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

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

Lunch for Four, May, 2016

 It was May, 2016, and I invited a few friends for a spur of the moment lunch...a trio of chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad...which I always have available in the refrigerator.  It was time for a 30 minute tablescape...no time for a floral centerpiece.  Short and sweet...one of those K.I.S.S. moments.  I set a table for four at the games table in living room.  Come on in...


 My inspiration was the tureen, and I chose the Williams-Sonoma blue linen hem stitched tablecloth to set it off.


The tureen is marked only with a painted B followed by a series of 4 numbers.  I bought it on eBay, and I have no idea who made it.  I don't really care.  I love it, and it works with so many different patterns.

 The L'Argent Blue Sophia flanked one of my favorite chargers, the Mottahedeh Blue Lace.


It had been a while since I had used the Mottahedeh Sacred Bird and Butterfly dinner plate, maybe my all time best "get" at a wonderful estate sale. It's subtle, but the background of the plate is actually a pale blue.

 Continuing the color story for my design, I chose the AJKA Louis XIV Cobalt goblet and the BAVARIAN Orange wine stem.  Both of these goblets have been really hard to acquire.  I have recently completed the cobalt, but I am still searching for additional orange stems.


The finishing touch for the place setting was the Williams-Sonoma flax linen hem-stitched napkin, my favorite napkin.  Sometimes, like this day, I choose to use it whether it has anything to do with my design or not, just because I like it so much.

 And that's a wrap...now all I need are my three friends seated around the table sharing food, fun, and fellowship once more.  It's my favorite way to spend a day.

 Remember to let me know if you are going to be passing my way.  I'd love to set a table just for you!

Before I go...

 Just before my lung surgery, I was surprised and thrilled to learn that I had won Marsha's, of Splendorosa, give away of this amazing purse.  After my surgery, I was limited to carrying no more than 7 pounds at any one time.  My beautiful new bag has been perfect.  I can't begin to tell you how many compliments I have received on my gorgeous prize.  Thank you so much, Marsha!

This week I'm joining:
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Easter Delight, April 16. 2017

Oh my, I've missed you all so much!  I am pleased to report that I feel better than I have felt in years. My doctors tell me that I'm recovering from my lung surgery faster than they expected.  Works for me!  I was ready to roll when the time came to design my tablescape for our family's Easter dinner.  This past year, I have been collecting small figurines from Royal Doulton's Beatrix Potter Collection.  I knew that I wanted these charming little characters to become the focus of my centerpiece for this year's Easter table.  I could hardly wait for Beatrice Emaline and Hollis Harper to see it when they came to the table for our dinner to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  I wasn't disappointed; they were fascinated by all the little characters.  I'm eager to know what you think about our table.  I've set a table for ten in the dining room.  Come on in...Fair warning, this is a photo intensive journey.


Beatrice's favorite colors are pink, purple, and blue.  I was determined to get a WOW from her...and the table did not disappoint.  The light lavender Williams-Sonoma hemstitched linen tablecloth set the mood for my design.

I allowed myself to run freely when it came to the color choices for our Easter table.
I chose this resin charger because 4 year old Beatrice gave them to me for my Christmas gift.  When I opened my gift, she said, "Mo, I chose these just for you.  I knew they would be perfect because they are unbreakable!"



The Copeland Spode Irene dinner plate pulled all the assorted colors together.  It was just what I wanted for this day.  Pay attention to the outside edge of the design.  It's actually a blue, but it plays as a blue violet against the tablecloth.  It is such a delightful pattern.  My wedding silver, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance added just a touch of elegance to the whimsical tablescape.


If you are one my faithful returning readers, you recognize the Waterford Simply Blue goblet.  Today I've paired it with a new addition, an Italian pink wine goblet by Stelle.  The Stelle was an eBay find, and it was very inexpensive.  I've seen more of this design on eBay in several different colors.  One of them might be perfect for you.  Take a look! 


I pulled the minute Schumann Empress reticulated bowl to use as a butter dish for our dinner.  It made a lovely companion for...


the antique Madeira napkin.  Once again, the embroidery is blue, but against the tablecloth, my guests all thought it was lavender.


I always enjoy incorporating the tiny blown glass salt and peppers in an assortment of designs.


My goal was a place setting perfect for kids from 2 to 92!


I was grateful that I had left the vases on the buffet empty because one of our guests appeared carrying an armful of beautiful lilies...the perfect addition!


Now that you're positioned with a guest's eye view, maybe we can take a spot of time to examine the centerpiece.


On any other day, the antique Luneville tureen would be the crown jewel of my centerpiece,...


...on this day, the tureen had to be satisfied with a cameo role, along with the Hobby Lobby egg trees and Easter Egg garlands and the Pottery Barn topiary baskets.


There can be no doubt.  The stars of this Beatrix Potter Easter Parade were the Royal Doulton figurines.  Take a scroll  stroll and see which ones are your favorites...

















Did you discover any old childhood friends?


As much as my guests enjoyed the whimsical Easter Parade set for their delight and pleasure...


It is my fervent prayer, that we will all keep the incredible gift that is Christ's resurrection in the front of our minds each and every day as we move through the coming year.  May our loving mighty God equip each of you for the journey that stretches ahead of you, and may He fill you with His peace each day.


And remember to let me know if you are passing my way.  I'd love to set a special table just for you!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch