For Mary Kate Danaher, 3.11.14

"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.  ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Our new dining table is finally in place.  As I thought about setting my new/old table to share with you for the first time, I began remembering one of my lifetime favorite movies, first seen in a theatre when I was six years old.  Since then I've watched John Ford's "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, many many times when it shows up on one of the classic movie channels.  Do you remember the movie?  In the story, a rather mysterious American, Sean "Trooper" Thornton buys his family ancestral farm in Inisfree Ireland.  As the story progresses, Sean falls in love with the beautiful Mary Kate Danaher, younger sister of Sean's nemesis, Squire "Red" Will Danaher, her guardian and the village bully.  Will finally allows Sean to wed Mary Kate, but after the marriage, Will refuses to give his sister her dowery.  Chaos erupts between Sean and Mary Kate because Sean won't demand that Mary Kate be given what is legally hers.  He just doesn't understand how important it is for her to have her family treasures around her.  She can't "feather her nest" without them.  I'll never forget when she finally receives her share of the family furniture, china, crystal, and other treasures.  She lovingly arranges her belongings in the old Thornton cottage, and she proudly sets a supper table for Sean.  There's much more to this wonderful old movie, but it's this scene that I was remembering as I chose the items for my St. Patrick's day table.  I hope that you'll enjoy my table; I created it with Mary Kate Danaher in mind...   

 I found the Karges dining chairs in a local consignment shop.  They are 30 years old, and I got a fantastic deal on them.  I brought one home for Sweet Mister to try for comfort.  He liked the chair, so....just in case...I checked for a Karges table on eBay...


Sure enough...I found the Karges dining table for 12 through Stenella Antiques, located in Perkasie, Illinois.  It was also an amazing deal.

 It was well worth the wait.  We are thrilled with our new addition, and I am excited to share it with you tonight.

 Because I wanted to share the table with you, I decided to go with one of Nana's lovely old sets of placemats and napkins, done in organdy with linen appliqués.  I wonder if Mary Kate had some fine old Irish linens in her hope chest.  I'll bet that she did!

 I've always enjoyed utilizing a variety of greens in my designs.  It was a welcome day when I was told to look in the garden...all those shades of green abide very well together, and they'll work well together on the table, too!

 Yep....

 ...Works every time.

 Now, for some of the details...

 Nana's lovely old white organdy placemat and my mother-in-love's Francis I flatware.

 Bernardaud Limoges Artois Green, bought from a friend who was a Haviland dealer for many years.

 The Coalport Z3137 Exotic Bird luncheon plate, acquired over a long, long time through eBay.  This is one of my favorite patterns, and I continue to search for more dinner plates.  I find one every 2-3 years.

 When we think of Ireland, beautiful crystal and the color green inevitably come to mind...The Waterford Simply Green goblet works nicely with the AJKA Arabella emerald green wine stem. Both were collected slowly via eBay

 Also an AJKA piece, I bought a pair of these green crystal presentation bowls at the tail end of an estate sale...for $30.00 for the pair.  I couldn't grab them quickly enough!  The runner matches the place mats.


Good ole eBay yielded the pair of Minton lidded tureens.  The border design is similar to the Minton Cockatrice, and I love the way that it works with the Coalport Z3137 Exotic Bird.  The adjustable silver stands belonged to dear Nana....just the right elevation.

 I think that Mary Kate would have set the table just the same way!

 So what do you see?  I see a fairly traditional setting to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...

 A punch of greens that sing of shamrocks...

 ...Lovely antique linens...

...Family silver and beloved vintage china...Treasured elements that I love to use as I feather my nest.  I understand Mary Kate Delaher's determination to gather her family things around her.  I'm waging a pint at the pub that you do, too!  Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Old Irish Blessing:  "I pray that when one of you sheds tears, the other one tastes salt."

This week I'll be joining:
Cuisine Kathleen for her St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper