A 2014 update

It's been a long, long time since I last posted. It hasn't even been that busy a year. Time just got away from me and I lost my blog voice. I'm back and I'll certainly post more frequently. Although, I won't  be joining blog parties. Working full time, being a discussion group leader for our evening Bible Study Fellowship class, family, friends and our yard just don't allow for that much time on a computer. Besides, I spend my days computing, so it's nice to keep the nights "off-line".

In February we took a trip to Ruidoso, NM. Mr. CJ won an all expense paid trip to stay at the Inn of the Mountain Gods from his employer way back when. So we decided a quick weekend away was in order. Perfect for our 40th Valentine's Day together. We are such saps!! LOL. 

 

Although not the most elaborately put together table I've ever done, the guest of honor was beside herself with glee. Our precious middle granddaughter Zoë has always loved the color purple. Shamefully this grandmother had no purple dishes, glasses, linens. Nary one stitch of purple was to be found in this house. So what was she to do? Ebay! Sweet Cherry Kay from Entertaining Women blog pointed me in the right direction. Copeland Spode Mayflower came home in droves. I only had 2 weeks to pull this off. You would be surprised how many dishes you can buy and have them all arrive in time. Dinner plates, salad/dessert plates, bread and butter plates. Now to find some bowls and serving pieces. Zoë has her first set of dishes! She's also be getting the Old Company Plate Signature silverplate. It goes so perfectly with the dishes.  When I told Zoe that these were hers, she was really overjoyed. Surprised even me. However, since she's entering first grade next year, I still have many years to enjoy these.

For the centerpiece, I pulled out a white Hutschenreuter tureen, filled it with purple petunias still in their plastic pots, stuffed a bit of purple crinkle filler grass around the edges and had a centerpiece done in minutes. Later Zoë got to take the plants home and plant them in her yard.

 

April. I never tire of Wisteria. It's always a big joy to find the first glint of purple showing from the vines. 

By the end of the month, the vines are covered in green and the planting, mulching, pruning, has begun in the yard. I had an abundance of tulips that bloomed this year. Not so many last year. Wonder what made the difference.

May usually brings on the first summer event. It's still cool enough to enjoy being outdoors. By June we are usually roasting! Even in the evenings. I set a simple table for our annual wine and cheese party. White runner, jars for vases, black flatware, black napkins encased in a wine cork napkin ring. Two wine bottles were filled with citronella oil and a bottle wick. I found the bottle wicks on amazon.

After filling your empty bottle with citronella oil, drop the topper with attached wick into the bottle and allow the oil to saturate the wick. The large "sleeves" came from Pottery Barn a couple of years ago.

 

The napkin rings were a breeze to make. I got into our "stash" of corks and pulled about 30 of them. I had seen them done somehere where they had drilled a hole right through the cork. Telling Mr. CJ I needed a drill press for a dinner party got a. very. strange. look. So I found some tiny eyelets and screwed one into each cork end. Then I looped a length of twine through the eyelet and tied the corks onto the napkins. Seriously, 5 dollars for eyelets, had the twine and corks, and about 90 minutes.

 We are still enjoying the candle holders on the fence. They are magical at night. Like fairy lights twinkling.

  

Of course we count it a blessing when our friends enjoy themselves at our home. 

We've got another dinner party planned for next weekend. We are getting some very much needed rain in Lubbock right now (day two of the sky falling) so all last minute stuff will really be last minute! 

I'll leave you with what looks like a January sun rise. A beautiful sky.