Search This Blog

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Tables of 2011

New Year's Eve is always a time of reflection and making plans.  I have to admit that I am particularly looking forward to leaving 2011 in the past and moving on to a new year and all that it has in store for us.  Let's take a look at what 2011 looked like at our table! 

January
My mom spent a couple of months with us last winter and she loves chickens.  We had a good time putting this together and it was such a bright and happy table on a dreary day.  We were ready for some color and this did the trick. You can see this post here.

February
Trying to have a special dinner in a restaurant can sort of be like trying to have a good time on New Year's
Eve in a restaurant.  Not!!!  It's often a night of forced "romance" while the staff is focused on turning the table for the next couple.  To counter this, Valentine's Day has become one of our favorite times to give a dinner party.  See our pary
here.

March
Spring was soooo welcome here in Georgia.  I know that our winter was tropical compared to many places, but to us, it was much colder than usual.  This fabric with birds inspired me to do this table.  You can see it here.

April
Spring is so beautiful in Georgia and we are so blessed to have lots and lots of azeleas in our yard.  As a celebration of them, I put this pink and green table together.  You can see it here.

May
Peonies were the next flower that we celebrated.  I had a particularly good year for them, unlike some years in the past.  This table on the lower terrace was vibrant and fun.  See it here.

June
My bridge group came for lunch in June and I had so much fun planning this bright and fresh luncheon.  Take a look here.

July
Our two youngest grandsons came for a week in July and we had fun, fun, fun!!!!  Almost all of our meals were eaten pool-side, and were pretty darned casual, but they helped me set this charming table to match their swim trunks.  Inspiration can come from anywhere.  See what we did here.

August
I thought I'd show you an August table set up in the garden.  Our woods were full of lush ferns and I brought the theme onto the table.  It can be seen here.

August
When I found these unusual martini glasses, I began planning this tablescape.  I was thinking about heading into fall colors, but I loved this coastal look on this table.  Take a look here.

September
Labor Day was sort of unusual for us, but I did try to surprise Mr. Pressed Pants with this picnic.  Hurricane Lee had a different plan for us, but you can still see my ideas here.

October
This was a chance to have my bridge friends here again.  They are always so appreciative of a pretty table, so this is what I arranged for their fall lunch.  Join us here.

November
Thanksgiving was a delightful weekend with some very special friends.  We cooked, we ate, we laughed, we ate, we lounged, we ate, we shopped, and then we ate some more.  This was the night before Thanksgiving table. See what I am so thankful for here.

December
I thought I'd show you a non-red-and-green Christmas table.  This is seasonal, but not really Christmas.  I really, really love stags, so this came together easily.  Won't you join us here.

New Year's Eve
Here's what I'm planning for this year.  It is going to be the same as last year's table but with a different menu.  It will be a lovely way to end the year .  Here's the link.

Thank you all for your inspiration, your entertainment, and your support this year.  This blogging thing is enriching my life in a very surprising way.  I hope you've enjoyed the walk down memory lane with me.  I'm looking forward to a new year of tables and entertaining, but most of all, I'm looking forward to being with the people sitting around our table.  If "food is love", then tablescaping might be adoration!!! 



















Monday, December 26, 2011

I Got An Angel for Christmas

Here's my Christmas surprise!!! 
 I got an angel for Christmas!!!
Due to my Mr. Pressed Pants' job commitments, we were not able to travel from Atlanta to our family in Cleveland this year.  That meant that it would have been the first Christmas in my life that I would not be spending it with my sweet mother.  I thought I was being a big girl about it, but he caught me in a weak moment of tears and with the help of the entire family, hatched a plan.  I WAS expecting our older daughter, Amy and her son, Awesome Adam, but when they deplaned, they were pushing a wheelchair with my mom in it!!!!  I know it took enough planning to invade Poland to do this at the very last minute, and I am so touched and grateful for everyone who helped.  Brother, niece, nephew, daughter, grandson, and especially my husband.  It was the best gift ever!  Soooooooo.....we've all cooked lots of yummy food, set lots of beautiful tables and enjoy a million beautiful moments, but I've not stopped to take one picture.  I'm in the moment......in incredible, non-replaceable moments and I'll blog another time.  
Merry Christmas to you all!!!!! 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

One More Christmas Decor Post

I shot a few photos very quickly of the dining room and guest powder room.  "Quickly" is the important word here.  You'll see.  For example, this room is not leaning to the left, it was user error on the camera equipment!  But, it gives you a look at the buffet and it's decorations.

A beautiful woodland Santa with his burlap bag sits amidst the greenery.

And the heavy green pottery plate gets an asymmetrical bow.

Over on the chest, I have a little forest of faux trees and  paper mache deer.

Mr. Pressed Pants has a collection of walking sticks and canes in the corner.  This lucky one got a red bow.

I did a post last year on how I used this cloche filled with pinecones for a pinecone themed dinner.  See that post here.

No watering this centerpiece!

This little elf likes to sit in the sun on the bench.

The last white poinsettia just ended up on the floor.

In the guest powder room, I spruced things up with a bit of greenery.  "Spruced" them up!  Get it?

I still love this beautiful glass log that my friend sent me last.  I did a post here on it when it arrived last year.

The corner shelves held little pastel bottle brush villages.

Top shelf.

Middle shelf.

Lower shelf.

The vanity has a few additions for the season.

The best of which, are these lovely pine cone candles.

Whew!  Done!  Time for a glass of wine amidst the twinkle. 

You'll probably see this post at:
Metamorphosis Monday

Monday, December 12, 2011

A Little More Decor



My last post showed you the way our front door, entryway, and living room turned out.  You can see it here.
Today I'll show you our bar, breakfast room and kitchen.  Here is the English Setter tray on the wall as you enter the bar in the back of the house.  This photo must have been taken from a funny angle, because I promise you that this greenery isn't this strangely shaped!  It looks like a hat you could wear to a royal wedding!  But you get the idea.  Don't stand still around here or you'll end up with a bow and some greenery!

The drop leaf table holds an arrangement with the resin pheasant that you've seen here.  The top shelf holds some canvas Santas and the bottom one has several wood grained candles from Pottery Barn.

I've used a lot of the same items here that I have on the tree in the living room.

Under the pub sign, I've placed some very special Santas.  They are hand painted wooden cutouts that my mom and dad made for me years ago.

The keeping room lends itself well to the colors of the holiday.

I temporarily replaced the green plant here with the poinsettia.

Love this acorn mirror with a bit of fluff!

I don't know if you can tell, but the black forest sconce is a stag and so is the design on the plate.

The other end table.

On the breakfast room table, I've replaced some mums with poinsettias and left the ferns in there.

A yellow glittered Santa is on top of the step backed cupboard.

I like to think about this guy as our kitchen mascot. He came home from France with us and he likes this bow and greenery.

Can you read this title?  It's "Some Well Known Characters of Charles Dickens".  I prop this against the back splash, but I move it if I'm really slinging hash!

I love this guy, even if he does look a bit judgemental.

This green pottery pedestal usually has fruit on it, but I've replaced it with a bunch of bottle brush trees and "snow" that is really Epsom salts.

Last room!  The well used powder room off of the kitchen. 

The salt glazed bottles on the acorn sconce hold a bit of greenery.

Even this little guy says "Merry Christmas"!
Tomorrow I'll show you the dining room and guest powder room.  Hope you're all done.  How's the shopping going?

Some very generous bloggers are having some parties!  Stop by and view them.
Metomorphisis Monday

Open House Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday

Inspiration Friday

Fridays Unfold

Seasonal Sunday

Wow Us Wednesday


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...