Fourth Quarter Dinner Party, June 1, 2018

Sweet Mister has been at it again, so the end of May turned out to be quite a busy period of time. Sweet Mister's birthday was Wednesday, May 30, and to celebrate we hosted about 100 guests in our backyard for a bluegrass concert. Thursday was a whirlwind as I cleared away things from the Wednesday party and maintained a dead run as I prepared for a Friday, June 1, dinner party for 24. Our guests were members of Sweet Mister's Fourth Quarter group. Fourth Quarter is a group of men who seek to invest their resources in significant projects to help others, as they approach the fourth quarter of their lives. I set three tables for our guests. We'll start in the breakfast room; come on in...

Antique Glass Club Spring Luncheon, Part 2, May, 2018

This week I'm continuing to share a few more of the lovely tables from the Antique Glass Club Spring Luncheon. I had to move quickly to capture as many of the tables as possible before the approximately 350 guests began to be seated. Also, I enjoyed playing with my new Sigma 35 mm Art Series lens made for Nikon. I still have a lot to learn about this lens, as some of my pics will testify. I hope that you will enjoy them, even in the hands of this amateur. Text will still be fairly minimal. Here we go...

This centerpiece was luscious. I loved the arch crafted of grapes and florals. The colored crystal posey vases were delightful.

Schuman Empress Dresden Flowers needs no introduction.


The reticulated charger and the layered napkins added texture to the design.


Tissue paper was cleverly used to craft the centerpiece for this tablescape.


I want to say this is a Herend pattern, but I shall willingly stand corrected if one of  you knows more about this dainty pattern than I.


Okay all you napkin ring collectors. This rose napkin ring was so impressive. I wish I had been able to inquire about current availability. The soft green goblet was the perfect color.


A second table laid with the Schuman Empress Dresden Flowers appeared a bit more regal because of the gold glass charger plate. Placed around the floral centerpiece...party favors became part of the design.


My picture of the floral design shows the colors more accurately here. Photography involves a steep learning curve for me.


The designer of this table mixed and matched with two classic china patterns. Another beautiful floral centerpiece graced the middle of table.  I wonder what this table would become with colored crystal goblets?




Mottahedeh Blue Canton is one of my favorite patterns. I really liked the cobalt tumblers. I wondered if the B&O Railroad mugs were party favors for the guests?


The train centerpiece might be a delightful centerpiece for a Father's Day table.


I hope that you are able to discern how beautiful this table is...


...despite my photography shortcomings. The exotic bird dinner plates were magnificent. The hostess for this table made the tablecloth and all of the placemats and napkins. They were meticulously constructed. I was agog!


This was definitely one of my favorited tables.


The Fitz and Floyd turkey tureen was the perfect centerpiece. Notice how the aqua accents in the turkey...


are perfect with the turkey plates and the handpainted cups and saucers. The terra cotta under plate was the spot on contrasting color for this table.  The wooden acorns of assorted sizes were hand made by the hostess' son. The cups had belonged to her grandmother. I'm not normally a huge fan of turkey plates, but if God looked kindly on coveting, I would be first in line. They are magnificent!

That's enough for this week. I'll share some additional tables next week.

Remember to leave a comment to be entered in my 8th Blogiversary Give Away of a set of 12 Pottery Barn Sophia dinner plates and salad plates! The winner will be announced the week of July 7!

This week I'm joining:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Dishing It and Digging It with Vanessa @ DIY Designs

Mottahedeh Duke of Gloucester, May 10, 2018

Spring was slowly beginning to rear it's gentle head, and it was a nice sunny day, still not warm enough to dine al fresco, but nice, none the less. I invited the Garden Friends Bible study to celebrate my dear friend Kathy's recent birthday. Today I prepared a table for six in the breakfast room. Come on in and join us...

I had a great time designing this tablescape. As I do so often, I found myself turning to lovely appointments that can be found in my repertoire because of our dear Nana. She was quite the entertaining woman, and I am blessed to shepherd her treasures until it's time for them to move on to the next generation.

 I was also eager to share one of the newer denizens in China Town...

...the classic Mottahedeh Duke of Gloucester. I have long admired this pattern, and the more I play with it, the more I understand that there are a myriad of ways in which it can be used. It's really an amazing design. It reminds me of that priceless little black dress in the back of all of our closets. You know, the one that can be dressed up or down, and it will always be perfect for any situation.

I kept the plates to a minimum this day, and the first layer of my design was Nana's antique lace placemat...just the right touch of texture. The flatware is my wedding silver, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance.

Duke of Gloucester offers four different center designs that share the same rim design. This pattern has quickly worked it way to one of the top spots in my favorites list.

I was in a mood to use clear crystal, and I selected what I call the "Lost and Found" crystal goblets. These are Nana's goblets which were stolen by a woman who pretended to be a friend of my sister-in-love. They were missing for years, and then one day I spotted them among the pictures marketing an up-coming estate sale for a pawn shop that was going out of business. There they sat on a shelf where they had gathered dust for years. I made sure that I was one of the first people at the sale, and I was able to get my hands on most of them, so now they are back with the family. I say a little prayer of thanks every time that I use them. 

A linen napkin caught in a gold beaded napkin ring and the whimsical individual s&p's that I use so often completed my place setting. Simple, but effective, I think.

My mind kept thinking about the gardens of early spring with buds suddenly appearing . I had a great time slipping crocus buds into the small assortment of Glastonbury Lotus gold vases. The Lenox urns were simply "snip and slip" prepared bouquets that I bought at Whole Foods.

 

Being a less than accomplished gardener, I really appreciate the bounty to be found at our local grocery stores. Currently I'm praying that my hydrangea bushes are going to make a come-back from a particularly late and hard freeze that we experienced in April. Thank heaven for good old fish emulsion. They are finally starting to fill with their lovely leaves, and I'm beginning to see the hope found in baby buds nestled in the leaves. Now if they would just hurry, hurry hurry! I have two luncheons in the next two weeks, and the second one is supposed to be served al fresco. Maybe it will, and maybe it won't.  It's yet to be seen.


The centerpiece is completed with the Royal Copenhagen Gold Fan tureen, which is elevated on the Schumann Empress Dresden Flowers reticulated compote.



Everything was ready before my precious friends arrived for our Wednesday morning Bible study.

The birthday girl had requested a light salad luncheon, so the chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, broccoli salad, and fresh berries salad were waiting for each one to fill one of the dinner plates.


Dessert was a delicious Tiramisu birthday cake. It was so incredibly light, I'm fairly certain there were few if any calories. Sure. As happens so often, I was blessed to have my friends gathered around my table long into the afternoon. I sent everyone home with flowers and left overs for their husbands, so they didn't have to worry about fixing dinner.


Remember that entries are still being taken for Entertaining Women's 8th Blogiversary Give Away! Just make a comment on today's post, and for extra entries take a stroll back into my archives and leave as many comments as you want on older posts. The drawing will be made the week of July 7, so you have plenty of time.

This week I'm joining:
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop with Suzy @ Worthing Court

Announcing a GIVE-AWAY for My 8th Blogiversary!!!

Several weeks ago I was blessed to gather a few close friends around the games table in the living room for an easy going luncheon. I call it one of my dine and dash renditions because I think we all have those times when everyone is running in a thousand different directions. Still, it's nice to stop for even a short respite to have a bite to eat and spend some time, however brief, with your favorite people. This was one of those days. Lunch consisted of chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, and broccoli salad, all served on the kitchen counter from their refrigerator storage containers. Regardless, it was a precious time filled with cherished moments, and sometimes that's the most we can ask. We're about to grab our plates and head into the kitchen.  I'll grab another place setting just for you, so please, you're invited to come on in and join us at the table. I hope you're plenty hungry!!

The centerpiece consisted of one of my favorite jardinieres and flowers left over from a luncheon earlier in the week.  Centerpiece...check. As so often happens, I was in the mood for something blue and white...

The Williams-Sonoma Sofia dinner plate perched happily on my Anna Weatherly cobalt charger.

The Williams Sonoma Sofia Boat luncheon/salad plate was made available for anyone who cared for dessert...today it was a yummy slice of coconut cake.

Many of you are no stranger to my Pier One pearlized pink goblets. Today they were the perfect choice for Nana's pink and white Madeira placemat and napkin. The L'Argent Sofia cobalt flatware (no relation to the dinnerware) completed the place setting.

And especially short and sweet for me, that's the complete setting for today.  But wait!  You didn't really think that I was going to fade away that quickly, now did you? Come on now!  So here's the deal...On July, 7, 2018, I'll celebrate my 8th Blogiversary!  It doesn't seem possible!  I published my first post on July 7, 2010. I've so enjoyed sharing my tablescapes with you, and have come to think of many of you as dear friends. You need to know that I'm serious each time I invite you to come sit at my table. Because it is my blogiversary, I want to celebrate with you by announcing an Entertaining Women give-away!! During the week of July 7, 2018, I'll announce the winner of a set of 12 Williams Sonoma Sofia dinner and luncheon/salad plates, as seen in this week's post. Everyone who leaves a comment on my posts between now and July 7, 2018, will be entered to win the set of dinnerware. If you want to earn additional opportunities to win the set of Sofia, you could also take a stroll back through my archives and leave a comment each time you visit an older post. I hope that I'll be hearing from you!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Dishing It and Digging It with Christine @ Rustic & Refined 

Memorable Father's Day

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.



Entertaining Women's first blog post was July 7, 2010.  It's hard to conceive that I've been blogging my tablescapes for almost two years.  I never dreamed that I would be "published" in any format. It was always my Aunt Ida's dream for me, and I think that she would be happy.  I'm having even more fun with my blog today than when my daughter-in-love, Jamiann at THE BLACKBERRY VINE, graciously helped me figure out how to even start a blog.  I look forward to my third year.  I adore the many new blog buddies that I've come to care about, and I am humbled by your support and unending encouragement.  Thank you seems so inadequate.  I introduced my blogiversary give-away week before last...a set of 12 Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" dinner plates.  To read about it and learn how to be the winner, click HERE.

Father's Day at our house was pretty laid back this year.  Although I had prepared to serve a Pork Tenderloin with appropriate trimmings, Sweet Mister requested that we make breakfast for lunch, and that's what we did right after we returned home from church...an old fashioned breakfast of Dirty Scrambled Eggs, Toast and English Muffins, Crisp Bacon, cold milk, and orange juice.  We were a small group of five, so I created my table for Sweet Mister at the games table in the living room.  I wanted it to be masculine and pay homage to family.

Come on in, I'll give you a tour de la table.

To keep a decidedly masculine flavor, I started with a woven tweed tablecloth that I made.  The

Williams-Sonoma "Flax" hemstitched linen napkins picked up the taupe in the cloth's color mix.  Soft colors were added by simply placing a hydrangea from our garden on each napkin...just enough without becoming too foo foo.

One of my go-to white patterns, I always enjoy using the Wedgwood "Countryware" dinner plates.  The antiqued copper service plates were a great get at an estate sale.  They've already been pressed into service a number of times.  The everyday Mikasa "French Countryside" goblet was just the right size for a big ole glass of ice cold milk.

Keeping color to a minimum, I chose the L'Argent "Sophia" flatware, bought from Tuesday Morning and Horchow.  Horchow still has this pattern listed on their website.  It is available in a number of lovely colors.

I had fun creating my centerpiece, with an emphasis on family memories.  I used baby shoes to create my mood.  These black leather high top button baby boots belonged to my mother-in-love.  She wore them in 1919.  The anchor of my design was the Wedgwood "Patrician" tureen and under plate, an eBay find.  Green garden Hydrangeas perched on a trio of Lenox creamware urns. Tip:  These urns are a good example of the importance of waiting and watching items on eBay before deciding to bid.  There is currently a pair of these listed with an auction asking price of $125.00.  I bought mine for about $25.00 each at estate sales and on  eBay. Take Your Time!

The red cowboy boots were...mine!  I wore them when I was two years old.  I made Sweet Mister a father, after all.

The white leather soft-sole high tops belonged to KC....who will have her first baby and make Sweet Mister a grandfather in September!  We're all eagerly waiting for the arrival of Beatrice Emmaline!  Little Honey B will be our third grandchild.  Our son and daughter-in-love are the parents of our two beloved grandsons, Haden and Jack.

Cards and gifts were placed on the refectory table.  I added a framed photo that we have of Sweet Mister's daddy.  His daddy was 7 years old in this photo, 1925, and he grew up in Portland, Oregon.  I never knew him.  He passed away when Sweet Mister was 13 years old.  The three silver pieces lying next to the photo belonged to Sweet Mister's father and to my daddy.  Left to right:  the sterling cigarette case and flask were carried by Hal's father during WWII.  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with Patton.  The sterling cigarette case on the right belonged to my daddy, who fought in the Battle at Salerno Beach.  He was a combat engineer.  It was given to him after WWII by my Aunt Ida.  She bought it while stationed in Tokyo, Occupied Japan, as an intelligence officer after the war.  

I adore this photograph.  Sweet Mister told me that is a salmon.  

It was a sweet memorable celebration.  We had a ball talking about all the shoes!  Do you have old baby shoes stashed away some place in your house?

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 June, I think of lazy summer days and time to share a meal with friends.  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 fifteenth 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!


It's always a treat to learn something new when I go exploring in blog land.  Tonight I'm excited to join Yvonne @ Stone Gable for her new meme, TUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS.  Bring your notebook...there's so much to learn!

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!

Adrift On a China Sea

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.



Entertaining Women's first blog post was July 7, 2010.  It's hard to conceive that I've been blogging my tablescapes for almost two years.  I never dreamed that I would be "published" in any format. It was always my Aunt Ida's dream for me, and I think that she would be happy.  I'm having even more fun with my blog today than when my daughter-in-love, Jamiann at THE BLACKBERRY VINE, graciously helped me figure out how to even start a blog.  I look forward to my third year.  I adore the many new blog buddies that I've come to care about, and I am humbled by your support and unending encouragement.  Thank you seems so inadequate.  I introduced my blogiversary give-away last week.  To read about it and learn how to be the winner, click HERE.

CUISINE KATHLEEN issued an "At the Beach Challenge" for this week's meme, "Let's Dish."  It didn't take this prairie lady long to realize that I didn't have a single shell, lighthouse, beach ball, beach towel, etc. in my stash of supplies for tablescaping.  "Adrift in a China Sea" (pun intended) is probably a stretch, but I had a good time digging through drawers to create my entry for Kathleen's blog party.

The color story would be paramount for my tablescape today.  I needed to establish a vision of water and sand...

After using one of the flip-top tabletops to extend the 48" games table to 60", I chose a light teal/aqua matelasse quilt to use as my tablecloth...the color of sea and sky...  ✓.  Tip:  If you check the dimensions of quilts, coverlets, even duvets, you can often find a king size piece that is almost a square shape.  They are generous enough to be used as a floor length cloth.  I use duvets frequently, and they are often reversible with a different pattern on the other side...double duty.  Give it a try!

I remembered that I had ordered these wonderful textural cloths, made in the Philippines, from Christine at CHRISTINE'S HOME & TRAVEL ADVENTURES.  She had used them in one of her 

tablescapes, and I was pleased to learn that she had some extras available in her shop.  When I placed them on my table, I was thinking about sand, sand dunes, and sea grasses...and strolling for miles down the beach searching for treasures tucked here and there...

...like sand dollars.  Remember that I told you that I didn't have any shells...well, I didn't.  I did, however stumble across an unopened box of soaps in one of the guest baths that looked like sand dollars.  Shells...✓. ...

...or a box of pirate's treasure!  The malachite box belonged to our precious Nana.  I looked for my roll of pearls from Michael's, but I couldn't find it, so I used my strand of pearls that once belonged to mama.  I did finally remember the Nell Hill's mother of pearl spoon with a shell handle.  Found treasures... ✓.

Now, it's important to stay hydrated when exploring the beach....right?  I've had this Japanese brass teapot for many years.  It belonged to my beloved Aunt Ida.  It normally lives in the kitchen.

The large antique bronze bowl was found at the same estate sale that produced the 12 Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" dinner plates that will go to the winner of my give-away.  The bowl is one of my new/old favorite things.  I filled it with hydrangeas from our garden for my centerpiece.

My place setting continues the color story  of the sea.  The blue and white rice bowl and under plate were estate sale finds.  

The antique Imari chargers belonged to my Aunt Ida.  She was an intelligence officer stationed in Tokyo after World War II.  She bought a number of antiques during the years that she lived there.  I am blessed to care for them.

I used the Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" because it reminded me of deep sea coral, and because I wanted to remind you to 1.  follow me, and 2. leave comments on this post as well as archived posts between now and July 7.  The more comments, the better your chance to win a set of 12 of these beautiful plates!  The antique carved ivory flatware reminded me of the orient.  The napkins were an eBay purchase, and the Waverly napkin rings were a give away prize from our "Let's Dish" hostess, Cuisine Kathleen.

I admire the simple, clean lines of the two goblets chosen for today's table.  I paired the Rosenthal "Iris" clear crystal stem with the Vietri Smoke optical goblet.  The Vietri is currently available on the market.  I've really enjoyed using them in a number of different designs.  Check them out at a store in your area.  For nice crystal, they are not too expensive at about $20.00 per stem.  I've collected them one or two at a time.

I would love to have you join me.  We can sit at my table and dream of sea, sand, and sky...far away places and found treasures. Sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer day.

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 June, I think of lazy summer days and time to share a meal with friends.  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 fourteenth 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!


It's always a treat to learn something new when I go exploring in blog land.  Tonight I'm excited to join Yvonne @ Stone Gable for her new meme, TUTORIALS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS.  Bring your notebook...there's so much to learn!

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!