Robin for Lunch

One of the sweetest women I have ever met came for lunch one day a while ago, and I am just getting around to posting about it.  Frankly, my interest in blogging has been waning, and family stuff has taken precedence, but today, I want to share with you a very special afternoon.

Several years ago, when I first started blogging, I was struck to discover that one of the bloggers that I had been following lived in my little town, north of Atlanta.  I was thrilled to get together with her and found her delightful and inspirational.  Time passed and I thought about her fondly, but it was just this April when she accepted my invitation for lunch.  It's Robin from "All Things Heart and Home"!!!!!  

Here's the table I set in my breakfast room for the two of us.  After I showed her around our home, we sat down and chatted like old friends.  We shared about our lives, our loves, our children, and all of our precious grandchildren.  How refreshing it was to be with a woman of such depth and class and quality.  Her faith is real and so is her joy for life, and I treasured every minute that we shared.

From following her blog, I knew Robin was a girly-girl, so I chose to start planning the table with my Grandmother's Haviland china.

Grandma's name was Rose Ellie, and mine is Linda, so I guess I was meant to get her Rosalinde pattern.  She gave it to us as a wedding present and it is so special to me.

Here it is on a soft green dupioni silk cloth.

I picked up the pink roses and lavender in the pattern for the centerpiece.

Since this was a small table for two, I kept the arrangement small and low in this pink tole cachepot.  A little bit of lamb's ear softened it just a touch.

I also wanted to use this majolica patterned plate, so that is what I chose for dessert which was a lemon curd pavlova with raspberry sauce.

Just for photos, I stacked these with green depression glass plates and a pink cabbage leaf plate, which I actually used as a bread and butter plate.

A pink linen napkin was held in a silk apple blossom holder and I chose this French flatware with cream handles. 

This pink etched cranberry glass held water.

Here's the cabbage plate.

The accessories included these Imperial glass salt and peppers,

a pink LuRay platter with Waterford cream and sugar,

and a French glass water bottle that I placed in a Waterford wine coaster. 

I embellished things just a bit with these little paper boxes since it was just before Easter.

And, as a little take-home favor, I made a packet of embossed bunny tail stationery for her.  Robin is such an accomplished DIYer, that I thought she would appreciate it! 

It was such a pleasure to host this lovely woman, and even though it's been a while since we were together, I'm still thinking about our conversation.  Thanks, Robin.....let's do it again soon.

A Mother's Day Guest Post

Sometimes life sends you a friend that you'll have the rest of your life.  I was lucky enough to find such a friend many years ago, and she has been a follower of this blog since I started it.

Can you imagine my surprise and honor when she asked me if she could be

a guest blogger for me?  For Mothers' Day?  I said "yes" with tears in my eyes!

 

It is with great fanfare that I send you this Mothers' Day post, written from my dear 

friend, Jan.

My friendship with the creator of A Toile Tale began in 1987 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  A new family had moved in at the end of the block and they had two teenage daughters; that meant two possible babysitters!  If my memory serves me correctly, I packed up my 4 year old daughter and my 2 year old son and headed down to meet the new neighbors. Linda Peterson opened the door and with a warm smile, welcomed me and the kids in. That was the beginning of a 26 years (and still going) friendship with Linda, Larry (Mr. Pressed Pants), Amy Peterson Gralnik and Susie Peterson Yuhasz. 

Though many miles separate us these days (Linda and Larry live in the Atlanta area, Amy and Susie and their families live in the Cleveland area and I am in the Los Angeles area) we are still very present in each others’ lives.  I attended both Amy and Susie’s weddings and have watched them become accomplished adult women and most importantly, wonderful mothers of boys (who you know thru Linda’s postings). 

There is so much to share about why I love the Petersons, but since it’s Mothers Day, I’m choosing a story about my dear friend Linda – mostly because I want to honor her.  I’m not sure Amy and Susie know this story about their mom, but considering the age their boys are now, I have no doubt this heartfelt advice from their mom to me will surely might come in handy if not now, someday soon.

Linda wrote me this very important message after we had been talking on the phone.  I had been sharing some frustrations about one of my boys.  (Michael was age 15 at the time, so does this surprise you?)  After we hung up, these very wise words came to me via email on May 13, 2001.  I printed and saved these sentiments and have shared them with friends.  The paper they are printed on is old now and the edges are crinkled.  

No matter how long ago they were written, this note from Linda always provides me with the strength I need to be a good mom/right mom even now that my children are adults.  My guess is these thoughts have/will apply to you and your life as well.  It’s a Mother’s Day wish from me to all  A Toile Tale’s readers.  These words never cease to bring me to tears and make my heart hurt wishing I still lived right up the street from my dear friend Linda. 

Jan – I’ve been thinking about you today.  Mother’s Day is really all about you and where you are in mothering right now.  It is so much easier to give a bottle in the middle of the night than it is to wait for a teenager to come home in the middle of the night.  It is so much easier to watch a child who’s new at walking than one that’s new at driving.  It is so much easier to plan play dates than to counsel a child on who or what to date.

You are in the trenches right NOW, Jan.  I just hope you see that you are successful at your ”job”.  Your children are all so delightful and I love being around them.  They are caring, sensitive, talented and most of all, loving.  They are quality people.  Their character and their values are so special and that’s because a good mother has mothered them well….very well.  Please pat yourself on the back today.  Look at their sweet faces and know that you’re doing a damn good job.  You can’t make their every moment perfect, but you shouldn’t.  They need to learn to shoulder disappointment as much as they need to shoulder responsibility.  You’re not in charge of their happiness, just everything else in their life; their safety, their education, their meals, their haircuts, their dog, their clean sheets….everything else.  Then, when you have done your job, they get to go and make their own happiness.  We’re moms, not fairy godmothers.  There’s no magic wand….just day after day of lessons and discipline.  Here’s a hug to one of the best moms on earth.  Love, Linda

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers who try so hard and love so fiercely.   Thank you Linda, for always being there for me, no matter what.  You’ve taught me and modeled for me some of the most important things I needed to know about mothering. 

Xoxo, Jan Kincaid Clifford

Also remembering, with love, Mary Dora Bancroft Kincaid (1921-2007) and Patricia Gray Clifford (1931-2000)

There is nothing more to say.  Jan has written such a beautiful post and I love her for this.

Easter Greetings!

Happy Easter to you all!!!!!!

Our family has been visiting with us all week from Ohio, and even though the weather wasn't that great, the love and fun sure were!!!  Since they just left yesterday, we are having a very laid back Easter Sunday and there will just be the two of us for dinner tonight.

This unusual egg topiary caught my eye at the floral wholesaler, and I planned a soft, almost neutral table to go with it. 

These latex cabbage leaves are perfect for adding a spring look, so I used them under the chargers.

I picked up the brown and soft green from the eggs on the topiary with these linens.  I layered this polyester dupiani over a natural burlap tablecloth.

Then I chose tan and cream plates and cream handled flatware.

The scalloped charger and salad plate are from Z Gallerie and the middle, toast colored plate is from that fine tabletop store, Kroger!  The scallops aren't exactly the same, but they complement each other.

Not a lot of color, but very soothing and natural.

See the feather ribbon I used as a napkin ring?

It has the same feathers in the centerpiece.  I was sort of surprised when I found it in my stash, to be truthful.  A happy coincidence!

I gave brown and green glasses a try, but they made things look too fall-like, so I brought out the Waterford and it seemed so much better.

These candlesticks aren't old, but I love the patina on them, even though it's a factory applied patina, not the kind you would find on a lovely antique. 

These good old salt and pepper shakers were the only accessories I added, since I'll be serving our plates from the kitchen.

It's a gloomy day!  Here's a shot from inside the window at this table.  (Part of the gloom is the fact that our sunshine went back to Ohio with their mothers yesterday!)  Maybe that's one reason I chose such a subdued palate for tonight's dinner.

This is my usual Easter table.  See more of this table here.

And last year I did a bright yellow and green table.  See more here.

At this same table, I served Easter breakfast here.

I'm wishing each of you who celebrate this holy season a wonderful day!

Joining:

Wow Us Wednesdays

Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursdays

Between Naps on the Porch

The Tables of Boxwoods

This is where I go whenever I feel like I need a special little something, a gift, some inspiration, or just a pick-me-up.  Who needs a therapist when a stroll through Boxwoods does such a good job of lifting your spirits? The owners, Randy and Dan, have an eye for the finding the best inventory at very fair prices and have hired the perfect staff to welcome and help you.  You can see a post I did of their country home here.  I promise you that you'll want to live there!

Imagine my joy when they opened another store just across the street just for tabletop items.  Let me show you some of the tables that they have set with their beautiful merchandise.  There is a lovely pale turquoise room that they have set with linens and pieces of the same color combined with cream dishes.  They have the knack of layering and layering and then adding some more, but not seeming at all overdone.  Don't you want to just sit down at this table and pour some wine?

Here's another turquoise table they did with a totally different feel.

Every room has a charm and feel of it's own.

How about this breath of spring?  And those chairs?  I. die.

Downstairs they have this fresh little table for two.

And this green and blue designed with these plastic plates that look just like the real Italian dishes that they are made to look like.

Here's a more casual look with fun neutrals and lots of texture.

Look at how much interest is developed just by simply repeating the soft blue of the painting in the delphinium stems and the throw pillows.  It's so subtle, but lovely. 

And one more little shot of blue across the landing ties all of this together and keeps it from being too beige.  for me.  There's more, but I'm going back across the street to buy a hydrangea, shop the antiques, and talk to Tom and see what new fashion jewelry he has in.  If only they sold groceries here, I could do all of my shopping at Boxwoods!

To contact :

Randy Korando - interior design

Dal Belman - landscape design

Boxwoods Garden and Gifts

100 East Andrews

Atlanta, Ga. 30305

404-233-3400

A Grey, Grey Day

It's grey here.  Grey, grey, grey, grey.  In fact, it snowed this morning.  Yes,....SNOW in GEORGIA in MARCH.  This is not right.  But, a very fun couple are coming for a casual dinner tonight, and they will brighten things up a lot.  So I was inspired to set a grey table and keep it simple.

A grey table has been on my mind since I received this beautiful gift in January.  We had a lovely man here as a houseguest during the Atlanta gift show.  In fact he turned out to be the perfect houseguest with impeccable manners and incredible charm.  Thank you, David.  Thank you, thank you.  You're invited back anytime.

Here's a close up of this fabulous urn.  It is a composite material, but looks like grey carved granite.  It is distributed by a wonderful showroom at Americas Mart called Art as Antiques.  You can see their stock line here.  I am so crazy about this.  Can you see the incredible detail?

I knew I would use it with this grey and cream striped linen by Windsor Smith Home.  This is just a remnant from a project I did a while ago.

Here's what I came up with.  It's a very uncomplicated table that perfectly suits the dinner I have planned. 

The whole table.  It didn't bother me that the fabric didn't entirely cover the table.  I just felt it made it look a bit more casual and modern.

The only shot of color are these hot pink roses in old French seed pots.   

They look much better from this angle.

The chargers are some I made last year.  They are just inexpensive gold plastic chargers from Old Time Pottery that I sprayed with a primer, then chalk board paint, then covered with the side of a stick of chalk.  Then you wipe most of the chalk off and it looks like zinc.  I wish I could credit the blog I saw this on, but I have forgotten who it was.  

 

Then I chose this scalloped cream plate from Z Gallerie.

Next, I used a cream, linen faggot edged napkin with this chicken wire napkin ring from Pottery Barn.

These little zinc (well, tin) stands make interesting placecards with chalk names. 

To keep things very simple and clean looking, I chose these Tiffany water goblets and Reidel stemless wine glasses.

I started out with silverplate, but changed to this cream handled flatware that made things more casual.

The water pitcher is from Pottery Barn.

I have these small, square, cream dishes from Sur La Table that I was going to use as individual salt and pepper holders, but I decided that just one for the whole table was a cleaner look.

Rolls are going to go on this sweet little pedestal that I found in Cleveland at The Flower Factory.  Sadly, that has gone out of business.  It was a great source for inexpensive hobby products and giftware.

Ahhh.  Clean and simple and not at all fussy.  Just like our guests tonight.  (Well, I guess they ARE clean, but I wouldn't exactly call them simple!!!!!)

I'm pretty happy with this.  The only thing new is that wonderful gift from David.  Everything else is stuff I already had, but I have never put them together like this.

We'll have our coffee in the living room, so I set this up on a galvanized tray with a pewter cream and sugar set that I've had since we were first married.

We haven't entertained much since Christmas, so I'm thrilled to have this evening to look forward to.  Welcome, friends!!!!

I'm joining:

Tabletop Tuesday

A Stroll Through Life

Wow Us Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style

Open House Thursday

No Minimalist Here

Tablescape Thursday

Between Naps On the Porch

Feathered Nest Friday

French Country Cottage

Seasonal Sundays

The Tablescaper

Let's Dish

Cuisine Kathleen