The table that almost wasn't

Ever have a day week where everything is just a bit off kilter? You go to get flowers and after the third stop, you decide that the flowers have all died and gone to flower heaven because there are only some seriously sad looking ones around. You thought it was Mardi Gras a week early. The greenery in the yard is frost bitten, oh yeah what there is of it. So you are left in quandary: to table or not. This is life, make the best of it! Table!!       So we are dining simply this evening. 

 A self-sewn burlap runner down the table. Each setting anchored with a black felt placemat. 

Topped with a shabby wooden charger.

And then a white dinner plate.

Black and white transferware on top of the black sateen napkin creates a setting of interest.

For a bit of whimsy, I used 4 salad plates from Villeroy & Boch that depict humorous hunting scenes. The plates are in a mixture of French and German. Saar is a state now in Germany, but once was part of France. They speak a dialect that encompasses words from both languages in that area.

Love these plates. On this plate, the hunter is chasing the animals as they are running around the thicket. Loosely translated: This is ridiculous, been going around the thicket 6 times now and can't see the buck." Actually the term used is Bock which refers to a goat, but I don't see one in the picture!

Another loose translation: Darn it Seppi (a guy's name), the buck isn't back there! 

This one is labeled in a mixture of French and German. Another loose translation: Lauban (dog's name) Come here and bring it back, you evil beast!

Now this one is funny, as the dog has torn off the bib front of the hunter's Lederhosen. It says: Teifi, Phylax (dog's names) Devil, evil this is a nice gift. Bescheerung actually cannot be translated as it is the word for the entire "ceremony" of opening gifts. Did you notice that not one animal was harmed?  

Close up of a bit of the rim area.

Black and silver flatware adds a bit of elegance to the table.

Curvaceous French Countryside glasses go so well with this setting, don't they?

A hand-painted centerpiece that was supposed to hold flowers, is also painted with animals. Look at those darling ball feet!

Tried some frost bitten greenery left in the yard, but it was too bad to leave on the table!

To tie the candles into the table, I tied twine around the pillars and this brought the burlap up from the table.

 

Cast:

Burlap runner - fabric from Hancock Fabrics

Black felt placemats - Halloween item from TJ Maxx

White wooden chargers - Pier One

Plates - Wedgwood Windsor

Hunt salad plates - Villeroy & Boch

Black and white  farm scene salad plates - Royal Stafford

Crystal - Mikasa French Countryside 

Flatware - Hampton's San Remo - Horchow's

Black Sateen napkins - Tuesday Morning

Centerpiece - Handpainted Coimbra, Portugal - Horchow's

Candle holders - Hobby Lobby

*Disclaimer: nothing for this table was purchased especially for this tablescape. All items have lived in the house for a long time. ;-)

I'm linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. It's a lovely place to hang out and a wonderful chance to visit many other plate addicts!