Bienvenidos a nuestra casa

Welcome and thanks for stopping by. It's raining outside, but in here we are going to be dining on some delicious south of the border delicacies. In honor of your visit, I've used our favorite Talavera pottery dishes; Guatamalen woven runner, place mats and napkins; and our Mexican sugar mold.

It's still early, but do come on in.

Have a nice glass of iced tea, or could this be a cold adult beverage?

Normally we would have live ivy or other trailing plants interspersed with the tea lights, but the streets were flooded this morning and driving required oars. So we'll make do with a bit of faux ivy. I usually go to the nursery and pick up some seedlings (or plants in very tiny 1" square pots), remove them from the pots and place them inside a clear baggy and then place them in on of the cylindrical openings. Then after dinner, I'd love for you to take the plant with you as a remembrance of a great evening.

What is this pattern you ask? It's created by the craftsmen and each piece is an individual pattern. No two will be exactly alike.

The tortilla warmer is awaiting the tortillas and will be placed in the oven just long enough to warm them through.

How did I do this? Oh not so hard. Find yourself a salt cellar and cut a paper the width of the diameter of the cellar. Hold it vertically in the center of the cellar. Pour salt on one side, pepper on the other. Remove the paper. Tap the cellar on the table a few times - lightly. Serve with a salt spoon.

You like our glasses too! Hand blown in France, we brought them home from Santa Fe several years ago.

It's a bright colorful table for sure.

From where did we get the brassware? It was a gift from my mother about 30 years ago. Made in Thailand with rosewood handles.

Watch the opening for a clue as to whether it's salt or pepper. Pepper has 3 openings and salt only has one.

Another intriguing pattern.

Although the openings in the antique are cylindrical, you can insert clear votive holders into the openings and then you can use tea light candles.

The backs of old silver are as interesting as the fronts, don't you think?

Bright and casual for a rainy evening inside.

Click here to find out about what you can do with the 'piloncillo" that comes out of the mold.

A glimpse of one of the plates. So you'd like to sit here?

The Guatamalen linens are all cotton, hand woven, color fast and wear extremely well. Purchased in Santa Fe at the Chile Shop.

Come back again sometime soon, we love having you at Casa de Bennett.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I love to hear from you. It makes my day! I've also linked to the lovely Susan's Tablescape Thursday. Click the picture below to feast your eyes!