Birthday Party for a Lifetime Friend, January, 2018

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft a-gley."  "To a Mouse", by Robert Burns

We are probably more familiar with "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Either way, it certainly speaks to my January and February. My early January was primarily consumed with deconstructing Christmas decorations. As soon as the task was accomplished, I was blessed to host a birthday party for my friend Becky. Following closely was my friend Guyanne's birthday luncheon at the end of January. I was on the proverbial roll. Then came February. First Sweet Mister fell prey to the flu. Threes days later, I succumbed to Flu Type A. We were both down for the count for more than two weeks. Except for a lingering cough, we both eventually came through to the other side just in time for a long planned and eagerly anticipated trip to Phoenix with dear friends. And here we are waiting for March to come in like a lion. I finally have the pics edited from Guyanne's birthday luncheon, and I'm excited to share some of them with you. Today I set a table for eight in the dining room. Come on in and join the party...

Guyanne, Becky, and I met each other in the first grade.  That's right, we we've been friends since we were six years old!  After we graduated from university, our lives all went in different directions, and we pretty much only saw each other at the high school reunions, every five to ten years.  Eventually, everyone was back on the prairie, and after our children were grown and had families of their own, we found each other once again.  Reconnecting with these lifetime friends has been one of the true joys of my life.  Along the way, we've found a number of our childhood friends, and I count each of them as one of the treasures that God has placed in my life.

I am blessed to open my doors and invite these dear friend to gather around my table.  It is a privilege to create a setting for their pleasure. The Christmas reds and greens have been carefully packed away, and I was more than ready to pull out some feminine colors.

The antique ivory runner, placemats, and napkins were a fortunate estate sale find.  They provided the perfect frame for the Mottahedeh Cornflower Blue charger plate.  It's just the right filet for...

...the Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf dinner plate.  I've only recently begun to collect this wonderful pattern, and I am completely mesmerized by the design.  This day I paired it

 with my wedding silver, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance.  Forty-nine years later, I would choose it again. Now on to a few of the details...

Waterford Simply Blue and La Stelle of Italy hot pink wine goblet...

What's not to like?!  Sheer whimsy.

Entertaining tip:  I adore the antique napkin that matches the placemat, but they are becoming fairly fragile.  I think they are no longer sturdy enough to be used, so I layered them with a stronger Madeira linen napkin for my guests.

The tiny Glass Act salt and peppers come in a number of assorted designs.  I love mixing the designs for the whimsy they provide. Go to Glassactusa.com, and you can shop to your heart's desire.

This was a sure fire way to bring color to a dreary winter day.  On to the centerpiece...


I've always been fascinated by the Herend tureens. There is a story that goes with how I acquired this one, but I'll save it for another day.


The florals, insects, and butterflies in the Herend Queen Victoria tureen work so well with the elements in the Tobacco Leaf china.






Six petite bouquets from Whole Foods were simply snipped and placed in the small urns, which at one time held Le Seda France candles.  After the luncheon, I gave the flowers to my guests to take home.

Silver birds scattered among the bouquets and the Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks completed the elements for the centerpiece. Oh, the green accents in the chandelier were left over from Christmas.  I didn't realize they were still there until I started taking pictures.  I decided to leave them in place because I didn't want to scatter green glitter all over the plates and table.  Hardly appetizing!  




A touch of spring for a winter day.


Although my tablescape designs are always a surprise for my guests, I must confess that I tend to turn, time and again, to menus that I know will be well received.  I rotate my menus according to the guest lists. One Christmas I served the same menu six times...same menu, different audience each time.  I want my offerings to be delicious for my guests and easy for me.  A simple salad, a yummy casserole, delicious hot bread, and a dessert so good it can't be refused...that's my equation for a good meal most of the time, and I'm sticking to it. Also, if my guest list exceeds 15, I normally cater the meal and hire helpers to serve and clean up.

  
Everything was spit spot, and my guests would be arriving soon for the birthday celebration.

It was a delightful way to spend an afternoon with cherished friends.  Have you invited friends over for lunch lately?  Think about it, please.  Set a pretty table, and plan a meal.  Even if you serve PBJ, tuna fish sandwiches, or take-out, put it on your pretty dishes.  Your guests will feel special, and you'll have a wonderful time, too.  Let the party begin!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Linda @ Life & Linda for Dishing It and Digging It

Kathy's Birthday, January, 2017

It seems like it's only been moments that I've been back blogging and communicating with all of you.  I think that's why it seems so unreal that I must tell you all that I find myself preparing for another surgery next week.  I have a mass in my left lung that needs to be removed.  All of the tests show that it is not cancer, but it has continued to slowly grow; and my pulmonologist says that it must come out.  Drats!  I was just getting back into the swing of things with my entertaining.  Depending on what must be done to remove the mass, I'll be in the hospital any time from 3 days to 2 weeks.  I'm praying for God's perfect will, whatever that is.  As soon as possible, I'll return to share my tablescapes with you.  I just didn't want you to think that I had dropped off the face of the Earth.  Your prayers are coveted, and I thank you in advance.  It does not go unnoticed by me that I am surrounded by some mighty prayer warriors, and I thank God for you.  In the meantime, I want to share the birthday luncheon that I hosted last week for my dear friend, Kathy.  Her favorite color combination is blue, white, and yellow....mine, too!  We're in the living room at the games table.  Come on in and join us...

I've always been fond of Jacobean floral prints.  I found this polished chintz tablecloth on eBay.  I think it was made for celebrating, don't you?!

 Mixing and matching this tablescape was so much fun.  Let's take a look at the elements...For starters, the AJKA King Louis cobalt goblet and the Tiffin Elyse wine added that extra little jewel-like sparkle to the landscape.

A feature player in so many of my productions, the Mottadeheh Blue Lace charger never fails to please.  Today it is flanked by the L'Argent Sophia Gold flatware.  I found mine at Tuesday Morning and on Horchow.  Tip:  This is a pretty inexpensive flatware, and I always wash it by hand and never allow it to soak in the dish water.  The rule of thumb is: if flatware is two piece construction, never allow it to soak because eventually the soaking will undermine the adhesive that holds your pieces together.  You'll end up with a drawer full of parts.  Now who would want that?  Not I.   

 
The leading role was carried by the Mottahedeh Blue Canton dinner plate.  This one was on my "someday" list.  I absolutely don't "need" it...I drove through Need about 175 miles ago.  This one is a definite self indulgence. Side note:  Marlis of Creative Journeys told me that there really is a Need, Texas not too very far from where she lives in Lubbock, Texas.  Who knew?!

The first course was a tomato basil soup.  I bought this unmarked bowl and under plate at an estate sale.  It had belonged to a precious couple, two of Sweet Mister's mom's closest friends.   When we were first engaged to be married, they made me feel like I belonged.  They were always so kind and loving to me.  I adore having something of theirs in my collection.  I think of them every time I use it.

So...have a seat, grab your Williams-Sonoma navy linen hem-stitched napkin, and remove the Coalport Countryware napkin ring.   

One of the reasons I like to use tureens in my centerpieces is they never break the 12-inches high rule.  I always try to make sure that my guests can see each other across the table.  After all, it's not just about the food.  Fellowship, relationship, and lots of visiting and laughter are the name of the game at my tables!

 
The quartet of petite bouquets are placed in small white footed jardinieres.  The jardinieres originally held Seda France candles.  I burn the candles as fast and as often as possible to build my collection of these wonderful little vases.

Ooooh, the curtain is about to rise.  Three acts today...the soup, followed by chicken tetrazzini, green salad, and hot garlic bread, and the final act...Italian Cream Cake.  Now you may ask, "Does she serve the same things all the time?"  Pretty much.  I just change my audience all the time, not my menu.

Well, this one may have to hold my passion for tablescaping for a while.  I'm going to miss entertaining, and I'm going to miss you all, too.  I'll be back as soon as possible. When I do return, I still hope that one of you will come my way one day and allow me to set a table just for you!  I'll invite some of my dear friends to join us.  You all are going to love each other!  In the meantime...Until we meet again...To Be Continued.

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