Theta Flaming Festival, '11 - Part 3.

"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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After a trip to see the grandsons for lunch two weeks ago and a weekend at my sister and brother-in-love's home in Texas this past weekend, I am still inundated with the process of deconstructing Christmas.  Since I'm not entertaining this week, I thought that I would take the opportunity to share Part 3 of the Theta Flaming Festival with you.  Hope that you'll find some inspiration on your journey.  If you wish, you can also take another stroll through PART 1 and PART 2.

The pumpkins are covered with textured pantyhose.  Pretty cool look.

Did you notice the crowns on each plate?  The tiered stand is gorgeous.  It's also $350.00...won't be coming home with me any time soon.

Reminds me of Sorrento, Italy....sigh.

The centerpiece is an antique German punch bowl.  Did you notice the shotgun cartridges?  This one was designed for the men.

This was one of my favorite tablescapes.  The woman evidently has an amazing collection of antique fans. The Minton, "Consort" china is on my "I shall have this in my collection someday." list.

For you Kentucky Derby fans!

The governor of Oklahoma is a Theta.  This is her state china.

If you happen to be coming our way during the first week of November, I'd love for you to join us at the Kappa Alpha Theta Flaming Festival.  It's always so much fun!

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!   

Sentimental Journey

"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've had so much fun blogging with you in 2011.  You have blessed me with your encouragement and your kind comments.  There is a spot in my mind that is brainstorming...thinking that there is surely a way for many of us to make arrangements and somehow have a real-life lunch together.  Would any of you ever make a trip to the center of the nation if a good number of us could actually come together?  I'll be happy to provide the location...my back yard, which would probably make October the best bet...we have gorgeous Octobers here on the prairie.  Just a thought at the moment, but I would be willing to pursue the reality if enough of you are interested.  Let's start a conversation about it.

This week I decided to join a portion of you and present a retrospective of some of my favorite tablescapes from 2011.  If you want to look at an entire post, the title/link will be directly under each photo.  I hope that you enjoy my "Sentimental Journey." 

Amethyst & Toile

Hen Party

Blue Squared


Easter Finery


Red, White, & Blue Luncheon


A Touch of Italy


Tables for Two


A Few of My Favorite Things


Blessings New & Familiar

Whew...that was almost a day trip.  If you wish to review any of my other 2011 tablescapes, they are accessible through the archives in the right margin of my blog.  I look forward to taking a stroll through your posts this week.  Thanks for graciously indulging my passion for Entertaining Women.  I hope that I know the blessing of entertaining you one 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 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!   

Spode Christmas Tree x 2

"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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Ours turned out to be a quiet Christmas celebration.  Christmas Eve we were happy to be invited to share dinner with KC and my son-in-love at their bungalow...after attending the Christmas Eve service at their church, where they led the worship music.  It was delightful and focused us on the reason for the season.  Christmas day found us celebrating the most important birthday of the year with a late breakfast at our house, after we returned from our church service.  Sweet Mister and I were thrilled to host KC, David, and a friend of theirs.  Without consultation, KC and I both set our tables with our Spode, "Christmas Tree."  Did you know that Spode, "Christmas Tree" is the number one seller of all patterns?  I just recently learned that little tidbit.

The bungalow was all decked out for the holidays, and  KC set a lovely table for us.

Gold lacquer chargers made a good foundation for the Spode, "Christmas Tree."  The vintage silverplate flatware belonged to my maternal grandmother.  KC is such a good steward of many of her great-grandmothers' treasures.  It brought a smile to my face when she used this lovely old pattern.  I don't know the name or maker.

The bullet wines are their casual crystal from Williams-Sonoma.  The tumblers were from Dollar Tree. 

A pair of sterling candle holders flanked a simple silver mint julep filled with fresh flowers to create the centerpiece.  We had such a wonderful evening.  After dinner, more of KC and David's friends dropped by for dessert and good conversation.  

Late the next morning, KC, David, and one of their friends joined us for a hearty breakfast prepared by the master of breakfast cuisine...Sweet Mister.  The only thing that I did was push down the lever on the toaster.  It was a laid back occasion...the easiest Christmas feast that I can remember.  Keeping with the casual tone, I prepared our birthday table in the breakfast room.

  The Spode, "Christmas Tree" tureen worked well as my centerpiece.  I flanked it with two small white Poinsettias.  I simply wrapped the nursery pots in a wide red ribbon tied in a bow...easy peasy.

A pair of Spode, "Christmas Tree" hurricanes completed the centerpiece.  The coordinating place mats were a gift from a friend many years ago.

The Holly Basket Napkin Rings belonged to my mama, a gift from someone in her weekly bridge group.  I smile each year when I unwrap them.  The red napkins were an eBay purchase. eBay Tip:  These are great hemstitch napkins at an amazing price.  They come in a large variety of colors.  Check out the seller HERE.  We've been using the Retreneau, "Holly Days" gold tone flatware for more than thirty years. Juice and milk were served in the red Fenton, "Empress" goblets and the Spode, "Christmas Tree" goblets.

The Good Lord blessed us with a beautiful sunny Christmas Day to celebrate the birthday of His only begotten Son Jesus.  

I pray that you, too, had a peace-filled Christmas surrounded by family and friends...

...and as the Simpich, "Christmas Carol" dolls remind us...in the words of Tiny Tim..."God bless us everyone!"

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!