A Blue and Yellow Birthday

One of my dearest friends recently celebrated a birthday and some of us took this opportunity to show her some love. This lunch was the result of this group effort.  It was held at our mutual friend, Anne's, beautiful home.

I agreed to do the flowers, and when I arrived, this beautiful table is what I saw!  Our honoree is a blue and white lover, so Anne pulled out this wonderful Blue Danube china, and set it on this Ralph Lauren tablecloth.  Waterford and vintage crystal added to the glamor.  Notice how, placing the china on a blue placemat makes all this pattern work perfectly!

Here's my centerpiece!  I have soooo many blue and white pots of all sizes and shapes, so I brought them filled with all sorts of bright yellow spring flowers.  Easy and pretty!

This worked so well and felt so fresh.

There were primroses,

tulips, daffodils, and gerbera daisies,

in a real mix of pots, including this one flow blue gravy boat.

The star is, of course, the daffodil. 

We even slipped one tete-a-tete daffodil into each silver napkin ring.

Anne added these precious little gifts for each person.  They are made from little left-over bits of clay from a potter.  Mine was this pink smile, and I have it on my kitchen window sill.  It brings a warm feeling to me every morning as I check the temperature and make coffee. 

Beth's was a tiny bunny, as she is a bunny lover!

One end of the table had these beautiful silver and crystal salt and pepper shakers,

And the other had these chubby little bluebirds.

Isn't this a beautiful table?

And isn't this a beautiful meal?  These are all Judy's favorites.  I wish I had a picture to show you of the delicious pound cake with blueberries that Beth made for dessert! 

It's my policy not to photograph my friends for my blog, but I wish you could see and know the incredible woman we celebrated here.  I have this birthday crown for all my friends to wear as we party with them, and it never sat on a more deserving head.  She is so caring, so spiritual, creative, funny, gorgeous, interesting, and just about perfect.  I am so fortunate to be her good friend, and I want her to know how loved she is.  My wish for you is that you all have such a friend.

New Year's Eve 2016

No matter how you feel about 2016, there had to be good times that you can celebrate.  I refuse to despair about the year, but rather count the many ways that I was blessed in 2016.  Mr. Pressed Pants and I prefer to celebrate the New Year at home, and this was our centerpiece.  The red amaryllis was the only color on the gold and white table.  Don't you love this vase?  One of my besties made this for me for Christmas.  I might be obsessed with it!

I set the table for four, just for photos, but was just the two of us dining.

I started with this gold and white tablecloth made by Luxe.  It's sort of Indian looking, and has the nicest sheen to the gold.

Nothing exactly says "New Year's Eve" here, but it is festive.

Here's an overhead.  You can see the white tulips and the paperwhites that I added to the amaryllis. 

A gold charger, a white scalloped dinner plate and a white and gold scrolly salad plate stack up and are simple but eye-catching.

White linen napkins from The Palm are held with a matte gold ring, and sit beside the cream French flatware I chose.

I had to add these clip-on candleholders with gold candles.  It is so fun to have your own flame at dinner.

This gold dipped glassware is joined by a gold stem from Pottery Barn.  Don't judge!!!!  We stayed home so we could use ALL of these glasses!

These fancy gold candlesticks add a little more elegance.

As darkness fell......

this all became prettier.........

and more intimate.

I am wishing you and yours a new year filled with blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

MENU:

Chevre Creme Brulee

with baguette slices

(Sounds like dessert, but it

is savory, and YUMMY)

Green Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

topped with Roasted Pear and Brie Wedges

Scalloped Oyster Bake

Brussel Sprouts with Pecans and Cranberries

Peppermint Ice Cream

Hot Fudge Sauce

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BFF and Berries

My BFF was in town from Charleston, and I knew we'd be shopping all day and trying new restaurants all evening, so that left only breakfast to eat at home.  I kept things simple but cheerful with a few items quickly pulled out of the cupboards.

Whole Foods had these lovely red and white tulips and I grabbed a few packages.  This made me begin the search for red and white.  Since I (and the whole world) had just done red and white for Valentine's Day, I looked in my vault (dish closet) for something else.

Aha!  Strawberry salad plates!  They would allow me to use the red and white flowers and bring in several shades of green, as well.  I used them over these white textured dinner plates from Kroger.  Yes, folks, Kroger.  Don't they look like Juliska??????

Starting with a white linen caterer's cloth.......

I added these strawberry embroidered napkins that a lovely guest gave me.  Then, this grass green placemat and red handled flatware brought the colors further together.

Our cereal bowls held Rice Chex with fresh strawberries.  These bowls are from Ballard.

The red coffee cups are also from Ballard, and these green glass juice glasses are from Ikea.

I thought the strawberry plates could go with these faux bois sugar and creamer.  

Mr. Pressed Pants was out of town, so it was breakfast for two, then lots and lots of shopping.  I hope you all have a best friend as awesome as mine!  I heart her.

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Springtime At Mary Janet's

Today I decided to do a simple trayscape in my sweet friend's yard.  The tray was actually just an excuse to visit her and photograph this exquisite display of springtime.  She is very generous to give all of the credit for this beauty to her husband, Cy, but a project of this scope probably takes the efforts of both of them.

This bedtray reflects the soft springtime colors.  I used vintage LuRay china on a cutwork placemat.  I usually use this china for our Easter dinner.  You can see a post of our retro Easter dinner from last year here.

Is there a house like this in your neighborhood?  With swaths of tulips and daffodils?

This is a beautiful, historic area of Atlanta with gracious lawns and beautiful homes.

And, come spring, the entire area waits for these blooms.  People even bring their grandchildren here to get their Easter photos.  

Our spring is so early this year that I almost missed the window to get this post.

This guy seems to be proudly surveying the expanse of florals.

I moved the tray from the tulips over to this incredible azalea for a quick shot or two.

I can't imagine a more beautiful background for this tray.

Sigh!!!!!!!

Between the house and the garage, they have made this charming area with fencing, an arbor, and a brick floor.

Look at these great pots.

I can't remember what vine they have on this trellis, but don't you love the shape of it?

These boxwoods will stay, but our Georgia weather will necessitate pulling those pansies out and replanting this window box on the garage.

This lovely pond is centered so that you see it through a huge Palladian window in their family room.

Some of the beauty was unintentional......

but lovely, never the less.

I'll shut up now so that you can just take a virtual tour.

This display is a gift to the city and people talk about it every year.  Cy actually lifts these bulbs and replants new ones every year.  Imagine!

Thank you, Mary Janet and Cy.  I've been waiting and waiting to be able to feature this. And thank you, also for the beautiful bouquet you sent home with me.