Remembering our Heroes

This nation pauses today to honor our fallen heroes in the military.  Please join me as I thank the entire armed forces for their service and their sacrifice.  I must also express my thanks to the families of these brave men and women, as theY await the return of their loved ones.  And sometimes they do not return, or they return seemingly different than the person who left.  This is also a sacrifice, and I appreciate it greatly.  How fortunate we all are that we are protected by such selfless people.  

My grandsons make me so proud when they see a serviceman or woman.  They march right up to them and say thank you.  Be like them.......THANK EVERY SERVICEMAN YOU SEE!

Flowers From My Girl

When our older daughter, Amy, sent me these beautiful flowers for my birthday, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.

I pulled the salmon color out of the arrangement with this tablecloth, and then featured the red and yellow with the rest of the table.  

There were beautiful fuchia flowers, too, but one more color on the table would have made it look like fruit salad.

Here's what our quick lunch table looked like. It was a simple lunch of salad, since a wonderful dinner out was planned. 

I'd been wanting to use these rooster salad plates from World Market for a while, so they were the perfect choice.  I layered them with a red dinner plate from Ballard's and a woven charger.

This vintage red stem was the only glassware, because it was lunch, ya know?  We had to DO things later. 

These French napkins are some of my favorites, and they are held in this orange knotted ring from Old Time Pottery.  I see one of my favorite high-end stores carry these as well.  I bought them for $1.69 vs. $8.00.  Score!   I might have bought them in several other colors as well.

This multi-colored flatware was already out because I was going to use it for Cinco de Mayo.

It was a gloomy, gloomy day, but man, those flowers sure did make me happy!

And look who came to celebrate my birthday with us.  Frenchie!  You can see my first post of Frenchie here. 

You can't tell by looking at him, but he's really excited about my birthday lunch.

The Greatest Guest Bloggers!

This remarkable table design is brought to you by my remarkable grandsons.  Owen, 9, and Teddy, 12, were visiting and they wanted to create their own table.  I thought that was a great idea, so in between golf and swimming one day, they came into the house to make their version of magic.  I did nothing other than find things for them when they asked for them.  They shopped the house, the garage, the basement and just about every cupboard and closet.

 

My only requirement was that they use something under the "centerpiece" and the dishes, whatever they determined that would be.  So, down a burlap runner, they piled up lumber pieces they found in the garage.  They deemed wood as close to flowers, "because it's from nature".  Good so far!  Then, in my craft room, they found sticks, which were added rather gracefully, I must say.  THEN, a helicopter.  OK.

Then the toy closet (which is really the panic room), yielded rescue rangers, and a toy fire fighter's hat.  They wanted to "feature Boys Through Their Ages".  Every table needs a theme. 

To go with the wood centerpiece, there were safety goggles, a tape measure, and a hammer.  Then, as you can see, there is a turkey call, as well!!!!!  I loved this so much! 

I thought this was particularly inspired:  They took a safari toy cage and used it to house the salt and pepper shakers!  Fabulous!

Tortoiseshell glasses were chosen after much discussion. (Fighting.)

These quilted French placemats were a good choice.  The pinecone charger "matched the wood", and the natural colored dishes were the "something not fancy".  The flatware "matched the wood" too.  (Well, it DID!)

Weren't these napkins a good choice?  I'm blown away by their sense of color.  

This was the first selection for a napkin ring.

BUT, this one won out.  Rabbits with stags.  Well, ok.

Here's the placesetting.  Pretty sophisticated, right?

This is the most beautiful table that has every been set in this room.  

And this was one of the most wonderful meals.  These guys were so proud and I can't wait to have them do this again.  I'm flattered that they wanted to be part of my blog and so very proud of the results.  James Farmer and Eddie Ross might have some competition!

Carrots and the Cutest Company

The boys are on their way!!!!!  Two of our three grandsons and our daughters are coming for their spring break.  These guys are NOT the pastel, fluffy little bunny type, so I've set a table that is clearly celebrating Easter, but is bright and cheerful and much more of interest to these young men.

Upon arriving at the door, they'll see this new wreath.

It's grapevine, silk forsythia, burlap carrots, and burlap bows.  I found it at Old Time Pottery.  I think it's as fun as the table inside.

Doesn't this look like a place where there will be lots of giggles and joking around?

The very first item that I decided to use it this wonderful decoupaged tin pitcher that my BFF brought me for my (early) birthday.  See the carrot on it?  Well, away I went with a carrot theme.  I know there are many who scoff at "theme table", but am not one of them.  I get a seed planted in my brain and it takes on a life of its own.  When you are the insomniac that I am, you obsess over most tables until you sometimes just get up and start pulling things together, and most times there is a common thread.  You can call it a theme table, or one with a common thread!!!! Ok by me!  At any rate, these great orange tulips were 3 bunches for $12 at Whole Foods this week.  Perfect!

Can you just see me doing my happy dance in the aisles of Pier One when I spied these napkins?  You should have been there!  The napkin knots are from Old Time Pottery and were $1 each.  Cha-ching.  I already had these orange rimmed salad plates that I bought for a wedding shower a couple of years ago.  I never could have guessed how much I have used them.

Under the salad plate, there is a white everyday dinner plate, a rattan charger, and a bright green straw placemat.  The green flatware is from World Market.  I sure wish I had bought service for 8 instead of just 4.  Dang!

I once had 8 of these bright green stems, though, but now I only have 5.  :-(  These orange glasses are from the same wedding shower.

These leaf embossed bread and butter plates are from the floral wholesaler, and I have a couple of different sized platters to go with them.  I felt these little twig spreaders went with the table, too.

Pier One had these tiny paper mache carrots that I used almost as confetti, and just scattered around.

These old oak and brass barley twist candlesticks seem to be on almost every table I do.  They are so versatile and they still make my heart stand still.  This runner is used to be a picnic sized tablecloth that I cut up for runners.  It made three and I can use them several different ways.

My daughter's mother-in-law gave me this sweet little bunny and chick salt and pepper set.  Aren't they darling?  

I love to take this shot, but I couldn't quite get it centered.  Oh, well.

We'll have some meals on paper plates, some in restaurants, some on picnics, and some at this fun table.

I can't wait to see those little guys with their devilish grins, smelling like chlorine from the pool.

Nothing precious or fragile.

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A Welcoming Committee Like No Other

The other day, I arrived at a committee meeting at my friend, Brenda's house and everyone was standing out on the driveway. What was going on?  What was the attraction?  It was Balthus van Tassel, the welcoming turkey!  He was named after the farmer with a long beard from Sleepy Hollow.  Isn't he magnificent?  No one wanted to go in.  I thought we might have to meet in the driveway.

Yes!  They hang out where ever they want.  Brenda said that the other day they were down at the mailbox helping the road crew!  

I sort of felt sorry for the hens.  They had some cute tricks, but were not nearly as pretty as Balthus.

See?

I guess they are not as social, either.  A little aloof compared to Balthus, right?

Then there are the "regular" chickens.  Nothing regular about these beauties.  If you are very lucky, Brenda will gift you with some eggs from her gang.  They are so good, and they make every egg I buy from the market taste like sawdust.

Well, as the cars were pulling out after the meeting, guess who got put behind bars?