Garden Friends Christmas, 2015

Thanks for bearing with me because I am determined to publish my 2015 Christmas tablescapes, so that I can get on with 2016.  I'll try to keep them short and snappy!   This week I entertained my dear Garden Friends Bible Study.  I set a table for eight in the dining room.  Come on in and find a seat!

 Black and white toile for Christmas?  Today it was the element that brought everything else together.

 New to my collections:  the Pottery Barn wrought iron hurricane lanterns.

 This is but the first of a number of times that you will see them on my Christmas tables this year.  I pretty much have a Christmas crush on them!

 Traditional Christmas colors for a traditional design:  The Waterford Simply Red and the AJKA Arabella green goblets.

 The cause for all the mix and matching...the  MacKenzie-Childs Christmas charger plate.  This belongs to my friend Barb.  She offered to bring them for our Garden Friends table, and I thoroughly enjoyed using them.  Thank you, Barb!

 Topping the charger was a white with gold rim 10" dinner plate, holding our Nana's wonderful crystal accent plate.  Entertaining Tip:  When it's important for a significant portion of a charger plate's design to be visible, choose a smaller 10" dinner plate.  It's ample for any luncheon and doesn't provide unwanted coverage of the charger design.  Tip:  You can find this dinner plate made by a variety of companies, such as Theodore Havilland, Johnson Brothers, and Hutschenreuther.  They all work perfectly well together!  You should feel comfortable mixing any and all of the makers of these plates.

 The Retroneau Holly gold tone flatware has been making its appearance on my Christmas tables.  They are always a hit with my guests!  The green luncheon napkins belonged to my mama.

 The centerpiece rests on a red plaid runner that I have also used for decades...

 The black tole jardinieres were an estate sale find years ago...$10.00 each.  Today I visited La Grocery store to find the yellow roses and red tulips.

 The greenery meandering down the length of the centerpiece is nothing more than an assortment of picks that I've bought at Hobby Lobby over the years.

 Ready to go...the first course will be an Autumn Bisque, followed by a main course of King Ranch Chicken, green salad, hot rolls, and Brandy Ice for dessert.  Hope you can stay for lunch with us!

Let the games begin!

I'm joining:

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Worthwhile Wednesdays @ Crafty Allie

Coalport Cathay, 4.7.14

"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.   ************************************************************************************************************* 

I'm excited to join Cuisine Kathleen's Spring Challenge...Birds, Nests, & Eggs.  Here we go...


I set a table for eight in the dining room.  I still can hardly bear to cover our new dining table.


If we've been hanging out together in blog world for any time at all, I'm pretty sure that the moment that you saw "Birds" as a part of Kathleen's challenge, you were at least half way expecting to see the Mottahedeh Musee Decoratif Tureen as part of my centerpiece.  This is probably my favorite tureen.


Flanking the tureen, a pair of white porcelain nests with love birds were a gift from my dear friend Marsha.  She brought them back from a trip to Nell Hill's in Kansas City...


 I filled them with faux eggs and acid green berries.  Thank you, Marsha!


A quartet of faux topiary balls were placed in white reticulated jardinieres, bought several years ago on the clearance aisle at Michael's.


The Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks complete the centerpiece.  I've had them for many years.


Centerpiece done...it only took minutes to achieve.


The Maryland China Company "Minuet" charger plate brought a touch of brightness and light to the place setting...


...and was the perfect frame for the Coalport Cathay dinner plate.  I couldn't resist the vibrant green birds.


I liked the frosted palm fronds on our Nana's antique Lalique tumbler.  It lent another gentle touch of white to the tablescape.  Today it is paired with the AJKA Arabella Green goblet.

To complete the place setting, I laid the Pottery Barn linen hemstitched napkin with the  L'Argent Sophia white flatware.  The Haviland Ranson butterpat  was a last minute addition....I just liked the look of it.


All done...


Birds ✔...Nests ✔...Eggs ✔  I'm ready for Cuisine Kathleen's Spring Challenge!

 I always sit at this end of the table.  Why don't you sit here to my right, so we can get to know each other better.  I'm so honored to have you at my table!

This week I'm joining:

Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish"
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper

Aynsley Delphine for Takeout, 4.7.13

"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've been staying fairly close to home since our Wild Game Dinner on April 27.  You all know that I love to entertain, but sometimes the larger parties require a touch of recovery time.  I was delighted when some of my good friends called to say that "Take Out" was on the way.  Time for a 20 minute table...  

...in the living room...at the games table....but you already knew that.

The silver pitcher filled with Hydrangeas and Roses was still hanging on from Chelsee's Shower, so it immediately became my centerpiece...gotta love those Hydrangeas.  The Williams-Sonoma soft green linen hemstitch tablecloth, an eBay purchase, was also a remnant of the shower.  After the shower, I dived head-first into the preparations for the game dinner, so the tablecloth was still sitting there.  Color scheme established...✔.

Anchoring the place setting, I chose the Maryland China Co., Minuet charger plate...

Lover of blue & white that I am, the Aynsley China, Delphine, was irresistible.  I flanked it with my wedding silver, Reed & Barton, Grande Renaissance.  Today the Delphine would host a lovely salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, caramelized pecans, orange slices, and red onions drizzled with a delicious Basalmic Vinagrette.

Topping the stack, the Haviland (H&Co mark), Saxon Flowers luncheon plates each have a slightly different design.  I adore the cornflower blue accent on the rim.  They will be removed for lunch and returned as an underplate for our dessert, Brandy Ice.  Tip:  I always keep several containers of my mama's brandy ice recipe in the deep freezer...so I always have a special dessert on hand for unexpected guests.  

This one makes me smile....a lot.

I found the simple white napkins at an estate sale.  They were dirt cheap because they were badly stained and discolored.  I brought them home and used my Vintage Soak; they came out of the wash in pristine condition...

I encircled them with the Coalport Countryware napkin ring and added a small white ceramic bird from Dollar Tree.  Soft touches everywhere you look...relaxing...welcoming...peaceful.

A finishing touch with a spot of shine...The Waterford Simply Blue goblet is paired with the Tiffin Elise wine goblet.  The unexpected touch of the lavender petal bowl held one of the most outstanding salts that I've ever tasted.  Tidbit: If you run across Le Saunier De Camargue, Fleur De Sel, buy some immediately.  Do not pass go.  Do not collect $200.00 dollars.  Serious!  I mean it.  I horde my little box of this jewel.  I need to get on the internet to make sure that I can find more.  A friend brought it to me as a gift when she visited from her home in France.  People, I'm serious...this stuff is a Harry met Sally moment.

Ready to relax and share a light lunch with dear friends...

If you're passing my way, get in touch.  I can have a table set for us in no time!

Wednesday is the 61st 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."   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.

May...lots of entertaining on the horizon.  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!