White, Birch, and Antlers

Sometimes, a table just comes from nowhere.  Many times, I sort of "percolate" a design and think and gather and play with options.  Today, this started with a quick errand that inspired me to set this table. 

Sort of woodland, sort of winter, and sort of serene.

These latex birch placemats were left over at Pier One from their holiday line.  I never saw them at Christmas time, but spied them in the clearance area last week.  I mean clearance!  They were originally $5.95 but were 90% off.  Yep!  Fifty-nine cents.  I sure wish they had more than four.

With the wood grain of the placemats, I decided to add wood grain plates.  These came from Boxwoods in Atlanta, my favorite table-top store.  (Maybe my favorite all-around store.)

I thought I'd pick up the grey in the placemats with these ikat napkins from Pottery Barn.  I never saw them in the regular store, but found them at the outlet.  I used them to separate the dinner plate from the salad plate. 

Then, for some more grey, I chose this twig flatware that Michael Aram designs for MadHouse.  Beautiful! 

I tried several different combinations of stemware, but settled on my trusty Waterford.  I like  rustic/elegant, high/low combinations.

Whole Foods was on my errand list anyway, and their flowers are often so interesting.  This week was a bonanza of glorious spring blooms.  I don't even remember putting these in my cart, I was so fast.  I had this white washed birch vase that seemed perfect, so into it they went.  I'm not too good arranging flowers without oasis to stick them into, but these soft stems do not want to be jammed into oasis, so this arrangement is sort of sketchy!  I did add some river birch twigs from the yard to give it a little more interest.

Just look at these feather edged Dutch tulips!

And I truly wish you could smell these fabulous hyacinths.  Heavenly!

Without a runner, this arrangement seemed sort of lonely and puny, so I grabbed these silvered antlers from the living room to extend the interest. 

They helped, didn't they? 

Then I remembered these silver antler candleholders that I've never even used yet.

They are a little small for these white faux bois candles, but even if the proportions are a bit off, I think they worked just fine. 

A Waterford crystal wine coaster seemed to be the best choice, since I have the Waterford stems on the table already. 

Because it's so cold out, I knew we'd be drinking coffee after dinner, so I sat the cream pitcher, sugar bowl, and a small custard dish with sweetener onto a fluted tin plate.  Grey and white again, get it? 

I can't wait to sit at this table, smelling these spring blooms, while we await the "snow event" here in Georgia.  We've been hearing about snow for days. It's ok.  We'll light the fire and cozy up reading tonight.  I need to finish my book for book club by Tuesday!!!

Joining:

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Monday Funday

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The Inspiration Gallery (Thurs.)

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Jan Olson

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21 Rosemary Lane

The Creative Exchange (Thurs.)

The Happy Scraps

Well, Hello Sunshine

Look what we've got here!!!  Sunshine!!!  After living in Cleveland, Ohio three times, you'd think that I'd be used to dreary skies during the winter, but I've been sorely missing our Georgia sunshine this winter.  I can't remember such a grey, grey stretch.

This was a cheerful bunch of Kroger flowers and they begged to come home and replace some of these darned poinsettias that just won't give up.  I have such a hard time throwing good plants out, but I'm so over them.

Here's this morning's cheerful breakfast table.  Since today is MLK day, Mr. Pressed Pants slept in and my mom, who is visiting, ALWAYS sleeps in, I had time to greet them with a bright and sunny table in the breakfast room.

These exuberant plates from Target set the tone.  What's better than a shot of pink and green?

The table accessories were fun, too.  The s/p set and the cow creamer are both from Pierre Deux years ago.  The majolica leaf dish is a good choice to hold sugar packets, both full and then empty.  The French butter dish and twig spreader finish it off. 

The pink napkins are from the Palm restaurant line of linens, the knot napkin ring from Old Time Pottery, and the flatware is from Cost Plus World Market.  Nothing precious here but the guests!

This glass stoppered bottle and Ikea green glasses both held the oj.

Just a cozy three for homemade French toast and strawberries.  (You can tell it's a holiday when I make French toast, and not use frozen.)

My soul must have needed some pink, because it sure makes me smile. 

See the sunshine out there? 

"Bartholomew" is enjoying it, too.  Now, if this holds, there's a round of golf for me this afternoon.

Joining:

Tablescape Thursday

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Between Naps on the Porch

Centerpiece Wednesday

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The Style Sisters

Show and Tell Friday

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My Romantic Home

The Scoop

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Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Inspire Me Tuesday

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A Stroll Thru Life

Table It

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Rustic and Refined

Home Sweet Home

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The Charm of Home

Sheltered Nest Friday

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French Country Home

Wow Us Wednesday

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Savvy Southern Style

Make It Pretty Monday

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The Dedicated House

Fridays Unfold

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www.nancherrow.com 

Moonlight and Mason Jars (Wed.)

Making a Christrmas Eve Memory

Doesn't she look like she has a secret?  This is Tammy (or Tinsel),  She is a registered Percheron belonging to Derek and Rebecca Smith.


Here's what she had planned for us on Christmas eve day!  A surprise horse-drawn toboggan ride!  (That's me....that black lump in the cart beside Driver Derek.)

Here's the cast of characters: Owen, our youngest grandchild; Lizzie, his cousin, who is Rebecca and Derek's daughter; and Teddy, our middle grandson.  Adam, our oldest, was invited, too, but he had a date with Mr. Pressed Pants.  We missed them both.  That little guy over Teddy's shoulder is not related to me! 

Derek takes the gang down to the paddock area.  Rebecca and Derek recently bought this wonderful old farm called Valley High.  You can see a canine and an equestrian tablescape I did at her house just after she moved in here and here.

This photo of the Smith's herd was taken a few days earlier, before the snow.  The little pony, Licorice, seems to be in charge here!  She's leading 6,000 pounds of Percheron, bless her heart!

Well, this majestic girl was picked to be our playmate. Tammy, aka Tinsel, is a registered Percheron, a draft breed that originated in Perch, France. (That is probably why I like her!).  This is the breed that built America. The were important in farming, coaches, taxis and hauling, and most well known as the horses that pulled up the tents for Ringling Bros circus.  They almost went extinct after the war, when the tractor took over.

Into the barn she went to get all geared up for us.  There were even brass sleigh bells for her, but she was a little new to this, so after we all admired her bells, they were hung back up.  Man, this is WORK getting this done!  That's a lot of horse to manage and a lot of hooks and stuff!

Here's Rebecca getting her hooked up to the pretty, red forecart.

And off she goes for a little spin without kids first!

How much fun is this????????  A horsedrawn tobaggan ride!  How cool!

Look at those smiles!

The Smiths have a large front yard, which will have lots of hoof prints in it come spring, since the ground was not yet frozen.

Just look!

It's a good thing Derek knows what he's doing, because that's a big animal to control!

There were a few dumps, but they could run to catch up.  And I'm surprised to say that I didn't see anyone intentionally pushing someone off.  Real surprised!

Here's Rebecca thanking Tammy for all of her work.  And I want to thank them for all of their generosity.  It was a very special moment in the holiday.  Our daughter, Susie, was especially grateful, as Christmas eve day is a time when she needed the boys to have an activity.....out of the house.  Know what I mean?

And afterwards, I suggested the boys hop into the old sleigh for a photo op.  See what's in both guy's hands?  What do you think happened just after the camera snapped?  That's right folks!  I got two snowballs in the head.  I still love them dearly and was so very, very, very glad to be able to spend the most special time of the year with them and the rest of my precious family.

"EPIC" Winter Storm Breakfast

 

The Pink Pagoda is such a lovely blog and I follow it regularly.  Jennifer is hosting a blue and white linking party and she's particularly looking for seasonal posts, so here's my offering.  It's an old post taken during a freak snowstorm here in Georgia.  We made the most of the event and snuggled in with lots of hot chocolate and fires.  I pulled out these blue and white snowman dishes that I hadn't used in a long time.  Here's the post:

 

 

You won't believe this, but we have more snow in Atlanta!!!  This is being hailed as historic, even EPIC by the weathermen and newscasters.  Mr. Pressed Pants even closed his business today.  Actually, he never opened, as the roads are truly impassable and he didn't want any of his employees to even try to drive in this.

So this is the way the (late) breakfast table looked.  To reflect the weather, I dug out some old pottery that I haven't used in years.  I've said before that I used to be a blue and white girl, but that has changed.  However, I still have a ton of blue and white, and even though it doesn't look too hot in our green breakfast room, I really wanted to use Mr. Snowman.

I started with a tablecloth that I made years ago from Pierre Deux fabric and co-ordinating border. 

Then I used these plates that I think I got at Macy's many years ago.  They say Cooks Club on the back.  Wasn't that Macy's house brand?

I used the two sizes of plates.....

and the matching bowl.

 

The flatware is from some discount store, and the napkin is from the Palm restaurant line of linens that Homegoods carries.  I've had the napkin rings for years, too.  It has Blue Willow designs on it.  As a matter of fact, I think I got them at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Georgia.  (That could be another post!)

I'm really glad that I picked up these cute snowman glass coffee cups at Kroger the other day.  I just had a feeling that I "needed" them.  They were on sale for 50 cents a piece!

This thermos pot is another oldie.  I don't remember where I got it, but I love the Blue Willow design.

I served these delicious cranberry and orange muffins.....

from a box mix!!!!  I keep them on hand all the time.  They only take a sec to whip up and please note that they are "fat-free"!!!  Delish!!!  I also made hot oatmeal, but unfortunately I was out of our favorite oatmeal from Trader Joe's freezer foods.  They come two to a pack and they are the chewy, steel-cut kind.

With fat-free milk and Splenda, they are a low cal breakfast that REALLY sticks to your ribs.  You gotta try both of these!

Mr. Pressed Pants uses butter on his muffins, and I served it on this darling antique wooden butter dish with a Blue Willow china insert.  I am soooo careful of this little plate, because I know I could never find the right sized replacement if it broke.

This is cranberry apple butter in a white porcelain dish from Pier One, served with this cute white faux bois spoon from Christine's Creations.  It was a sweet store that has gone out of business in Woodstock.

After breakfast, we decided to take a walk in the snow and take some pictures of the "historic" event.  My mom sent this tray out for us with hot chocolate.  Sure wish she had known where the marshmallows were!

Sitting on the stone wall overlooking the lake, we couldn't believe how cute it was.  What's that?  Snowballs? 

 I had no desire to make a whole snowman, but couldn't resist a few snowballs. 

We wish that everyone could have stayed home today, safe and sound as we did, but by watching the news, it was obvious that that was not the case.  I hope that all those accidents were just fender benders.

So, after our brisk walk, here's what Mr. Pressed Pants did next.   

Z Z Z Z Z!!!!!!