Cast Iron Friends Birthday Party, February, 2018

A week or so before Guyanne's birthday party, I was blessed to host a birthday celebration for Becky, another vital link in my circle of lifetime friends. Like so many of us, Becky was the bride of a Vietnam soldier, a pilot, and she owns an amazing story from that era. Bill was stationed in Thailand during the war, and, she was allowed to travel to  live with him. But of course, there was the proverbial catch.  Shortly after they found their home and established their household, Bill received a new set of orders sending him to be stationed in Vietnam. Now they were not living on a base, at this time, so Becky found herself, at all of twenty - four years old, living on her own in a strange, to her, Asian country. She found a job teaching English to Thai employees who worked for the Air Force. Talk about the heart of an adventurer! She Rah lives.  Becky was there alone for ten months before returning to the United States. During her time there, she became quite fond of Asian art and design. As a nod to Becky's Great Adventure and very difficult year, I chose to design her birthday table with an Oriental focus.  Might you be wondering why such a luncheon would include cast iron? Well...that's another part of the party plan. The guests were told to dress comfy and casual on this cold winter day. We're dining in the breakfast room.  Come on in and join us...

My guests were greeted by the Ladies of the Court, antique figurines acquired at an estate sale.  Although there were additional plates during our meal, I can never bear to cover up...

...my Aunt Ida's antique Imari chargers.  She bought them while she was stationed as a WAC major, intelligence officer, in post-war Tokyo at the end of World War II.  They were antiques when she acquired them in 1946, and I am their shepherd for my generation.  It is always a treat to share them with friends for smaller occasions; I only have six of the plates. I continually search for more...maybe some day.

Other pieces which were pressed into service for our celebration included...

The Royal Copenhagen Gold Fan dinner plate,

and the Gorham Royal Regalia Teal salad plate, (Part of a service that a friend asked me to take. It was her daughter's wedding china, and the young lady decided that she wasn't ever going to use it.  My friend was downsizing.) ...

...were joined by the pair of Venetian Gold Flecked goblets. 

 

A quartet of plump turquoise vases held mixed bouquets...

... and joined the foursome of antique Ladies of the Court to surround a brass Oriental Incense Burner for today's centerpiece. 

Wait just a minute!  What in the world does Cast Iron have to do with this whole shindig? Well, okay...

Becky, Guyanne, and I love to lunch at a local restaurant that features an amazing individual chicken pot pie, served in a cast iron skillet. It's so good, it's necessary to call and reserve one because the pies sell out so quickly!  Guyanne and I met with the owner of the restaurant, and she kindly agreed to prepare the pot pies for our luncheon.  We also gave Becky her own set of cast iron skillets as a birthday gift!  It was all great...especially the pot pies. We're planning lunch at Becky's soon. She's preparing Chicken Pot Pies in her new mini skillets.

Pot pies, green salad, Mimosas, and birthday cake made a well-received menu.  We didn't leave the table until everyone had to get home to put dinner on their own tables.  It was a comfy and loving celebration for a precious friend.

Precious friends, shared histories and stories, a no-brainer menu, making new birthday memories as we grow older together...What are you waiting for? There are celebrations to commemorate!  Don't waste another minute.  At the end of the day, you'll be really tired and completely content!  Call your friends!  And if you're passing my way out here on the prairie, give me a call, and I'll create a table just for you. I'd love for you to be a part of my history, and I'd love to be a part of yours. We have stories to share!

This week I'm joining:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

Dishing It and Digging It with Life and Linda

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

  

Arita Imari Fan, 3.19.14

"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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I'm pretty sure that my admiration for Asian design is in my blood.  My daddy, an architect, and my Aunt Ida, who lived in Tokyo for some years after World War II, both collected some lovely Japanese things. I've continued the love affair with many things oriental...especially dishes!  Tonight, I wanted to share Arita, Imari Fan with you.

 Spring is beginning to shine, just outside the back door.

 Come on in...I've set a casual table for four today...

 No tablecloth this time...I decided that the Persian carpet provided just the right "undercloth".

 Imari Fan is quite an exuberant pattern.  I don't think that it would take much effort to go straight over the "design cliff" with it.  I chose to emphasize the green in this delightful plate.

 A simple centerpiece....I elevated the Imari Fan bowl and chop plate on one of my antique oriental stands.  I pick up assorted sizes of these stands at estate sales.

A really important element in today's design, the MacKenzie-Childs soft green enamelware charger plate was a fortunate and reasonable eBay find.  I chose it to calm down the Imari Fan.

 The Arita Imari Fan is quite the attention getter...no shrinking violet here.

 Fire King Jadeite was originally restaurant ware.  You wouldn't know that today.  It's quite pricey on eBay and other on-line sites, but I've been able to score some great deals at several estate sales.  This is called the Lotus plate...

...and this is the Lotus bowl.  I thought that they were the perfect partners for the Imari Fan.  The scalloped edges pick up the scallop motif in several of the panels on the plate.

 Lately I've been interested in introducing some orange into my tablescapes.  I've started acquiring an assortment of orange wine goblets on eBay.  They don't show up often or in quantities, so I've decided to mix and match orange goblets by assorted makers.  Most of todays group are made by AJKA.  I've paired it with the Vietri Amber goblet.  The Vietri is still in production and comes in some great colors.  Reasonably priced, you'll probably find it in a nice shop near you.

 Finishing the place setting, the "antique" hemstitch napkin is caught by the Waverly beaded napkin ring, my often used gift from Cuisine Kathleen.  The dark bamboo flatware was found at Big Lots, and the D&Co. Limoges salt cellars belonged to Nana.

 Sunshine bright...this design looks like the Spring days that all of us are eagerly awaiting...

 I think that we'll leave the patio door wide open as we dine and visit long into the afternoon.  Have a seat; I'm so happy that you're here!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper

  

Adrift On a China Sea

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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Entertaining Women's first blog post was July 7, 2010.  It's hard to conceive that I've been blogging my tablescapes for almost two years.  I never dreamed that I would be "published" in any format. It was always my Aunt Ida's dream for me, and I think that she would be happy.  I'm having even more fun with my blog today than when my daughter-in-love, Jamiann at THE BLACKBERRY VINE, graciously helped me figure out how to even start a blog.  I look forward to my third year.  I adore the many new blog buddies that I've come to care about, and I am humbled by your support and unending encouragement.  Thank you seems so inadequate.  I introduced my blogiversary give-away last week.  To read about it and learn how to be the winner, click HERE.

CUISINE KATHLEEN issued an "At the Beach Challenge" for this week's meme, "Let's Dish."  It didn't take this prairie lady long to realize that I didn't have a single shell, lighthouse, beach ball, beach towel, etc. in my stash of supplies for tablescaping.  "Adrift in a China Sea" (pun intended) is probably a stretch, but I had a good time digging through drawers to create my entry for Kathleen's blog party.

The color story would be paramount for my tablescape today.  I needed to establish a vision of water and sand...

After using one of the flip-top tabletops to extend the 48" games table to 60", I chose a light teal/aqua matelasse quilt to use as my tablecloth...the color of sea and sky...  ✓.  Tip:  If you check the dimensions of quilts, coverlets, even duvets, you can often find a king size piece that is almost a square shape.  They are generous enough to be used as a floor length cloth.  I use duvets frequently, and they are often reversible with a different pattern on the other side...double duty.  Give it a try!

I remembered that I had ordered these wonderful textural cloths, made in the Philippines, from Christine at CHRISTINE'S HOME & TRAVEL ADVENTURES.  She had used them in one of her 

tablescapes, and I was pleased to learn that she had some extras available in her shop.  When I placed them on my table, I was thinking about sand, sand dunes, and sea grasses...and strolling for miles down the beach searching for treasures tucked here and there...

...like sand dollars.  Remember that I told you that I didn't have any shells...well, I didn't.  I did, however stumble across an unopened box of soaps in one of the guest baths that looked like sand dollars.  Shells...✓. ...

...or a box of pirate's treasure!  The malachite box belonged to our precious Nana.  I looked for my roll of pearls from Michael's, but I couldn't find it, so I used my strand of pearls that once belonged to mama.  I did finally remember the Nell Hill's mother of pearl spoon with a shell handle.  Found treasures... ✓.

Now, it's important to stay hydrated when exploring the beach....right?  I've had this Japanese brass teapot for many years.  It belonged to my beloved Aunt Ida.  It normally lives in the kitchen.

The large antique bronze bowl was found at the same estate sale that produced the 12 Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" dinner plates that will go to the winner of my give-away.  The bowl is one of my new/old favorite things.  I filled it with hydrangeas from our garden for my centerpiece.

My place setting continues the color story  of the sea.  The blue and white rice bowl and under plate were estate sale finds.  

The antique Imari chargers belonged to my Aunt Ida.  She was an intelligence officer stationed in Tokyo after World War II.  She bought a number of antiques during the years that she lived there.  I am blessed to care for them.

I used the Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" because it reminded me of deep sea coral, and because I wanted to remind you to 1.  follow me, and 2. leave comments on this post as well as archived posts between now and July 7.  The more comments, the better your chance to win a set of 12 of these beautiful plates!  The antique carved ivory flatware reminded me of the orient.  The napkins were an eBay purchase, and the Waverly napkin rings were a give away prize from our "Let's Dish" hostess, Cuisine Kathleen.

I admire the simple, clean lines of the two goblets chosen for today's table.  I paired the Rosenthal "Iris" clear crystal stem with the Vietri Smoke optical goblet.  The Vietri is currently available on the market.  I've really enjoyed using them in a number of different designs.  Check them out at a store in your area.  For nice crystal, they are not too expensive at about $20.00 per stem.  I've collected them one or two at a time.

I would love to have you join me.  We can sit at my table and dream of sea, sand, and sky...far away places and found treasures. Sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer day.

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 June, I think of lazy summer days and time to share a meal with friends.  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!

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


It's always a treat to learn something new when I go exploring in blog land.  Tonight I'm excited to join Yvonne @ Stone Gable for her new meme, TUTORIALS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS.  Bring your notebook...there's so much to learn!

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!  KC has just released her 5th studio CD project, "The Tag Hollow Sessions".  The sold out CD release concert was this past weekend.  "The Tag Hollow Sessions" 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!

  

  

  

Table Jewelry

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.  As the harvest season approaches 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. 

Aunt Ida was a W.A.C. Major during and after World War II.  She was an intelligence officer stationed in post war Tokyo.  Ida adored Japan; she became fascinated with the culture and the arts of Japan.  As a little girl I remember that when she returned to the United States, she brought back many beautiful antique Japanese articles which she purchased while stationed there.  They graced her home for many years.  Today my sister and I are the blessed caretakers of her personal treasures.  One of my favorite legacies from Aunt Ida is a set of six antique chargers.  I've always thought of them as Imari, but I really don't know that for sure...I just know that to me they are as beautiful as fine jewels.  Because I have so few of them, I can only use them with small groups.  This day I felt fortunate to share them with three friends for lunch.

I decided not to use a tablecloth or placemats because I thought that the wrapped rattan base of the McGuire game table became a valuable design element when paired with the Imari Chargers.  I also liked the colors of the Persian rug underneath the table in combination with the colors of the plates.  The over-sized rattan chargers are from WalMart.  When I bought them, they were an amazing $3.86 per charger...deal of the year.  Tip:  I am an advocate for chargers/service plates for many reasons.  I have discovered that one of the benefits of using a charger is that when I use table linens, they rarely become soiled!  That extra bit of plate usually catches any drips or spills.  I can frequently return them to the linen closet to be used multiple times without needing to be laundered.  Makes me a happy camper!

When I bought my flowers at WalMart,  I chose colors from the interesting palate found in the chargers.  The old cloisonné 'peacock' bowl with carved handles was our precious Nana's.  I elevated the centerpiece on an antique oriental base.  I always keep an eye open for bases in assorted sizes when I explore estate sales and antique shops.  A good base can make even a modest container seem more important.   Tip:  When I entertain, I usually ask if any of my guests are entertaining in their own homes any time soon.  If so, I often send a guest home with the centerpiece to be used again...my kind of recycling.

The dark bamboo handle flatware was a fortunate find from Big Lots.  I paid less than $1.00 per piece for them...such a deal!  The vintage Madeira napkins were Nana's.  I chose them because of the unusual border design.  I like that the geometric pattern in the napkin is reflected in the multi-colored 'blades' on the plate.  I also thought that it echoed the rings in the flatware handles.  For me, the napkin effectively contributed cohesiveness to the design elements in my tablescape.

Nana was an accomplished hostess, and she collected an abundance of beautiful tabletop items during her life.  I've always appreciated these Art Deco Lalique tumblers with the palm fronds.  Did you notice the palm leaves on the charger?  I've never seen these glasses any place else, but I would definitely like to obtain more.  Please, let me know if you happen to run across them for sale...or if you happen to know the name of the pattern.  The crystal goblet is Rosenthal, "Iris," and is part of my wedding crystal.  I chose it for today because the petal in the goblet is replicated in the center blue 'pinwheel' on the plate.

Two of the chargers live as part of the normal vignette on the refectory table in the background.  If you look carefully, in front of the charger plate on the right is a cloissoné peacock that matches the centerpiece bowl.  It is one of a pair.  When they first came to stay with us, I didn't particularly care for them.  Over time, I've come to appreciate them, and I now enjoy using them occasionally.  They are definitely funky little fellows!

I wanted the design on the charger plate to remain visible throughout the luncheon, so I served the meal on a clear glass dinner plate.  You can pick them up for $1.50 each at WalMart.  Tip:  When I serve on clear plates, I make an effort to serve food that won't become mashed and smeared on the plate.  For example, today I served a large salad that featured shrimp, grape tomatoes, and white beans on a bed of baby leaf spinach with hot cheese bread.  The plates were pre-served and kept chilled in the refrigerator until everyone was seated.

Lunch is ready, and everyone is prepared to be seated.  I wish that you could have joined us today; I'll be happy to set an extra place just for you the next time.  I think that you would be a wonderful addition to the conversation. 

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 "Orchid."

    

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.  Click on the button below to hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.