Positively Paisley

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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My heart has been hurting last night and again today for the many blogging friends whom I know have been impacted by the devastating onslaught known as Hurricane Sandy.  You have been in my prayers, and I shall continue to lift you up over the coming days, weeks, and even months for many of you.  Out here on the prairie, we are used to violent weather.  I can only imagine adding that extraordinary element of the ocean.  I would share with you one of my favorite teachings from a Bible study.  Sometimes God calms the hurricane, and sometimes He calms His child in the midst of the hurricane.  I pray that you will find God's peace at this time of difficulty.

Tonight, I'll keep it relatively short and sweet.  I've set the games table for yet another lunch of take out brought in by dear friends.  I am truly a blessed woman to have such precious friends.

Come on in...

...It's a good day to enjoy food, fun, & fellowship.

     The inspiration for today was the navy paisley tablecloth.  I bought it not long ago on eBay for $5.00...true story!  It caught my eye because I thought that I recognized the fabric.  Sure enough, it the same polished chintz that I used for my son's bedroom in 1985!  Always loved that fabric.  I let him take the whole kitten caboodle when he furnished his first college apartment.  I've always kind of missed it.  TIp:  Know what you like and don't worry about whether it's the current trend.  Trust your own eye, your likes, and dislikes; and you'll be content with your choice.

I'm still enjoying the faux mini pomegranates that I used last week.  Today they are the highlight of my centerpiece, an antique oak bowl that I scored at an estate sale.  With the simple addition of four "crystal" votives from Dollar Tree, the centerpiece for my small table is complete.

 Pulling from the colors in the tablecloth, I chose rich shades of red, blue, and bronze with a touch of ivory gold in the L'argent Gold Sophia flatware.  You can still find this pattern in a variety of colors through Howchow.  The Williams-Sonoma Navy Linen Hemstitch napkin is caught with the Waverly beaded tassle napkin ring...a give-away gift from our talented Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen.

The players in this small production...

 The bronze acrylic charger was $1.99 at Hobby Lobby...inexpensive, but effective.  The Royal Worcester Regency dinner plate is such a classic and always easy to integrate into a design.

I chose the Royal Worcester Regency luncheon plate to complete my stack because...well, because it was sitting there in the cabinet beside the dinner plates, and I was in a hurry.  Hey, it happens!

Completing the story line, I selected the AJKA Red Arabella wine goblet, and the Godinger Sutton Place lead crystal goblet.  I like that they beautifully reflected the glow of the candlelight.

                                                           

It's such a blessing to share a meal with precious friends seated at my table.  I'll set a place for you should you pass this way.  Just let me know.

Despite Hurricane Sandy's best efforts, tonight is the 33rd 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!  Yvonne lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Hurricane was headed inland straight for her.  Please, keep her in your prayers.
                                                                

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!  Alma also lives on the coast, and has been without poser since Sunday.  Please, lift her in your prayers.

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!   

                                                         

Winter Paisley

"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. During this beautiful season when we celebrate harvest and Thanksgiving, 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 can't believe that January is half gone.  It's been a rather lackadaisical few weeks.  Tonight I've prepared a luncheon table for eight.  I'm going to invite the Garden Friends to join me for lunch after we finish our Bible study...or we might just hit one of our favorite local restaurants. We'll see.  After all the high color of the Christmas holidays, I wanted to create a design that was soft and calming...

...and I've been eager to use the Waverly, "Paisley" tablecloth, a Tuesday Morning find, for quite a long time.  Shades of teal and aqua always rank right at the top of my list, and I adore paisley patterns.

 My centerpiece is anchored by an antique wash basin and pitcher by Kirkland & Pidduck, England.  It belonged to my beloved Aunt Ida, my mama's sister.

I used our collection of antique Barley Twist candlesticks to flank the basin and pitcher.  The dried hydrangeas are still hanging on, after I cut them from my garden this summer.

 The hammered copper chargers make yet another appearance as a base for the Royal Doulton, "The Beaufort" dinner plate.  I liked the chocolate furls featured on the plate's rim, punctuated by just a touch of blue and pink.  I collected this pattern over a stretch of time from eBay.  The soft golden ivory tones of the antique carved ivory flatware  seemed a natural choice with the cream and taupe paisleys in the tablecloth.

Each placesetting is crowned with the Wedgwood, "Majolica Grape Leaf" plate, an eBay acquisition.

You won't be surprised to find our Nana's antique linen napkins gracing the table.  The lacy edge seemed made to go with the intricate furls in the cloth.  Did you know that in the 20's, paisley was often called the  "Persian Pickle" design?  It was evidently considered quite a treasure, especially among quilters. 

I haven't used the Godinger, "Sutton Park" goblet in quite a while.  Today I've paired it with one of my favorite new tabletop items.  Throughout the Autumn, I enjoyed using the Vietri, "Amber Optic" goblets.  I liked them so much that I decided to add the "Smoke" goblet to my collection.  This is really a pretty amazing piece of stemware.  It's a lovely gray tone, but when you place it against other colors, it becomes a crystal chameleon.  Depending on your line of sight, this stem will appear to be aqua or taupe.  It makes me smile.  I can picture using this pattern in any number of designs.

I'm good to go for tomorrow's luncheon.  I captured some candlelight shots...

I am so grateful for the new camera that Sweet Mister gave me.  I've enrolled in some photography classes at our Museum of Art.  I can hardly wait!  Do you read the Pioneer Woman's blog?  She has a section devoted to photography.  Her archives go back about four years...tons to read and learn!  Give it a try; I think that you'll really like it...

The sun was dancing through the dining room windows this morning, and I couldn't resist the opportunity...

 I'm off to my Garden Friends Bible study, my favorite day of each week.  If you're passing our way, you will be more than welcome to join us as we sit and study the Word at the knee of sweet Jesus, lover of our ragged souls...and of course, I'd love to have you here to share a meal at my table. So many many blessings!

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 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

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."  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!   

Paisley, II.

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.


When my Russian Paisley Scarf arrived from the Australian eBay seller (see Paisley, I HERE), I immediately knew that I wanted the ability to create multiple tablescapes with the scarf.  Therefore, I needed more than one!  I contacted the seller in Australia, and sure enough, she had an additional scarf.  This particular day, I used both pieces on my dining table to create a casual autumn tablescape, and I invited the Garden Friends to stay after our Bible study for lunch.  

Today there were ten of us who shared lunch.  Poppy Seed Chicken, a green salad, and hot bread were easily prepared ahead of time.  I didn't want to spend time or money for floral arrangements, so for centerpieces on the table, I pulled from my pumpkin collection.  The pair of Della robbia topiaries on the buffet make an appearance every year from Fall through Christmas.  I put them in assorted containers depending on my design for the table.  Today, I chose a pair of Chinese red tole jardinieres.  

       The Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks fit right into the seasonal template with the addition of beaded candle rings in the colors of Autumn.  Trios of ceramic pumpkins were purchased years ago on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  I've used them in many locations throughout our home.  I like the curve in the paisley design against the shapes of the pumpkins.

The pumpkin tureen with the lettuce leaf underplate is an early Fitz & Floyd piece.  I am still as thrilled to use it today as when we bought it, oh so many years ago.  Every once in a while, I actually put soup in it.  The chunky green  goblets were originally purchased to use with the Spode Christmas Tree dinnerware. They were made by Viking or Colony.  I just can't remember for certain...brain freeze.

  The Bordallo Pinheiro "Cabbage Leaf" charger plates were a great get at an estate sale for $3.00 each.  I'm quite fond of the honey colored Luneville "Louis XV" faience dinner plates.  They were a bargain that I scored on eBay.  I think that the Country French napkins worked because of the touches of black and the red that tied them to the various hues and shades in the paisley scarf.  The classic shape of my everyday stainless, Wallace, "Antique Bead," again captured the curve in the paisley design.

The timer on the oven just signaled that the Poppy Seed Chicken is ready.  Grab your dinner plate; we're serving ourselves in the kitchen.  We've had a wonderful Bible study; now I'm looking forward to good food and precious fellowship.

Poppy Seed Chicken

3 Cups cooked, diced chicken               8 ounces Ritz crackers

8 ounces sour cream 2 cans -Cream of Chicken Soup

2 T., poppy seeds 1 stick melted butter

Crush crackers with melted butter and poppy seed. Cover bottom of lightly greased 3 quart casserole with crumb mixture, saving some to put on the top of the casserole.

Mix soup, chicken, sour cream and spread over the crumb mixture.  Sprinkle with the remaining mixture. Bake one hour at 350º.  Freezes well.  Serves 12.

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.