"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.
Wow! It's been quite a while since I've posted. I've missed all of you, and I'm so glad to be back. I am touched by the many of you who have taken the time to contact and check on me. I'm humbled and I thank you. Although I've been unable to edit, post, and publish, I have been able to continue to entertain periodically through my time away. During the last half of July, we hosted a fairly spontaneous dinner party for my niece Catherine. Catherine's wedding was the first weekend of August, in Colorado Springs. A number of her family and family friends were going to be unable to make the trip, so we invited 24 to share an evening of good food and fellowship. For many of our guests, it was the first opportunity to meet Catherine's fiancee.
This evening, I utilized our dining table....
the games table in the living room...
The Waverly black and white toile tablecloths...
made it easy...
to create continuity in my design for each table.
Each place setting featured the Caspari rattan charger...
the Wedgwood Countryware dinner plate...
hot pink handled flatware and the Mikasa French Countryside goblet. We knew that only a few of our guests would drink wine or liquor, so we had wine glasses available away from the table.
The hot pink hemstitched dinner napkin, caught with the Coalport Countryware napkin ring added another shot of strong color to the design. For my centerpieces, I chose to stay smack in my comfort zone by using a tureen to anchor the centerpiece on each table...
Mottahedeh "Golden Lion" for the dining table...
Rosenthal "Sansoucci" for the games table...
and Hartley-Leeds Chestnut Bowl for the breakfast room.
Continuing to make it easy on myself, I grabbed the Hobby Lobby black tole jardinieres to host my floral pieces and filled each one with a pre-made bouquet from La Grocery Store...
Do you remember that Maximilian, Napoleon's brother, was the Emperor of Mexico? I decided that he probably served Mexican food on a table that might have looked just like this...so that's what I served, too! It works...right?
Seating was open...
...I was pretty sure that when I finally sat down to grab a bite, I'd be right here in the kitchen. And indeed I was...won't you join me, please? We have a lot of catching up to do!
This week I'll be joining:
Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Katherine's Corner
Wow everything looks wonderful! What a great idea to introduce the groom to the family especially since the wedding will be at a great distance away. I'm amazed that you have all those tablecloths for each table that match! The creamy white dishes were a perfect choice and the florals went perfectly with the napkins! Beautiful job and such a nice offering for the bride and groom!
ReplyDeleteCherry Kay, this made me sooo happy! I have missed you so much. This is perfectly beautiful and I am so impressed that you could seat 24 and make everything look so lovely and harmonious!
ReplyDeleteFrancie
So glad to see you're back! I've missed you. FB helped!! Looks wonderful to me. I love the pink, black and white theme you had going. The jardenaires are perfect on the tables. I bet you get a lot of good use out of those. I've started using tureens as centerpieces also.. Yours look fabulous. So wonderful for the bride and groom that you had this beautiful and memorable dinner party for them. And Mexican food, goes with anything! xo
ReplyDeleteDelighted to see a new table from you, my friend. Beautiful as always and what a sweet way to honor your niece and introduce her fiancee. Your color theme is lovely.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, little one! Yes, indeed, I have missed you! Summer gets us so involved in "real life" that makes it hard to sit still in front of a computer. I completely understand that! Fall is that way for me. It's "MY" time of year, and I want to be out and about as much as possible...not anchored to a desk!
ReplyDeleteImpromptu or not, this is a beautiful and well-coordinated setting in each room! I love how you created continuity by using the same table covering, dishes, and similar centerpieces. Your tureens and jardinieres are all so pretty! I wish I had space for more "stuff" in my house. I'd be ordering up a few of those jardinieres for myself! :-)
I'm with Marlis...Mexican food works in ANY setting! Mexican and Italian are the "go to" foods for all occasions!
I hope you had a wonderful end of summer, and I wish you and Hal a very happy fall!!!
So good to see you back and blogging again! We missed you.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks fabulous - as always. Love, love, love the black-and-white toile tablecloths - one of my all-time favourite patterns. And with the hot cyclamen pink, it's perfect.
I think the Mexican food idea is great. It's good to make a change now and then. Last Easter, our "traditional" Easter dinner was enchiladas! :)
Glad to see you back...I so enjoy your weekly updates...loved the pink and black. Welcome back!!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet to gather the family.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great time and of course, your table is absolutely stunning as usual with all your awesome treasures.
Happy weekend ahead.
Hugs...
I missed you Cherry Kay! I haven't been getting around to many blogs, but those on my sidebar are the ones I look for when I have a chance. The dinner you held for your niece must have been a lovely event. The tables, as always, just perfect. I just know that everyone must had the very best time!
ReplyDeleteA lovely setting and such a wonderful way to welcome him to the family. Everything looks beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing and for linking up to the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. Watch for your feature on Monday xo
ReplyDeleteoops, I neglected to say congratulations all around ♥
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the red with the neutrals...gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHellow Cherry Kay. I am so happy to have you back sweet friend. I have missed your gorgeous tables. You never fail to disappoint. You have hosted another spectacular dinner party and what a happy and wonderful occasion.
ReplyDeleteKeep in touch sweet friend.
Janet
You did such a fabulous job with matching linens even! I would probably end up in the kitchen with you! How wonderful to seat this many. It makes the event so much more special! Cherry Kay you are amazing!
ReplyDeleted, black and white always makes me happy, and I can always depend on you to give whatever is used its best look. Glad to see you here as I always look for you.
ReplyDeleteHello CK,
ReplyDeleteHot pink, black & white....how sophisticated. Yet it is toned down by the casualness of the wicker charger & the 'woven' look of the jardinieres & casual bouquets inside them. So refreshingly welcoming to your new family. Regards, Robin