layered Salad, and Fruit Salad with Yogurt.  Asiago Bread was all we needed to add.

I think that many of us who relish preparing a table to honor friends and acquaintances have been blessed with the gift of hospitality.  It would bless me to be able to honor you at one of my tables.  Just give me a heads up if you happen to pass my way.

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.

When I think of August, I think hot hot days that lend themselves to gathering friends around a table to share a bevy of cooling salads and homemade ice cream.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Hope to see you there!



Wednesday evening is the eighteenth edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".  So excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!



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!  KC has just released her 5th studio CD project, "The Tag Hollow Sessions".  The sold out CD release concert was this past weekend.  "The Tag Hollow Sessions" 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!  




  

         

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.

33 comments:

  1. Blue, white and yellow are a favourite combination of mine too. I enjoyed enlarging the photos and looking at all the lovely details in this post. There hasn't been too much entertaining by the ponds since the wedding - we were pretty tired! A lunch with friends sounds like a good idea, though!

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  2. Cherry Kay, not only is this a beautiful table, but your description along the way is charming. I appreciate the tips as well. I'm a fan of using chargers too, mostly without a cloth below. The chargers protect the tabletop much as a textile does. Plus I love the layering of dishes on a table. ;-)
    Every detail is exquisite, not the least being all that gorgeous food. Perfect luncheon menu. Peaches are finished here in TX. They were delicious! I wish the season lasted longer.......Sarah

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  3. Mmmmmmm....do you also make peach ice cream? I remember my parents making it from peaches in their small orchard. It was always SO good! You are very fortunate to have those! They not only taste good, but they are pretty for dressing up a table AND they smell great! Great tip on not bidding until you know EXACTLY what you bidding on. Although you turned out with something really pretty for your table, I know it's a bummer when you don't get what you thought you were getting...especially if it's for someone special! I am SO with you on the chargers! It's such a great idea to offer lots of different salads for luncheon. Everyone can just have a bit of those they like best or a taste of each or whatever they prefer. You always throw the best luncheons!!!

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  4. This is absolutely stunning. I love your color combination and the blue onion plates are a favorite of mine. Your Italian bread plate is exquisite. What a beautiful find to remind you of your trip.

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  5. I am drooling over EVERYTHING my friend!! My fav combo is Wt, blue and yellow too, I do the same when I display my Hutschenreuther, onion pattern dishes. I enjoyed your description of it all, so fun, along with your stunning tablescape and fabulous buffet. I love your Mr. wonderful's present too. I see you got a, entire hutch with red transferware..yeah, great minds think alike, you said it once and now I repeat it, lol..I am really hungry, I'm not kidding you!" Thanks for sharing.
    FABBY

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  6. Everything looks so lovely! Blue and yellow are one of my favorite color combinations for a table! I'm a new follower!

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  7. This is the most beautifully appointed table! Cherry Kay, you outdid yourself!!!! I love blue and white and ginger jars and cobalt blue chargers and the great tablecloth... I could go on and on.
    Now, let's talk about the SPREAD! It looks like something out of a magazine! Your really blessed your friends and us by sharing this at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS. Thank you so much!

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  8. Thank you for this beautiful post! I deeply love "Countryware"!!

    Francie

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  9. Another beautiful tablescape. I always love blue and white because of its lasting classic beauty. But my favorite here are the cobalt stemware....Christine

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  10. ...and we both love the German Onion pattern chIna as well. Have a great weekend.
    FABBY

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  11. Now I'm wondering where my mother's blue onion dishes wandered.. Yours look stunning on the tattersall. Which is my most favorite pattern hands down anywhere.. It's so classic. I do so love your blue chargers. They are perfect everywhere you choose to use them and here too perfect. I love the yellow mums.. so cute. Your food is always the crowning touch.. Cherry Kay this is just wonderful.. xo marlis

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  12. This table is so beautiful with the blues, whites and pops of yellow. And I love the description along the way. such a stunning table!

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  13. Love blue and white it makes a beautiful table. The flowers and goblets add pretty color too.
    Wonderful food, salads, and bread.
    Looks like a lovely time.
    Very pretty table did I mention that. Have a great day.

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  14. I love the blue and white, Cherry Kay, and especially with the touches of yellow and gold. Your menu sounds fabulous. What lucky guests you have.

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  15. Ahhh, blue and white. Sigh, sigh, sigh. I love it so and as always, you've done an outstanding job. So fun to have a glimpse of your kitchen and all of the goodies! Love seeing all those peaches! They could be a post all on their own.

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. You definitely have the gift of hospitality! Blue and white and yellow is a favorite combination of mine, too, and your tablecloth caught my eye immediately. I know it was a nice break from the heat to have your friends surrounding your table, catching up on each other's lives...

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  17. Needless to say, I LOVE your table. We both seem to be drawn to blue and white. It's a color that also graces my wardrobe :-) Thanks for sharing such a beautiful table.

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

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  18. Love your table. Blue and yellow are always a great combo. Your food and how you displayed it is wonderful! you certainly do go all out for entertaining! Beautiful job!

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  19. Beautiful table...that combination reminds me of sunny skies with a few big fluffy white clouds!
    Your menu looks/sounds delicious...we love peaches, too.

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  20. Oh it is so good to be back to tablescaping and blogging!!!! Your table is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I love the cobalt chargers, gorgeous! Your dinner plates are lovely too, love that pattern. Your friends were blessed to be at this luncheon. I am having lunch tomorrow with Yvonne from Stone Gable and 2 other Bible study friends, at on of their houses!!!!! I did a blue and whote table this week for TT also:):) XO, Pinky

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  21. How pretty! I can't get enough of blue and white and lunch with friends! aND peaches! Do yours ripen out in the open? We put ours in brown bags to ripen. Not reall pretty, but it works!

    Have you hear about The Blog Sisters? I hope you'll check it out!,
    Www.TheBlogSisters.com

    Cheers!,
    Barbara

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  22. Your table is a delight. Once again you've given your friends something special, and I know they are appreciative of your effort.

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  23. Cherry Kay, I just love that many of your tablescapes are set for entertaining (with real people) and just know that your guests are treated royally while in your home. The blue, white and yellow combination is a favorite of mine and you did it beautifully!

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  24. From the cloth to the tureens, flatware and side board, this is onderful! I love blue and white and yellow together, always pleasing to the eye!
    Lunch looks wonderful too!
    Peaches! Love baking with them.
    Thanks so much for sharing this at Let's Dish!
    No, I don't darken the rooms in summer, but then we don't have the high temps you have!

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  25. Such a gorgeous table...my favorite color combination for a table! Yes those peaches look wonderful...going to find some Stratford Peaches this weekend. They are just the best! Loved your buffet table too, just wonderful! This heat is starting to get to me..we are planning a trip to Colorado just to beat the heat! Stay cool!
    Miss Bloomers

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  26. Beautiful blue and white china for your lovely table. I love blue and white but don't own any. Think I must start collecting it. You tables are always stunning and I looking forward to see what you have designed.

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  27. Gorgeous table setting. Those many lovely details. You always have the best china and glassware. perfectly coordinated and so elegant. Your guests must feel very special. Love the peaches.

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  28. Simply beautiful! Your words on hospitality and blessings add the special touch to your lovely blue, white, and yellow tablescape.
    I am interested in your Garden Friends Bible Study too, what a wonderful idea.

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  29. Oh, that blue and white is beautiful! I just love the goblets. The food is amazing too!
    sherry

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  30. Oh, my! What a spread! And I adore blue and white tableware!! I would have loved attending such an event! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a sweet comment! I have also enjoyed your post, here!!

    Ann @ Cairn Cottage

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  31. Beautiful tablescape, I love the color combo that you chose and your dishes are gorgeous!
    All of your food looks wonderful as well.
    Thank You so much for stopping by and leaving me a sweet comment! I hope you have a wonderful week!

    Aledia

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  32. This is AMAZING! Being a fellow blue and white lover...I can tell you that you hit it out of the park! Just gorgeous!

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