The Dull and the Dutiful

The Tablescape Fairy Comes Through!

2012-02-07T18:18:00.000-06:00

We had a busy weekend, so I hadn't found time to plan a table for this week's Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. I had decided I'd just have to skip playing this week. BUT! Monday afternoon when I got in from work, I found a package on the front porch! The Tablescape Fairy -- AKA my sweet baby sister in Nashville -- had sent me some inspiration! She included four brown woven raffia placemats and four red napkins, as well as four darling felt bird napkin rings -- all from a wonderful store in Nashville called Color. If you're ever in Nashville, you must visit -- they serve mimosas and hot tea to shoppers -- and the merchandise is glorious. You can also get on their email list! (Edited to say my sister wrote to say the birds are from World Market!)

Here's a closeup of one of the sweet little birds. He'll be perfect for Christmas, too!

Here's a bird's eye view (pun intended) of the placesetting. Aren't these interesting placemats? I thought they might not show up on the dark wood of the table, but I think they hold their own.

Along with plain white plates and my sterling flatware, I used my red goblets. In the background you can see that I'm "recycling" the coffee-beans-and-candle-in-a-hurricane I used in my table two weeks ago. The brown from the coffee beans added more brown and more texture to the table, and they still smell wonderful!

Here's a diner's view across the table.

Here's another view. I like the simple but unusual -- at least for me -- color scheme of red and brown. I think it works for a modern take on a Valentine's Day table.

Just love these little birds!

Sisters are the best! I hope YOUR tablescape fairy will surprise YOU very soon! Thanks for visiting!

Valentine Tea Party

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

This week's table features my original everyday dishes, Royal Doulton's Fireglow. I fell in love with the shape of the teacup almost 40 years ago, and I still love it.

To carry out the valentine theme, I'm using a red and white tablecloth topped with a drawn-thread bridge cloth made by my grandmother. She also tatted the lace edging. I like this closeup, because you can see the tiny stitches linking the tatting to the hemstitched edge. Grandma Rachel loved all kinds of needlework -- sewing, embroidery, quilting, and knitting. She taught me to knit, and she sewed my wedding gown.

There are luncheon-sized napkins to match the tablecloth. That represents a LOT of tatting! The photo below also shows the red cake stand from Pier 1 that is actually Christmas-themed , but with a lacy paper doily covering the design, it works perfectly for Valentine's Day, too!

Here's a closeup of the pattern on the plate and some of the drawn-thread work. That napkin doesn't look very well ironed, but I really did try!

Like the dishes, this silverplate footed candy dish was a wedding gift. I really like its lacy pattern and have enjoyed using it all these years.

Here's a view of the table. You can see the silver coffeepot from my in-laws' silver service behind the cake plate. This shot also includes the Fireglow sugar bowl and creamer. Aren't you impressed that they are still intact after almost 40 years? My children knew Mama would be VERY unhappy if they broke the sugar bowl lid! This view really shows off the pretty bridge cloth.

Here's the hostess' view:

Family treasures, beloved dishes, and touches of silver -- what could be better for a valentine tea? How about a chocolate cake?

And a piece or two of candy? I'll just make the tea, and we can all sit down.

Thank you for visiting my table today! I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch this week. Be sure to check out all the great tablescapes!

Something Copied, Something Blue

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

This week's tablescape was inspired by Babs at Upstairs Downstairs, who posted last week about using coffee beans in candleholders. I immediately thought of two hurricane-style candleholders that would be perfect. I added coffee beans to the grocery list, then managed to find a bag for $3.99 at HEB. I settled some short cream pillar candles into the holders, then poured the beans around them.

The dark brown of the coffee beans reminded me of some chocolate brown napkins I'd bought while visiting my sister in Nashville, at a wonderful shop called Color. I'd bought them to go with some pale blue dishes -- Sophie Conran for Portmeirion in forget-me-not blue. But I needed placemats! At Dillards, I found some white mats trimmed in dark brown at 50% off, so they came home with me. Here's the placesetting.

I remembered I had some small glass votive holders that I could also fill with coffee beans. I've used them before filled with colored sugar or sprinkles, but coffee beans worked, too!

Here's what the plates look like by themselves. I like the handmade look.

I added some creamy white alstroemeria, also from the grocery store, with stems cut to fit into a silverplate julep cup.

I was pleased with the simple and clean look of the table.

Another view. . .

One more. . .

Thanks again to Babs for the inspirational idea, and thank you for visiting this week. I appreciate my faithful followers! I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch this week, so be sure to check out all the other tablescapes posted there.

Pink Tulips

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

My inspiration for this table was a bouquet of pink tulips my husband brought home from HEB this week. As I began to think about how I might set a table featuring the tulips, I realized that I don't have any dishes that include pink, nor do I have any pink table linens or much of anything ELSE pink. So, I decided to let the tulips be the only color on the table, keeping the rest of the elements very neutral.

I wanted a modern feel, so I used a gray herringbone runner and gray napkins, plain white plates, clear ribbed glassware, and my silver flatware.

Here's a closeup of my silver. I think I managed to capture a blurry image of myself, taking the photo!

At first, I'd planned to arrange the tulips in a pretty crystal vase, but then I had an (all-too-rare!) brainstorm. I remembered the plain cylindrical bud vases we'd used on tables for my son's rehearsal dinner and wondered if they'd work with the same black iron candleholder I used with lemons for last week's table. They fit perfectly!

Each bud vase held two long-stemmed tulips, and I really like the look. Here's a look at the table, set for four. With the tall flowers, votive candles seemed to be the way to go.

Here's a shot of the flowers in the late afternoon light.

I couldn't resist this closeup!

Here are the details:
Table runner - last year from The Great Indoors in Colorado (on clearance for under $5)
Napkins - Crate and Barrel
Plates - Pier 1
Glasses - Bloomingdale's (on clearance for $1.99 each!)
Silver - wedding gifts in 1972
Candleholder - Christmas gift from my mother a few years ago -- love it!

Thanks for visiting my table this week -- and thanks to those of you who choose to leave comments. They are greatly appreciated! I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Don't miss all the pretty tables you'll see there!

Fresh Citrus

2012-01-10T20:00:00.000-06:00

January brings the desire for a fresh, clean look after all the sparkle and color of the holidays, and I've enjoyed seeing other bloggers' tables reflecting this approach. The inspiration for this table was a set of salad plates I found on clearance at Williams-Sonoma. Those of you who visit Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life saw these plates featured on my baker's rack this week. Here is one, set atop a gold dinner plate from Pier 1. The design is hand-painted, and each one is a bit different.

For the placesetting I chose green placemats and napkins, and our everyday stainless flatware and glasses.

Here's a closer look at one of the napkin rings I often use, as I just love them -- a gift from my daughter. There is a small slot to hold fresh flowers -- yellow daisy mums today.

For a centerpiece, I first thought of a bowl of lemons, but then remembered another idea I'd had for using lemons. My son gave me this device -- a candle carver, according to the package -- a couple of years ago. I decided to try it on some lemons.

Once I'd carved out space for a tealight for each lemon, I set them on this black iron holder my mother gave me one year for Christmas. I've really enjoyed using it to hold candles, fruit, and flowers in the past!

Here's a closeup of some of the lemons. I removed the metal cups of the tealights -- a few minutes in the freezer make it easy to pop the candles out.

Here's a look at the table, set for four. Sorry about that glare on the left!

Here's another angle:

And here's the spot I've saved for you!

Thank you for your visit! I will be linking to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch this week. You won't want to miss all the fabulous tables posted there each Thursday!

Baker's Rack for January

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

After putting away all the Christmas decor, it was time for a new look for the baker's rack in our breakfast area. The inspiration for January was a set of salad plates I found on clearance at Williams-Sonoma in San Antonio, when we were in town for the Alamo Bowl. I had admired these plates when they first appeared in the stores, but I resisted paying full price. They are hand-painted, so each design is a bit different.

After shopping the house, I found a few other green and gold items to coordinate with the plates. On the shelf with the plates, I added a gold bottle and a leaf-shaped bowl (that still holds Christmas candy!) On the bottom shelf, I arranged an old urn holding a small pot of ivy, a green pitcher, and a vintage covered casserole dish that was my in-laws' on a galvanized tray. The tray was found on the San Antonio trip at the Williams-Sonoma/Pottery Barn outlet in San Marcos.

On the top shelf, I placed my favorite preserved boxwood topiaries and a gold planter.

Here's the new look for the baker's rack for January.

Thanks for visiting! I'll be linking up to Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life this week, so be sure to check out all the great posts featured there.

Found While Cleaning

2012-01-07T14:15:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year many of us seem to get the urge to purge -- belongings, that is! This morning I went through drawers and found things to donate to Goodwill, as well as a few oddities and memorabilia that I thought post-worthy.

First up -- a pair of ecru cotton gloves, last worn in August of 1971 for the president's reception for incoming freshmen at Baylor. Those were the days when dressing up meant a long dress, and my mother made mine -- ecru cotton trimmed with cotton lace. Wish I had a photo of the dress! I'm keeping the gloves, just in case they ever come back into style! They still fit -- unlike the dress. . . .

In the same vein, I found a pair of cotton performance gloves worn to ring with the handbell choir at a former church. The handbell choir I'm in now is much more relaxed, with a random collection of gloves we wear when we play in worship and that we take turns laundering.

In the same drawer, I found what's left of a childhood tea set -- two cups, two plates, and the creamer. I found a place for these pieces in the china cabinet.

Here's a t-shirt that I really should wear more often, given to me by one of my sisters.

The same drawer also holds a small jewelry box for keepsakes, and I especially enjoyed finding the next two items. The first is a teething ring engraved with my date of birth, and the clock's engraved hands are set to the time of my birth (1:45 a.m.). My initials are engraved on the back. I must really have teethed on this, because it looks pretty worn!

And, finally, my charm bracelet with charms mostly from my junior high years. Those of you around my age who grew up Southern Baptist may recognize the green and white GA charms, earned by achieving Queen, Queen with a Scepter, and Queen Regent status in the Girls' Auxiliary. Any other Queen Regents out there? I still have my green satin cape and scepter, saved by my mother but now in my possession, as well as the cross-stitched map of the world completed for one of the requirements.

Thanks for walking down Memory Lane with me!

Changing Things Up

2012-01-02T15:38:00.001-06:00

Now that the last of the Christmas decor is stored away, I've been having fun decorating various surfaces around the house. One I'll share today for Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life is my entryway table. This area needs color, and I decided to use blue for January.

The afternoon sun made it hard to take photos! Here's another try.

One end of the table includes a salad plate in the Bordallo Basketweave Blue pattern, a blue and white rabbit that was my mother-in-law's, and a demitasse cup featuring bluebonnets. For height, I set the pieces on a stack of decorating books. (By the way, the DISH book was a Christmas gift, and it's wonderful!)

The other end of the table holds blue tapers in brass candlesticks and potted ivy in a pretty cachepot that belonged to my in-laws.

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to check out Tabletop Tuesday for lots of great decorating ideas!

New Year's Eve

2012-01-01T16:47:00.001-06:00

Our holidays were busy, with family visiting over Christmas, then a couple of days in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl and to celebrate our 39th anniversary. We were glad to get home yesterday and have a quiet dinner, just the two of us, on New Year's Eve.

I decided to set the coffee table, in front of the fireplace, even though it was way too warm for a fire last night! The pretty flowers were an anniversary gift from our son and daughter-in-law, who celebrated their first anniversary the same day.

Since it was New Year's Eve, I decided to use "the good stuff," our wedding china and silver, plus some crystal champagne flutes. I also wanted to use the new napkin rings my daughter gave me for Christmas. Aren't they pretty? The creamy color is perfect with my Lenox Windsong china.

Here's a closeup of the coral Gerbera daisies and peach roses. I like the contrast with the light turquoise of the placemats and napkins.

Here are a couple of overhead views.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner (prepared by my husband) and an early bedtime. Staying up till midnight is not for us!

I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch later this week. Thank you for visiting me this week!

Christmas Table

2011-12-25T07:24:00.001-06:00

The inspiration for this year's table was the set of darling Santa placecard holders my sister sent me as an early Christmas gift. There are four different poses. Just love these!

The glittery red and green of the Santas reminded me I had some glittery green candles and a red linen table runner.

Instead of my "good" china, I used my Christmas china, Dansk Winterfest.

Here's another view, showing the emerald green glasses that first belonged to my husband'a grandparents. I love the shape and color, and the pattern name -- Burple.

The monochrome centerpiece is simply evergreen clippings with the glittery green candles and some ornaments.

Anchoring each end of the centerpiece are poinsettia "blooms" and more evergreens in silver julep cups. I'd been wanting to try clipping the poinsettias after seeing the technique in Southern Living.

Here's a closeup!

A view down the table. . .

Time to light some candles!

The candlelight view.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Cozy Christmas Breakfast

2011-12-18T15:50:00.000-06:00

Our daughter's family will be arriving later Christmas Day, so we'll have just four around the breakfast table that morning -- my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and me. The simple centerpiece includes two miniature live evergreens in pots topped with "snow" and two Father Christmases handed down to me from my mother-in-law's collection.

These cute salad plates were the inspiration for this table. I bought them after Christmas last year at Crate and Barrel Outlet.

I added my red glasses and green placemats, and we're using the silver flatware at breakfast since it's Christmas!

I've had the napkins, also from Crate and Barrel, for several years, but they seem made for these plates. I like the lime green mixed with the more traditional green and red in the Joy design.

Here's another view that shows my silver pattern, Lunt Belvedere.

Here's a closer look at one of the Father Christmases.

In the background of this view is our 30+ year old Advent calendar, made by my mother when our daughter was little. The chair back blocks the little candy-filled pockets for each day. You can also glimpse our living room Christmas tree on the left.

Here's one more view of the table, looking toward the baker's rack.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you will leave a comment before you leave. I will be linking to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Such Sweet Sisters!

2011-12-15T06:14:00.000-06:00

I am blessed with two wonderful sisters, both of whom are EXCELLENT at gift-giving. Last night, the UPS man delivered a box that held a beautifully wrapped gift from my sister in Dallas, with a tag reading, "Open NOW!" I was happy to oblige and found these adorable Santa place card holders inside! I can't wait to use them in a tablescape, and they'll also be cute holding cards to identify dishes for a buffet.

Earlier this month my other sister in Nashville sent me a box with six different types of Jeni's ice cream, including such amazing flavors as frankincense and almond cake and smoked tea and plum pudding. They are AMAZING, and it's been lots of fun to sample the different flavors.

I am thankful to have such fabulous sisters!

You Know It's December

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

When your husband brings home the long-awaited Haagen-Dazs peppermint bark ice cream! Our Sam's had it this year. If you haven't tried it, you are really missing something!

On the Day Before December

2011-11-30T10:24:00.001-06:00

Just in time for December, the Advent calendar is ready for the countdown to Christmas.

This calendar is a beloved tradition in our family. My mother made it from felt, decorating the tree and holly with miniature red glass ornaments at least 30 years ago. Here's an old photo I found of our daughter with it on Christmas Eve in 1982.

Each pocket holds candy -- traditionally miniature candy canes or Reese's cups. Our daughter, and later our son, were delighted to learn that they were allowed to remove candy each morning and eat it, even before breakfast! The year my son was almost three, I remember explaining how the tradition worked, concluding, "And when all the candy is gone, Christmas will be here!" He looked at me excitedly and said, "Let's eat it all NOW!" Another year, we left the children with a babysitter one evening, and when we returned, I noticed that a few extra candies were missing. When questioned the next morning, our son replied sheepishly, "Well, in the night...I got hungry."

Here's a closer look.

I continued the tradition by making an Advent calendar exactly like this one for our grandchildren. I wonder if theirs is ready to go for tomorrow?

Thanks for visiting!

A Gentle Beginning to the Holidays

2011-11-27T17:15:00.001-06:00

Now that the holidays are upon us, I hope to blog a bit more frequently. This fall semester has just been a whirlwind of travel, campus activity, and family. Our Thanksgiving, though, was lovely and relaxed. Our daughter and her family drove up from Houston, and my husband's father joined us for Thanksgiving dinner and another meal. We were blessed to have four generations around the table, and using my grandmother's wedding china represented a fifth generation. Her pattern is Heinrich H&C Admiral. It includes a lot of colors, making it versatile for various seasons, but for Thanksgiving, I highlighted the gold with a gold tablecloth and napkins. Here's an overview of the table, set for seven.

For the centerpiece, I used a tureen that was a gift from one of my sisters years ago, brass candlesticks from my in-laws' collection, and two small arrangements of mums, berries, and greenery from the yard.

Here are my grandmother's dishes, which I inherited, including 24 plates, cups, and saucers, and many, many serving pieces, including two gravy boats! Our first course was a wonderful cream of broccoli soup my husband made, served in the teacups.

Here's another view of the placesetting, which includes my sterling, Lunt Belvedere, silverplate soup spoons from my in-laws, and some plain water glasses.

Here's a closer look at the pattern, and you can also see the mums and rosemary in the napkin rings, which were a gift from my daughter last Christmas.

We have a wonderful collection of brass candlesticks from my in-laws. Three pairs of them worked wonderfully with this warm color scheme.

I love the colors of the mums -- two types of bronze and one of burgundy, along with hypericum berries and clippings from a bush in the backyard.

We enjoyed having our grandchildren -- ages eight and five. The weather was glorious -- sunny and cool -- so they spent a lot of time outside in our yard and at a nearby park. We will see them again Christmas Day.

I hope you all had lovely Thanksgivings, filled with family, friends, and good food!

Thanks and an Update

2011-10-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to all the faithful bloggers who've commented or e-mailed to check on me during my LONG break in posting! I really appreciate your letting me know I've been missed -- bloggers are Good Folks! I don't have any exciting or tragic reason for the hiatus -- just a Dull and Dutiful one. It was a HOT summer with 90 days of triple-digit temperatures -- the last on September 29th. And then the semester started with a bang in August, and now I've just finished grading midterm exams! My tablescaping motivation got lost in the shuffle, I guess. I am starting to feel like playing with dishes again, though, with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching.

In other news, last weekend our grandchildren came to visit without their parents. It was a win-win-win situation, as all three parties thought they got the best deal! Our daughter and son--in-law enjoyed some kid-free time, the grandchildren always love to come to our house, and we, of course, are always thrilled to see them! It was a busy weekend, with a trip to the zoo and the park, now that the weather has finally cooled off. We also made the adorable Halloween brownie pops that are everywhere this season. I followed the wonderful tutorial provided by Kim at Sand and Sisal, and the children had a great time mixing up the brownies, shaping the baked brownies into pumpkins and ghosts, and then dipping them in orange and white candy melts. Here's a photo of the children showing off their handiwork!

Thanks for stopping by!

Trying a New Color Scheme

2011-07-26T15:16:00.001-05:00

Last week's tablescape by Rett at The Gazebo House inspired me to try a tablescape using a new-for-me color scheme -- purple and green. I don't have much purple, but in shopping the house, I found a few items to include, and the grocery store contributed a few more.

The placesetting includes the leaf green placemats and napkins I've used in several tablescapes, some wicker chargers, plain white plates, square lavender melamine plates, green stemware, and our everyday stainless flatware.

The clear napkin rings were a gift from my daughter, and they have an opening to hold flowers and water. I have really enjoyed using these!

Here's an across the table view, in which you can see another purple item I found, a glass carafe that was a gift from my in-laws years ago. It's perfect for keeping iced water or tea handy.

At the other end of the table, a bowl of plums brings in another shade of purple.

For the centerpiece, I found some lavender daisy mums at Sam's -- ten stems for $4.88!

Here's a view of the whole table.

One more look at a daisy mum!

The details:
Green placemats and napkins, Crate & Barrel outlet
Wicker chargers and white plates, Pier 1
Lavender melamine, Target a few years ago, I think
Green glasses, The Great Indoors
Flatware, Towle Beaded Antique
Napkin rings, gift from daughter via Color, Inc. in Nashville

Thanks for visiting today! I'll be linking up with Tablescape Thursdays at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, so please visit her blog to see lots more tablescapes!

Weeknight Supper

2011-07-20T05:38:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I co-hosted a bridal shower for a friend's daughter, whose wedding is in September. Her favorite flowers are sunflowers, so we used two dozen to decorate the buffet and gift tables. I supplied the flowers, so brought them home with me -- spilling water in my car and breaking a vase, but that's another story. I have enjoyed having a large vase of them on my coffee table and a smaller one on the breakfast table and realized I should use them in a tablescape. I posted a sunflower tablescape last year featuring green and gold elements, and at first I couldn't think how to set a different one. Then, I had an idea.

A few months ago, I bought four placesettings of these dishes, which I had admired for a long time, especially in this beautiful color, called forget-me-not. They also come in sage green and a creamy white. Here are the dinner plate and salad plate.

Here's the dinner plate alone. I really like the elegant simplicity of this design.

And here's the pasta bowl, which is a wonderful wonky shape!

The placesetting also includes the sunflower napkins I used in last year's tablescape, our everyday stainless, and the blue stemware that sweet Marigene of In the Middle of Nowhere sent me last year.

I thought their ribbed design worked well with the ribbed spiral of the plates.

Here's another view of the table. I like the look of the pale blue dishes against the dark wood of the bare table.

The sunflowers are still looking good after five days!

The details:
Dishes: Sophie Conran for Portmeiron in Forget-Me-Not blue, Bloomingdale's Home
Glasses: Sirrus Blue by Libbey, courtesy of Marigene!
Stainless flatware: Beaded Antique by Towle
Napkins: Williams-Sonoma (end of season sale last year)

And there you have it -- a simple, weeknight table that lets the sunflowers shine. Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Cool Blue and Green

2011-07-12T05:00:00.002-05:00

Once again, I must apologize to my faithful followers for falling off the tablescape wagon for a few weeks. BUT! While in Chicago recently, I bought some new everyday dishes. This makes my third set of everyday dishes in 38 years of marriage, which isn't TOO indulgent, is it?

The wonderful Bloomingdale's Home store in downtown Chicago had these dishes on sale, so we decided to get them and had them shipped home. I've admired this Dansk pattern since first seeing it a few years ago. The salad plate (and mug, not shown) have a slightly different design than the dinner plate and rim soup. The salesman talked us out of buying bread and butter plates, saying that most customers don't use them, but we've decided we DO need them, mostly for serving appetizers and small desserts.

I have a lot of blue table linens, since my second everyday pattern included a lot of blue, but this time I went with this bright leaf green. The placesetting also includes our everyday blue glasses, but I chose to use our silver instead of the everyday stainless, because the pattern includes a flower similar to the one on the dinner plate.

Here's a view of the table. For a simple centerpiece, I pulled the preserved boxwood topiaries from the mantel and added some white mums in a pansy ring, a gift from my in-laws that I have enjoyed over the years. (Can you spot Mr. Champagne, our enormous cat, resting on the cool floor just outside the dining room?)

You can see the pansy ring a little better here. It is perfect for short-stemmed flowers like pansies, but works with lots of other flowers, too.

Here's an overhead view.

Another angle...

And a last view of the whole table.

The details:
Dishes: Dansk Kristina and Florencia
Glasses: Villeroy & Boch My Garden
Silver: Lunt Belvedere
Placemats and napkins: Crate & Barrel Outlet
Preserved boxwood topiaries: Williamsburg catalog

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Father's Day

2011-06-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Father's Day a week early with my father-in-law, because we'll be with our son and daughter-in-law on the actual day. I bought these placemats and the matching napkins at Williams-Sonoma last year, but hadn't used them before. The pattern reminds me of one of my husband's favorite shirts, so I thought they would work well for a Father's Day table.

The placesetting also includes our everyday dishes, glasses, and stainless, as well as a steak knife -- because you can't celebrate men in Texas without serving steak!

For a simple centerpiece that echoed the colors of the placemats, I used yellow spider mums in cobalt blue glass bottles. Spider mums give a lot of bang for the buck!

Here's a look at the whole table. Notice anything wrong? I didn't -- and took a series of photos this way. See those napkins piled neatly to one side? Sigh.

Here's the table with the napkins in place.

And here's one last look at the spider mums.

Happy Father's Day! Thank you for visiting, and I hope you'll leave a comment before you leave to visit more tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch. Tablescape Thursday is not to be missed!

Sister Surprises

2011-05-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

This week's table is set outdoors and features a wonderful surprise gift my youngest sister sent me for no reason at all. I was thrilled to open a big, elegantly wrapped box from Color, a home furnishings store in Nashville that I can't wait to visit, to find turquoise placemats, napkins, and nests with faux eggs! All the makings for a spring table! Isn't she a sweet sister?

Here's a closer look at a placesetting. The straw placemats have a looped border and embroidered dots around the edge.

Here's a closer look at the nest and eggs. They look quite real. After I set the table and took some photos, I went inside for a while. My husband, who was working in the yard, came inside to warn me that birds had been checking out the table!

Here's a view that shows some of the beautiful live oaks that shade our backyard. You may also notice the solar rings on the pool, which we use to help warm the pool water to a comfortable temperature. It's not warm enough for me yet!

I got a new camera for Mother's Day that I'm slowly learning to use, so I'm including the next photo of a geranium bloom. I haven't been able to take really closeup shots like this before!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Something Old, Something New -- and Blue!

2011-05-17T08:00:00.004-05:00

After missing three weeks of tablescaping due to lots of travel and end of the semester activities, I'm finally back with a table featuring a generous gift from Debbie of Mountain Breaths. A few weeks ago, she had a giveaway, and I won! Debbie sent me some darling blue and white teapot-shaped ceramic napkin rings! They are all a little different, so I'm including photos of all four of them in this tablescape for a special lunch with friends.

I think the one below is my favorite!

I wanted to keep the placesetting simple, to let the napkin rings be the stars, so I used plain cobalt blue glass plates (from Walmart, years ago) that we use when we have a large gathering. My daughter brought me the pretty placemats and napkins from her honeymoon trip to Ireland.

I like the way you can see the cutwork pattern of the place mat through the glass plates in this closeup.

Did you notice the tiny salt and pepper shakers in the placesetting? My inlaws gave me a set of six pairs, and they really add a pretty touch, I think.

I also included the iced tea stems from my crystal, Lenox Moonspun, set in silverplate coasters that were a wedding gift.

Here's a view of the whole table.

The simple centerpiece consists of dark red alstroemeria in a cobalt blue pitcher.The silver pitcher was a wedding gift from one of my grandmothers. You can see me reflected in the pitcher, taking this photo!

Here's one more view across the table. Thanks, Debbie, for your generosity in sending me these napkin rings!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Easter Sunday Dinner

2011-04-20T05:00:00.002-05:00

Are you tired of seeing tables set for Easter? I'm not! I have really enjoyed seeing all kinds of Easter tables -- whimsical, elegant, casual, formal, outdoor, or what-have you! I appreciate the inspiration from so many talented tablescapers and always look forward to Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

I've pulled out my "good stuff" for this table -- my wedding china, crystal, and silver chosen almost 40 years ago -- plus some newer finds. Here's the view from the kitchen doorway.

A little closer look:

The placesetting starts with some new placemats and napkins from Pier 1 in a pale shade of turquoise. They look almost baby blue in these photos, for some reason. The china, Lenox Windsong, includes flowers in the same shade. The crystal is Lenox Moonspun (and is shared by several bloggers who married around the same time we did!), and the silver is Lunt Belvedere.

Here's a diner's view:

The table is centered with candles and small arrangements of cream-colored roses and alstroemeria in silverplate julep cups. The roses were $7.99 a dozen this week at HEB, and I filled in with the alstroemeria for a "fluffier" look. The roses opened up after I took these photos -- I was too impatient!

Here's a different angle:

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Easter Breakfast for the Grands

2011-04-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

I haven't been organized enough to link to Marty's Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life in a long time, but this week I finally have something to share.

My inspiration for this tablescape was a set of orange-checked napkins I picked up on sale at a Sur la Table recently. I decided to set an Easter breakfast table with my two grandchildren in mind. The table is set for three, in part because I bought only three of the polka dotted plates at Target a year or two ago. (I know, The Tablescaper would be horrified!)

The highlight of the placesettings for the grandchildren, is, of course, the candy-filled "carrot"!

Other elements include a green placemat, white plate as charger, and dotted melamine plate, plus our everyday stainless, the checked napkin, and a plastic goblet. I found only two of the goblets at Tuesday Morning, but they are made exactly like my blue Villeroy and Boch "My Garden" glasses, and I was surprised to pick them up and discover they were plastic. I wish I could find more of these for outdoor use!

Here's a closer look at the centerpiece. My daughter gave me the cute little chicks last year. I set them in a nest of shredded paper along with some faux eggs. As you can see, the eggs have begun to hatch, and the chicks are starting to explore their new world!

Another view of the escaping chicks:

Unfortunately, we won't be with our grandchildren this Easter, but I promise to save the "carrots" for them!

Thanks for visiting my blog today. I hope you'll leave a comment before you visit more fun table tops at Marty's A Stroll Thru Life!

Lemon Love

2011-04-13T05:35:00.000-05:00

This week's table features lemons, inspired by a printed runner I found on deep clearance at Bloomingdale's on a recent trip. The price wasn't marked, so I asked a saleslady, who replied, "$2.99." Sold! It took about twenty minutes to figure out how to ring it up without a price tag, but I was determined to leave with the runner at that price!

The centerpiece just HAD to feature fresh lemons, which I piled into a Villeroy and Boch hurricane I've had for several years. After taking these photos, three of the lemons were used to make a lemon bundt cake.

Given the bright, cheerful print of the runner, I kept the placesetting simple -- a plain yellow plate (Pier 1) topped with a Bordallo salad plate in Basketweave-Blue. I only have two of the salad plates, so this is a table for two.

Then I added blue heart-shaped covered ramekins from a Le Creuset outlet, blue goblets (Villeroy and Boch), blue napkins, and our everyday stainless.

Here's a closer look at the dishes against the runner.

Here's a view of the table. I added blue glass candlesticks and candles to the lemon-filled hurricane.

I think the bright colors of the runner go well with my newly painted breakfast area and blue and white dishes on the baker's rack.

Here's a "diner's view" down the table.

It's a very simple table, but that's my style! Thank you for visiting my table, and I hope you'll leave a comment before you visit the wonderful tablescapes featured on Tablescape Thursday this week at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Celebrating Texas Bluebonnets

2011-03-29T05:00:00.002-05:00

I have been AWOL from the last few Tablescape Thursdays at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, but I'm back this week with a table celebrating Texas bluebonnets. I saw my first bluebonnets of the season earlier this week and look forward to driving past fields of them in the next week or two.

When I saw bluebonnet dishes at HEB, I knew I had to set a bluebonnet table. The plates and tumblers are acrylic, so were only $2 each. They'll be perfect on the patio this summer, too.

On my way home from HEB, I drove past a field with bluebonnets growing near the road, so I stopped and picked just a few. Just in case some of you have heard it's illegal to pick Texas' state flower, I double-checked, and it is not!

I hurried home to put them in water before they wilted, using a chipped enamel pitcher as a vase.

Here's a closer look.

I also put bluebonnets in the wonderful napkin rings my daughter gave me for Christmas. Aren't those napkins the perfect shade of blue?

The napkins are new, from the Bloomingdale Home store in Las Vegas last week. I checked their Clearance area and found these linen-cotton napkins marked down to 99 cents! Sold!

Here's the placesetting. I first tried blue placemats, but I decided the green was a better backdrop for the bluebonnets. The bluebonnet salad plate is layered with a plain white dinner plate, and I've added a wineglass with the bluebonnet tumbler. Silver seemed a bit much with acrylic dishes, so I went with our everyday stainless, Towle Beaded Antique.

Here's the whole table, set in the breakfast area. Notice anything different?

How about now?

Since the last time I posted a tablescape, we have removed the wallpaper and painted this area. I still liked the wallpaper (which was here when we bought the house), but it just didn't go with the granite we installed recently.

Here are a few more photos. Bluebonnet season is all-too-brief, but it's delightful time to for a trip through the hill country!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Texas Independence Day

2011-03-02T05:00:00.069-06:00

As a transplanted Texan, I must admit that I could not have told you the date of Texas Independence Day. But this year, March 2nd marks the 175th anniversary of the day that Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. After increasingly strained relations with the Mexican government and with the Alamo in San Antonio under siege, the authors of Texas' Declaration of Independence wrote the document overnight, proclaiming the Texas to be a "free, sovereign, and independent republic." The Republic of Texas lasted until 1845, when Texas joined the Union as the 28th state.

When we moved to Texas in 2000, it still felt a bit like we'd moved to another country. Texans are very proud of being Texans! It took us a while to learn the words to "Texas, Our Texas," which is sung immediately after the national anthem at football games. Everyone else in the stands seemed to know the words and sang enthusiastically. Anyway, celebrating a 175th anniversary suggested a tablescape!

Last year, the Texas grocery store chain HEB sold these melamine plates and star-shaped bowls, and when they were finally marked down to fifty cents each, I bought some!

The placesetting also includes plain white dinner plates and red salad plates, my red Georgian-Ruby goblets, everyday flatware, plaid placemats, and my mother-in-law's red napkins tied with striped ribbon.

Here's a closer look at the cute melamine pieces. We'll use the star-shaped bowls for extra barbecue sauce!

I didn't have any red flowers on hand, nor is it time for the bluebonnets to bloom just yet, so I made do with a red lantern as a simple centerpiece.

Here's a view of the table, set in the breakfast area.

And one from a different angle. . . .

We have enjoyed living in Texas, and have found the natives very friendly. For example, shortly after we moved here and before we'd gotten our Texas license plates, the woman who took my groceries out to the car (I told you HEB was great!) spotted our out-of-state plates and said, "I see you're new in town. Have you found a church home yet?" She then invited me to hers!

Here's to the great state of Texas!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I will be linking it to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, so be sure to check out other tablescapes there tomorrow!

Thank You, Vicki of Curly Willow DIY!

2011-02-28T08:22:00.000-06:00

My beautiful new header was designed by the very talented Vicki who blogs at Curly Willow DIY with her best friend Barb. Didn't Vicki do a great job? I really love the new look!

A couple of weeks ago, The Tablescaper showed off her new header by Vicki and announced that Vicki had kindly agreed to design headers for some of The Tablescaper's followers. I was lucky enough to be chosen!

Do check out Curly Willow DIY to see Vicki's and Barb's inspiring posts! Thanks again, Vicki!

Sunday Lunch

2011-02-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today's tablescape was inspired by these yellow spray roses. My flower source is generally HEB, the famed Texas grocery store chain, where flowers are $4 a bunch, and my husband is usually the one who brings them home. He does all the grocery shopping (and cooking -- yes, I'm completely spoiled), so when he asks me what I want to add to the list, I often ask for flowers. I asked for yellow tulips this week, but they didn't have any, so he improvised. The little blue pitcher used to be in my mother-in-law's kitchen, and it was the perfect size for this mini-bouquet.

The bright yellow of the roses seemed to dictate using similarly bright placemats. The placesetting also includes some cute little heart-shaped covered ramekins, our everyday dishes and glasses and flatware, and blue-checked napkins.

Here's a view of the table, looking toward the living room. Very simple -- set for Sunday lunch. Since the pitcher was so small, I elevated it with a wooden candlestand and added some yellow votive holders.

Here's a closer look at the very bright, colorful pattern of the dishes. I chose this Mikasa pattern after using our first set of everyday dishes for 25 years. These dishes are still going strong after 13 years!

When I chose this pattern, I was looking for one featuring blue, but I also love the bright fruit pattern.

Here's a view from the opposite side of the table, showing the baker's rack newly decorated with blue and white.

The details:
Dishes: Mikasa Windsor Park (discontinued)
Glassware: Villeroy & Boch My Garden
Flatware: Towle Beaded Antique
Covered ramekins: Le Creuset outlet
Votive holders: Sur la Table
Wooden candleholder: Pottery Barn outlet

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

A Table for Presidents' Day

2011-02-16T06:00:00.003-06:00

Before I began visiting Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, it would NEVER have occurred to me to set a special table for Presidents' Day. For one thing, we don't get that day off, so it's just a regular work day, albeit it one without mail service. But when I unpacked some blue and white souvenir plates from my mother-in-law's collection, I realized I had the basics for a Presidents' Day table. (Since they are souvenirs, we'll remove them and use the white dinner plates for the meal!).

All four plates have a different design. The first one features Martha and George Washington, the Capitol, and several other scenes from Washington, D.C. When I Googled the markings on the back of the plate, I was surprised to find one just like it listed for $135! It's described as a flow blue souvenir plate made in Staffordshire, England, "imported exclusively for the Capitol Souvenir Company."

The second plate features Abraham Lincoln, and Googling the marks on the back yielded the information, "This is a fine Dutch flow blue souvenir plate commemorating President Abraham Lincoln’s death. The words under the Lincoln portrait read: “Abraham Lincoln/Born February 18, 1809, Died April 15, 1865”. The back of the plate says Lincoln’s House, Springfield, Illinois over the Sphinx mark of Petrus Regout and Co. Maastricht." The plate is listed for $78.

The third plate has a very similar, though not identical, border design, but features George Washington and Mount Vernon. I was unable to find any information online about it, although the markings indicate the same maker as the Lincoln plate.

The fourth plate features Independence Hall in Philadelphia and is by Liberty Blue. It is in plentiful supply online, but I really like the border design.

So, there's plenty of blue and white for a Presidents' Day table, but we need some RED! My in-laws gave me this pretty blue and white cachepot from the Williamsburg catalog one Christmas, and a few carnations supply the red.

And we need a little MORE red, so I added the napkin rings my daughter gave me this past Christmas, each holding one red carnation.

Here's a look at the whole table. The tablecloth is from Williams-Sonoma, and it's designed to fit my patio table. If you look closely, you can see the buttoned seam that allows it to fit around an umbrella.

Once again, I'm using the new-ish blue Villeroy and Boch water glasses, as well as some blue glass candlesticks that my mother gave me years ago. I think they work well together!

Here's a closer look at the darling clear acrylic napkin rings, holding a napkin from Williams-Sonoma.

Another view. . .

I like this shot of all the different patterns the table includes. You just can't go wrong with blue and white!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Cheery Cherries

2011-02-09T05:33:00.000-06:00

This week's tablescape was inspired by a gift from my dear friend Michele. A few years ago, she gave me this darling sandwich tray, knowing that I love all things cherry.

Then last year, Michele sent me two cute vintage cherry-patterned coffee cups with saucers. I found a photo of a dinner plate in this pattern on Replacements.com -- what a great resource! -- but they didn't have any in stock.

A few years ago Target had these cute melamine plates, and with three cherry-themed elements, I had enough to set a breakfast table.

Using the same red and white tablecloth from last week's table, I layered the cherry salad plates with plain white dinner plates and added some blue stemware.

The placesetting also included our everyday stainless and some blue-checked napkins rolled into blue napkins rings.

A vase of white tulips and a small beribboned cakestand completed the table.

All the elements came together to create a cheery breakfast table.

Details:
Melamine salad plates: Target a few years ago
Coffee cups: Le Comptoir LCX4 (vintage, gift from Michele)
Blue goblets: Villeroy and Boch
Stainless: Towle Beaded Antique
Tablecloth: Home Goods
Napkins: Ancient!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

My "New" Kitchen

2011-02-04T11:45:00.000-06:00

I finally have something to link to Metamorphosis Monday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch -- my "new" kitchen.

We have lived with the original (1985) Formica counters since we moved in almost ten years ago, and in that period, the cost of granite has gone down quite a bit. We worked with a local granite company, Goldstone, and it took us a while to find slabs we liked. We had to take a little break for Christmas and our son's wedding, but one cold, rainy Saturday last month we drove to Austin and browsed through a giant warehouse of granite. We wanted something (A) rather dramatic and (B) that would go well with our existing cabinets. We took the small cabinet door over the fridge along.. Here's one of the two slabs we selected, called Vesuvio.

Here's the "Before" of the kitchen, just before the old countertops were removed. We had removed the drawers and emptied all the lower cabinets in preparation -- quite a job! I should have thought to take a photo of the dining room, chock full of kitchen stuff!

My husband stayed home while the installers were there, and he took photos throughout the process. Here's the granite arriving in our driveway.

The demolition begins!

The counters go in. .

Notice the seam where the two pieces meet in the photo below.

After they worked their magic -- what seam??

Here's the island, where the installers had to cut out a section for the cooktop.

The next day, the tile backsplash was installed. They started with the area over the sink.

We decided to keep the backsplash very plain everywhere else, so as not to compete with the granite.

We had to live without a kitchen sink from Monday through Wednesday morning, because the plumber wanted to be sure the undermounted sink's seal was dry. We were very happy to finally see this!

Here are the "After" views.

We really love the new look! Thanks for visiting!

Snow Day!

2011-02-04T09:56:00.000-06:00

Some of you may remember this photo of our backyard from an outdoor tablescape last June.

Well, here's the same view at 7:15 this morning.

Here's a wider view of that part of the backyard.

Now, this doesn't look like much snow to those of you who've had tons of it already this winter, but here in central Texas, this counts! We were delighted to get the news that our university is closed today -- also very rare!

Here are a few more pics, taken from the front dining room window.

In this one you can see we're on a steep hill (for this area, anyway), so I expect we'll soon have neighborhood kids sliding down our front yard on sheets of cardboard. Who needs a sled?

I love the graceful trees in this one.

Meanwhile, Mr. D&D was busy building a fire, baking a quiche, and opening our emergency bottle of champagne for cranberry mimosas. I think I'll keep him. . . .

Stay warm, y'all!

Red and White for February

2011-02-02T06:04:00.000-06:00

How can it be February already? This time of year I like to pull out my first set of everyday dishes, Royal Doulton's Fireglow, chosen back in 1972 when we married. We used them daily for 25 years, so they would definitely be classified as "discounted due to slight imperfections" by Replacements.com, but I still like them!

This table is set in the breakfast area, on our new round table. Since we've never had a round table before, I haven't had any round tablecloths. I remedied that situation a couple of weeks ago when we visited a Home Goods in Houston. This one was in the Clearance section, marked down to $7.

I've sandwiched a plain red salad plate between the Fireglow dinner plate and salad plate topped with a ramekin, and I'm using my Georgian-Ruby goblets.

The little ramekins are my favorite pieces in this pattern.

Here you can see the dinner plate alone, as well as my silver, Lunt Belvedere. The red-bordered napkins were originally $18.75 EACH, if you can imagine, but I got them for $1.99 each at the Bloomingdale's Home store in Chicago last summer. I believe that's my best bargain ever!

And here's a "rim shot," so you can see the flower at the base of the fork matches one of the posies in the china pattern.

A bird's eye view. . . .

For a centerpiece, I placed white tulips into several bud vases (purchased for tables at my son's rehearsal dinner in December) set atop a white serving plate. You can also see some of my red and white pieces on the baker's rack in the background.

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Wedgwood Potpourri

2011-01-25T19:33:00.000-06:00

This week's tablescape was inspired by some navy blue linen hemstitched placemats I found on final sale at Pottery Barn recently. Navy is such a versatile color that I knew I'd find multiple uses for them. For the placemats' dining room debut, I chose my mother-in-law's Wedgwood Potpourri, a pattern I just love. Two years after she passed away, my father-in-law moved to an independent living apartment and gave me this beautiful set of dishes. I've posted two other tables set with this pattern, a breakfast table and a dinner table highlighting the deep reds in the pattern. Here's the dinner plate in this pattern.

The pattern is very detailed, with fruit and flowers and birds.

For the placesetting, I'm using the dinner plate and the cream soup and saucer, as well as blue water goblets. The flatware is my sterling with silverplate soup spoons from my in-laws' collection.

Here's another angle.

The blue goblets are a recent purchase, and they also go with my everyday dishes.

For the centerpiece, I'm using a silverplate candelabra with cream beeswax candles and silverplate mint julep cups filled with pink and white alstroemeria.

Here are a few more shots of this table.

The details:
China: Wedgwood Queensware Potpourri
Glassware: Villeroy & Boch My Garden in blue
Silver: Lunt Belvedere

Silverplate: William A Rogers Park Lane
Placemats: Pottery Barn

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Sunday Lunch in January

2011-01-19T08:08:00.000-06:00

After all the Christmas and wedding excitement was behind us, I was in the mood to set a simple, maybe even austere, table for lunch on a cold, wet Sunday. The leaf was still in our dining room table from the holidays, so I opted to set four places, two on each long side.

I started with some spring green placemats and some plain white porcelain plates. I first tried the matching green napkins, but decided the black and white printed ones added interest.

I pulled out some olive green stemmed glasses, added my silver, and the simple placesetting was complete.

For the centerpiece, I brought in some white tulips I'd had on the breakfast room table, then decided to add the preserved boxwood topiaries from the mantel to continue the green and white theme.

A few more photos. . . .

The Details
Green placemats: Crate and Barrel Outlet
Black and white napkins: Pottery Barn Outlet
White plates: Pier 1
Olive green glasses: The Great Indoors
Silver: Lunt Belvedere
Preserved boxwood topiaries: Williamsburg catalog

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

A Few Wedding Photos

2011-01-16T17:39:00.000-06:00

We don't have the official photos yet from my son's wedding, but here are a few I like! I thought this one my daughter took of my father-in-law and my grandson sharing a laugh on the back pew before the wedding was priceless! At ages 88 and 4, respectively, I believe they were the oldest and youngest present at the wedding festivities.

Here's a photo of the bride -- my new daughter-in-law, Amanda -- with my grandchildren who served as the flowergirl and ring bearer.

Here's one of the bride and groom cutting the groom's cake.

The ring bearer got a little impatient, waiting for cake. Here he is, begging them to cut the cake, already!

Here he finally gets a slice!

Busy Time!

2011-01-12T16:28:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all my faithful followers who have let me know they've missed me in Blogland! I have been busy with family events -- Christmas, our son's wedding, our anniversary trip, and a trip to Nashville to help out after my sister's surgery.

I posted a few photos from our Christmas celebrations in a previous post, and then we immediately plunged into the final preparations for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. Everything went smoothly, and it was a beautiful and meaningful wedding in our church, followed by a lovely reception. The newlyweds are back from their honeymoon and enjoying settling into their new apartment. Here's a photo of the happy couple!

The wedding was held on our 38th wedding anniversary, the 30th, so New Year's Eve was spent taking down Christmas decorations, and on New Year's Day we flew to Las Vegas for a few days of R&R. The day after we returned, I flew to Nashville to be with my sister and her family following her major surgery. She is doing very well, and we enjoyed our time together. It snowed while I was there, so that was fun to see, as we don't get much snow in central Texas!

I hope to get back to tablescaping -- and perhaps writing reviews for some of the tablescaping books I received for Christmas -- very soon! Thanks for bearing with me during this extra-busy time for my family!

What Santa Brought

2010-12-27T14:36:00.000-06:00

I believe my family has taken note of my interest in tablescaping, as I received some lovely gifts to support my habit! In my previous post, I featured the sparkly placemats and wonderful napkin ring/flower holders from my daughter. Here's another look at the napkin rings:

My son, husband, and mother gave me tablescaping books -- a total of five new sources of inspiration!

I look forward to spending time enjoying the wonderful photos and reading the tips from the experts! I am linking to Marty's Anything Goes Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life, so be sure to check out the other links there!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T14:18:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is having a lovely and relaxing day-after-Christmas! I plan to sit with my feet up all afternoon, if I can get away with it. We had a wonderful couple of days with our family.

Our daughter and her family arrived Christmas Eve morning, and our son flew in that afternoon. My father-in-law joined us that evening for dinner. Here are a few photos of the table I set for that meal.

I've had the plaid tablecloth for years. I really like the emerald green glasses with it -- they first belonged to my husband's grandparents, then his parents, and now they've been passed down to us. I believe they were originally a grocery store premium, but they have a lovely shape and wonderful color. The pattern is called both Inspiration and Burple, from what I've read about them.

I used my Christmas china, Dansk Winterfest, again for this table. I have napkins that match the tablecloth, but they get lost in a sea of plaid, so I used some white ones tied with red and green cording. You can also see the tree-shaped placecard holders I featured in an earlier post. My granddaughter wrote our names on the placecards when she arrived.

The centerpiece is almost the same as the one in my last tablescape, with the addition of some fresh greenery and some glittery green ornaments.

Here's a view with the candles lit.

My adorable grandchildren posed for the obligatory Christmas pajamas photo before going to bed that night.

The men of the Dull and the Dutiful family opened matching shirts on Christmas Eve, which they wore on Christmas Day. From the left, my father-in-law, my husband, our son, and our son-in-law.

The grandchildren also dressed festively for Christmas Day.

My wonderful daughter gave me some gorgeous placemats and napkin rings for Christmas, so I quickly incorporated them into our table for Christmas dinner..

The centerpiece was simple -- just evergreens with white mums and green hypericum berries in a glass and silver bowl.

The new placemats are sparkly silver with ruffly edges, and the clear acrylic napkin holders have a small opening to hold flowers or other small items. I used more of the white mums and greenery for this table, and I'm looking forward to using these special holders on many tables in 2011!

Here's a look at the placesetting, with my wedding china, silver, and crystal.

Here's another look at the table.

And here is my family, all waiting for pie after the meal! We were blessed to have four generations around our table this year. Clockwise from left are my father-in-law, our daughter, our grandson, our son-in-law, my husband, our granddaughter, and our soon-to-be-married son. The wedding is now just a few days away!

Thank you for visiting! I hope you'll leave me a comment before you go!

White Christmas

2010-12-14T05:07:00.000-06:00

Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen is hosting a White Christmas/Winter White party this week, so I did my best to set a table with only off-white, silver, and greenery. If you've visited any of my tablescapes before, you know that I really like a lot of color, but this was a good challenge for me. Be sure to visit Kathleen this week to see other White Christmas participants' tables!

I started with a textured pale ecru tablecloth and my Lenox Windsong, which has a subtle pattern and a platinum rim, and my silver, Lunt Belvedere.

To complete the setting, I added the matching napkins, tied with a sheer silver ribbon, and my crystal, Lenox Moonspun, a pattern several others in the tablescaping tribe also have. I know that Debbie of Words on Wheels, Laurie of Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie, and Sue at I Need Mom! all have Moonspun. I'd love to know if any others have it!

Each placesetting also includes a sparkly silver tree as a placecard holder. Here's a closeup of one of them. I also have them in sparkly green. I think I bought them at Fifth Season in Little Rock a few years ago.

For a simple centerpiece, I started with a pretty silver sandwich tray that belonged to my in-laws and added three cream pillar candles, clippings cut from the bottom of our Christmas tree, and some silver ornaments. Here's a bird's eye view.

The sandwich tray has very unusual claw feet! I like this shot with the spiral shadow from one of the placecard holders.

Here's a view of the whole table, set for six. I'll expand the table for Christmas, when we'll have eight family members -- and four generations -- around the table.

In this view, you can see the sideboard, with the blue and silver that I'm using in the dining room this year. My son is getting married soon after Christmas, on our 38th wedding anniversary, and the wedding colors are blue and silver. "Presbyterian hymnal blue," to be specific! That's the color the bridesmaids will be wearing, so they'll coordinate with the hymnals in our church!

For the first time, I was able to capture some "blue hour" photos of the table, with the candles lit and Christmas tree lights glowing.

The slim tree also belonged to my in-laws, and my father-in-law was pleased to see it in our front window this year. It is also decorated with blue and silver ornaments and ribbon. Our larger tree is in the living room, but it's fun to have one in the dining room this year.

Finally, here's the host's view by candlelight.

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I am also linking to Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, so be sure to check out other tablescapes there starting Wednesday night!

Dansk Winterfest

2010-12-08T13:12:00.003-06:00

For this week's Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, I'm featuring my everyday Christmas dishes, Dansk Winterfest, which we use throughout the holidays. I found these dishes at a wonderful Dansk outlet that used to be in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I was so disappointed when I discovered it had closed! The table is set in the breakfast room today.

Here's a look at the placesetting. I was drawn to the pattern because it includes blue, my favorite color, and because of its casual, modern look.

Here's a bit closer look at the pattern.

And here's the "rim shot."

The pattern also includes glasses and mugs. I'm using only the glasses for this table.

A few years after I bought the dishes and glasses, I found the matching candleholders at an outlet near Princeton, NJ, while visiting my daughter and son-in-law.

The simple centerpiece also includes a rustic wooden tree from Pier 1 several years ago.

Here's one last look at the table.

Finally, here's a closer look at the baker's rack, decorated for the season.

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you check out the rest of the tablescapes set for this Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Thanksgiving Tables

2010-11-24T13:00:00.006-06:00

I've been out of town this week, so didn't have time to set a table for Tablescape Thursday. Instead, I'm posting some photos from past Thanksgivings, before I joined the tablescaping tribe. I didn't take many pictures of my tables back then, so this won't take long!

This table is from 2007, when there were just three around the table -- my husband, my son, and me.

This was a super-simple centerpiece -- a glass bowl with yellow apples anchoring yellow-striped alstroemeria and hypericum berries. I've had the tapestry runner for years.

The placesetting included my wedding china, crystal, and silver, and I dressed up the napkins a bit with a sheer ribbon and sprig of faux berries.

This was last year's table. We had eight around the table, with my father-in-law and my daughter's family joining us. The centerpiece is again a simple one -- my favorite kind! I used two types of mums and hypericum berries in a silver-and-glass piece from my in-laws' collection.

I used my grandmother's wedding china, Admiral by Heinrich H&C, and I set the dinner plates on gold pottery plates from Pottery Barn to highlight the gold in the design. The embroidered linens were also my grandmother's. I do not look forward to ironing that tablecloth this year!

In this view, you can also see the small silver bowls holding Seckel pears, which I found in a large container at Sam's. They are so little and cute -- not to mention tasty!

You can see more of the pears in a glass bowl on the sideboard, which held dishes we needed for dessert. Salad plates allowed us to try more than one dessert!

And, finally, here's one more super-simple fall centerpiece idea. The wooden candleholders are from the Pottery Barn outlet in San Marcos. I hope to get back down there soon!

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Thank you, Marigene!

2010-11-17T11:59:00.000-06:00

This week's table features some pretty blue glasses that Marigene of In the Middle of Nowhere sent me as a gift. I was very touched when she offered to send me some of these glasses after I admired them on her table! I love the ribbed design and the soft shade of blue. The pattern is called Sirrus Blue, by Libbey, and Marigene insists they are all over the place in her part of the country.

The glasses are great with my everyday dishes, Windsor Park (Mikasa - discontinued). The placesetting also includes blue placemats (Walmart), orange napkins (Crate & Barrel), and my silver, Belvedere (Lunt). I love using orange and blue together this time of year, especially.

We are in the kitchen again this week, and I've pulled the pumpkin bought at HEB back in early October in from the entryway table to serve as a centerpiece, along with a wreath of faux fall berries and pine cones.

Here's a look at the tabletop.

Here's a better look at the Windsor Park pattern. I am still not tired of these bright colors!

Here's the whole table. . .

And a view toward the baker's rack. Maybe you can spot the small Pilgrim couple I bought at a craft show many years ago?

Thank you again, Marigene! You're a sweetie to send me these pretty glasses! Thanks, too, to my visitors this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you check out the rest of the tablescapes set for this Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Veterans' Day

2010-11-11T08:42:00.000-06:00

When I arrived on campus this morning, I saw this from my office window. The Air Force ROTC cadets are taking turns holding a flag vigil. Periodically, another set of cadets arrives, salutes, then takes the place of the others. Those leaving their posts slowly pivot and walk away. It's very moving, and I wanted to record this reminder. My father is a veteran of the Korean War, and my father-in-law served in World War II.

New Breakfast Table!

2010-11-10T13:00:00.001-06:00

This week's tablescape features our NEW breakfast table. Here's what the old one looked like:

And here's the new one! I wanted something rustic looking with a distressed finish so we wouldn't have to worry about scratches or dents. The chairs belonged to my in-laws and have been in storage since my father-in-law moved to an independent living community earlier this year. I like the way they look with the table, although we will probably look for other chairs eventually.

This is the first round table we've had, and I wanted to try some round placemats with it. These are from Walmart -- just $1.99 each! I'm using the Elizabeth dinner plates from Pier 1 again -- love these colors for a fall table! The green napkins and flower napkin rings are also from Pier 1, and this is our everyday stainless flatware.

For the centerpiece, I pulled out a gold planter to hold some pretty red and gold daisy mums. Then I noticed a huge and beautiful pomegranate in the fruit bowl. My husband bought it to use in a dish he was making, but it was the perfect color to highlight the red in the plates and the flowers, so I pressed it into service. Since this table was set for Sunday night's supper, I added votive holders for candlelight.

These olive green glasses are from The Great Indoors, a store we discovered on a trip to Colorado. If you have one near you, you are lucky! They also sell online, though.

Here's a closeup of the daisy mums -- love the striking colors!

Here's a view looking toward the living room.

Another view. . . .

Here's one more look at the whole table.

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Birthday Dinner

2010-11-03T13:00:00.003-05:00

This time of year is always busy for our family, as my husband, our daughter, and I all celebrate our birthdays.within one week. When our son, who was born in February, was little he asked plaintively, "How come MY birthday is the only one that's not NOW??"

The inspiration for this week's table came from one of my sisters, who sent me a set of beautiful "jeweled" mercury glass votives -- and some chocolates! -- for my birthday.

I decided the votives called for a "dressy" table, so I chose to use my wedding china, crystal, and silver. The first time I used them for Tablescape Thursday, I asked my visitors to suggest other colors to try with my Lenox Windsong china and got several good ideas. Ellen, who blogs at Scribbler Unfocused, suggested gray or charcoal, so I began to look for some table linens in those colors. Here I'm using the same charcoal herringbone runner and gray napkins I used with my mother's Castleton Mayfair two weeks ago.

I had three mercury glass hurricanes that coordinated with the new votives, so I used those to hold creamy hydrangea blossoms (thank you, HEB!).

To complete the centerpiece, I added some candles in my candlesticks.

Here's a closer look, in which the herringbone pattern of the runner can be seen more clearly.

Here's a closer look at my silver, Lunt Belvedere --.

and my crystal, Lenox Moonspun.

A few more table views. . .

And now some views with the candles lit . . .

And, finally, one of the pretty votives from my sister. Thank you, Leigh Ann!

Thank you for visiting my table this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Halloween Breakfast for the Grandchildren

2010-10-27T13:00:00.002-05:00

This Halloween breakfast table was set with our adorable grandchildren in mind.
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Both of them are early risers, and when they're visiting, they like their breakfast as soon as they come into the kitchen. The inspiration for this table came from these cute ghost tealights from Crate & Barrel.

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Since candy is essential on Halloween, why not start the day off right with some candy corn?

Or, perhaps you prefer candy pumpkins, as I do? The nutritional rules are different at Grandmama's house!

The simple placesetting includes plain white and orange plates, individual bakers, and white napkins tied with ribbon. I used both black and white gingham and candy-corn print ribbons.

Here's a view of the table. Since the children are up well before daylight, we may very well light the candles! The Halloween print fabric I'm using was purchased for my daughter's birthday party back in 1990. I think I've gotten my money's worth, don't you?

On the right, the same fabric lines a black and orange basket we'll use for muffins.

Thank you for visiting my table this week!

I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!

Castleton Mayfair for Fall

2010-10-20T13:00:00.004-05:00

This week I'm showing you a second table I set while visiting my parents in Little Rock recently. This one features Mama's other Castleton pattern, Mayfair. I set a spring table with it back in April, using pale yellow napkins, but wanted to try a fall version. Here's a close-up of the pattern.

This time I wanted to use gold placemats and gray napkins to complement the roses and leaves in the pattern. As I mentioned last week, I flew to Little Rock with a variety of table linens in my carry-on. And, yes, that IS a little bit crazy! Here I'm using the underside of the Turning Leaf placemats from a recent fall tablescape and gray napkins from Crate & Barrel. Mama's silver is Reed & Barton's French Renaissance, and her crystal is Fostoria's Navarre.

Yellow roses, of course, were essential for the centerpiece! Conveniently, Kroger had some at a good price.

Here's a view across the table. In addition to the roses, I found some gray Colonial candles at Fifth Season, my favorite gift store in Little Rock. If you're ever in Little Rock, it's a must-see!

Although the light isn't great in this view of the table, it does show the herringbone pattern in the gray runner. I found the runner, originally marked $24.95, on the clearance table at Denver's The Great Indoors last spring. It was marked down to $5.18, and I got another 20% off that! I think it adds a modern feel to the table.

Here's a closer look at Mama's beautiful Navarre crystal. I love both the etched pattern and the elegant shape.

Here's another look at the yellow roses. You can see Mama's living room reflected in the huge mirror, which originally hung in my grandfather's jewelry store.

Here's another view of the table.

And here's one final view, which unfortunately reveals that I didn't use a hot enough iron on the runner after pulling it from my suitcase!

Thanks for visiting my parents' house this week! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Castleton's Ma Lin -- "Cinnamon, Gold, and Sapphire"

2010-10-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I was in Little Rock visiting my parents, which gave me a chance to play with my mother's dishes. I have always loved her Ma Lin, a Castleton pattern. I did a little research and learned that it was designed by Ching-Chih Yee, one of fifteen contemporary artists commissioned by Castleton China in 1942 to create designs for china. Interestingly, Salvador Dali was also one of the fifteen! Wouldn't it be interesting to see HIS designs?

Ma Lin was discontinued in 1958. Here's a link to a newspaper ad from 1951, the year my parents married, describing the pattern as "reminiscent of the elegance of Cathay" and the colors as "cinnamon, gold, and sapphire." The five-piece placesetting's advertised price? Only $15.75! Replacements.com now lists a placesetting for $95.95.

Here's the dinner plate. All sizes of the plates have the same design.

In a post last spring, I used yellow napkins and flowers with this pattern, but for fall I wanted to highlight the "cinnamon" color. I actually brought these placemats with me on the plane, since Mama didn't have any this color. I wonder if there's a law against crossing state lines with table linens? My sister remarked that I had crossed a new threshold in tablescaping addiction.

I also wanted to try the Ma Lin with Mama's Fostoria Royal-Amber. I think it works well, repeating the rust or "cinnamon" color in the pattern. Mama also has amber candlesticks, one of which you can see in the background below.

And, of course, rust-colored flowers were needed! We looked several places for rust-colored mums and finally found a pot that would do. I just wrapped the pot in two napkins, securing them with a rubber band. In the photo below, you can also see two sets of amber salt and pepper shakers from Mama's collection.

Here's another view of the table. . .

And one of the placesetting.

The next photo shows Mama's sterling, Reed and Barton's French Renaissance.

And here's one last view of the table. The angle of the sun wasn't cooperating with me, so neither of the full table shots are very good, I'm afraid. In the background are some yellow roses -- a hint for next week's table!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!

Trying Something New

2010-10-12T08:59:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to try adding a slideshow to my blog, and here is the result. It includes placesettings for all the tables I've posted since last November. Enjoy!

Finally Fall!

2010-10-06T15:00:00.007-05:00

We have FINALLY had some cooler weather here in central Texas. It still warms up during the day, but the mornings have been lovely. Since our leaves haven't started to turn, I'm making do with some "Turning Leaf" table linens I bought on clearance from Macy's last summer.

The placemats and napkins feature "my" colors -- dark red, gold, and green. My dining room is red, and my living room includes all of those colors. As I was adding these photos, I realized I've used these gold dinner plates from Pier 1 in several recent tablescapes. Oh, well, gold is a fall color, right?

I added some dark red salad plates from Target, and my silver is Lunt Belvedere. I still love it, after almost 38 years!

Here's a view of the whole table. My husband brought home the "right" color of alstroemeria from HEB without any prompting!

Here's a closer look at the centerpiece. I arranged the flowers in a wonderful painted metal urn that my in-laws gave me several years ago.

Here's a closeup of the design. I love the detailed insects and the little feet!

Here's another view of the whole table. To complement the gold trim on the urn, I used my tall brass candlesticks.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

A Little Fall Decorating

2010-10-03T13:00:00.002-05:00

We have been traveling a lot lately, for family reasons and for work, so when we finally got to enjoy a weekend at home, I pulled out some fall decor and had fun arranging it around the house. I haven't bought anything new this year -- except some potted mums -- but opening my boxes marked "Fall" and "Halloween" was still fun! Come on inside!

The entryway table includes a basket of potted mums that will look better (I hope!) when the flowers are fully open.

Across from the entryway, is the dining room. Here's the sideboard, with some ceramic pumpkins that hold candles.

Come on into the living room. I've added a small pumpkin and some gourds to my lantern and topiaries. I love the star-shaped gourds!

Opposite the fireplace is the sofa table, which holds a large real pumpkin inside a fall berry wreath from Pier 1. The candlesticks are also from Pier 1.

Moving into the kitchen, here's the baker's rack with some seasonal pieces. The lowest shelf includes an old blue metal roaster of Grandma Rachel's filled with wicker pumpkins I've had for years, as well as some wooden ghosts from Pier 1 (I should own stock!). .

The top shelf holds an orange pitcher and some of my everyday dishes, Mikasa Windsor Park. I like blue and orange together, as you can tell! The middle shelf holds a fall village scene. Arranging the fall and Christmas village scenes was always my son's job, but now that he's grown and living far away, I decided to take a turn!

Thanks for stopping by! Now go check out some great tabletops at Marty's Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life.

Simple and Sunny

2010-09-29T15:00:00.004-05:00

My inspiration for this late September table came from some napkins I picked up on sale at Williams-Sonoma several months ago. I have always loved sunflowers (don't most people?!), and I've looked forward to setting a table featuring sunflowers. Our HEB grocery store obligingly advertised sunflowers as their weekly special, so I began to shop the house for the rest of the things needed to set a simple table.

I started with some striped placemats from Crate and Barrel that repeat visitors have seen before, then added some dark yellow plates from Pier 1.

I included the green glasses my father-in-law gave us earlier this year when he moved into a retirement apartment. I used this tablescape (with a few more placesettings) when hosting our daughter's family and my father-in-law, and he told us that the glasses originally belonged to my mother-in-law's parents. Her father managed a grocery store in Mississippi, and the glasses were some sort of premium back in the 1940s. I was interested to learn that the glasses were older than I'd thought, and it was fun to see my grandchildren drink from glasses their great-great grandparents had owned! The pattern is Inspiration, by Anchor Hocking, and is also called Burple -- but Inspiration sounds much nicer!

The silverplate is also from my in-laws' collection, purchased to augment their silver when hosting large dinner parties. I was able to identify the pattern on Replacements.com as Wm. A. Rogers' Park Lane, but it's apparently also known as Chatelaine or Dowry. Any ideas why it would have three different names?

Here's the whole table, with the stars of the show -- the sunflowers! They can be tricky to arrange, so I used florists' tape to bind the stems together so they'd behave in the vase. You might also notice that I've turned two placemats into a runner across the center of the table, to add a little interest.

Here's one more look at these wonderful flowers. I'm writing this post almost a week after taking the photos, and the sunflowers still look great in my dining room.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Switch 3

2010-09-22T15:00:00.011-05:00

Again this week I'm presenting a table we set at my daughter's house on a recent visit, this time using her everyday china. When she married ten years ago, my daughter chose Switch 3, one of Villeroy and Boch's prettiest patterns, in my opinion. Each piece has a different design, but they all coordinate beautifully. We have had fun adding some of the extra pieces to those she received as wedding gifts.

The placesetting includes placemats and napkins made to match this pattern. I especially love the salad plate design! The silver is the Gorham Chantilly that belonged to my in-laws.

Here's a really close look at the pattern!

Villeroy and Boch made dozens of items to go with this pretty pattern. Here's a candleholder...

And here's the large casserole dish. Love the checked border!

My daughter kindly climbed on a chair to get this bird's eye view for me. If you visited last week, you'll recognize the same flowers on this table. Notice anything else? After I uploaded the photo I saw that the placemat in the top left is different from the others! I asked my daughter about it, and she said the placemats are reversible!

Here's another view of the whole table that also gives a better look at the square baking dish. I think this Villeroy and Boch pattern sets a pretty, cheerful table!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Rosalinde for a New Generation

2010-09-15T15:00:00.006-05:00

In a post last week, Cherry Kay of Entertaining Women included a wonderful phrase about family dishes passed down to her: "I am blessed to shepherd them for a season." I love the image that evokes of enjoying and caring for family treasures, then passing them on to others. Last weekend we were in Houston to celebrate my father-in-law's 88th birthday and to see my grandchildren in a church musical. I took the opportunity to play with my daughter's dishes, starting with the beautiful Haviland china in the Rosalinde pattern passed down to her by her paternal grandparents. Our plan was to set a modern-looking table with this vintage china pattern.

We started with bright green chargers my daughter found at Crate and Barrel. The rippled chargers echo the plates' scalloped edges and bring out the green in the pattern.

The Gorham Chantilly silver was also passed down from the same grandparents. They had an extensive collection, because they frequently hosted dinner parties for their university colleagues and friends, so the silver was divided between my daughter and my son. I contributed the pink napkins, bought on clearance at Macy's recently.

Here's a closeup of the delicate china pattern. My in-laws collected both American and French versions, which differ slightly, but both include the gold rim. I believe the French-made pattern has a cream-colored rim.

And one of the silver pattern...

The crystal also came from her grandparents, but is of more recent vintage.

Here's an attempt at a bird's eye view. The silver metal vases and crystal candlesticks are my daughter's.

Pretty pink petals!

Here's a look at the whole table. The bright chargers, simple flowers, and the bare table lend a modern feel to this pretty vintage china.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Pears, Pears, Pears

2010-09-08T15:00:00.008-05:00

The inspiration for this week's tablescape was a set of dessert plates I bought on clearance at Crate and Barrel last January. I noticed yesterday that they're available at Crate and Barrel Outlet, if you "need" some!

For the placesetting, I used some striped placemats and an orangey-red napkin, also from Crate and Barrel, and a yellow dinner plate from Pier 1, along with my usual silver and everyday glasses.

For a table featuring pears, what's needed for a centerpiece? Yep, some actual pears. I began with this fun candleholder that my mother gave me for Christmas one year after I admired it at Little Rock's wonderful Fifth Season gift shop.

Here's a closer look. Love the colors of these pears!

Here's a look at more of the table.

Then I decided to try something different with the pears. Using some of the flowers and berries from last week's centerpiece, I arranged pears in a vintage yellow casserole.

Here's a closeup of the fruit, flowers, and berries.

And here's how the table looked with this centerpiece and candles in old brass candlesticks. Which look do you like better?

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Red + Gold + Green

2010-09-01T12:31:00.000-05:00

For a Tablescape Thursday a couple of months ago, I set a table with three plates from Pier 1 in their Elizabeth pattern. I only had three plates for that table, but after reading my post, my sweet daughter brought me a fourth one from her store in Houston. Then, last weekend while browsing at Pier 1 (where Halloween is in full swing, by the way), I spotted a stack of Elizabeth dishes in the Clearance section! I picked up four salad plates plus these napkin rings, which might have been made for this pattern.

Here's a look at the placesetting. I'm using the back side of some placemats my daughter gave me and some green linen-y napkins I've had for a while. If you've visited me before, you'll recognize my silver and my everyday glasses.

Here's an up-close look at the pattern and the napkin ring.

Even closer....

I decided to add some small dipping bowls my son gave me for dipping bread into olive oil. LOVE that.

For the centerpiece, I found some alstroemeria and hypericum berries in just the right shade of rusty red at HEB, and arranged them in a green pottery pitcher from Marshall's.

Here's the view from the host's end of the table. I chose some old brass candlesticks, as they seemed to go better with these colors than silver or pewter ones.

Here's another angle with a better view of the candlesticks.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Wedgwood Potpourri Redux

2010-08-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

For this week's contribution to Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, I decided to set another table with the Wedgwood Potpourri dishes recently passed along to me by my father-in-law. In May, I posted a table highlighting this pattern with blue placemats, napkins, and other elements, so this time I decided to try it with deep red instead.

I really love the cream soup bowls, with the floral design inside.

I also like the shape of the plates against the deep red placemat. I'm using my silver, Lunt Belvedere, along with soup spoons from the silverplate my inlaws passed along to us a few years ago.

Here's a view of the dinner plate by itself. Fruit, flowers, birds, butterflies -- this pattern has them all!

The Georgian-Ruby water glasses have been featured in several previous tablescapes, and while I wasn't sure they were quite the right color for this china pattern, I think they work.

Here's a view of the whole table. I would have preferred different flowers, but not enough to make a trip to HEB for them! I decided the pink alstroemeria highlighted the lighter reds in the china pattern nicely. Note the two kitties enjoying the late afternoon sunshine -- one on the floor to the right and one in the seat of the chair on the left. They were most put out with me for trotting back and forth while they tried to nap.

My mother-in-law collected many wonderful pieces in the Potpourri pattern, and I've included a few on this table. Here are closer views of the sugar and creamer, salt and pepper, and a vegetable bowl.

Here's one more view of the whole table, with the late afternoon shadows.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch!

Blue + White + Yellow

2010-08-18T17:00:00.006-05:00

Since it was so hot when I set up the blue and white tablescape for last week's Tablescape Thursday, I decided to get a little more mileage out of it by adding a new color to the mix.

I used the same tablecloth, dinner plates, silver, and glasses, but added yellow spider mums to the cobalt blue bottles and lemons to the blue footed dish.

Yellow napkins edged with orange, plus salad plates and salt and pepper shakers from my everyday dishes, Mikasa Windsor Park, added more color.

I've had these dishes for at least twelve years, but I still love the cheerful pattern and colors.

Here's another view of the table.

Lemons make such an easy splash of color!

Stay cool, y'all!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Cooling Off with Blue and White

2010-08-11T16:35:00.000-05:00

When you're on Day Nine of temperatures above 100 degrees and expecting several more days that hot, you'll try almost anything to cool off. Let's see if a blue and white tablescape will do the trick!

I ordered this tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma when it was on sale recently, so decided to see what I could pull together to go with it.

White mums in cobalt blue bottles make an easy centerpiece.

Other blue and white items were pulled from the baker's rack in the kitchen.

Here's a placesetting, starting with plain white dinner plates, everyday glasses, and my silver, Lunt Belvedere. The napkins are in a coordinating pattern, also from Williams-Sonoma.

The blue and white appetizer plates belonged to my in-laws and feature what I think are quails.

Here's a closer look at the pattern.

The salad plate is by Bordallo in the Basketweave-Blue pattern. I only have two of these, but would like to collect more!

The blue and white rabbit also belonged to my in-laws, and I thought he added a bit of whimsy to the table.

Here's a closer look.

I like the simplicity of the white mums.

Here's another view, showing a glimpse of the Knockout Roses, which have continued to bloom, despite the intense heat.

If the blue and white table didn't cool you off, maybe a dip in the pool will work!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

Happy 100th Tablescape Thursday!

2010-07-21T17:00:00.004-05:00

Congratulations and best wishes to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, where we are celebrating the 100th Tablescape Thursday!

When Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen posted a gorgeous all-white tablescape recently, she asked if we were interested in repeating last summer's Let There Be White party. I commented that since I am All About Color, I didn't think I'd be able to pull together an all-white table, but that I'd love to see others' efforts. Kathleen wrote back, encouraging me to give it a try, so I did. I looked around my house and through cupboards and closets for anything white and found more things than I'd expected. I was surprised that I was able to set the table without going shopping for anything! Here's the view from the entryway.

Here's a closer look at the table. Through the caneback chair you may spot Tiger snoozing in the late afternoon sun.

I'm using a bridge cloth that my grandmother made and edged with her tatting, with napkins to match. The tall candleholders are from a fun shop in Salado, Texas, just down the road. Some of you have seen the preserved boxwood topiaries in an earlier tablescape.

After I had taken most of the photos, I spotted these white bird candles on my baker's rack and decided to add them to the centerpiece.

A different angle...

Here's a closer look at one of the bird candles.

Here's a placesetting. We've had the covered ramekins for years -- bought them originally to use for French onion soup. The silver is Lunt Belvedere.

And here's a closer look at the tatting that edges the cloth and napkins. Grandma taught me to knit and sew, but I never learned to tat!

I like this photo with late afternoon shadows.

Thanks for visiting, and be sure to check out all the other tablescapes celebrating Susan's 100th Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

White Roses

2010-07-14T18:34:00.000-05:00

The inspiration for this week's Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch was a bouquet of white roses. They were the weekly special from HEB (a grocery store, for you non-Texans) at $6! We have enjoyed them on the coffee table, but I thought they deserved their own tablescape, too.

To allow the roses to be the star attraction, I kept the rest of the table very neutral. I used a gray silk runner, my wedding china, crystal, and silver, and some cut glass pieces that echo the crystal vase.

Here's a placesetting, with the napkin removed. The china is Lenox Windsong, and the silver is Lunt Belvedere.

Here's a closeup of the two patterns. I like that both china and silver include similar flowers.

Here's one more look at the roses.

Thanks for visiting this week, and check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Another Sunday Supper

2010-07-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

For Tablescape Thursday this week at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, I started with some plates I bought at Pier 1 a couple of years ago. I bought only three, because I wanted to use them in a three-tiered plate stand, but now that I've been hooked on tablescaping, I know to buy at least four of anything! For Sunday night supper with my husband and father-in-law, though, three plates work just fine. The stoneware pattern is Elizabeth, and it's on clearance now, although my store only had mugs left.

Since I'd never set a table with these plates before, I had to shop the house to find things to go with them. I settled on these striped mats and rust-colored napkins from Crate and Barrel. The water and wine tumblers are our everyday glasses from Williams-Sonoma.

For the centerpiece, I set yellow daisies in an old-looking green planter set atop a wooden candlestand and added green pillar candles on coordinating wooden candlestands.

I also brought in a vintage yellow covered casserole with handle that formerly belonged to my in-laws.

After taking a few photos and uploading them to my laptop, I spotted a detail I hadn't noticed about the plates. Look at the underside of the plate, just above the knob on top of the casserole lid. There is a pattern painted all around the underside of the plate, too!

Here's a last look at the table, with a view into the entryway.

Thanks for visiting my simple Sunday supper table, and check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Fourth of July

2010-06-30T15:52:00.000-05:00

It's time once again for Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. People across the USA will be enjoying outdoor activities and picnics to celebrate the Fourth, but here in central Texas, we will be celebrating INDOORS where it's not 100+ degrees. My table is very simple -- just some stars, some stripes, and a wee bit of tinsel to add some festivity.

Here's a 360-degree tour of my dining room, starting with the view from the entryway:

Moving counter-clockwise around the table, here's the view toward the sideboard:

Moving around to the hostess' end of the table, you can see the entryway and the old green cabinet we bought as newlyweds to hold wedding gifts.

One last turn brings us to this view. Why, yes, we DO have a piano in the dining room. Doesn't everyone? We moved it into the dining room when we needed more room for seating in the living room, and it has worked out pretty well. Things get a little crowded when we add the table leaf for large gatherings, but we make it work.

For the Fourth, though, we'll just have four around the table. Here's a view down the table from the host's seat.

You'll no doubt recognize my new favorite lantern seen in recent tablescapes, this time with a little red and blue tinsel inside. You've also seen the Georgian-Ruby glassware recently. Here's a closer look at both:

The placesetting includes a navy and white plaid placemat (Kohl's), a white dinner plate, red salad plate, and a cobalt blue Fiesta fruit bowl. White napkins from my mother-in-law are tied with striped ribbon to add a festive touch. The flatware is our everyday stainless, Towle Beaded Antique.

Happy Fourth of July, y'all! Thanks for visiting, and check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

Another Rush Job

2010-06-23T19:15:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure why Tablescape Thursdays at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch always sneak up on me, but lately I've been realizing at work on Wednesday that it's Now or Never time. I was out of town over the weekend, the ideal time to play with my dishes. This week's table was based on some new napkins I found at Kohl's for half-price a few weeks ago. The bright yellow with orange crocheted trim napkins work well with my everyday dishes, Mikasa's Windsor Park. This placesetting also incorporates a dark blue placemat and napkin ring, yellow dinner plate from Pier 1, blue covered ramekin from the Le Creuset outlet, an everyday glass, and our silver, Lunt Belvedere.

Here's a view of the table in the dining room.

The late afternoon sun made for a challenging photo shoot! Here's a view from the other end of the table.

For a quick centerpiece, I grabbed the yellow alstroemeria from the coffee table and stuck them in a cobalt blue glass pitcher.

Here's a closer look at a ramekin, which I use for individual casseroles or desserts. Blueberry cobbler, anyone?

I will leave you with a bird's eye view.

Thanks for visiting! I love your comments, and please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.

The Tablescape That Almost Wasn't

2010-06-16T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's Tablescape Thursday again, thanks to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. My many adoring fans -- all right, my mother and my sisters -- have asked if I were going to do a tablescape again this week. I didn't think I could pull it off, due to a busy week at work and preparations for an out-of-town trip. But, as I drove home from work today, I decided to give it a try. For the record, it was 99 degrees at 5:15 when I began setting the outdoor table. I had the placemats and napkins, the plates, and the glassware on the table and was heading back inside for the silverware when I heard... the lawn crew. Yes, I had forgotten that they usually show up about that time on Wednesday evenings. I scurried around, gathering up the dishes and other items, making several trips back into the house with them. I waited until they had finished, then started over. Here's a photo approaching the table from the backdoor. I love the gnarled live oaks!

We usually enjoy some Pool Time after work this time of year, so I thought an outdoor setting would be appropriate. Here's a closer look. On the extreme left, you can see some of our Topsy-Turvy tomato plants. My husband and the neighborhood squirrels are in a war over possession of the ripening tomatoes. The score is currently Charlie 2: Squirrels 2.

And here's the table itself.

Still closer.... Astute viewers will note that I'm using the same lantern that was in last week's tablescape, and you're likely to see it again for the Fourth of July.

The placemats and glasses are vintage -- from my in-laws' collection that has been passed down to me. The glasses are Hocking for Fire King's Burple in forest green. Love the name Burple! Here's a closer view of one glass.

Here's a placesetting. The white dinner plates and red salad plates are from Pier 1, and the chili pepper napkins are really bandanas. I've had them for years, but have only used them a few times. The new-to-me vintage glasses and placemats prompted me to pull them out again.

Here's a closer look at the lantern and one of my beloved red geraniums. Is there anything more cheerful than a red geranium?

Thanks for visiting! I love to get your comments, and please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.

Something Old, Something New

2010-06-09T11:09:00.000-05:00

For this week's Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch I am featuring my original everyday china, selected as a bride in 1972, and some new table linens that were an incredible deal at Bloomingdale's Home store in Chicago. The china is Royal Doulton's Fireglow, and I still like it, even though I moved on to a different everyday pattern after my 25th anniversary. Fireglow was one of the early freezer-to-oven-to-table patterns, and I like its cheery floral border. I even had kitchen wallpaper to match in one house we owned in Tallahassee back in the 80s!

Here's a close-up of the pattern. I've tended to use red placemats and napkins with it, but green also works well. Today I've layered a red salad plate from Bed, Bath & Beyond with the Fireglow dinner and bread & butter plates, atop the new placemats.

The linens were an amazing deal. When I was in Chicago recently for a conference (with a few days of shopping tacked on), I visited the always-wonderful Bloomingdale's Home store. (I think Heaven will be somewhat similar!) I enjoyed browsing the china and table linen departments, and at the checkout desk, I spotted a stack of these placemats and napkins with a sign reading "$1.99." I had seen the same linens back in late December when we were there to celebrate our 37th anniversary, but the prices were still way too high for the likes of me. In true Dull & Dutiful fashion, I waited patiently by the stack of linens until the salesman finished a complicated transaction with the woman ahead of me, then asked, "Are these REALLY $1.99 each??" He assured me that was correct, whereupon I gleefully grabbed eight placemats and eight napkins, then gave him my 20%-off-the-sale-price coupon! Here are the original and marked-down prices for the placemat...

and for the napkin:

I can't even conceive of anyone being able (or willing) to pay the original prices for these placemats and napkins, but for $1.99, I was there!

Here's a view of the table, which includes Georgian-Ruby (by Viking, now discontinued) water glasses, a red lantern purchased recently at Pottery Barn in Austin, and some preserved boxwood topiaries from the Williamsburg catalog.

The little ramekins are favorites of mine -- so versatile!

Here's another view of the table that gives a better view of the lantern and topiaries. You'll probably see the lantern again soon in a Flag Day or Fourth of July tablescape!

Here's the guest of honor's view, distinguished by a rose from one of our Knockout rose bushes.

Here's a closeup of the rose:

Here's the best bird's eye view of the table I could manage. I don't know how the rest of you do it, but I'd have to hang by my knees from the ceiling fan to get high enough to snap the whole tabletop unless I used a ladder, and my recent foot surgery precludes that option for now.

I like this bird's eye view, which includes the centerpiece elements and parts of the placesettings:

And here's one last view of the table from another angle:

Thanks for visiting! I love to get your comments, and please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.

Almost Eight Weeks Post-Op

2010-06-06T20:03:00.000-05:00

I am doing well at nearly eight weeks after my bunion surgery. My doctor gave the go-ahead to bear weight on the foot after five (LONG) weeks of using a knee scooter to get around. He told me to keep the bandage on until week 6 and to walk using the clunky post-op shoe, then transition to a larger athletic shoe.

Since I had a trip to Chicago planned that would involve a lot of walking, I went to Academy and tried on various shoes, finally settling on a pair of men's black New Balance walking shoes in size 8.5 EEEE (so dainty!), as well as some thick black ankle socks. Those worked very well for lots of walking in Chicago, and I also discovered that I could wear my Teva sandals (with Velcro closure) for short periods. None of my regular shoes, even though they accommodated my pre-surgery bunion, would work.

On the stroke of week 6, I cut off the bandage and enjoyed a LONG, LONG shower -- my first since the surgery. Bliss!

Now it has been almost eight weeks since the surgery, and I'm still alternating between the men's walking shoes and the Tevas, wearing the walking shoes to work. Thankfully, I haven't been called upon for a public presentation, as it's hard to look professional wearing men's walking shoes! It may be a while until the swelling in my healing foot subsides and I can resume wearing my regular shoes. If you can suggest any shoes that might accommodate a somewhat swollen right foot, suggest away! I finally resumed driving yesterday, after relying on my husband to chauffeur me around for nearly two months. Guess where I went? Yep, shopping!

Sunday Night Supper

2010-05-26T18:04:00.002-05:00

My tablescape this week features the everyday china I chose after my 25th wedding anniversary. I figured after 25 years with the same husband, I deserved new everyday dishes! The pattern is Windsor Park, and I purchased it at a Mikasa outlet in Oregon about twelve years ago. I really like the bright, cheerful pattern. Here's the gravy boat, along with some pretty orange alstroemeria in a yellow vase.

I've used these dishes most often with blue placemats and napkins, but last weekend I picked up some yellow and orange placemats and orange napkins at Crate and Barrel in Austin. We were there attending a nephew's wedding, but managed to fit in a little recreational shopping! Here's the dinner plate with the new table linens and our everyday stainless, Towle Beaded Antique.

Here I've added the rimmed soup bowl to the setting.

Here's a closer look at the pattern, which includes stylized oranges, pears, and pineapples with the blue vines. Yes, that's me you can see reflected upside down in the spoon!

I also picked up some bright orange salad plates at Crate and Barrel, so tried those with the dinner plates. I think they're a bit TOO bright, but they were great for the margarita pie we had for dessert!

Here I tried layering the cobalt blue Fiesta bowl to tone down the orange a bit.

Here's a bird's eye view.

Here's a look at the whole table, set for Sunday night supper. We usually have my father-in-law over on Sunday nights, and last week we served smoked brisket and sausage, pinto beans, mock potato salad (Paula Deen's Warm Potato Salad made with cauliflower instead of potatoes), and homemade carrot yeast rolls.

One more close-up!

Thanks for visiting my Sunday night supper table! Please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.

Wedgwood Potpourri

2010-05-19T18:00:00.063-05:00

This week for Tablescape Thursday at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch I have set a breakfast table with Wedgwood's Potpourri pattern. My father-in-law recently moved into an independent living community and gave me (among many other beautiful things) these dishes I have admired for years.

Today I've paired the Potpourri with my blue heart-shaped covered ramekins (found on clearance at the Le Creuset outlet in Destin last fall). The blue-stemmed glasses are for juice, and I'm using dark blue placemats and blue-checked napkins, as well as my silver, Lunt's Belvedere.

Here's a close-up of the Potpourri pattern. I love the shape of the plates, as well as the design.

Here's the host's view. For a simple centerpiece, I placed pink and white alstroemeria in a mostly blue and white pitcher I blogged about last month for Table Top Tuesday at Marty's A Stroll Thru Life. You can see the little floral design inside the coffee cup in this shot.

Here's a better view of the sugar and creamer.

Here's one more view of the table, in which you can see the flowers a bit better. I like the morning light in this photo.

Thanks for visiting my breakfast table! Please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.

Cut-glass Family Heirloom

2010-05-17T17:48:00.001-05:00

For this week's Table Top Tuesday at Marty's A Stroll Thru Life I am showing a beautiful cut-glass platter that belonged to my husband's great-aunt. She had an enormous collection of cut glass stored in glass cabinets that lined her living and dining rooms. After she died, her children kept some pieces, and the rest went to antique dealers. A few years later, my in-laws were browsing in an antique shop and spotted this piece, which they recognized from her collection. They purchased it and enjoyed it for many years. My mother-in-law passed away two years ago, and my father-in-law has just moved into an independent living apartment, so he gave us this stunning piece.

The photo hardly does it justice -- there must be a knack to photographing cut glass! The design is incredibly detailed, and when the sun shines into my dining room in the afternoons, there are rainbows everywhere! Here's another shot that might be a bit better.

Is it a platter? A shallow bowl? I need to learn more about cut glass! To give you an idea of the size of the piece, here it is in the center of my dining room table.

Needless to say, we are thrilled to be the third generation to own this remarkable heirloom! Thank you for stopping by -- and don't forget to go see all the wonderful table tops at Marty's A Stroll Thru Life.

Mama's Fostoria Royal-Amber

2010-05-12T12:42:00.000-05:00

When my sisters and I were in Little Rock visiting my parents a few weeks ago, we set the table for a simple family dinner with some of Mama's beautiful Fostoria Royal-Amber. This pattern was manufactured from 1925 to 1933, according to Replacements.com, and from what I've read, it's classified as "elegant glass" (as opposed to Depression glass). My paternal grandparents received a complete service for eight, along with many other pieces, as wedding gifts in 1927. Grandma passed it all along to my mother when I was a little girl, and Mama has enjoyed using it for many luncheons and meetings over the years.

Here's another view of the table, which includes candlesticks made by a family friend and a footed bowl of decorative balls as the centerpiece.

As you can see, it's difficult to photograph this etched pattern -- I've read that amber glassware is the most difficult to photograph. Next time I'm in Little Rock I'll try to stage it to show the pattern better, as well as more of the different pieces. For this family supper, we used only dinner plates and iced tea glasses, plus Mama's everyday stainless flatware and casual table linens.

In addition to the dinner service for eight, Mama has platters and vegetable bowls, several types of glasses -- parfait, low sherbet, iced tea, water, two types of tumblers -- as well as a footed cream and sugar, footed covered candy dish, two sets of salt and peppers, and a compote.

Here's one more view, after we changed the centerpiece to these stunning daffodils. (These photos were taken in March.)

Thanks for visiting, and please also stop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to see some beautiful tablescapes.