Valentine's Day Dinner

I'm sending this old post (complete with bad photography) to a fun linky party.  You can find it here:

Here's the way my post read almost two years ago:

We celebrated Valentine's Day a few days early with some special friends.  The table was a high/low mixture, which I love to do.  The only thing on the table that is strictly Valentine's Day is the salad plate, the rest is just a mix of red and white.

We're still in shock that we had Valentine's Day snow here in Georgia, but it did make for a pretty picture of the pond in the front driveway circle.

Of course, the swan  (egret? stork?) got a pretty ribbon and faux flower.  Isn't the snow pretty on that peony?  The bird always gets the decoration instead of the little guy, because I can reach it standing on the side of the pond surround. 

Next to greet our guests was this wooden plaque from Michael's that I just added pretty ribbons to and hung it from the "speakeasy door".  I forgot to take a picture of the gates which are the first thing guests see.  I hung heart shaped wreaths with faux peonies and lots of ribbons. 

Here's the inspiration for the table and one of my most cherished possessions.  It's a square linen cloth with heart trim that my sweet mom crocheted for me years ago.  It really pops on this red linen tablecloth.

I use it for Valentine's Day and often find a way to work it into the decor of a wedding shower.  I also used it in some way for both of my daughters' bridesmaids luncheons.

The centerpiece was a wicker and wood stand with holes just right for 3 common sized terracotta pots.  I fill them with oasis and then put as many red carnations into them as they will hold.  Then just a few galax leaves make a slight frill around the bottom.  This centerpiece will last for two weeks or more.

Here's a better look at it.  It's chippy and cheerful!

I'm sorry for the quality of this photo.  I forgot to get a close-up so this is over-cropped.  Do you see who came to dinner?  Look closely.  George Clooney!

I put some dream dates on the cardstock flag and asked everyone to pick a seat with the name they most resemble.  It was pretty fun.  Mr. Pressed Pants elected to sit here.  Good choice.  I also put a little glitter embossed and stamped heart on the flag and tucked it into these striped napkins folded in the shape of a heart.  If you Google "heart shaped napkin fold" you'll find several sites with instructions on how to do this fold.  BTW, I took the last seat and it was for Jennifer Aniston.  I hear you laughing!!!!

I chose my mismatched silverplate and the pearl handled knives. 

Glassware was these etched pinky-red stems for water (I'd still like to know more about these.  Anyone?), and Waterford Lismore wine glasses.

These sweet cherub candlesticks held simple white candles. 

The key to my heart, anyone?  I scattered several keys adorned with simple bows around the table.  These keys were actually handed to us when we closed on our first house, believe it or not!  That makes them a very nostalgic addition.

These red chargers are available anywhere and the dinner plates were just some I found at a yard sale.  They are more like pottery.  The red and white plate came from Target last year.  It is plastic.  I never hesitate to use plastic mixed with "good stuff".  Unless you are celebrating a very solemn occasion, go for the mix!  I use these simple red glass bread and butter plates lots of different ways.  Can you see the heart shaped butter pats?

Waterford wine coasters, a French butter container and red s/p shakers finished off the table.

The back of each chair had lots of tulle, ribbons, and a sparkley red heart.  Who doesn't love a sparkley red heart?

As usual, I carried the theme over to the guest powder room.  That small heart shaped box held Altoids.  I got this idea from my best friend.  She always has them in her powder room.  It is so nice to pop one in after garlic bread, ya know?  I just leave the lid slightly ajar and welcome anyone to freshen up!

These frilly flowers and this cherub embossed salt glazed pitcher are made for each other.

And.....as the other powder room says on a vintage postcard......."Valentine greetings" to all of my blogging friends.

You'll find me posted at Between Naps on the Porch for Susan's Tabletop Thursday party.  Be sure to visit for lots of inspiration.

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Chinese Lunar New Year

I want to start this post with a wish of Happy New Year to my special little Chinese girls (Anna, Mackenzie, and Grace Ingram), and a disclaimer: I don't know how to set a table for a Chinese dinner.  Where do these things all go?  I sort of went with the Western way of doing things here, but I'd love a critique!

This was so much fun.  All that I knew I wanted to do was use gold and black and red.  I had a consultant tell me that much.  Thank you Caroline!  And I had lots of these colors.

A simple white orchid moved to the center of the table.  Easy so far!

World Market's white paper lanterns are battery operated. The arms of the chandalier are perfect for them.  I'll switch them on for you later. 

Then I sprinkled these river rocks and coins on the black tablecloth.  At first, I thought the coins were all alike, but looking closer, I think they were from different dynasties. 

A simple gold charger was topped by this black and white dinner plate from Target.  It is from their basic Home line and is the Black Band pattern.

My trusty red salad plate from Ballard's was next.

These cute rice bowls from World Market have this pagoda design on the outside......

with the tip of the pagoda on the inside.

These tiny little sauce bowls are from World Market, too.  They are only about 2" across.

Porclein spoons can be found everywhere.  I like to use them for single tastes of appetizers and even desserts.

Simple white Palm Restaurant napkins wrapped with corsage bracelets from the floral wholesaler hold red chopsticks.  They show up well on the black tablecloth.

World Market again!  They come ten to a tube.

These old red glass stems are workhorses!  I'll probably be using them again this week for Valentine's Day.

Tradition has it that a red envelope.....

filled with coins bring you good luck.  Well, when isn't money in envelope good luck????

My favorite plates were these dessert plates that tied the whole color scheme together.  (If only I had remembered dessert!)

 We started with steamed pork dumplings and a tangy soy dipping sauce.

Next up was Mr. Pressed Pant's favorite, egg drop soup.

The main course was a double helping of chicken: mandarin orange chicken and ginger chicken in egg noodle nests.  Recipes for the meal will follow. 

How about this photo of the orchid at night?

It was fun and festive and Mr. Pressed Pants proclaimed it a "home run" meal.  Oh, yeah, I promised you the recipes.  Well........just go to Trader Joe's and you'll find everything but the egg nests.  That recipe came from "Tea Time" magazine in their January/February 2011 issue.  They give you a whole menu of tea food for this occassion. In very little time, I was serving!!!!!

This was stepping out of the box for me.  Not the food, (who doesn't order Chinese), but the table.  How'd I do?  

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Thursday Tablescape party.  Be sure to visit this for great inspiration!

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Timeless Garden Design

There is is!!!!  Hope!!!!

What a wonderful feeling!!!! 

When I start seeing this, my thoughts go to the garden.  You know.....the one in my head.....the one that will surpass any garden I've every planted.  Where every plant thrives, every bulb blooms, the deer don't feast, the hardscape appears with just a wish, and the temperature is always pleasant.

When I reach for this book, I'm sure I can attain that perfection.  Well, let's just say, I'm sure I can be a step closer.  THIS year, I'll be happy with my efforts. If you haven't seen this, please find a copy and take a peek.  It's published by Wyrick & Company. 

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

It is authored by Mary Palmer Dargan and Hugh Graham Dargan, both landscape architects from Atlanta.  She has spoken at my garden club and charmed us all.  A few of my friends get to live with the results of their work, and let me tell you, it is beautiful.

 They aren't promising that I can turn this......

Photo from Timeless Garden Desigtn

 into this, but their advise is so sensible and presented in such a way that you'll feel like you've attended a wonderful gardening seminar. 

Here's the premise:

Your landscape is divided into a four-part master plan.

1. The Approach and Arrival sequence creates a sense of anticipation

2.  The Hub is the property's natural center.

3.  The Perimeter consists of outdoor spaces wrapped tightly around the house.

4.  Passages to Destinations animate movement around a property and invite the enjoyment of garden places.

Photo from Timeless Garden Design 

I know....even though that is simple, it sounds technical.  Believe me, this book makes it anything but.  Usually, gardening books are either informational or beautiful.  This one is both.  It's sort of "a spoonful of sugar".

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

The approach and arrival section covers just that,  the first impressions of your house. You know how there are homes on your daily travel routes that you're dying to see?  They tease you with a sense of promise within.  So much of that is due to the placement of the house on the land and the landscaping.

 

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

It even addresses ways to park your car that are LEED appropriate and sensible.

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

                      An example of The Hub.

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

Then, under the chapters of Destinations and Passages, you'll be treated to advise and photos addressing "Getting There", and "Staying a Little Longer".

Photo from Timeless Garden Design

And who wouldn't want to stay?

Here's where this special book resides.

Right here with some of my very favorites......

in the breakfast room, where I can grab one for a quick visit while the water comes to a boil!!! 

I love my books and they are all over our house.  I can't think of a room that doesn't have books in it.  (Yes, even those little rooms.)  Even if they are used for that old decorator's trick of elevating of a lamp, they are read and re-read and memorized in some cases. I give thanks so often for my eyesight, as that sense, more than any other gives me joy and entertainment and pleasure.  I'm never disappointed by the gift of a book, and I give them often.  I hope they are appreciated as much as mine are.