First Fall Weenie Roast....

For much of the year, it's really, really, hot in Texas. It's the kind of hot where you can cook an egg on the sidewalk...I once tried it. So when fall arrives, we anxiously watch the weather (no real need to watch it in the spring or summer) hoping for that first, much welcomed cold front. When my children were small, this turned into quite an event. As soon as the weatherman showed those beautiful blue lines on the map coming our way we would start gathering sticks for our kindling...the annual First Fall Weenie Roast was on! Even though everyone is grown, we still look forward to this annual party. It's become one of those family traditions that we wouldn't miss. This year, I decided to do a tablescape, buffet style, using my mis-matched brown drip ware.

The chili will be in the warming pot, the napkins are in the bean pot. The rooster pitcher is very old. It came from a florist shop and the sticker is still on the bottom showing the phone number with a TU exchange. If you remember phone number exchanges..you're as vintage as me! The cute leaf placemats came from Wal Mart earlier in the season.






There will be warm spiced cider in the fall beverage server and we will use the brown dripware mugs.




Of course, there will be 'Smores for dessert. My friend Julie made the cute 'Smores basket. There is a liner embroidered with a 'Smore, and a napkin to cover it all with our name on it.

Now..let's get outside and start cooking! Happy fall, everyone!

Mom's Tablescape

I'm visiting my mom this weekend, and we've been talking about tablescaping, looking at blogs, etc. I've already explained that most of the women in my family have a dish addiction which we inherited, in part, from her. While we were looking at my grandmother's dishes, that were bought in the late 30's or early 40's, as well as other treasures, mom said.."Why don't we make a tablescape?". I thought that was a neat idea, so we did.



We used my grandmother's china, which was made by Noritake, but we don't know the name of the pattern...anyone recognize this?

We also used some more of her stemware, you've seen the goblets in my first tablescape.





Her flatware is Oneida Louisiana.



This beautiful tea set (two cups and saucers, sugar and creamer and teapot)came from a garage sale for $5 and is also made by Noritake..what a find!

The napkin rings were made from some flowers we dug out of a basket in the living room. The candles are just tea lights placed in some random crystal candle holders that mom had in a cabinet. Mom and daughter tablescaping..a fun way to play on Saturday!

My First Tablescape Thursday....Table for One...

It's a Friday night. I've just completed a 55+ hour work week. I'm tired, but Friday night is always rejuvenating for me. My husband has traveled 5 hours away to be the speaker tonight to our hometown highschool football team. That means I'm by myself. I don't like doing this often, but every now and then it's nice to be totally in control of the remote! Olive Garden is on my way home, so when my husband is out of town I ususally order a salad and soup to go. I'm treating myself tonight to a nice tablescape for my dinner alone.

I've used a pink Fiesta dinnerplate on a wicker tray, white salad plate by Gibson from Big Lots, and a pink Madrid (remake) depression bowl.

The arrangement is in a depression era Crinoline cup made several years ago by my sweet friend, Julie....I love it!

The flatware is my favorite, Oneida Michaelangelo. It was one of my first purchases when I started my career.

The goblet is a treasure from my grandmother's collection. It is about 70 years old. I have 4 stems like it....not replaceable!

I'm going to enjoy my dinner, watch a chick-flick and sleep late tomorrow! Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more tablescaping ideas.