Mother's Day, 2014

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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I had such a sweet time designing my tablescape for our family's Mother's Day dinner.  I kept thinking about the legacy of lovely dinnerware that will someday grace the tables of my grandchildren.  I found myself pulling elements that came from a number of the women who set tables for holidays throughout my life.  It was intriguing that this collection of women, separated by many decades...women with widely diverse personalities...had somehow collected tabletop items that on this day blended so beautifully for our family celebration.

 We're a small group this day.  I set a table for seven in the dining room.

 I decided that our Mother's Day table called for soft spring colors...definitely feminine.

 Lots of pink and blue for my grand babies...

 ...kissed by the sun.


The Bormioli Inca Hot Pink charger is quickly becoming a workhorse for my Spring tablescapes...


It was a lovely highlight beneath the Castleton Pearl Edged dinner plate...


...which framed Grandmama Madden's Yamaka Magnolia, Occupied Japan dinner plate.  Grandmama Madden had no wedding china.  She made the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889, with Granddaddy Madden.  They originally settled in a sod hut in what eventually became Harmon County.  Years later, Aunt Ida, a major in the WAC and an intelligence officer stationed in post-war Tokyo, brought the china home as a gift for them.  I remember many holiday meals served on the quietly elegant pattern in their Hollis, Oklahoma home.


 Sweet Nana's antique lace napkin with blue embroidery and my mother-in-love's Francis I silver flatware cozied up alongside each place setting.


My mama's Mikasa Stephanie water goblet joined my Waterford Simply Blue goblet and the  pink scroll goblet that I found at Marshall's.


A picture of the tapestry that portrays the women who make up my history...a history that I am blessed to pass on to my grandchildren.

 Fresh flowers, ...

 ...pink mercury glass candle holders from Michael's...


...and the Rosenthal Sansoucci tureen provided elements for the centerpiece.

 Beatrice Emaline was seated between her mommy and daddy.  I love the notion that she has always had her own place setting when she comes to my table.  Now, I do allow that after we're seated, her mommy chooses to remove them, if necessary.  Beatrice is in the middle of launching her food to the floor when she wants to be sure that we understand that she doesn't want any more.  Her mommy and daddy are working on that, but for now....china and crystal beware.  The day will come when Beatrice and her cousins will become the stewards of these family treasures for another generation.  I love that although they will never actually meet their great-great grandmothers or their great-grandmothers, they will have a connection to these magnificent mothers through their lovely tabletop treasures.  I hope that you had a blessed Mother's Day surrounded by family and friends.

This week I'm joining:

Let's Dish with Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

The Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Catherine's Corner