Soft Summer Blues, 6.26.14

"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.



Several weeks ago, some friends called to say that they were on the way with....you've got it...takeout!  Time for a twenty minute table...

 Here we are...back in the living room at the games table.


A long time blue and white girl...


...today I was in a mood for soft shades of blue.


A quick trip to the china room yielded just what I needed for my tablescape...


...plus a short stop in one of the kitchen cabinets for the Furnival's Blue Quail cream soup...

Going in a rather traditional direction, at least for me, I pulled the Wedgwood Albion dinner plate and salad...minimal mixing and matching today.

 I don't fixate on matching my blues.  Somehow they just always seem to play well with each other when all is said and done.

 Yep.

Some of my favorites from the crystal cabinets...Waterford Simply Blue paired with the Tiffin Elyse goblet.

To prevent the creamy edge of the Albion from disappearing against the cream color of the matelasse tablecloth...

 ...I added the light blue placemat and napkin with the heavy passementerie.  If I had a light blue charger, I probably would have used it, but I think that the placemat did the job.  Of course, I'm now on the lookout for the chargers!

 No time for flowers...my centerpiece was a blue stretch glass presentation bowl.

 Finishing touches...my mother-in-love's Reed & Barton Francis First and the crystal salt cellars, a gift from my friend Debbi.

 A peaceful tone...perfect for a time to "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off."

 A successful equation for good friends, good food, and good fellowship....you're welcome to join us!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Blue, Come Back, Blue!

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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"I got a dog, and his name is "Blue".  Betcha five dollars he's a good dog, too."
--as sung  by Peter Paul & Mary

When Sweet Mister and I were first married, I gave him a German Short Hair hunting dog for Christmas.  Sweet Mister named him "Blue".  Now Sweet Mister has 'working dogs' for hunting, so it became an issue when we realized that this marvelous dog that I had given him was gun shy.  Sweet Mister would fire his shot gun, Blue would take off at a dead run, and Sweet Mister would yell, "Blue, come back, Blue...you *&#@**%&!!!"  Blue ended up living out the rest of his very passive life with my dear Aunt Ida.  Sweet Mister and Blue were both much happier with this solution, and Aunt Ida enjoyed Blue's company.  So....that experience with Blue didn't work out so well...But when it comes to the color blue, Sweet Mister and I have always agreed that blue is a color with which we both live well.  Now you know the source of my love affair with blue dishes...outdone only by my 44 year love affair with Sweet Mister.  With the holidays all the way up through Valentine's Day, I've created an abundance of tablescapes in reds, pinks, and greens.  Marlis @ CREATIVE JOURNEYS did a neat post on blue and white today.  She started my wheels turning. I've been yearning to play with some of my blue dishes, and this turned out to be the perfect day.  I set a table for four today, and my friend Kathy brought...my favorite...take-out for lunch.

 We're in the living room at the games table.  The crystal decanters are catching the bright sun on this winter day.  The decanters were gifts many years ago.  In addition to Nana's tall antique decanter, one of them is St. Louis, one is Waterford, and two are Baccarat.  I can't remember which is which.  I've never had liquor in them, but I have always loved the look of them...regal sun catchers.

This was one of my 30 minute tables.  We're pretty spontaneous around here...First I grabbed the Williams-Sonoma white linen hemstitched tablecloth.

 I selected the restaurant grade Steelite by Royal Doulton cobalt charger plate to anchor the stack...

...and topped it with the Spode Warwick Vase. Both plates were eBay finds.  The Warwick Vase is part of the Spode Blue Room Collection, but I decided just to collect this one pattern from the group.  Tip:  That's one of the neat aspects of eBay.  It's possible to acquire only what you want out of a collection because sellers often auction them one at a time.  The flatware is L'Argent Sophia, found through Tuesday Morning and Horchow.  Horchow still has it on their website.

  I thought that my design was complete, but Kathy came through the door with a beautiful potato soup to go with our salads.  I hot footed it to the kitchen cabinet and pulled the Furnivals Blue Quail Cream Soup and Underplate.  The Blue Quail has been one of our everyday patterns for many years.  Tip:  The Quail comes in the blue and in a brown.  The Furnivals can be a bit tricky to locate, but when the Furnival Factory closed its doors, Mason's bought the molds and continued to make this dear transferware pattern. They are exactly the same, so if you have an interest or need to replace some pieces of your own collection, be sure to check out the Mason's Quail. They are usually available and less expensive than the Furnivals.

  Continuing with the blue and white commentary, I selected the AJKA Arabella wine with the Dollar Tree Cobalt goblet.  The blue and white checked napkins are used nearly every day.  We've  had them for many years.                                                                

   No time for fresh flowers today, but I had previously picked up a pair of the Blue and White Lidded Jardinieres at one of the regular half price sales at Hobby Lobby.  Today one of them was perfect for our needs.  The small blue and white votive holders continue the theme.

                                                             

   Table's set...pictures are taken...Done!  Time was now at hand to stop, take a deep breath, give praise to the Lord, and enjoy a delicious meal and time for dear friends.  Let me know if you're passing my way, and I'll set a place for you, too!

                                                                  

Wednesday is the 49th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".  I'm 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!

I'm joining The Style Sisters for CENTERPIECE WEDNESDAYS.  Don't miss it!  

                                                                

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 THURSDAYS."   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.

I always enjoy February as we begin to pass from winter and anticipate Spring.  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!             

                                                                   

                                                                 

                                                              

Quail Christmas, 2012

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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It's the day after Christmas, and I'm happy and worn slick.  Christmas Eve morning, we drove 3 1/2 hours to spend Christmas Eve ( dinner and church service) and early Christmas morning with our son, daughter-in-love, and two precious grandsons.

  Six a.m. found us opening presents with the boys and enjoying a delicious Christmas breakfast prepared by Jami.  Ten a.m. and an approaching snow and ice storm placed us back in the car for a now 4 1/2 hour drive home to share a Christmas evening tree and dinner with our daughter, son-in-love, and the newest blessing in our family, Beatrice Emaline, 3 months old...plus four friends who were without family for this Christmas.

Part of Sweet Mister's Christmas tradition always included a Quail Breakfast.  This year, he requested that we prepare Quail Breakfast for our Christmas dinner.  I designed my Christmas table with this in mind...

Come on in...You'll notice some familiar elements from the last few weeks...with a tweak here and there.

Red, white, and blue for Christmas?  Why not?  I decided to go for it.  

I've had the Haviland "Twelve Days of Christmas" collection of plates waiting in the wings for some time.  I was excited to have an opportunity to feature them in one of my tabletop productions.  They were the crowning touch for my design.  They were removed for our dinner/breakfast and returned for an encore as our dessert plates.

The red glass charger plate turned out to be an important design element.  I wanted to keep the shimmering green accents, and I wanted to add blue.  Increasing the touches of red allowed the design to achieve an effective balance of color and still remain Christmasy...is that a real word?  Once again, I've used the Reed & Barton Francis I silver flatware.

   

For our Quail Breakfast, I knew that I wanted to use the Furnivals Blue Quail dinner plates.  We've had a large service of this pattern for more than twenty-seven years.  They were originally our dinnerware at our lake house...the house was sold many years ago, but I couldn't part with the dishes.  The rim of this plate was the perfect amendment for the Haviland plates.

Continuing the red, white, and blue theme, I chose the red Fenton Empress goblet and the French Blue Whitehall Quilted Footed Tumbler.  The light blue damask napkins belonged to our dear Nana.  This evening I caught them in the red and green beaded candle ring that I chose to employ as a napkin ring.  Are you beginning to see how my mind is working here?

For the centerpiece, I replaced the green shimmering ribbon, that you've seen the past few weeks, with a wired red and white checked burlap ribbon.  I recreated the same looping design that I used with the other ribbon.  Gone are the red quilted cachepots.  Now the white poinsettias are ensconced in a pair of light blue stoneware jardinieres from Hobby Lobby.  The hurricanes remain the same, minus the candy striped ribbon surrounding each pillar candle.  

The buffet has also received minor adjustments.  A touch of the red checked ribbon and the addition of another pair of the blue jardinieres completed my design.

 Because the menu features a number of items that must be prepared last minute, our guests will take their plates and fill them in the kitchen...very laid back and relaxed from start to finish.  Dinner will feature Fried Quail on toast with Cream Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Crisp Bacon, Sour Cream Waffles with a choice of Warmed Syrup and Melted Butter or Fresh Peaches topped with Whipping Cream.  Dessert offerings will be Homemade Cheese Cake and/or Mama's Brandy Ice.  I had both...Diet to begin on the 26th.

 This has been a fun, change of pace tablescape design for me.  As exhausting as the Christmas holiday always seems to be, I am eagerly anticipating another round of Christmas designs for next year.  After all, it's always special to be able to celebrate the most important birthday of each and every year.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Jesus!

Wednesday is the 41st edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".  I'm 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 "BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH."   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 December, I think about precious family traditions built through many years...this week, we relished celebrating Christmas with our family.  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!