A Garden Friends Fix, July, 2018

Things have been hopping in the month of July.  Dinner with friends over the 4th, meant no tablescape at our house. With the exception of a few weekend trips, we've held pretty close to home. I've been blessed to welcome guests to gather around our table on several occasions. Today I'm eager to share a luncheon that I hosted for my Garden Friends Bible study group. 

 

With some of us away for a fair chunk of the summer, I set a table for seven. After I finished taking my pictures, we had a late addition, so the luncheon was actually for eight. Ahhh, about the pictures. I've been doggedly trying to wrap my head around shooting in manual with my trusty Nikon. I fear that the quality of the photos to follow will reveal that for me, it's going to be a very steep learning curve. I hope that you will bear with me. Right now my results seem to yield aces and spaces. Okay, that's my disclaimer, now on to the luncheon.  I find that since we redecorated the kitchen, I enjoy entertaining in the space more and more. Today we gathered for lunch in the breakfast room. Come on in and join us... 

For my dear Garden Friends, I wanted to sculpt a softly feminine, creatively colorful tablescape. 

It's hard to go wrong when your art work is framed by the Mottahedeh Cornflower Blue Lace charger. 

The Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf is easily one of my favorite patterns in China Town. The colors are truly magnificent. 

The Williams Sonoma banded linen napkin was the perfect amendment with its aqua accent border. 

Making an appearance after the luncheon began, the Tiffin Minton luncheon plate was used for dessert. The coupe soup and underplate held an avocado cucumber soup as a first course.

The taller Pier One wine was purchased many years ago, and I've used it often over the years. The larger goblet was a recent purchase at Hobby Lobby on the clearance aisle. I found a full dozen, and they are a perfect color match. I think I will now use them even more.

This canvas was complete, and my guests loved the place setting. 

Two different pair of petite bouquets from Whole Foods Market were snipped and placed...

...in a quartet of green vases found at a local florist some years ago.

The vases surrounded a Mottahedeh tureen. The celadon background and the pink trim worked well with the colors in the Tobacco Leaf plates.

It was a blazing hot summer day out here on the plains. It was one of those days when no one wanted to eat anything heavy or hot. Following the chilled avocado cucumber soup, we dined on chicken salad, egg salad, and a fruit salad featuring a variety of summer berries and fresh peaches.

Dessert consisted of birthday cake and brandy ice.

When we finally stood to leave the table, everyone realized that they would need to rush right home. It was almost time for them to have supper on the table. 

Sweet Mister called with plans to take me out for supper, a wonderful ending to a fabulous day. Remember, if you're coming my way, give me a call, and I'd love to set a table for you.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

The Scoop with Anita @ Cedar Hill FarmHouse

Adding the Kids' Table, Thanksgiving, 2017

 Although I know that a bevy of 'on the ball' bloggers are already publishing Christmas tablescapes, my tables are always set for actual guests at real time meals.  As a result, I hope that you will grant me a measure of grace and  are still content to stroll through one more Thanksgiving post.  By the time our holiday house guests left for home last Friday afternoon, I was ready for a long nap. I'm now rested, the house is fully dressed in its Christmas finery, and I have a spot of time to compile my Thanksgiving post.  

The grandchildren are growing so fast, and for the first time, we set two tables...one for the old fogies and one for the children.  I had a ball setting the kids' table, and as always I thoroughly enjoyed creating the design for the dining table.  This will be a photo intense post, so I'll try to minimize the text.  I set a table for four for the grandkids.  We're in the breakfast room; come on in and join us...


Although the tables each had their own unique look, I utilized the same china and chargers on both tables.


A Pier One copper charger was coupled with...


...a creamy acrylic charger from Kirkland's.  I like the effect of just the edge of the copper plate showing beneath the cream plate.


I was so excited to use the Hartley Green Leeds Pottery reticulated creamware dinner plate.  Pictures just don't do it justice.  I adore this pattern.


Fenton Empress Goblets...chunky enough for little hands...lent a Colonial feel that worked well with...


...the linen flax tablecloth, an estate sale find, and our Anna Lee Pilgrims, which have been a part of our family celebrations for decades, since my own son and daughter were the age of our grandchildren.


I was even able to integrate another piece of the Hartley Green Leeds for the centerpiece.


The kids loved them, and they made me giggle and smile.


A day for prayer...


..and praise.


The Furnival Blue Quail...






...and a selection of some of my tureen collection seemed pleased to have been invited to the festivities.


The kids' table met with good reviews.  Now let's head into the dining room.


Everything is ready and waiting for family and friends.  This day I set a table for twelve.


I always love an opportunity to use the linen tablecloth and napkins that Sweet Mister bought for me while we were vacationing in Sorrento Italy.


Again...the table is set with an assortment of the Hartley Greens Leeds Pottery reticulated creamware.


Waterford Simply Lilac paired with our Nana's antique French crystal goblet.  



Each piercing in the Hartley Greens Leeds Pottery "Chestnut Bowl" is created individually by hand with antique cutting tools.  Just amazing.

 
I love the way that the carved wood finials work with the reticulated china pieces.  The fall leaves are garlands from Hobby Lobby.


Gold flatware was an estate sale find some years ago.


Everything is spit spot shiny and ready to go.


It was such a blessing to have both of my children and their families gathered around my tables this Thanksgiving.


Certainly a perfect time to offer prayer and praise to our loving God.


I humbly thank you for stopping by for a visit, and I pray that I'll see you often here at Entertaining Women.


Until we meet again, may your tables always be set with an abundance of love and joy.  And remember, if you happen to pass my way out here on the prairie, I would love to set a table just for you. 

This week I'm joining:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

   hat

Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2016, made me very happy.  I had been unable to sustain enough energy to entertain larger groups for what seemed like way too long.  This day I felt like my life might be returning to something that looked like normal.  I was so excited to gather our family around our table to celebrate such a sweet holiday...Mother's Day.  I set a table for ten in the dining room.  Come on in...

 Mother's Day...an opportunity to invite the men in the family to sit down at a completely feminine table.


I knew that I wanted to use the Williams-Sonoma matelasse tablecloth.  I like the texture, and it doesn't hurt that I rarely need to iron it!  I found it on eBay, and I use it often.  It's really not long enough for my new dining table, and I don't care!  That's how much I love it.  Some day I'll find one that's the 144" the table needs.


Mother's Day and Spring...a perfect match...new life and new beginnings...delicate blooms...pinks and greens...oh the possibilities!


Come a little closer and have a better look...


Always a regal base for any place setting...the Mottahedeh Blue Lace charger plate is flanked by Horchow's hot pink flatware.  Howchow called this a red.  I disagreed but kept it anyway.  I use it fairly often, and I'm still looking for a red flatware pattern.


I adore the Royal Doulton Lowestoft Bouquet dinner plate.  Did you happen to notice the wavy scalloped pink line just at the top edge of the verge?  That simple little detail adds so much interest to this very English design.  The whole design just makes me smile...so old fashioned, yet timeless.


  I alternated the Waterford Simply Lime and Pink goblets along side our Nana's antique French crystal goblets.  I wish that I knew more about her crystal.  It's so special.  Nana also provided the Limoges open salts.  It's always a treat to use her lovely things.  Seemed appropriate for her to be represented at our Mother's Day table.

                         
I probably was slightly carried away with the candlelight for our luncheon.  I just loved the way it made the crystal dance.  I've had the Val St. Lambert candlesticks for decades, and they remain one of my favorite decorative elements when creating a centerpiece...minimum effort for maximum effect.


As happens frequently, my centerpiece is really a no brainer...the crystal candlesticks...votives from Dollar Tree...


...Lenox china urns... and Hydrangeas from my garden...let me say that again...Hydrangeas from my garden.  I am not a talented gardener, and I have fought for years to finally have a number of precious Hydrangea plants that are actually flourishing  in our yucky red clay earth.  You would have thought that I had won the Westminster Flower Show.


Oh...and the Herend Rothschild Bird tureen, found during a great sale at a local jewelry/gift store.


A combination of pieces lovingly collected over time often make the best centerpieces, and we only have to shop our closets.

Delicate lady-like touches...


...to celebrate the important women in my life...the moms in our family.

I pray that each and every mother knows that she is truly appreciated and loved as we celebrate this year's Mother's Day.  I miss my mama every day, and I can't even measure what I would give to be able to share this day with her and honor her one more time.  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop #274 with Stone Gable

Centerpiece Wednesday with The Style Sisters