A Calm Welcome Tablescape

 

After all the color from the past season, I was yearning for calm and quiet. White on white with a hint of nature. Which in my book reads green or brown or both. 

 I removed the greenery from my favorite box, will I ever get tired of it? Added the last of the paperwhites and some pine cones. I must tell you a bit of a confession. I pick these things up from everywhere we visit. I just love how they add nature back to our home. 

When it's hard to reach over or around a centerpiece, individual salt and peppers are a must on the table. Especially when, if like me, we have reduced our salt intake and others around us have not.

I force my paperwhites in a ceramic planter with rocks. I did a little bit of a test this year. I some forced in water, you know those special little containers where the bulb sits in the top bowl and the roots grown down into the larger cavity. And I forced some on top of small rocks. I forced 3 batches this year. Each bath contained some of both. The paperwhites came from various sources, but repeatedly and without fail, the paperwhites forced on the rocks (what a lively concoction) sprouted and bloomed earlier than the ones just forced in water. 

Sorry it's just a gloomy day. Rain is predicted, 90% chance and the clouds are hovering, but nary a welcome drop has fallen.

I know some say that the heady perfume from the paperwhites is too much for them, but we welcome the fresh scent that permeates our home.

I used three different vessels for liquid, one for the appetizer, a water and a wine goblet.

I love how they play so well together in the same sandbox. Each robust enough to stand on it's own, but somehow, together they create a 3 part harmony.

Is it really too early to use bamboo flatware? Is this akin to wearing white pants or sporting white shoes before Easter?

Should I remove the paperwhites before dinner?

 The pine cone napkin rings came back out to play today. I think they bring the pine cones from the centerpiece to the table.

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 Since there wasn't room for large candlesticks, I added individual candles to the "green things". I think these were originally individual ashtrays, but I've scrubbed to within an inch of their life and used them to hold candles and as salt sellers. 

Using a heavy matelasse covering does give the table a bit of warmth during these cold days of winter!

Cast:

Matelasse - vintage

Teak chargers - vintage

White dishes - Wedgwood Windsor

Bamboo Flatware - Horchow's

Napkins - Pier One

Napkin Rings - Kohl's

Large wine goblet - Dollar Tree

Water glass - handblown in France, purchased in Santa Fe, NM

Sherbet - Fostoria

Indivdual S&P's - old

Thank you so much for dropping in today! I love having company and wish each one of you could sit at my table so I could get to know you better. Do pop over to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish party on Wednesday evening and then on the Susan's Tablescape Thursday on Thursday for more pure dish entertainment!

The word for 2013

 

Resolutions aside (oh I try at those but am a miserable failure), I try to find one word on which to focus for the year. That being said, I can't remember last year's.. lol.

So now on my desktop, you will find one of these images all year long. P A T I E N C E.

pa·tience (from Dictionary.com)

[pey-shuh ns] 

noun

1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2.an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.

3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

4.( Cards chiefly British  ) solitaire (  def 1 ) .

5.Also called patience dock. a European dock, Rumex patientia,  of the buckwheat family, whose leaves are often used as a vegetable.

 

 Yep, that is the word this year. It's already emblazoned on my dashboard in my car. I seem to have the most issues while driving. 

 

 I wonder what happened to the patience I had. Where did it go? As you age, do you lose it? I taught High School... no problem there. I seem to lose it most at home. Especially when the computer has a mind of it's own and decides it's smarter than I am. he he. oh yeah and then there is the darned "smart" phone....

 

 So this year, I will become more patient. I will. Little steps. It's only day 4 of this new year and for the most part, I can see a change already. I will be patient as the weight I needed to lose 5 years ago takes it's good ol' time finding a new home. I will be patient with the drivers that dawdle when I am in a hurry. After all, an emergency on my part is probably caused by my own doing. I will be patient with slow service. However, Lubbock probably has the worst customer service I've seen. I think they know the nearest place "to go somewhere" else is 315 miles away in any one direction. I'll let you know how this progresses......

 

Did you set goals, make resolutions or have a new word this year?

Oh yeah, last year's word was organize. Did it. All but the garage...

 

all photos from a google search

Looking back at 2012

Candle Wraps

I thought it'd be fun to look back at 2012 before I delve headfirst into 2013. My year seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. I really wish it hadn't done that. I would have liked to have enjoyed the moments more. But onward we go.. the top viewed post of 2012 - the candle wraps. The titles under the pictures are links if you want to travel back in time and see the entire post. Thanks so much!

Tablescapes, a bit of travel and a fabulous store

Next on the list was a post about a fabulous store in Weatherford, Texas with many beautiful tablesettings and fine accessories.

New Year's Buffet

And then there was the new year's buffet table. We host the family each new year's day, just as my beloved mother-in-law used to do. The menu has not changed at all. It's what I had 39 years ago and so it still is today. Ham, green chile grits, black-eyed peas, oyster noodle bake, condiments, rolls, crazy slaw and various desserts. This family is all about tradition.

Sammeltassen, the buffet and closet

I shared my grandmother's collector's cups, actually trios, with you and our new buffet. I was so excited to finally have that piece in our home. I promptly fell off the china wagon, so to speak, and found a set to keep the buffet from being so empty. What was I thinking? It's now full. drats!

Advent 2012 - Pinecone Tablescape

Next in the line up is this outdoor tablescape I shared with you in December. Yes, set outside. We did have a few balmy days in there. I used the same elements of this table set inside for a holiday dinner party. So happy with the pinecone dishes I found at Tuesday Morning!

Schumann Ladies Luncheon

This, too was one of my favorite tables this year, as it was yours. I love the lace tablecloth and the dishes. I started collecting this set with a lot of help from my dear friend Cherry Kay at Entertaining Women.

Dining at the Derby

Early in May, we dined at the Derby! That was fun. I loved trying to recreate the look of the Stakes room at Churchill Downs. Early in our married life, we had a few racehorses so the memorabilia from them and our trip to Kentucky was plentiful!

Rustic Schumann

In August, I couldn't resist playing with my new collection, the Schumann Dresden dishes. I am wishing I already had 12 of the dinner plates because they would be helping us welcome the New Year if I did!

A tribute to Mothers

In honor of mothers everywhere, I set a rose laden table. There were pieces on the table for all the women that had touched my life and formed into who I am today. God bless them each and every one.

Party Planning Tips

In October, I shared our annual Tapas Party with all y'all. It's one of our most favorite events we host, as everyone brings a dish and we just provide the location. This year the addition of "bus" trays kept everyone from traipsing through the house with dishes. Brilliant, I say!

Wishing it was Summer

In March, I really had spring fever and replayed a very old table setting. Colorful flowers and sewing machine "enhanced" napkins make this table joyful and festive!

A Gaelic Tablescape in honor of St. Patrick

To round out the year's top 12... This Gaelic tablescape came in at #12. We do so enjoy a good St. Patrick's celebration in our house. Lot of food and good friends make this a fun time, and seriously not everything is green!

Thank you for stopping by and being faithful readers. It's been a grand year and the time is here to put it behind us and move forward. To make new dreams, to see new options, to take a different course. I wish each of you more blessings than sorrows, more joy than pain. And above all to be happy in the moment.

Joining Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish 
and Susan for Tablescape Thursday!

Merry Christmas!

I know whom I have believed

Advent Calendar 2012 - the truth about the German pickle ornament

How many have read this? Do you believe this story? NO, NO, NO I say. All fallacy. I was born in Germany to a German mother, with German grandparents. I did not leave Europe until I was almost 21. That makes 20 German Christmases I witnessed first hand. NEVER was there a pickle on our Christmas tree. If the old black and white photos were better I could enlarge them and show you - Christmas trees devoid of green pickles.

First off, St Nikolaus comes on December the 6th. Not Christmas.
Then, the tree is not set up until Christmas eve, by the Christkind (Christ child).
So never do St Nick and the tree come together!

German children open presents on Christmas Eve, not Christmas day as the legend tells.

Third, if you ask a German, they will never have heard this story. I was so surprised to see this after I came here and just laughed. Called my mother long distance to see if my she and Oma had omitted anything from the tree, like say a pickle.. Nope.. they did not.

Now there is a company in Germany that makes Christmas ornaments including the aforementioned pickle. Some visitors have reported that a few Germans have been seen hanging a pickle in the tree and follow the tradition mentioned on the packaging. Reminds me of the Elf on the shelf, like a fad. But really NOT a real German tradition. Who cooked this up is still up in the air. Any clues??

Advent Calendar 2012 - Winter Solstice

source

It's the Winter Solstice today!! Time to cozy in - build a fire, light some candles, watch a holiday movie, and just 'chill'!

Some interesting facts:
It's the winter solstice up here in the Northern Hemisphere.
It's the summer solstice down in the Southern Hemisphere.
Why? Because they have summer down there and it's winter up here above the the equator.

source

The Sun at noon is at the lowest altitude above the horizon - 23.5 degrees.
That means the North Pole is 23.5 degrees from the sun.

The area above the Artic Polar Circle is in complete darkness.
The area below the Antarctic Polar Circle has 24 hours of daylight.

source

The solstices were first heralded by people in the northern Hemisphere.
Stonehenge is aligned with both the winter and summer solstices.
It has been used to mark this passing of time for more than 70,000 years.


It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.

How are you spending your day?