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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Table for a 91st Birthday Dinner

When my father-in-law turned 90 last September, we had a big dinner party for his friends and our family at a restaurant, but for the 91st, we had a small family party at our house. Our daughter's family drove up from Houston, so we had four generations around the table -- always a treat!

I knew I wanted to use my late mother-in-law's Wedgwood Potpourri dishes, because I love the pattern, and it always brings a sweet remembrance of her to the gathering. Her collection includes these darling demitasse cups, which were perfect for serving the first course, a tiny serving of rich brie and crab bisque.  The demitasse spoons are also from her collection, in the Gorham Chantilly pattern.  My daughter and son have the rest of her silver, but I held onto the demitasse spoons for now, figuring they don't need them yet!
Here's a "diner's view" across the table.  The blue water goblet is Villeroy & Boch's My Garden pattern.
Dark red alstroemeria work well with the Potpourri pattern, and I used a single blossom in the bud vase napkin rings my daughter gave me for Christmas one year.  I use these a lot!  They are perfect for adding a little more color to the table.
I cut the flower stems short and arranged them in two julep cups.
Here's how the placesetting looked.  I think the dark blue hemstitched linen placemats make a good backdrop for these dishes.  The silver pattern is Lunt Belvedere, chosen 41 years ago -- now vintage, I guess!
Here's a look at the table, set for seven in the dining room.  The candelabra was a surprise from my husband earlier this year, and when the candles are all lit, it really looks pretty.  Alas, this bad blogger failed to get a photo!  Besides the bisque, the menu included ham, cheese grits, green beans, yeast rolls, and the birthday boy's favorite dessert, chocolate meringue pie.
Thank you for stopping by!  I will be joining the Let's Dish party at Cuisine Kathleen, so be sure to check there for all the pretty tablescapes.

20 comments:

  1. Tricia, you are so correct, about the placemats. The china pieces look fabulous on them. What a sweet way to have your mother-in-law there in spirit - love that idea! Beautiful table!

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  2. So pretty, Tricia! And the menu sounds divine. I think it's been way too long since I had a piece of chocolate meringue pie. :)

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  3. What a lovely get together to celebrate your Mil with her beautiful things and I love your hubby's candelabra he gifted you! The food also sounds great. The blue V&B glasses are gorgeous too! My Mil would have been 92 next month.
    Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  4. Tricia, your celebration table is a beautiful tribute to your in-laws. I know your father-in-law appreciated this family gathering and certainly was touched by your selection of dinnerware. The Wedgwood pattern is lovely. The blue linens are a perfect accent with the Potpourri. How special to have this set from your MIL. I think family times around the table for a meal are some of the most memorable for me.
    Chocolate meringue pie sounds like a perfect ending to this beautiful meal. '-)

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  5. What a wonderful thing to celebrate, and I love that you included her Wedgewood to bring her to the table. I love the way it looks against that rich blue placemat. Can't believe you could find one in the perfect color like that. It's all just lovely to me.

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  6. How fortunate to have your FIL enjoying his 91st birthday with your family. The table is so lovely and your Mil's Wedgwood is a beautiful pattern of china. Those demitasse cups are so sweet and a great way to serve the bisque! My mother will be 91 on Oct. 8th and these are precious birthdays. Have a great week!

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  7. The diner's view is beautiful Tricia! I always have a pang of napkin ring envy when I see your blooming napkins :)

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  8. Beautiful table to celebrate a birthday. Using blue placemats really shows off the pretty china pattern, too. I keep looking for some of those napkin rings while out thrifting...I know they will show up sooner or later! The alstroemeria is a gorgeous shade of red.
    Have a wonderful week, Tricia...

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  9. What a beautiful table to celebrate a milestone! 91 years young! Your china is beautiful and what a way to remember a loved one......she was there with all of you! Smiling! Your flowers matched perfectly.....
    Blessings My Friend,

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  10. I love the alstroemeria in the julep cups! Happy Birthday to your Dad!
    Jenna

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  11. What a wonderful celebration. How neat to use your mother in law's china for your father in law's birthday. Love that you have demitasse cups for that set and what a great idea to use them for such a rich soup. It sounds perfectly decadent - brie and crab. How about sharing the recipe.

    - The Tablescaper

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  12. What a wonderful celebration. How neat to use your mother in law's china for your father in law's birthday. Love that you have demitasse cups for that set and what a great idea to use them for such a rich soup. It sounds perfectly decadent - brie and crab. How about sharing the recipe.

    - The Tablescaper

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  13. You honored your father-in-law in such a superb way. The table is beautiful, and I know that he loved dining with his sweet wife's Wedgwood. I have always really liked the Belvedere pattern...so refined and elegant. You made a great choice all those years ago. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  14. I'm betting your father-in-law enjoyed this smaller celebration surrounded by family more than any other he could have had, you did much to honor him which is a very special gift.

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  15. This is so beautiful! Love your color scheme...your goblets are perfect with that beautiful china.

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  16. This is beautiful! The dinnerware and the goblets go so well together and both really pretty. The food sounds delicious too. Happy birthday to your FIL! I hope he has many more healthy years ahead of him.....Christine

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  17. I'll bet the birthday boy enjoyed his special celebration. What a pretty table you set, Tricia, with lovely remembrances of your mother-in-law.

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  18. I love the dishes! They are just beautiful Tricia. This is a beautiful table with all the color and the memories. I would love it if you would share the crab bisque recipe. Dianne

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  19. Hi, Tricia,
    What a lovely table! It is so warm and welcoming. I've never seen napkins rings like that, but would love to find some. That extra pop of color next to the beautiful dishes is perfect!!! Rosie

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  20. Tricia, this is beautiful. I love the china pattern, and the fact that it was your mother-in-law's makes it even more special. That candle holder is spectacular. I love the way you can have a lot of candles, but they are up high instead of obscuring the view across the table. The flower holder napkin rings with red flowers are a great addition to all of the dark blues on the table. The menu sounds soooo good, and I just read your current post about your husband doing the cooking at your house, and it sounds like he's good at it too. Wow! What a team - you set beautiful tables for his delicious food. You can tell your friends that they wouldn't be able to set a table to do justice to his cooking. laurie

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