Flirting with Fall & a Giveaway, 9.14

"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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 A few of my dear friends called today, so I invited them to drop by for an easy lunch from the fridge...chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, fresh strawberries, and cookies.  Time for a 20 minute tablescape.  I know it's Fall, but I'm only ready to flirt with Fall...not embrace it.

  By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I'm generally completely over pumpkins, gourds, and all the rest, so this tablecloth seemed to meet me right where I needed to be today.  I wonder if this 90" round cloth might meet you in the right place, too?  I've been editing my linen closets, and this beautiful cloth has lingered too long without being put to work.  Therefore, I've decided that it's time for it to find a new home.  Will it be yours?  Make sure that you are a follower and leave a comment.  If you'd like to go explore my archives and leave comments from older posts, you'll increase your chances to win in a random drawing.  I'll draw the winner's name to be announced in my tablescape post next week.

 I think that this is actually a great four seasons cloth.

 Come a little closer...

 Let's examine the elements of my tablescape design...

 Once again, I've built off the gardener's philosophy....a good mix of greens will yield a pleasing gardenscape...

 ...no matchy matchy here!

 Shall we dissect the stack?

 An old standby, the Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Leaf charger plate provided my first shot of green...

 ...a nice blend of the florals in the cloth...I chose the Luneville Louis XV dinner plate to hold our lunch.  Tip:  Luneville Louis XV can usually be found for incredibly reasonable prices on eBay.  I bought mine a few at a time, and it didn't take too long to collect them.  They are regularly available.

 ...Successfully drawing the eye to the colors in the cloth, the Bordallo Pinheiro leaf salad plate was eventually used for our dessert.  The Argent Sophia gold were found through Tuesday Morning and Horchow.  Horchow still sells them online.

 Thank you Italy and France...a continental stack.

 The leaf green hemstitched napkin is caught in a ring of beaded fall leaves and berries.  It's really a candle ring, but today it has a new job description!


Stemware for today was the Vietri Optic green goblet and the Bohemian orange wine goblet.  Tip:  If you're in the market for a new crystal goblet, the Vietri is reasonably priced and probably available in a gift store near you.  It comes in a great assortment of colors.  Check it out!

 Do you think this tablecloth needs to go home with you?

 The cabbage leaf tureen is Italian, but I don't think that it's Bordallo...

 I found the pair of majolica spill vases in a local antiques shop.

 I always call this my "Marlis angle" (Marlis @ Creative Journeys).  She likes the McGuire Empire folding screen with the Fortuny inserts.

 My friends should be here any time now...

 I'm ready...

 ...I love the opportunity to "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off"...

 ...and enjoy some precious time with friends for good food and blessed fellowship.  You're welcome at my table, too!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thursday's Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Katherine's Corner

Autumn Jewels

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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Fall is definitely in the air.  The winds are picking up out here on the prairie, and at any moment you might expect one of the 'flying nannies' from Mary Poppins to sweep by the door.  We've had enough rain that we're getting at least a modicum of changing color in the leaves that float to the ground and crunch under foot. The Garden Friends Bible study was coming this morning, so last night, I prepared a large pot of my chicken noodle soup for anyone who wanted to stay for lunch.  Sweet cornbread muffins and key lime pie completed our laid back lunch.

For today's luncheon, I've set a table for 8 in the dining room. I'm finally ready to begin playing with the jewel tones that saunter comfortably hand in hand with Autumn.

  The  lime green Bormoglio charger that I bought at Gordman's played nicely with...

The antique Luneville Louis XV faience in honey...

...and the Bordallo Pinheiro majolica leaf plate.  The leaf plate was later set to the side for a large cornbread muffin.  The chicken noodle soup was served from the kitchen in Haviland soup bowls.  I forgot to snap a picture of the soup bowl.  Flatware is the L'Argent Sophia "Gold," found at Tuesday Morning and through Horchow.  Horchow's still offers it through their website.  Tip:  Watch Horchows for a bit before deciding to make  a purchase.  They have some pretty good sales periodically.  Also, if you sign up for their email list, they'll occasionally send a notification for what they call their "Click Tock" Sale...usually at least 50% off and only available through the email link. 

Everything worked well on the Williams Sonoma yellow linen tablecloth, another get from eBay.  This is a four seasons cloth, good for use throughout the year.

Continuing with the jewel tone color story, I chose the Vietri Optical in Apple Green and the Lenox Red Holiday Gem...

...along with the Pier One cotton napkin and beaded napkin ring.  I've had the napkins for a number of years, but the versatile napkin rings may still be available in the stores.

The inspiration for my table was this selection of faux elements.  The pomegranate topiary is actually permanently affixed to a small wooden urn.  I regularly pop it into another container.  You've seen me  use my green hypericum berries topiary ball, so I was thrilled to find a variation of the same for the holiday seasons.  The ocher berries and the multi-colored berries are all miniature pomegranates.  Certainly a riot of Autumn colors...I had a ball playing with them.

The parade down the center of the table was completed by the addition of two pair of my Barley Twist Candlesticks.  The quintet of red tole jardinieres were an inexpensive purchase on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby.  Tip:  My friends laughingly say that I always buy decorative items in pairs or multiples.  I agree; at any given time, I may only want one of something, but it inevitably comes in handy when I have extras on hand.  The use of repetitive elements is one of my favorite design strategies.

It's been a while, but I even caught some candlelight shots the night before my luncheon...

And I'm good to go...

 The soups hot and ready to eat...Let the food, fun, & fellowship begin!

Wednesday evening is the 32nd edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".   Excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for TUTORIAL, TIPS, & TIDBITS.  Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!
                                                                

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 October, I think about the crisp Autumn days and leaves that crunch under foot.  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!

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!  Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions""  It 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!   

   

A Woman Without Her Sisters is Like a Bird Without Wings

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.



I was once again blessed to welcome a group of 65 of my sorority sisters for an al fresco luncheon this past Friday.  They came from all over our great nation, from Mexico and from France.  Many of us hadn't seen each other for more than 45 years.  It was a special, precious time, and I am still on cloud nine.  Our luncheon started at 11:30 AM, and the last guests left between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.

Fall has finally come to our house...

Come on in...

Find your name tag...It's been a long time, and some of us might not recognize each other...

May we offer you a Mimosa?...

Everyone is bringing a salad or dessert to share.  Put your salad on the dining table.  The desserts go on the buffet.

I kept the centerpieces pretty simple....there is a boatload of great food.  Blue and white toile tablecloths set the mood for the day.  The tureen is antique Luneville, French faience.  Tip:  There are currently a couple of really good looking Luneville tureens up for auction on eBay.   Best of luck if you decide to bid!  The jardinieres are from Hobby Lobby.

Some of my sweet sisters arrived very early to help with final preparations.  Because we served al fresco, the tables were all set up the "morning of."  Come on out and join us on the back porch.

 Originally, I thought that I would use fall mums in the blue jardinieres, also from Hobby Lobby, but all the pots that I found were either too large or too small.  I ultimately settled on Kalanchoe in a variety of colors.  I was happy with my choice.

The back porch is an easy fit for four 60 inch tables.

Each placesetting featured a dark rattan charger, a blue dinner plate, a simple white cotton napkin, and party favors...a plaque and a cookie with our sorority name or letters on it.

Several tables featured Spode Warwick Vase, part of the Spode Blue Room Collection.

The party favors were a huge hit.  My co-conspirator, BJ, found these wonderful stitcheries.

I love the blue in this Castleton Blue Empire plate.

Each place setting held only a fork, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance.  The Godinger Crystal, Sutton Place Goblet was placed upside down to avoid leaves falling from the trees...it is Autumn, after all. 

The blue in the Furnivals Blue Quail was just right for the toile cloths.  The Quail is one of our everyday patterns.

My Yorkshire Terrorist, Little Charlie Dickens was doing his last minute patrol of the yard before everyone arrived.

I grabbed one last look at the tables...It's time for my sisters to be walking up to the front door.  I wanted to be on the front porch to greet each one of them with a great big hug!

Wednesday evening is the 30th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".   Excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for TUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS.  Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!
                                                                

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 October, I think about glorious days, prefect for dining al fresco.  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!

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!  Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions""  It 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!