Celebrating Quebec and Quimper

This past May was unrelentless: commitments galore, medical issues, numerous stresses: just many miles to cover before I could rest.  Things have finally settled down, but I feel like it's been a L-O-N-G time since I've been able to compose a post.  I wanted to set a table that reflects one of the happy moments of the past month. My hubby and I went back to Maine for a niece's wedding (a wonderful affair on the shores of Lake Sebago).  Since we had our passports and were so close to the Canadian border, we went up to Quebec to explore a new area, and had a wonderful time, staying at the exquisite Hotel Frontenac along the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway and exploring the new and old Quebec City.


Here's the table I created:

Here's How It All Came Together:

I started with a Cynthia Rowley tablecloth I purchased at HomeGoods recently.  I wanted to reflect the many flower fields that welcomed us as we traveled to Quebec City, as well as the flower pots and flower boxes that lined the homefronts and windows of this picturesque area.

I then added a woven grass placemat to give the table a rustic, country feel.  As we traveled towards Quebec City we were impressed with the many farms that lined the route. These farms were pristine and looked like components of a patchwork quilt. I said to my hubby along the way that Walt Disney must have come here and said to the farm animals,  "You, cow, stand there and don't move; and you sheep, look content!" The pastoral scenes along the way looked so perfect! So, I wanted to bring some country to this table.

I used my porcelain scrollwork chargers from the Maryland Company to reflect the porcelain that is so prevalent in the shops and hotels in Quebec City.

I continued my dish stack with my yellow Portuguese Metaceramica dinner plates.

I then added these cobalt blue glass salad plates I found while antiquing in Ventura, CA.  a few months ago.

I topped my dish stack with yellow linen napkins that were purchased with some matching placemats from HomeGoods. I felt the embroidery looked like the scrollwork on my chargers, and also added to the floral theme I was going for.  The napkin rings were found in a kitchen shop on our trip. They called to me from a bin in the store as we were walking through. I do believe you will see these rings in many future tablescapes!

The place setting was completed with blue goblets given to me by a dear friend who was downsizing; and, my Treble Clef flatware from World Market.  I felt both these elements continue the country table feel I was looking for.

I'm very happy with my centerpiece because it showcases the treasures I found while antiquing on our recent trip.  I started my centerpiece with a new addition to my tablescaping stash: my hubby and neighbor created three stacking boxes for me to use. I gave them the sizes that I wanted and they created them in my neighbor's garage! They then stained them to match my dining room set. Many thanks to you, sweetie,  and Gary! I love my new additions.  For this table, I turned the small box upside down and used it as a platform.

The component I am really thrilled with is a Quimper piece found in an antique store in Quebec City.  I will probably use it as a vase, but if anyone can explain the "two spouted" design, I'd really appreciate what the use for this piece actually might be. I love the "Lady" pattern and the delicate handpainting.  I have long admired Quimper pieces and was thrilled when I saw this hidden away in a cabinet. I thought it would be a perfect souvenir for my trip and it now holds a special place in my china hutch!!

The silver teapot was another find at the same antique store. Apparently, when the Hotel Frontenac changed their silverplate, they auctioned off their teapots and other items. The store we were in scored big time at this auction and claimed numerous teapots.  Since I've had to give up caffeine and now rely on herbal tea as my warm drink of choice, my hubby surprised me by buying one of the Frontenac's former teapots! What a wonderful surprise, and another souvenir of our trip!

While looking through this same antique store I found this Delft accent plate also hidden away on a shelf. I can rarely resist a blue and white anything! And it was small enough to fit in my suitcase!

After our trip to Quebec City, we headed towards Portland, Maine and the airport to head home.  We stopped at Biddeford, Maine and found another interesting-looking antique mall. Years ago, I collected salt and pepper shakers, and my eyes still can't resist looking through collections of them.  I saw this salt cellar and it was so unique I had to have it! I have salt dips, but have never seen one with a lid. Isn't it interesting?

My centerpiece is completed with a Quebec refrigerator magnet, a fleur-de-lis dish towel and two blue glass vases and faux carnations .

I'm happy with this table because it brings back memories from a very special trip. The people of Quebec City couldn't have been nicer; the city is a place of cobblestone streets; rows of bright, multi-colored houses;  stunning stone churches; the expansive St. Lawrence Seaway; and, a region full of history. All in all, a recommended spot for a vacation.

I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net
                              and Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com.

Please visit these parties and see what others have to share. Thank you, ladies for hosting!!
                             

Girls' Nite Out with Mozart @ The Magic Hutch

When Kathleen from www.cuisinekathleen.com issued one of her challenges, I knew I wanted to participate, but was perplexed by the theme of the challenge, "Girls' Night Out" because  I really wanted to use components that I already had in my tablescaping "stash", and couldn't come up with anything that would be very interesting. My nights out with my friends usually consist of a night of movies or dinner out; nothing very exciting. Then I realized that what I've been doing for the past couple of months was preparing for 3 concerts with my different singing groups and if I were to plan a "Girls' Night Out", it would be one with some my fellow altos from one of my groups to go over our music.  The programs we've been rehearsing are quite difficult, and any extra practice would do much to insure successful concerts.  So, I decided to plan what would start as an Italian Dinner, full of carbs and flavor to spark our energy; and, then some practicing! The piece I have highlighted is Mozart's "Requiem".  It  is a wonderfully complex and challenging piece that is terrific to sing.  Here's how the table turned out for a planned "Girls' Night Out with Mozart"!

Here's How It Was Created:

Just for fun I decided to make copies of our music and use the copies as placemats.

I then added a black dinner plate since I wanted my color scheme to be black, white and red. I love the pebbled texture on the rim of these plates.

We'll be starting with salad, so I decided to use some plates I found at Williams-Sonoma, and have not used yet. They are labeled, "Italian Recipes" and each plate has a different recipe scripted in Italian and highlighted by the place where the recipe is well known. I love the designs and colors of these plates, and I feel that will become interesting topics of discussion before we start dinner!

My place setting is completed with my Treble Clef  flatware from World Market (well befitting a dinner centered around music!);  my black-stemmed wine glasses from the Dollar Tree store; and, my red and white patterned napkins from HomeGoods.

My centerpiece is highlighted with my CD player that during our meal will be playing our practice CD of our music.  It is flanked by red goblets from Michael's that will hold pencils and highlighters to be used during our choral practice after dinner.  I found some wrought iron music notes (50% off!) to dress up my CD player a little, and then added a red berry wreath to add a pop of color. The centerpiece is completed with a copy of the score we'll be practicing after dinner!

The table is completed with my white ironstone pasta dish and my Italian ceramic bread basket for the garlic bread.

It should be a wonderful evening: we get to enjoy a yummy meal,  each other's company and then spend a couple of hours running through our music for tomorrow night's rehearsal.  Our concert is on May 31st, so it's getting close!

On a personal note:

I have been singing in choirs since first grade, and my years of experience have made it possible for me to now be a part of Master Chorale groups whose signature pieces include those works composed by the masters, such as Mozart, Brahms, and Handel, to name a few. It is always exhilarating and tremendously challenging to participate in the production of these concerts. I have even had the honor to sing on the stage of Carnegie Hall where participants from all over the country got together to have the thrill of performing Brahms' Requiem on a world-renowned stage under the direction of John Rutter.  I'll never forget that experience.  Yes, definitely, my Girls' Night Out would consist of wine, pasta and singing!  Thank you, Kathleen, for encouraging me to plan such a fun experience!

I'll be linking up for Kathleen's "Girls' Night Out" Challenge on Wednesday at www.cuisinekathleen.com as well as Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net., and                                                                                          Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com .Thank you, Ladies, for hosting these parties!  Be sure and take a look at what everyone has come up with for these fun tablescaping events!

Happy Spring Dinner

Easter was a week late in our house.  We like to have the entire family celebrate holiday dinners, so when my daughter and son-in-law took their family to Disney World for spring break, and didn't get home until after Easter, we knew we would be celebrating on April 12th.  Other than the date being different, the celebration looked just like it was still Easter: the menu was the same, the Easter baskets were still filled with goodies, the Easter eggs were hidden, the bunny ears were still required headgear,  and the table for 12 adults and a "kids' table" for 8 grandchildren were still festooned in china and crystal.


Here's how the table turned out:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with my Lenox tablecloth in the Butterfly Meadow pattern.  I love this formal cloth with its sateen finish and brightly colored flowers.

I started my dish stack with the Mikasa chargers I had recently purchased.

Then I added my Lenox Butterfly Meadow plates.  You can read about these plates in this post.  There are four differently patterned dishes, all representing bright flowers , colorful butterflies and precious bees and ladybugs!  So perfect for a Spring Dinner!!

My place setting was completed with my late mother-in-law's silverplate (the Heritage pattern), my Mikasa water glasses and the napkins and napkin rings from the Butterfly Meadow's accent collection.
I thought the napkins standing up in the glasses made it look more like a flower garden.  I also didn't want to place the napkin across the plate and hide the pretty Spring scenes that each dish displays.  I had seen this napkin placement idea in another blog, and I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember which one it was (oh, the tiresome aging process!), so I can't give credit where credit is due!  So, it is not my original idea.  If you're the tablescaping blogger who recently used this idea, please identify yourself in the "Comments" section and take credit!! Please also note that my cousin graciously offered to make placecards for me. Aren't they cute? She has different designs that can be added for other holidays, too, so stay tuned!! Thank you, Karen!

I kept my centerpiece simple because I knew we had many serving pieces to use. So, I chose the Lenox vase my daughter and son-in-law got my for Christmas and filled it with faux daffodils and my Easter picks.  I added two sets of crystal candlesticks and my Fitz and Floyd salt and pepper shakers.

One of the many things I love about this Lenox set is that they have many accent pieces to coordinate with the design.  These are the two platters I used for serving the ham.

I also have the mugs, creamer and sugar bowl, salt and pepper shakers, and dessert and salad plates in the pattern, but did not get photos this time!

I wanted to share the "Grandkids' Table" with you as well.  I found the Bunny plates at HomeGoods (of course!) and complemented them with my April Cornell tablecloth. My centerpiece bunny came from Michael's!

I hope everyone is now relishing in the happy hours of spring and its luscious weather.  It's almost time for Mother's Day, then Memorial Day, then July 4th..............and so it goes!! Take care, everyone!!

I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net,
 and Debi's Favorite Things Blog Hop at http://surroundingsbydebi.com, and Cindy for Amaze Me Monday at www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com   Thank you, ladies, for hosting these fun parties!


I love to read your comments. They really do put a smile on my face. Your words are appreciated!