Grandparents Day Table

Next Sunday is Grandparent's Day, and Pat designed this week's table with just one thing in mind: to celebrate the day that honors all grandparents. They are the living tie to the past. As everyone knows, one of the purposes that the day was created was to help children become more aware of what older people have to offer - their knowledge and information, their strength, the verbal history, and their guidance. Hopefully, if you are blessed to still have grandparents around, you will take advantage of the day.

Pat set an informal, simple table using vintage dinnerware

The centerpiece is a collection of "Nana's Family" dolls by Annie Wahl from Richard Simmons. Our Mom collected these sweet resin "seniors." 

In addition to vintage Fiesta dinnerware, Pat added a small accent plate that she found at a thrift store. She placed shrimp cocktail holders in front of each place setting since most of the seniors in our family love all "kinds" of cocktails.

Nothing fancy here - "Reverie" silverplate by Oneida



Inexpensive glassware from the Dollar Store - champagne served with dinner to celebrate the day

The bottom is filled with crushed ice to keep the shrimp (or anything else) cold - we've had these handy things for years

This figurine is "Aunt Della Mae" but she reminds both Pat and me of our Grandmother dressed for church (Being a good Italian Catholic born in Italy, Grandma didn't show as much "leg" however)

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Ecru Lace Placemats - from Lentz Department Store (one of the last remaining departments stores - small but it has everything)
Fiesta Dinnerware - from Macy's, eBay, and Replacements
Small Accent Plates - from "Tailwaggers" (a local thrift store where all profits go to animal rescue)
Glassware - from the Dollar Store
Flatware - "Reverie" Silverplate by Oneida from eBay
Glass Shrimp Cocktail Servers - from the cupboard (years and years old)
Napkins - Tuesday Morning several years ago
Centerpiece Figurines (Dolls) - "Nana's Family" by Annie Wahl from the Richard Simmons Collection


We will be joining Christine's "Table It!" blog party this Monday at Rustic & Refined:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
We will also be joining Susan for "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Made In America Labor Day Table

This week's table is a tribute to the American laborer. Pat want to set the table using only American made items that we own - sounds easy, huh? Well, it turned out to be an extremely hard and lengthy experience. And it was an eye-opener to say the least.

Yes!!! It took a while but we found this little logo on a box. (It's Anchor Hocking glassware)

To start with: My plain, but versatile, maple farm table was custom made by a local furniture/cabinet maker

The table - yes, Fiesta, again, but definitely American made - good, solid, and reliable dinnerware.

The place setting - while we have literally dozens of patterns of stainless flatware that would look more appropriate, we could not find one that we were sure were "Made in America" - so, sterling silver "Grand Colonial" it is....

Poppy dinner plate, Lapis Luncheon Plate, White salad plate, and Poppy soup bowl

Pat had these vintage mason jars in her garage (these, for sure, were made in the USA - new jars are made elsewhere). Luckily for us, Pat's very old and neglected Hydrangea produced beautiful and huge flowers this year.

Made by local craftsmen, the blue candles are the perfect color. The only candle holders (other than our Depressionware holders) that we could guarantee being made in the USA were these vintage candle holders from Abingdon Potteries

Pat made the napkins and placemats from denim. Sad to say, since we could not find a single napkin ring from the dozens that we own that were definitely made in the USA, Pat just tied them.

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Dinnerware - Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Macy's, Kohl's, and Replacements
Glassware - "Carousel" by Anchor Hocking from Ross
Flatware - "Grand Colonial" by Wallace Silversmiths (a gift from our Cousin)
Napkins and Placemats - Handmade by Pat
Vintage Mason Jars - from Pat's late Mother-in-Law's canning supplies
Candles - overpriced but handmade locally
Candle Holders - by Abingdon Potteries from eBay


We will be joining Christine's "Table It!" Blog Party at Rustic & Refined this Monday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
We will also be joining Susan for "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Not strictly tablescaping stuff:

Originally, we wanted to use a white charger on our Labor Day table - guess what? We do not own a white one made in the USA that would look O.K. - Here's the table using the very popular charger from Pier 1 (made in Indonesia)

The following speaks for itself.......and this is only a very, very small example from dishes on one shelf in my "dishroom"......