Letter "T" and Telling Time Tea Party!

To celebrate learning the letter "T" and Telling Time

 I hosted a little tea party luncheon for my preschooler grand,

and for both of my daughters early last month.

♥

It was a perfect time to use my clock teapot for a centerpiece.

It was a good day for using my Gracie china.

I only have 4 teacups and saucers in this pattern

 so it worked out well.

I was asked to teach some basic table and tea party manners.

(FYI - Katie asked Vivi a few days later about what she learned, 

and she remembered all she was taught!)

Pink velvet dress, cute tea hat, a sweet smile -

 yep, I believe she was ready for her tea time!

I used these heavier stoneware teacups for the soup.

I used these sweet fall napkins my tea sister/friend Pam D. sent

 in the mail - love random acts of kindness getting happy mail!

Paper napkins always best when there is a 4 year old at the table.

I really can't believe none of us even thought of 

taking pictures of any of the beautiful foods.

*Sigh*

Where is my Mary D. when I needed her the most????

♥

I am happy to report that Vivi liked almost everything!

(And these were rather mature foods, too!)

I was so happy she liked the curry soup!

About the only thing she didn't care for was the ham salad.

BTW- the pumpernickel was homemade by my hubs!

He is an amazing bread baker, and he nailed it perfectly.

It was the first time he'd ever made it, too. 

The cello-wrapped favor was to be a fun painting

of  an autumn pumpkin craft for us to do, 

 but we ran out of time so we weren't able to do it together.

Here they are in learning mode as I was in kitchen brewing the tea!

A play clock, a making a paper clock craft - such fun!

I absolutely love her happy pose!!

She left her very special pink shiny tea party

 princess shoes at the front door.

BTW- these cute wooly toys her Aunt Ezza

 hand made her and gifted her that day

 for doing so well in her learning!

Cute, aren't they?

I love the "cutie marks" on them!

Vivi's auntie makes her the cutest things.

I could do several posts on them alone.

The pink caterpillar with hearts was a very special request

 made by Vivi.  If anyone wants to know more about it please 

write me privately and I will share.

As always, thanks for your visit!

Stay safe, stay well, please!

Linking:

Tablescape Thursday

It Is Still Summer! (Outdoor Luncheon)

 

Before summer is just a pleasant memory and our worlds become filled with pumpkins and cinnamon and apples and leaves...

I wanted to share a recent summertime outdoor afternoon tea luncheon I hosted for my daughters and my sweet grand daughter.

 

 

I kept it simple so I had more time to be with them. 

My heart was full of joy!

           I picked some daisies that were blooming in my garden

       and placed in an old crystal vase for our centerpiece.

 

 

I used my Laura Ashley "Lidia" pattern for our dishes,

 and since it was hot we had iced tea in my pink depression

 water glasses, and the cups and saucers for the soup.

I simply grilled up some cheese sandwiches.

 My homemade vegetable beef soup

 I made the night before and just had to heat up. 

For extra yummy toasted cheese sammies

add cream cheese in with your normal cheese.

I made homemade real vanilla bean custard the night before

 and just added a few blueberries on top just prior to serving. 

 

It was a big hit with everyone - especially this little cutie!

 

After our long chatty lunch we sat in the Zen Room

         and Grandpa was able to finish his work in time

 to have a nice visit with them, too.

 (He's been working from home since first week of March.)

Those two get pretty goofy sometimes,

 always thinking up fun things to do!

(Such as zipping up the grand girl in a folding camp chair canvas bag!)

And walking around the backyard with her

with her squealing with delight. 

Goofs, I tell ya!

Love that face he's giving me!!

I can hear what he is thinking:

"This is a perfectly normal thing to be doing, Shell!"

"Hey, Aga! You look just like Mickey Mouse!"

Just around the corner Autumn will set in 

and our hummers will be gone for another year....

It's hot out today, though, and it's not ready to end just yet!

We are hanging onto it as long as we are able!

I hope you all enjoy these last glorious weeks of summer.

As always thank you for your visit.

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Keep In Touch    *   Share Your Style   *   Embracing Home + Family

Pink Saturday

Neutral Autumn Dining in Green

Before the blog world turns completely into Christmas and Winter

 wonderland I thought I'd better share my fall tablescape!

Our fall table in green this year is something quite different for me.
I have had it like this since early September.

It has been a nice transition from summer to fall
 while our temps were still high and leaves hadn't changed.

I may warm it up more now that true autumn weather has arrived.

The Pamela Gladding salad plates are a recent ebay find,
 and the "moody" grey-green napkins
were purchased a few months ago.


~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~

 The wicker napkin rings are also a new-to-us find
 from my favorite second-hand store after their fall season last year.

I forgot all about them stashed away in an autumn decor box.....
oh, the thrill of finding forgotten treasures! ♥

The extra tall wainscoting wall wood work
 and custom framed trio of feather prints in the background
 are a recent addition to our home that I haven't shared yet.

I intended on doing blog posts about each of our little home improvement changes
 we have had done in the last year, but good intentions weren't enough to make it happen.

The tall natural rattan vase was found by dear tea sister Mary D.

The larger mercury pumpkin was a recent birthday gift
from my dear tea sister Karen.

It lights up at night and is such a pretty way to add a bit
 of ambient lighting to that dark music area.


~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~


Our wrought iron table is fun to seasonally decorate
 and is useful as a make-shift coffee/tea/drinks station
 for dinner or tea parties.

It is shallow and adds interest to the back wall without interfering
with the path area getting to and from the dining table.

I used to keep an ornate iron and glass etagiere there,
 but it no longer worked once we added our new wood work.

Here is a different prospect from the foyer
of my 1959 vintage Baldwin  7 foot grand piano-
 and its wee "twin" that our 3-year-old grand-girl often plays.

♫  ♪  ♫ 

Yes, those are York Peppermint Patties.


I was excited to find a perfect way to display my rusty metal leaf
my eldest daughter gave to me for my birthday a few years ago.

I love having a fall birthday!

It is my favorite time of year to decorate, and to add
 my beloved autumn decor birthday gifts
 makes it all that much more special!

The background of the mirror reflection captures a glimpse
of the top of our tall antique china cabinet with a large ceramic
pumpkin with metal leaves, and an European-inspired
colorful autumn silk floral arrangement 
 I designed many years ago. 

A pretty scented candle and another color coordinated 
silk floral arrangement
completes and complements the green theme this year.

I really liked taking these easy and moody darker pictures.

I have had the flu for over a week now, and couldn't find
 the strength or energy  to fuss with setting up 
heavy photo lights or doing much photo editing.

Hope you have enjoyed as much as I have had sharing.


As always, thank you for your visit.

Hugs and prayers.

♥
~Michele

PS: Halloween cuteness:


Princess Bonnibel "Bonnie" Bubblegum from Adventure Time

Linking to these wonderful parties:

Pink Saturday   *   Inspire me Tuesday   *  All About Home   *    

At Our Home   *   Make It Pretty   *   Share Your Style  * 

Tablescape Thursday   *   Pink Saturday (AG)   *   

Easter Tablescape 2018

I am very busy with the Triduum with our church's three days 

of church service singing in choir.

During Easter Holy Week I sing 5 out of 7 days

(Palm Sunday, practice, then Thursday, Friday and then Saturday Vigil.)

It is incredibly Spiritual, but very demanding.

 The services are intense, long, but absolutely amazing.

And when it is all over and I get home at midnight or later after the Saturday Vigil Easter service, I am wiped out!

However, I am always up early the next day

 preparing for our family Easter feast.

 I have done this for many years - way too many years!

However this year my youngest daughter

has invited us to her home for the family Easter feast!

I cannot even begin to explain what a gift this is to me!

* To my mind to be at peace with prayer,  have more time for God.

* To my poor aching feet, as this is more than a bit tough physically.

* To my brain, so I can sleep a little more, truly rest.

* To my marriage, so I have some time for my husband,

 and am not stressed out  or panicking (or mean)

about my lack of time and energy to do anything more.......

SO, thank you, dear daughter Katie for giving us this gift.

 No words can convey what it means to me.

I had dressed up our dining table a while back, 

and taken some pics of it prior to being invited for Easter feast.

Place cards weren't even made for our little metal birdie holders.

 No need for it this year.

  (Yippee!)

This bunny is  keeping a watchful eye over the table.

I like that it looks as though he's smiling.

(Or perhaps he's smirking, cuz he's seen me

 eating all those yummy chocolate eggs this year!)

I found these cute neutral bunny plates at Hobby Lobby 

a few years ago on after Easter clearance.

I noticed they had them again this year, too.

Little white bunny salt and pepper shakers:

For a centerpiece I used a simple burlap runner,

 twiggy chargers, and filled a moss lined bird cage

with birdies, faux flowers and a vintage glazed rabbit.

Each place setting has a little nest with eggs.

If you missed my spring/Easter home tour

you can find it here.

As always, thank you for your visit!

May the Good News of our Risen Lord

 fill your hearts with joy.

Love and prayers,

Michele

Linking:

Tablescape Thursday   *   Share Your Cup   *   Easter Joys Hop

A Pretty Christmas Tablescape

This year we have 13 family members attending

 Christmas Day dinner here.

I set up our formal dining room tablescape  in green and gold

 with a touch of deep crimson red to pull it all together.

Red, green and gold is just so Christmas-y and traditional.

And for those who know me, I seldom use color.

My Christmas decor is all white - but the table is a nice

bit of color in my very neutral universe. ♥

I have six here and will host another six plus high chair in kitchen.

I thank God every day for the blessing of family,
 and for providing our home and space so that we may share it

 with our beloved family and friends whenever we are able to do so.

I only bought a couple of new or new-to-me things this year,
 as I am trying to lighten the "stuff" load we have for the holidays.

However, I recently bought this opaque glass centerpiece

candle holder base at my favorite local thrift store.

I placed it in a vintage silver plated bowl from my stash,

cut some arborbitae from out back and placed a few

smaller glass ornament bulbs around it, making 

a simple, traditional and inexpensive centerpiece.

And this is how it looks when lit with a candle,
casting its peaceful warm glow on the setting.

The two faux boxwood tree things I had in the basement

haven't seen the light of day in a long time.

I thought they completed the look,

 along with a metal reindeer.

I think post-Christmas by using white plates and 
different napkins,  and putting away the ornament bulbs
this tablescape could be used most of the winter.

That is until we get lots and lots of snow,
then I may have to go all out using my glittering snowflake stuff.

Earlier in the Advent season I had been playing with my holiday table

and had set it up in a much more red and bold style.

I thought I'd show you how the table looked then.

It's fun to compare how different with just a few simple
changes it can make. 

I used the gifts I had then later taken and given to my tea sisters

 when we exchanged gifts as part of the tablescape decor.

If you missed the extraordinary Christmas Afternoon Tea party
 I went to there's a link to it at the end of this post
 you won't want to miss. *

Tying ornaments on is a nice way to embellish any packaging.

This was what I used in the centerpiece

 before I found that new-to-me candle vase.

It's much larger than it looks in this pic.

I ended just flipping over the table runner

 when I finally decided to lose all the bright red

 in my final decision on the table this year.

*Here is the tea party link in case you missed it earlier.

It is a two-parter, and part 2 is at the bottom of this

post in a clicky link, too. 

As always, thank you for your visit.

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Tablescape Thursday

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