Tablescape Thursday

Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, is once again hosting Tablescape Thursday. I just checked out her post and had to chuckle...we both had the same idea...a fireside romantic dinner!! Only she had a real fire--I just put candles in the fireplace. ;-) This the "before" picture in our sitting room....

And here is the "after". I just brought a little gate-leg table over, tossed the toile throw that's usually draped over a love seat and used that as my inspiration for the rest of the colors I used. The toile throw was a gift from BFF Laura.

The napkins, napkin rings, pink and white plates and candelabra are all thrift store finds. The green dishes were given to me by my dear friend, Toni. Pink water glasses were my mom's, wine glasses were a birthday present from Kathleen, my sis-in-love, and silverware was Steve's grandma's.

I draped pearls around the candelabra for more glitz and romance...

Little place cards with Steve and mine initials....I had made and used at a previous dinner party...

Candles flickering in the fireplace...

A close up of Steve's place setting. All ready for a cozy, romantic, candlelight dinner for two!!

Pics 'round the house on a rainy day....

Deuteronomy 28:12The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.

A few pics out of the office window of our home....

The mossy rock in the backyard taken from the balcony out our bedroom..

A wider view for perspective. I'm just lovin' the rainy weather!!

At the suggestion in one of Dawn's blog post at The Feathered Nest, I went 'round the house snapping a view vignettes.

Hope you enjoy!

Dawn also mentioned to just show pics and less commentary, so that's my way of getting out of writing much...as I feel like I don't have much of anything interesting to say anyway! ;-)

Courtney's Quilt

This past week has been spent recuperating from a nasty cold that's been plaguing me.

Off and on, between commitments that call me away from home, I find myself retreating to the big comfy chair in our bedroom, with herbal tea in a insulated travel mug. (It's not very pretty, but it keeps the tea hotter, longer.) And I cover myself with a quilt, snuggle down and read/and or study and pray. Every time I cover myself with this particular quilt, my thoughts turn towards it's creator, my daughter.

Almost 10 years ago, when Courtney was 15, she took a sewing class in high school and loved it.

I had a stash of designer samples of beautiful damasks and brocades that I picked up for pennies at a thrift store. I saw in a magazine a quilt that I loved. I loved it because it was a patchwork, but not in perfect squares--it was all in different sizes. I showed Courtney the design and asked if she'd be willing to make it. She agreed and went right to work. It couldn't have been easy, as all the different sizes had to have been trickier to connect than a regular patchwork quilt, but she did it without complaint and produced this quilt in these pictures.

As in many mother/daughter relationships, ours has been rocky and tenuous as we've navigated our way--me, trying to help her avoid the mistakes I made as a teenager, the hurts and angst that went with it...trying to "train her up in the way she should go"--and she, needing to find her autonomy, didn't understand which resulted in confusion in both of us. I found myself so unsure of myself as a mother and would often retreat upstairs and cover myself with the quilt and pray. The weight of it felt like a sort of protection and brought comfort to me.

There were other times that quilt comforted me. A misunderstanding with Steve, or a betrayal of a friend that left me dazed and confused...the anniversaries of the death of my mother.

Many years have passed...Steve and I rarely have misunderstandings now. I've become more discerning when it comes to who I choose to be friends with. And Courtney is one of my best friends! She's a joyful, funny and compassionate person who I admire very much.

There are still times, as there always will be, that I grieve the loss of my mother. And I seek refuge under the covers of that quilt and allow the Lord to comfort me the only way He can, because He's the only one who knows me best.

The quilt has held up nicely--a bit frayed here and there--but has many more years left in it--kinda like Courtney and me!!

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Theresa's Giveaway....

Theresa, from Time-Worn Interiors is celebrating her 100th post by having a giveaway...the above pic is all the goodies she's collected for the giveaway! Go check out her blog and leave a comment to enter!!

I'm feeling a bit peak-ed..

I believe I've caught the nasty flu-bug that has been plaguing Blogdom....and will be away from the computer sipping hot water, lemon juice, and honey. I'll be back when I feel more like myself.

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments on my frequent posts--I appreciate your friendship and kind words so much!

Anita's house

I stayed at Anita's my last night in San Diego. The above pic is a birthday present that I made for her several years ago when I was just getting into collage art...

This is the guest room I stayed in. Anita has a wonderful collection of antiques.

Her living room....

close ups of her goodies in her china cabinet..

Her downstairs bath...don'tcha love her idea of the towel holder??

More views of the guest bath..

I just LOVE what she did in her laundry room!!

The day I was leaving, we motored down to Coronado,

hit a couple of thrifts, stopped at Panera where she bought some Panini sandwiches, and ended up at the Hotel Del Coronado. The hotel and the grounds surrounding it are so beautiful.

We ventured into the back and took in the view while we enjoyed our lunch....

I had a wonderful time, Anita had a wonderful birthday. This was the perfect, peaceful ending to my whirlwind trip! I'm glad to be home, back with my hubby who I missed dearly! I have no immediate plans for any more travel, of which I'm glad. I just want to hunker down and nest!

Tablescape Thursday..Anita's 50th Birthday

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday! It seems like it's been ages since I've participate--it's good to be back!
Last week I was in San Diego helping my friend, Anita, celebrate her 50th Birthday. Toni and I decided to use a Garage Sale theme for her party, because Anita is THE most dedicated Garage-Saler I know!
The plan was to have her friends meet at Starbucks at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, and Toni gave out maps to assorted Garage Sales. (I know, it was January, but remember it was in sunny San Diego, where garages sales abound all year long!!) Anyway, after hitting the G-sales, we met back at Toni's for brunch and presents. We bought 'presents' at the garage sales.

So the day before, I went over to Toni's to set up. I brought my vintage tablecloths and Toni and Laura provided the rest.

This is what I started with...

And here is pics of the tables all set...

Toni and I picked up a few thing's from the thrift store, as well as some things she had, and I used all that for the centerpieces. I stuck price tag stickers on everything! All the plates were different, as well as the silverware and glasses. I tell ya--it was tricky to make everything so miss-matched!!! ;-)

This was Anita's place setting. I made 'price tag' place cards and attached them to the napkin rings. The little note pad were party favors for everyone, supplied by Toni.

I had so much fun setting this up!

This guy just cracked me up! :-D

Place settings at the other table...

And we set up the brunch buffet on Toni's kitchen counter.

Here's me with the guest of honor. Happy Birthday Anita!!!

Be sure to check out other great tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!