Candle shelves and other good things

Candle shelves for the fence. Okay, this could be a fire hazard, I get it. But it's so fun. Never, ever leave your candles unattended. Ever. Don't use them on a windy day. We saw these somewhere, a movie?, I didn't 'pin' it. Magazine? Don't really remember.

Anyway, much to my surprise, Mr. CJ got out his saw, some old fence pickets, and some brackets this afternoon. This being Mother's Day Sunday. No nap for him. He's one of the really good, other things.

With the past week of lower temps and rain, the plant life is doing really well. Another good thing.

Now with all the activity going on.. Regan assumed his spot on the back of Mr. CJ's chair. Doesn't he just look like he's about to slide off?

I guess it was too light out for him! We'll keep him around, he's a good thing.

Back to the productive member of the household, he cut the aged fence pickets into about 3 inch pieces. Aged so they would match our existing fence. Attached a small metal bracket on the bottom so that the piece of fence picket makes a shelf.

While he was doing that, I punched out some white circles and attached them randomly to the fence. Around the decor that happens to be hanging or plopped up against the fence. That way I could decide to move and rearrange before we drilled the shelves to the fence...

So we waited for it to get darker and plotted our next event in the backyard. Need to replant some grass, trim some branches, repaint the patio furniture.. sooo much to do this year.

And then it got dark... pretty magical. I think I'll be keeping these around for a while.. and then purchase a slew of battery powered candles. smile!

Have a beautiful week!

Happy Mother's Day

The Mother

by Robert W. Service

Your children grow from you apart,
Afar and still afar;
And yet it should rejoice your heart
To see how glad they are;
In school and sport, in work and play,
And last, in wedded bliss
How others claim with joy to-day
The lips you used to kiss.

Your children distant will become,
And wide the gulf will grow;
The lips of loving will be dumb,
The trust you used to know
Will in another's heart repose,
Another's voice will cheer . . .
And you will fondle baby clothes
And brush away a tear.

But though you are estranged almost,
And often lost to view,
How you will see a little ghost
Who ran to cling to you!
Yet maybe children's children will
Caress you with a smile . . .
Grandmother love will bless you still,--
Well, just a little while.

 Regan wants to know how you will spend your day... Do tell!

As for us, after Church, and a family lunch... I'll be culling through the reading material. It's growing exponentially!!!

Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!  Linking up to the Tablescaper's seasonal Sundays! It's her 100th party.. I hope I see you there!!

A tribute to Mother's everywhere tablescape

This table is dedicated to my mother Margaret, my grandmother/Oma Gretel, my mother-in-law Mona, my grandmother-in-law Mamma, and a very special lady Mary, whose deep faith and Christian demeanor planted seeds in my life that make me a better person.

I apologize for the massive amount of pictures, so I'll stick to few words.

The base for the table is a monogrammed, damask tablecloth, with matching napkins, that were part of my mother's dowry.

 

Did you know that table linens usually have the lady's monogram and barware traditionally wears the man's monogram?

To the damask linens, I added some German china. Another Schumann pattern. This one is called Antique Roses. I also used gold flatware and mixed it with some silver pieces.

 Mona's silver pitcher, I keep a monogrammed napkin tied to it just for any drips that might occur.

My mother loved roses. Loving this shade. I wish they had had one more bundle.. but alas, wasn't to be.

If so, these darling napkin rings would have had a sweet pink rosebud in them. My sweet husband bought those for me at Poem in Santa Fe. Love...

 Thank you Mikasa for this lovely Cheers votive holder that I use for candles AND flowers.

It's complete and it turned out exactly as I had envisioned. Silver candlesticks  in memory of my grandmother in law..tablecloth from my mom, roses for my mom...

And although the swans weren't from Mary, they remind me of her graceful demeanor. Priceless pieces with which I honor a special lady.

 A carafe for some wine. Thanks Cherry Kay for turning us all on to this trick.

This picture could be my thank-you cards for year... what do you think?

The roses on the china.. ooh that is soo me! My Oma would have loved it. My mother would have laughed at the sweetness because I was such a tomboy as a youngster. Saddle oxfords and flannel lined jeans were my favs!

 

Only have 4 matching dinner plates. Still collecting. Also missing some more creamed soups.....

On the buffet, my  mother in law's tray and warmer, and my grandmother's Sammeltassen. Check out these posts for more on this one of a kind collectables. Here and Here

Both my mother and grandmother were fabulous with needle and thread.. so their skills were instilled in me at an early age. This was made on my favorite Bernina machine out of Irish Linen, a wing needle and lace!

A few shots with the candles on to end the evening.

Cast:
Tablecloth and napkins - Mom; German
Dishes - Schumann Arzberg Antique Rose; ebay
2 Dinner plates - Rosenthal
Flatware - International Silver- gold plated
Candlesticks - estate sale
Vases - Mikasa Cheers votives
Salt Cellars - Lenox Swans (more HERE)
Stems - estate sale; anyone recognize them?
Sammeltassen - Geman, my grandmother's
Crystal knife rests - my husband's grandmother; Mamma
Napkin rings - Two's Company, gift from my husband, purchased in Santa Fe, NM

Taking my tribute to my mother, grandmother, mother in law, grandmother in law, Mary and all mother's to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish party and to Susan's Tablescape Thursday. I hope you will come by and see the special posts created just for you. 

I miss you mom... Du fehlst mir Oma,

Bramasole - yearning for the sun

Saturday.
I was setting a table dedicated to all the women in my life: Mom, Oma, Granny (my mum in law), Mamma (grandmother in law), and Mary, a woman whose grace and Christian life has left many impressions on me.
Tears were flowing, as I was missing them all. Feeling quite alone. Yearning for some sun. Bramasole.

A knock on the door, I could see our mail carrier standing there with two package. One from a recent ebay purchase (dare you to guess what that was!) and another box from the north east. I quickly opened the ebay box to inspect the contents, put those aside and tore into this box. Do you see the rays of sunshine just staring me back in the face? Isn't the packaging just luscious?

I opened and read the note first. What an incredible treasure this note is. Thank you Linda. Your note spoke to my heart!

In the first package was a wonderful book. I had hoped to start it this weekend, but somehow, all things "me" are on the back-burner for a while longer and that didn't happen. So I will start stealing a few minutes here and there, just for me!

Look at all the lovelies in this box! I knew about the book and the Bramasole olive oil, but the rest was a complete surprise.. oh yeah, the book reading didn't happen because I was reading the cookbook! I had won a blog giveaway from my friend Linda at More Fun, Less Laundry. Thank you sooooo very much. I'm ecstatic. You lifted my spirits and I am delighted with the goodies.

Yummy!!! I had to taste. You can check out Frances Mayes HERE.

I am already scheming about which dishes to use first on these lovely checked placemats and yellow napkins. The color does remind me of the sun. Forever these shall be linked: Linda - the yellow linens - Bramasole (which means yearning for the sun)!

And then I lost myself in the cookbook. OOH the pictures are so nice and the recipes... well you will just have to read them yourselves. Deliriously enticing.

Now the question is.. do i start with this recipe....

Or this? I love love garlic soup and am still trying to recreate a soup I had in Orange County sitting with some friends, enjoying a wonderful meal after a long, hard day of work. This could be the first recipe I make, it sounds very similar to the one I had. So much Bramasole on one day.... Thank you tons Linda! Be sure to check our her blog, her posts are definitely a ray of sunshine!