Exotic Birds on a Late Spring Evening, 2017

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to entertain a few dear friends for supper.  I wanted it to be really special because two of them had never sat at one of my tables.  I wanted both of them to feel like the guest of honor.  Actually that's pretty much my goal every time I set a table.  It's why I always go the "extra mile".  Tonight we are seated at the games table in the living room.  Come on in and join us...

The weather is rapidly becoming too hot to dine al fresco, none the less, I wanted my table to remind my guests of a wonderful, cool spring evening.

I made the light teal matelasse tablecloth.  It is one of my favorites when choosing linens.  The Vietri gold rimmed glass charger plate set the mood for a girly but still elegant tablescape.  This charger is still in production and probably available at one of your local shops, should you be interested.

My camera had been giving me fits for some time.  I finally figured out why so many of my shots seemed slightly out of focus.  Please, forgive me for some of the shots in this post.  I think that the problem is solved going forward.  Again, one of my favorite things...the Coalport Exotic Bird dinner plate.  I've been collecting these for about 15 years, and to date I have found 5 dinner plates on eBay.  Normally, I don't start a collection unless I know that I have the ability to complete it.  I like this design so much that I made an exception! 

I've had better fortune with the Exotic Bird luncheon plate.  

The Waterford Simply Pink and the Lost and Found crystal goblet lent plenty of sparkle and shine to our special evening.  Why Lost and Found?  Years ago, a friend  of my sister-in-love's stole half of all of the crystal that she had inherited when my mother-in-love passed away.  One day, I attended an estate sale for a pawn shop that was going out of business.  I turned the corner, and voilà, there they sat!  The friend had pawned them, probably years ago.  My sister-in-love decided that I should keep them, and she would use them whenever she wanted.  And now you have the story of the "Lost and Found Crystal".

Finishing touches were provided by the Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance sterling flatware, my whimsical tiny blown glass salt and peppers, and the linen napkin with teal trim.

  It sings of late spring to me.

When I'm designing a table for four, I often find that a full sized tureen is out of proportion with the rest of the small table.  It makes an already packed table way too crowded, so...

...I usually turn to a covered vegetable dish and elevate it on a stand.  Tonight I used the Minton Cockatrice.  It works beautifully with the Coalport plates.  The hydrangeas are from my garden, except for the blue ones which I bought at the grocery store.  I am not a talented gardener...more of a "seat of the pants" gardener.  I plant something in the ground, pray for a few years, and cheer when I happen to have any success.  I love hydrangeas, and I can't believe that they have actually survived my lack of skills.  Tonight they are placed in the small urns that used to hold Seda France candles.

Candlelight sparkles from my Dollar Tree cut glass votives.  I love Dollar Tree, don't you?

Tonight I served Chicken Tetrazzini, a simple salad, hot garlic bread, and cheese cake for dessert.

We visited long into the evening (Sweet Mister was on a fishing trip in Colorado).

If you're coming my way, I'd love to set a special table for you, too.  Just give me holler and let me know you're on the way.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday w/ Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Becky"s Birthday Party, January 2016

 In 1952, Becky, Guyanne, and I met each other when we were in the first grade.  Over the years, we married and had families, and life took us to different spots across the country and the world.  Now years later, we all find ourselves back here on the prairie.  It is precious to me that the three of us have reconnected, and we are closer than ever.  I've always believed that when God gives me a gift, I need to be a good steward of that gift, and both Guyanne and Becky are precious gifts in my life.  Today was Becky's birthday, and I was thrilled to gather the three of us, Becky's daughter, and two more of Becky's friends around my table for her birthday luncheon.  We were seated at the games table in the living room.  Come on in and join us...

 
All the Christmas is put away for another year, and I could hardly wait to pull out some of my...


Blue and white, of course!  I made the striped tablecloth.  The fabric is Sunbrella.  It works equally well indoors or out and launders beautifully.


I know that I have used the luncheon plate in the past, but the dinner plate has been hiding in China Town for some time waiting to entertain my friends.


For the opening act, I chose the Mottahedeh Blue Lace charger.


Making a premier appearance at my table, the Copeland Spode Peacock dinner plate was a hit with my friends.


Another variation of the Spode Peacock plate, the luncheon plate is a pleasing variation of the dinner plate.  Hint:  If this pattern appeals to you, be prepared to engage in a search and to spend some time.  It took me a number of years to collect the luncheon plates, and even more years to even find the dinner plates.  Also, you will find that there are many variations of the Spode peacock plates.  They are all lovely.  The blue patterned center seems to make an appearance less often than others.


The topper was a gold rimmed Tiffin bowl.  It could have been a finger bowl during the Victorian era, but today it held Tomato Basil Soup.  The flatware is my wedding silver, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance.  The cream soup spoon is from my mother-in-love's service of Reed & Barton Francis I.  I am blessed to be the caretaker of her lovely silver until it's time for the next generation to take care of it.


Keeping the color story consistent, I chose to use the AJKA Louis XIV wine and the AJKA Tommy water goblet.  I believe that AJKA originally made the Tommy goblet for St. Louis.  Hint:  Once a company discontinues a pattern, AJKA can begin to release it under their own name and for a reduced price.  Keep your eyes open!  AJKA is the premier maker of cased (colored) crystal.


This place setting made me very happy.


La stack, for all you detail lovers.


For today's centerpiece, I decided to use a strong shot of white to balance all the cobalt in my design.


The quartet of white bouquets from Whole Foods are sitting in petite jardinieres that once held some of my favorite candles, Seda France "Japanese Quince" and "French Tulip".  I've been collecting these lovely little vases for a while now, burning the candles as often as possible.  Eventually I hope to have enough to use for some of my larger parties.  I normally hold on to them for myself, but today, I knew that I wanted to share one with Becky for her birthday.  She can remember her luncheon each time she lights her candle.


The Mottahedeh "Musee Decoratif" tureen always elicits an appreciative response from my guests.

The details are amazing!


Let the festivities commence!  Today I'm serving Tomato Basil Soup, Chicken Tetrazzini, a green salad, hot bread, and Italian Cream Cake for dessert.


We visited long into the afternoon.  I can't imagine a nicer way to spend my day.  Do you have old friends that have come back into your life after years apart.  I hope that you'll invite them to your home and celebrate the bonds that can grow stronger now than when your first became friends.  It's one of the sweetest gifts in life, and I pray that you it will be your gift, too.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thanksgiving Blessings, 2016

It's Thanksgiving at our house, and there's been a lot going on for weeks...

Even Beatrice Emaline was working on her own tablescape.  She told me that she had gathered berries for her centerpiece.  I had to get busy if I was going to keep pace!  I set a table for 12 in the dining room.  This may be photo intensive, so enter at your own risk.  Come on in...

 There were a number of inspirations for this year's tablescape.

My main inspiration was Sweet Mister.  I wanted to honor him with my design as much as possible...


I give thanks to God for giving me such a strong anchor in my life with Sweet Mister, so I wanted to anchor my design with the tablecloth and napkins that my love bought for me in a beautiful linen shop in Sorrento, Italy...part of our 48 years of memories.


 Sweet Mister is an avid and accomplished bird hunter, so...

 ...in his honor, this year's Thanksgiving design featured...


...the Anton Wingen, Jr. carved stag horn handled flatware which flanked the very affordable and manly Pier I hammered copper charger.  I began collecting the flatware for him last Christmas.  A year later, the collection is almost complete.  Tip:  This delightful charger demanded a crocheted doily to act as an anchor underneath the dinner plate.  Minus the doily, the plate could be rotated on the charger much like a lazy susan....not an experience that I wanted for my guests.  This sometimes happens when we mix and match plates for our tablescapes.  When I shop an estate sale or antique shop, I always take a minute to check for the grandma's old crochet doilies in about a 9" round.  They are a great solution for this problem and frankly they are kind of fun.


I chose the masculine Spode Delamere brown and white dinner plate for him, too.  You probably already know that the Delamere is the same pattern as the Woodland Spode, minus the wild game scene in the center of the plate.  I like that the plate is more versatile without the  wildlife design.  I managed to capture the beautiful charm of the Woodland pattern with...


...the Woodland Spode accent/salad plate.  There are number of different bird designs.




  To complete the place setting, I chose the Vietri optic acid green goblet and the Tiffin Elyse wine goblet.  Did you know that the lovely old Tiffin patterns were made by the Franciscan company?  I didn't.


I hope that it's not boastful to say that when Sweet Mister took his place at the head of the table, he had a great big smile on his face!


I have to admit that I'm a major fan of a full table...you know, "more is more".  I find that I really like a bountiful look for my centerpiece, and what better moment for a bountiful centerpiece than the Thanksgiving table?


There's nothing prissy and feminine about the Copeland Spode Gadroon white tureen, plus I really like it.  It was the perfect selection for today's design.


The copper mercury glass trees will make at least one more appearance when I decorate my tables for holiday entertaining.  I found them just last week at one my favorite local florist shops.  I've had the quartet of red mercury glass hurricanes for almost two years, but this is the first time I've used them.  I found them in a small florist shop that was next door to the physical therapy clinic where I spent many months rehabilitating after my two knee replacement surgeries.  As I remember, it had been a particularly rough day of rehab, and I decided that I deserved a treat as I was slowly making my way to my car and saw one of the hurricanes in the shop window.  I knew immediately that if the florist had enough, they were coming home with me.  She actually had to dismantle the finished piece in the window to complete the sale.  She was happy to do it.  The lovely fall leaves are Hobby Lobby garlands...but you already knew that!


The pumpkins are left over party favors from one of my earlier Chi Omega reunion luncheons.


Ready to party.  We served our Thanksgiving feast about 2:00, which allowed KC and David to sit and enjoy their meal while Hollis Harper took his nap in the nursery.


Our Thanksgiving menu featured traditional selections...well, traditional for us.  Isn't it interesting how many different Thanksgiving menus are thought of as traditions?!


We served the expected turkey and dressing, whipped potatoes and gravy, creamed peas, green beans...


sweet potato casserole, Cranapple Crunch, Christmas Pretzel Salad, lots of hot bread,...

...and pecan pie, apple pie, and vanilla bean ice cream for a dessert.

Yesterday, the little white owl was delivered to my door, a gift from a dear friend.  I thought that Beatrice Emaline and Hollis Harper would enjoy him, so I set him on top of the tureen.  He ended up spending most of the dinner perched by the edge of Beatrice's plate.  He was a last minute hit.  

We lingered long at the table after the meal was complete sharing memories and personal observances of reasons to give thanks.

From our house to yours,  I pray that your own Thanksgiving Day was filled with loving family and friends.  We have been blessed to live in an amazing country, and I know that we have more in common than we have differences.  I pray that we will remember that we serve a higher purpose because:

Psalm 33:12-22

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. 

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch