Jadeite and Lemon Table

Blending themes and being unconventional as ever, Pat took our collection of green Jadeite and mixed it with lemon yellow. It seemed a little "weird" at first, but boy, was I surprised by the outcome.

The table - a mix of yellow, green, and white....

Close up of the place setting - the yellow candles sit on mint green glass rocks

Flatware is "Classic Bead" by Reed & Barton

I was told this pattern is called "Lotus Blossom" by Anchor Hocking 

Simple, no frills white Luncheon plate is by Food Network from Kohl's

The bright yellow dinner plate is "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach

Pat's favorite charger - a simple, coupe style by Bernardaud

Lemon pound cake decorated with lemon drops

Naturally, lemon drop chip scones

A look at the Jadeite before the dessert - Pat added lemons all around the table

From the other end of the table

Where it all came from:
White Tablecloth - inexpensive mail order from Linentablecloth.com (our favorite place to by tablecloths of all sorts at inexpensive prices)
White Charger - by Bernardaud from Tuesday Morning several years ago
Yellow Dinner Plate - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach from Replacements.com
White Luncheon Plate - by Food Network from Kohl's
Jadeite Bowl/Liner - "Lotus" by Anchor Hocking from eBay
Bread/Butter Plates - "Marigold" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
White Mugs - "Home" from Target
Glassware - Everyday from Costco
Flatware - "Classic Bead" by Reed & Barton from Tuesday Morning
Napkin - Yellow Hemstitch from Pier 1
Assorted Jadeite Centerpieces - from the Ferndale Emporium (a local boutique)
Yellow Candles - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Green Glass Rocks - from Michael's
Glass Candle Jars - from a rummage sale


We will be joining Christine's "Table It!" Blog Party this Sunday 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/

Red, White, and Blue Table

Pat set the table this week with no particular theme in mind - she grabbed some blue dinner plates off the shelf and went with them (believe it or not, our collection of dinnerware has grown since we participated in Alma's "Where Do You Put It All?" 4th annual blog-aversary party over at "The Tablescaper" (Here) a few years ago....one of these days, if I have the nerve, I'll post another exposé - you might say.....)

Flatware is inexpensive Cambridge from Ross years ago

Remember this napkin ring? From Pier 1 years ago - they still have it.

One of my favorite glass patterns - "Reflections" from Imperial Glass Company

Pat found these 16" red tapers at a local antique store

I was too cheap to buy these at Michael's - then I found them on the "90% off" shelf.....

These versatile bowls are "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach

Pat put small arrangements of silk roses around the table 

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Red Table Runner - Tuesday Morning several years ago
White "Lace" Placemats - by Wilton from Michael's
Chargers - from the Maryland China Company (mail order)
Blue Dinnerware - on the sale rack at Pier 1 years ago
White Reticulated Accent/Luncheon Plate - "Valerie" by Portmeirion from eBay
Red Bowl - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach from Replacements
White Bread/Butter Plate - "Home" from Target years ago
Blue Flatware - by Cambridge from Ross
Glassware - Blue "Reflections" by Imperial Glass from Replacements
White Candle Holders - from our collection
16" Red Tapers - from Art & Old Things (a local antique and gift shop)
White Reticulated Jars - from Michael's on sale


We will be joining Christine's "Table It!" blog party at Rustic & Refined this Sunday: http://www.rustic-refined.com/


We will also be joining Susan for "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Dining With Succulents

Living in drought ridden Northern California where everything once was green, our way of life is changing. Once conifers and rhododendrons grew in glorious abundance - everyone expected foggy, soggy mornings, dry, slightly warm summers, and lots and lots and lots of rain in the winter. Sad to say, all that is over. So - we must adapt. Gone are the heathers and miniature conifers in my yard that I carefully selected, collected, planted and maintained.  I am slowly replacing them with water saving succulents (not cactus - yet - but if rain does not come, it may happen.....)
Anyway.....this week's table is designed around some of the succulents that I have ready to plant.

The table

Pat's husband made the rustic wooden centerpiece box for us a while back. I added the plants. Pat put large bowls filled with succulents to use as candle holders.

One of Pat's everyday dish patterns - "Desert Flowers" by Noritake

The flatware was our Mother's - she used to keep extra for when unexpected company stopped by and stayed for dinner (which happened all the time in our Italian household)

Glassware is "Espresso" by Lenox

The bread and butter plate

Small individual bowls were filled with succulents and placed around the table - I swear that the bowl was clean before the picture. I turned it to get a better "shot" and stuck my finger in it....

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Burlap Tablecloth - from Linentablecloth.com (fabulous mail order site for inexpensive tablecloths)
Dinnerware - "Desert Flowers (1974-1985)" by Noritake (Pat's everyday dishes purchased forty years ago)
Flatware - Pattern unknown (but was part of our Mother's "go to" flatware when she needed extra for unexpected company - which happened all the time when we were growing up....)
Glassware - "Espresso" by Lenox (a gift from my niece)
Large Black Bowls - from World Market
Small Black Bows - by Waechtersbach from Tuesday Morning
Blue Placemats and Matching Napkins - from Pier 1
Chocolate Brown Napkin - Handmade by Pat
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/


Not exactly tablescaping stuff:
I just hope that the ancient Redwoods (with their shallow roots) which used to grow abundantly in our area can survive......

The park is about a mile from my house - when we were kids, we lived much closer and walked there to play. It still has a wonderful zoo, flower garden, and playground.

The road winds through the grove of gorgeous trees down to the duck pond.....at a speed of five miles a hour through some narrow hairpin turns.

Here's what you see at the bottom....The duck pond - not as big as it once was......



Here they come for a snack - but we are not allowed to feed them anymore (you can see the bottom of the pond now....so sad...

One of the many trails through the park - not for the faint of heart or out of shape....