Father's Day - A little bit of Chicken Fried... tablescape

 

Welcome!

Father's Day didn't quite sneak up on us, I actually found a present and card for my husband weeks before, but the meal itself did. Was I thinking we would fast that day?

The boys did agree it was high time for some 

Chicken Fried Steak!

From Wikipedia:

Chicken fried steak (also known as pan-fried steak,^[1] CFS or country fried steak) is a breaded cutlet dish consisting of a piece of steak (tenderized cube steak) coated with seasoned flour and pan-fried. It is associated with Southern cuisine. Its name may be due to its similarity in preparation to fried chicken.

Chicken fried steak resembles the Austrian dish Wiener Schnitzel and the Italian-Latin American dish Milanesa, which is a tenderized veal or pork cutlet, coated with flour, eggs, and bread crumbs, and then fried. It is also similar to the recipe for Scottish collops.^[1]

After reading that little tidbit.. nope that is not what ours resemble! We use a nice thin cut top sirloin, pound it within an inch of its life, dip in flour, dip in beer batter, dip in flour, dip in beer batter, deep fry. All this takes place outside. Yes, sweet husband has perfected cooking the chicken fry on the charcoal grill, with mesquite chips over hot coals. Let me just say... Umm, it is soo good!

 

The trusty Sky Ranch dishes came out to play that day. 

I was busily plating salads in the kitchen when I realized I'd better jump to taking some pictures!

Still trying to figure out which flatware speaks Cowboy.

any ideas?

The napkin rings and centerpiece came from a quaint little shop in Weatherford, Texas, Just to the West of Fort Worth, on highway 180.

I have had these rusty ol' cowboys and cowgirls forever! The store at which I purchased them is now a faint memory. They are made by Two's Company and I did not see them on their website this time around.

I love setting the larger ones on the table for display or using them on a buffet with the name of a food item inserted into their lasso.

The rustic bird's nest chargers from World Market worked really well into the theme.,

Somewhere in the lost items from the last move was a box of cd's of embroidery designs. 

In that box was a western font set. 

Until either the box surfaces, which I seriously doubt, or I find the font again, these napkins will have to do.

This really worked pretty well for a guys table, simple, non-frilly and not fussy.

I pulled out the amber Whitehall quilted tumblers and paired them with the Dollar Tree crystal. 

Both pieces are rather chunky and therefore work really well with the heavy Sky Ranch plates.

Cast:

Chargers - World Market

Plates - Sky Ranch

Napkins - not quite vintage but older

Flatware - Gorham

Amber quilted goblets - Whitehall

Wine glasses - Dollar Tree

Napkin rings and centerpiece - Weatherford, Texas

Western placecard holders and decor - Two's Company

Thank you for dropping by! I do so love reading your comments, they inspire me to do better.

I hope I'll be seeing you at both Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish

and Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!

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,