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Monday, April 22, 2013

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, 2013!

How many of you were around for the very first Earth Day, in 1970?  I was in high school then, and there was much excitement at my high school surrounding the event.  We were all encouraged to think of ways we could change our usual routines to call attention to the need to protect our home planet.

My boyfriend and I decided we would save fossil fuel by not carpooling to school.  Instead, we decided to ROLLERSKATE the two miles to school.  Now, this was long before Rollerblades or other smooth-rolling skates.  I found this photo of what our skates looked like on Etsy.  They fit right over our shoes, with no need for skate keys (like the skates I used as a child).  I wonder if Mom still has any of our skates?  No doubt they are classified as antiques today.

http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/6188288/il_570xN.343935083.jpg
Source
Can you imagine skating on metal wheels for two miles? Plus, this was in Little Rock, Arkansas, with lots of HILLS along the route to school.  But, as I recall, we had a great time and enjoyed all the attention from passing motorists.  Did we skate home, too?  I don't remember that detail! 

However you decide to celebrate Earth Day this year, have fun!

Monday, March 18, 2013

An Easter Table

We aren't actually hosting Easter dinner this year, but when my husband brought home a large bunch of daffodils from HEB, they practically demanded that I set a festive Easter table.
I've been wanting to use the pretty Castleton Gloria china that Mama surprised me with last year, so I pulled it out of storage.  As you can see below, it has a thin robin's egg blue band inside the gold-trimmed scalloped edge and taupe roses in the center. 
The placemats and napkins from my Nashville sister work perfectly with this pattern.  This photo shows the "lizard" pattern in the placemat.  Belvedere is the silver pattern.
I added a single daffodil to my bud vase napkin rings to bring a little yellow to table level.
Couldn't resist this close-up!
To add a bit more yellow, as well as an Easter touch, I remembered some faux eggs I've had for several years, so added one to each coffee cup.
Then I remembered a couple of small nests I'd picked up when my mother and sisters and I visited Salado a few years ago, so I added those to the table, along with some eggs to match the placemats.
Here's what a placesetting looked like after I added crystal and silver.  I think these shades of blue and yellow play well together!
Here is a diner's view across the table:
Here are the stars of the show, the gorgeous daffodils:
Here's the table, set for four. 
Thank you for stopping by this week!  I will be linking to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish and Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday, and you will see many pretty spring and Easter tables there.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

St. Patrick's Day Table

I have never set a table for St. Patrick's Day before, but I have admired many in Blogland and decided to give it a try this year.  When I started, I knew only that I wanted to use the vintage forest green "Burple" glasses that originally belonged to my husband's grandparents. I always use them at Christmas, and this year I also put them to work on my Mardi Gras table. 
I especially love the swirly feet of these glasses. 
Then I remembered the Battenburg lace placemats and cutwork napkins my daughter bought for me while on her honeymoon in Ireland.
To show off the design, I layered them with green placemats and napkins.  (Please pretend I ironed that napkin below.)  I don't have any green plates, but I do have my grandmother's wedding china, which features a green band, so I pulled out the dinner and salad plates. The pattern is Admiral, by Heinrich H&C.  I have a large set of it and could serve dinner and coffee to 24 people, if I were so inclined.  This table, though, is set for only four.
For a centerpiece, I remembered an idea I had seen on Pinterest for using gravy boats to hold flowers.  Grandma's Admiral has two gravy boats (Southerners like lots of gravy), so I pulled those out.  I found green and white mums and green hypericum berries at HEB, and they practically arranged themselves. 
The table needed a little more green, so I checked my usual storage places and found this small vase that belonged to my in-laws.  We'll pretend it's a pot o' gold.
Here's a look at the whole table.  You can see the late afternoon sun streaming in. 
Nary a shamrock or leprechaun to be found, but maybe this green and white table works for St. Patrick's Day.  To see lots more festive green and white, be sure to visit Cuisine Kathleen's 5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl!  I'll also be linking to Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday. Thank you for visiting!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Lemon Yellow and Blue

My table this week was inspired by these gorgeous yellow roses that were on special at HEB. My husband brought home two bunches, enough to fill this vase and a smaller one, too. The table was set for a small dinner party we hosted Sunday evening for a visiting distinguished professor and a young colleague.
The bright color of the roses reminded me that I hadn't used this lemon-printed runner in a long time. 
With yellow and blue established as the color scheme, I knew it was time to pull out my Mikasa Windsor Court.  This bright and cheery pattern served as our everyday dishes until a couple of years ago, and I still love it.  The yellow dinner plates from Pier 1 made a good base for a salad plate and a cup, to be used for a cream soup.
Blue napkins and our silver, Lunt Belvedere, completed the placesetting.

The rim shot:
I love the pattern on the side of the cup.
Glasses from Villeroy and Boch added another touch of blue.
Here's the table, set for the four of us.  The menu included brie and crab bisque, shrimp Creole, sensation salad, and French bread, with dark chocolate creme brulee for dessert. I had never tried the dessert recipe before, but I figured, "How bad could dark chocolate creme brulee BE?"  It was heavenly!
Thank you for visiting!  I'll be linking to Cuisine Kathleen Wednesday night and Between Naps on the Porch Thursday morning. 


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Texas Independence Day

My good friend Michele reminded me that it was time to set a table to celebrate Texas Independence Day on March 2nd, so I got busy.  For you non-Texans, that date marks the 177th anniversary of Texas' declaration of independence from Mexico.  March 2nd was also Sam Houston's birthdate, and it is celebrated along with independence as a state holiday.  Some state workers get the day off, I understand, and there are festivals in many towns and cities.  As I've mentioned before, I'm a native of Arkansas, but we have lived here longer than in any other state, so I guess I can claim to be a Texan now, too.

The table began with the same melamine salad plates I used for my table two years ago, found on sale at HEB, our beloved Texas grocery chain.  I wonder if other states sell similar plates, or if this is a Texas thing.  Things ARE different here!  I layered the salad plate with a white dinner plate and red luncheon plate.
 
I chose a blue and white tablecloth as a backdrop for the placesetting. 
I tried red glassware and a different blue pattern, but I decided this one looked best.  The four goblets were a gift from Marigene who blogs In the Middle of Nowhere.  After I admired her set, she insisted they were "everywhere" in thrift stores in her area and very kindly sent me some.  Thanks again, Marigene! 
Alas, it's too early for our bluebonnets to bloom, but a Texas table needs them, so I made do with some faux ones in my bud vase napkin rings.  Here you can also see the pattern on the tablecloth -- I'm calling the little critters Texas mosquitoes. 
 I had just polished my silver, so decided to use it, even with melamine plates. 
More faux bluebonnets in a chippy pitcher served as an easy centerpiece. 
Here's a table view:
To carry out the theme, I made shortbread cookies from Yvonne of StoneGable's recipe in Texas shapes.  (The little ones are ten-gallon hats, if you don't recognize them!)  I wonder if the other states all have their own cookie cutters?  I know Louisiana does, because I have a set from the time we lived there.  The cookies turned out to be easy to make and delicious -- not too sweet!  I served them with Texas' own Blue Bell ice cream in cherry vanilla flavor.  Yum!
Thanks for stopping by to celebrate Texas Independence Day with me!  I will be linking to Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.


Sunday, February 24, 2013

A Silver Keepsake

While visiting blogs a couple of days ago, I ran across ANTIQUECHASE's post on succulents and silver.  I had seen this idea before -- maybe on that same blog -- but I wanted to give it a try.  I knew I had some old tarnished pieces, so went in search of a few.  The first piece I spotted was black with tarnish, so I decided to shine it up a bit.  I had tried polishing this double vegetable dish without success a year or so ago.  At one point, it had apparently been wrapped in plastic wrap -- a big no-no for silver -- and small bits were adhered to it, seemingly permanently.  BUT!  I recently discovered a great blog called Silver Magpies that gives tips for caring for silver.  As recommended, I soaked the dish in very hot water -- three times -- then used silver polish and a lot of elbow grease.  The polish recommended on Silver Magpies is Goddards, and now I can also recommend it highly!  Anyway, here is a "before" photo.
On the bottom of the dish I noticed some hallmarks, so I copied them and looked them up online.  I found an interesting website with information about hallmarks on silver holloware.  I learned that Reed and Barton used small symbols in their hallmarks to indicate which year pieces were made.  Mine had a tiny bell on it, indicating it was made in 1951. 
Engraved on the bottom is my birthdate, because the dish was a thank-you gift from my paternal grandparents to the nurse who assisted Dr. Jake (my great-uncle) and Dr. Charles (my second cousin), who presided over my birth.  (My grandfather was a jeweler and did the engraving himself.) Years later, when she was clearing out her house, she gave the dish to my parents, who passed it along to me.  Now I realize this lets everyone know EXACTLY how old I am, but it's such a great story I don't mind (much). 
 Here's an "after" photo.  Goddards worked miracles!
 I caught a panoramic view of my kitchen in the reflection -- as well as the photographer.
 Here's the dish right-side up with the lid.  Now that it's so nice and shiny -- not to mention the sentimental value -- I think I'd better find something else for my succulents!
I have two more similar dishes, both in need of polishing, so stay tuned!

I will be linking to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mama's Ma Lin

Every time I go to Little Rock to visit my parents, I look forward to playing with Mama's dishes.  I have blogged about at least two different tables set with Mama's beautiful Castleton Ma Lin china, but this time I wanted to try yet another color scheme.  Here's a photo of the pattern from Replacements.com. 
Replacements.com
I have set a spring table highlighting the yellow in the pattern . . .
and a fall table highlighting the "cinnamon" color, as Castleton described it:
This time, though, I wanted to try a spring table to bring out the pretty greens in the pattern.  I knew Mama didn't have any green table linens, so I stuffed some in my roll-aboard suitcase.  (The section designed to hold a carefully folded man's suit is perfect for placemats and napkins, if you ever need to know!)

Here's how the placesetting looked with green linens:
The placesetting included Mama's sterling, Reed and Barton's French Renaissance.  I love the shape of the salad fork's tines -- perfect for cutting through lettuce ribs or a firm pie crust.  I also included the iced tea spoon, since I'm using her iced tea glasses.
 Mama's crystal is Fostoria's Navarre, a beautiful etched pattern with the prettiest stem design.
Mama already had the perfect centerpiece on her table to go along with the blue in the Ma Lin design -- blue candles in her pair of double-light candlesticks and an arrangement of silk hydrangeas.
Here's a closer look at one of the candlesticks.  If anyone can identify the pattern, I would love to know it!  (Oops, you can see my striped shirt in the mirror as I take the photo!)
Here's one more look at the placesetting:
And one view of the table.  By the way, the mirror over the table used to hang in my grandfather's jewelry store in a small Arkansas town.  He used it to see who had entered the store as he sat at his workbench, repairing watches.
Thank you for visiting!  I will be linking to Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.