NYE in Black and White

Happy New Year, everyone.  We had a very nice New Year's Eve.  First, we went to dinner with friends and then came back to our house for dessert and to watch "the ball drop" in Times Square.  I had set up a dessert table, but did not photograph it! Go Figure! I wanted to plan a New Year's Eve tablescape, so I actually set this table on New Year's Day. I wanted a black and white color combination, so this is what I came up with:

I was going to do a table for four, but when I first started the planning, the silver runner I wanted to use looked better turned across the width of the table, instead of the length of the table. So my table for four turned into a table for two.  Here is the silver runner:

I wanted a sleek, sophisticated feel to the table, so I started my dish stack with these porcelain chargers from Mikasa. They are labeled, "BLOCK, Zen". 

Next, I added my black plates from Anna's Linens.  They are labeled, Royal Norfolk. I chose these plates over my other black plates, because they have a sleeker look to them, and coordinate well with the chargers.

To top of the stack, I used my appetizer plates, also from the Mikasa website. They are labeled, Urban Rose. They definitely have a modern feel to them, and I love the tinge of gray swept across the flower.  I hope you can see this in the photo.

I finished the place setting with my Oneida flatware and etched glass champagne "boats" I found on an antiquing trip. Don't ask me why, but champagne really does taste better coming from these glasses! I've seen this style of champagne glass in many 1940's movies and wanted some for my hutch, and found that when I used them instead of my flutes, the champagne was delicious.  Maybe I was just channeling my inner "movie star from the 40's"!  I added a black stemmed wine glass from the Dollar Tree store! Love the swirled glass.

For my centerpiece, I used a glass chimney candle holder that had been my Mom's.  She purchased it at a Princess House party, and I'm sad to say, the twin to the holder was broken a few years ago.  The crystal candlesticks were a wedding present. I added a couple of silver-filigreed votive holders for some extra interest and light.  These items were nestled in a silver garland that I found at Ross. I've used it before in a previous New Year's table here.

Eventhough I didn't use this tablescape for an actual meal, it was fun to design and create this table.  Somehow, planning a New Year's Eve dinner table is a fitting way to say good-bye to the previous year and get ready for a new one.  I haven't really made any resolutions yet.  Have you?  I hope your New Year is filled with many joys, as well as the strength to meet the challenges that a new year can bring.  Here's to 2016, dear Friends!

I'll be linking up to Christine's Table It! Link Party on Monday at www.rustic-refined.com and
Susan's Tablescape Thursday on Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net.  Many thanks, Ladies, for hosting these parties.

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Thank you in advance for your comments.  They really do make my day!

A Last Hurrah for 2015!

The end of the Holiday season is rapidly approaching. I'm sorry I've been absent as of late, but I discovered my normal Holiday crazies were a tad difficult because of my open heart surgery four months ago. But, everything worked out well. We had a quiet Christmas Eve (just Chinese dinner out with our cousin, and then completing the finishing touches for Christmas). Then, Christmas Day was filled to the rafters with the family. It was so much fun with daughters, sons-in-law, cousin and grandchildren all full of Christmas spirit and happiness. I had the Christmas Dinner catered ( a yummy Italian menu) and had lots of help with the clean-up.  I can't tell you the gratitude I felt that I could experience the fun and joy of this Holiday with a loving, joyous family surrounding me and know that my health is getting better each day!! The house was "rockin'" !!

I took a few pictures before the festivities started, and I want to share them with you. I hope you all can look back at these last few days and know the happiness that I did as the year 2015 comes to a close.

Pictures of the Holiday:

As the family entered through the front door, this table greeted them in the living room.  All these figures move in some way when their buttons are pushed. They all have a different Christmas song. They're "child friendly" and the grandchildren know they can play with them while they're visiting. Giggles start as soon as the the snowmen, penguins and Mr. and Mrs. Claus start singing and dancing!

This is the Christmas table that everyone saw as they came into the dining room:

This year I didn't use my gold chargers, but hopped onto the "tartan wagon" and purchased these tartan-patterned chargers at Michael's.  I used my normal Christmas dishes that I have had for around 33 years. I still love them. I also used my Mikasa Christmas glasses that were purchased not long after my Christmas dishes.

This was my centerpiece. My niece and nephew from Pennsylvania once again surprised me with a gorgeous floral arrangement that included a Lenox Santa. Isn't this exquisite? I love the sweet expression on his face. Thank you so much, Patty and Chris.

Here is my husband's train that circles around the tree every year. The grandkids look forward to seeing and playing with it every year.

I'll leave you with a picture of our tree and with warm wishes that this Holiday Season was all that you had hoped it would be. Thank you, dear friends, for all your good wishes and support during 2015. Your thoughts and kind words mean more to me than I could ever express.

I'll be linking up to Christine's Table It! party at www.rustic-refined.com and
Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net.  Thank you, ladies, for your continuing efforts to keep these fun parties going.

Thanksgiving Revisited

Not a long post today. I just wanted to share my Thanksgiving table with you to especially highlight a centerpiece that was sent to me by my very special niece and nephew.

We had a small gathering this year. Most of the family was at their respective in-laws' homes (we alternate every year).  So that just left Hubby and me, my cousin, and my daughter, son-in-law, and 17-month old granddaughter.

I decided to bring in dinner from Marie Callendar's. I've got to tell you, it was delicious. The only problem was that re-heating all the components (microwaving was recommended) took up those precious minutes before serving and it was rather confusing getting everything on the table at the same time!

Here are a couple of pictures to show you the table and the beautiful flowers I received:

I hope your Thanksgiving was joyous and delicious! Now, it's onward and upward as we enter the fray of the Christmas holidays!!

I'll be linking up to Christine's Table It! at www.rustic-refined.com  and Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net. Be sure and check out these blogs that have some wonderful things going on, especially during this season!

A Special Dinner

On December 4th, my Hubby and I will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary. We always take a trip to celebrate. We don't necessarily go very far; just a change of scenery. One advantage to having a near-to-Christmas anniversary is that no matter where we go, there are decorations and lights: almost as if everyone is celebrating our special day! Hotels have large festooned trees in their lobbies, garlands of greenery welcome us at the check-in desk, twinkling lights greet us everywhere, and seasonal music surrounds us no matter where we go.  We also make sure we are near an Outlet Center so we can start our Christmas shopping. We buy everyone in the family new pj's and that means we buy 18 sets!! They are passed out before the holiday with the instructions: "Do not open until Christmas Eve!" Since our four girls all have husbands and children, we don't see them on Christmas Eve: they want to be home for Christmas morning and Santa's reveal. So, we see them for Christmas Day.

I decided to have a romantic anniversary dinner this year before we "hit the road'.  The menu will be Cesar Salad, filet mignon, baked potatoes and steamed asparagus. There will be chocolate cake for dessert. We'll have champagne for a toast, wine for dinner and an after dinner cognac.

Here is the table I have planned:

Here's How It Was Created:


I start with a white lace tablecloth. It seems appropriate for a romantic dinner, especially one commemorating a wedding!

My place setting starts with a silver placemat. I want a white and silver tablescape, so this placemat anchors that color combination.

I then add my openwork white ceramic charger from Maryland China Co.  Be sure and check out their clearance section on their website: these chargers are seconds (although you could never tell) and were 50% off when I bought them!

The dinner plate is from HomeGoods and is labeled Metaceramica (you've seen it many times on my blog!)

The salad plate is from Pier One and is part of their Madeleine collection. I love the scalloped nature of the rim and the delicate swirls.

To dress things up a bit I used a silver napkin sheath on top of a white and silver patterned napkin found at HomeGoods.  I had found the silver napkin ring at a yard sale and found it had just enough sparkle to complete the look I wanted!

The place setting was completed with my late mother-in-laws silverplate in the Heritage pattern from the International Silver company. It is such a romantic pattern and perfect for this dinner! I also added my Waterford toasting flutes (part of their Celebration series) and the wine and cordial stemware from the Rogaska collection in their Gallia pattern.  The silver glass votive holders are just to add some lighting ambiance to the table.

My centerpiece requires explanation.  I found out that the traditional gift for the 27th Wedding Anniversary is sculpture.  I immediately thought of the sculpture that my sister-in-law, Marie, had gotten us. It seemed a perfect anchor piece for my centerpiece: so romantic and precious with its intended anniversary blessing. I also added the cake topper from our wedding day: a tiny sculpture, but huge in its sentimental meaning.  I have been waiting to use the lighted wreath for just the right table, and I do believe I found it! It actually looks very much like the headpiece I wore for our wedding! (minus the lights, of course!) The candle holders were wedding presents from a beloved friend who left us far too soon.  I think of Eddie whenever I take these out of my hutch.

Accent pieces on the table include my crystal bowl which I will be using as a salad bowl,  (another wedding gift from a dear friend, Frankie) , and an etched glass carafe which holds our gifted cognac.

I'm still recovering from surgery, but every day brings more strength and energy.  I look forward to our anniversary dinner and the short trip that follows it.  We seem to use this anniversary trip every year as a starting point for our Christmas holiday time.  When we get back, the decorating will start as well as the frantic race to Christmas Day when our beloved family fills our home. Of course, things will be somewhat calmed down this year. However,  this year more than ever before I greet this time with gratitude and appreciation.  Happy Anniversary, dear Hubby..........

I'll be linking up to Christine's Link It! Party at www.rustic-refined.com ,
Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net. and Kathy's Home and Garden Thursdays at www.adelightsomelife.com  Please stop by these wonderful blogs to see what others have to share.  Thank you, ladies, for hosting these parties!

Back for Bundt!

Hello, Dear Friends........twelve weeks past open heart surgery and a much harder recovery than I anticipated, I have re-entered the blogging world again. I can't tell you how excited I was to start digging through my tablescaping storage closet, and retrieve the things I would need for my first tablescape in many months. It was so wonderful to feel in control of my life once again and have the stamina to do what makes me so happy!  Thanks to Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen I had a starting point to aim for.  November 15th is National Bundt Day and Kathleen issued a challenge to complete a table that showcased the Bundt cake!  I participated last year and it was so much fun that I jumped to the challenge (well, I wouldn't say "jumped"; I sort of got up on my feet and walked!).  Here is the final result:

Here's How It Was Created:

I decided to create a fall table since I had not done one yet this year. So, I started with a fall tablecloth I had used for previous Thanksgiving tables.

I then added a woven grass placemat. I just wanted some texture on the table, and to tie in the burlap "runner" I wanted to use.

I wanted to create a dish stack, eventhough I'd really only be serving Bundt Cake with liquid refreshments. I  was just looking for a more formal look for the table since it's been the first one I've completed in so long! So I placed a brown charger with a woven design as my first layer.

I then added some new plates I bought in the clearance aisle in HomeGoods. They are made in Portugal and are called Value Ceramic SV . I loved their cream color and brown edging:  perfect for this time of year.

I added the matching napkin to the tablecloth as a buffer between plates on the dish stack. I just wanted some separation between the layers.

For my top layer, I used the cake plates from my Johnson Bros. Friendly Village set.  This is my go-to dinnerware for Thanksgiving and the fall.  I love the village patterns on the plates (especially the covered bridges!)

My place setting is completed with flatware from late mother-in-law, Johnson Bros. mugs, and amber-colored drinking glasses.

The centerpiece is , of course, the celebrated Bundt cake!  Since the table celebrates fall, I made a Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake (yummy!)  I overturned a ceramic bread basket (from the Italian Pottery shop in Santa Barbara)  to use as a cake stand.  Glass turkey taper holders and tapers (from Williams-Sonoma) complete the centerpiece. I should mention that this cake will be doing "double duty".  It's for the Challenge, but I'll also be sharing it with my special niece and nephew who are visiting from Pennsylvania to check in on me and celebrate their 10th Wedding Anniversary! Congratulations, Patty and Chris!!

Accent pieces on the table include the Johnson Bros.' sugar and creamer set, and an amber-colored glass pitcher with the face on an owl!

It felt so good to complete this table and blog post.  First, I had to find the right recipe and do some baking!  Then I started the whole process of planning a tablescape: scrounging around amid my supplies deciding what plates, etc. to use;  setting the table after ironing the linens; re-arranging things until the "picture" looks right; photographing the final result; then, writing my post and adding the photos before publishing.  It's been so long since I had the energy or mental capacity (cardiac drugs are DIFFICULT to live with!). But, with the help of my family (especially my Honey who saw to my every need; even styling my hair when I couldn't lift my arms above my head!) and loyal friends and blogging family whose prayers and moral support made such a difficult time bearable. Recovery became possible.  Many thanks to all of you. It feels wonderful to be back!

I'll be linking up to  Kathleen at www.cuisinekathleen.com for her Bundt Pan Challenge,
Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.net for Tablescape Thursday and Christine at her Link It! party at www.rustic-refined.com Please take some time to visit these terrific blogs and enjoy what other bloggers are sharing.  Many thanks to these busy ladies for hosting these parties!

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