Peach Blossom Time

I know many of you are experiencing cold winter weather, but here in the clouds it's unseasonably warm and the fruit trees are budding out. The peach tree is ahead of the others - in full bloom.

This poor old gnarly tree has had a tough time of it with a bad case of peach leaf curl, which causes it to drop its fruit prematurely.  Last year for the first time  it looked like the latest chemical treatment had cured it and the peaches would be brought to fruition. (hehe, is that a pun?)   We patiently watched and waited as the fruit grew larger and the leaves remained healthy with no sign of disease.  And then we experienced the attack of the killer squirrels.  Overnight they stole every peach from the tree.    The squirrels still stalk the yard daily, so I'm not real confident there will be peaches this year, either .  We might as well enjoy a few blossoms on the table.

We'll just pretend they are cherry blossoms and go with a calming Japanese theme, complete with a running fountain.

Guarded by Mr Helpful's clay warriors, purchased in Japan.

I put a leaf in the table because I had a grandiose plan involving a riverbed running from one end of the table to the other.  But in print it looked horrible - more like a gravel quarry than a Zen garden.  Sometimes less is more.

Please forgive the view out the windows. Potted plants and furniture are up against the house because of recent wind storms.  I hate having to retrieve the glider from the neighbor's roof.   Usually it's so sunny that my photos just show a whiteout at the windows, but it was a rainy day when I took these.

The wine glasses came from Marshall's, brand unknown.  They're a heavy, rather rustic hand-blown glass.  It needs a water glass but nothing I have looked right with it, so y'all will just have to drink wine.  Of course with all that wine and the running water sound from the fountain you may need to excuse yourself a few times.

The napkins and reed place mats came from Amazon.  The salad plates are Mikasa Dynasty Black and are sitting on Mikasa Italian Countryside dinner plates.  This week I learned black is very hard to photograph.

The chargers are by Arda Glassware from Pier 1.

A little overhead  lighting.

And candles.

Edit: Thursday afternoon.  The larger table was bugging me so I shrunk it back.  Then I remembered I had the Italian countryside teapot so I added the pot and cups.

For those who are wondering... yes, I did catch the flowers on fire with the candles. 

I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch  for Tablescape Thursday.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is coming up on Monday, so that gives me an excuse to use these dishes I bought on impulse at Gumps in San Francisco many years ago during a Christmas shopping weekend getaway.  (Say that in one breath!) 
The dinnerware is Heirloom by Georges Briard.

The rice bowls, lotus bowls and tea cups came from a less exciting location -
the World Market at the outlet mall.

We had to order Chinese takeout twice to get four sets of chopsticks.  (Stingy owner just wouldn't give them up.  Only one set per entree!)  I actually do have some nice ornately-decorated chopsticks, but only in single sets.  I use them to secure my hair when I twist it up in a bun.  Just one of those special skills of womanhood - being able to put your hair up with two chopsticks... or two pencils if you're going for the librarian look.  Then if you need to mesmerize a man while asking a favor,  you just pull them out and give your head the Super Model shake as your hair comes tumbling down.  Works every time.

So this will be the Year of the Dragon.  According to folklore, the dragon is the symbol of good luck.  I could certainly use a year of good luck, and I wish it for you, too.  Drat the luck, I have no dragons for my tablescape!

Mr. Helpful saved the day by toting in an old box of his junk fine Asian artifacts purchased from airport gift shops exotic back alley antiquities dealers, acquired on his business trips leisurely world travels.  We went through a half hour of  "How about this?" "Nope, that's Japanese," before settling on the China dolls and cloisonne ornaments.

The blue cachepot and candle holders were borrowed from the patio. The teapot was from a crafter's booth at an open-air market.  Hubby picked up the blue flutes at Dollar Tree and the pandam leaf chargers from Pier 1.  I've sent him there so many times I bet they say, "Here comes that nice old gay man again," when he walks in the door. 

 Gung hay fat choy!

I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch  for Tablescape Thursday.

That's Amore!

My life has a soundtrack.  No matter what I'm doing, there's always music going on in my head.  And if I stop and think about it, it's always an appropriate song for the moment.

When I was setting the table I realized I was humming That's Amore.  I wasn't really thinking "Italian" when I got out the trusty old "Hollywood Bowl picnic tablecloth,"  but you know, red checkered tablecloths do remind me of Italian restaurants.  I'm not one to ignore the voices in my head, and pretty soon I was singing out loud as I put the tablescape together. 

When the spoon hits your eye and new flatware you buy
That's amore

This table is kind of country cheery-looking in the morning, isn't it?

When the table you drape for a new tablescape
That's amore. 

The dinnerware is Mikasa.   Italian Countryside, of course.

Napkin ring, ting a ling a ling, add a little bling, 
And you'll sing "Vita Bella!"

* Brrr-rinnnnnng! *
Hello?
Representing the estate of who?
Dean Martin?  Really?
Uh huh. Uh huh. Okay.
No, a Cease and Desist letter won't be necessary.  I'll stop singing.
You have a nice day, too.

Well, THAT was embarrassing!  I bet the neighbors ratted me out.

So, anyways..

As darkness falls, "cheery" changes to "romantic" with the lighting of the candles.

It does remind me of an Italian restaurant. Can't you picture Lady and the Tramp enjoying their pasta at the table by the window?

I'm still humming.

*When new plates make you drool just like pasta fazul ..*    I can't help it!

Is it stuck in your head yet?   Hehehe!   Sorry.  Think about lasagne and garlic bread!

Arrivederci
From
Una Casa Nelle Nubi


Dinnerware & candle holders- Mikasa Italian Countryside
Chargers- Fiesta Scarlet
Ruby goblets- Mikasa French Countryside
Highball glasses- Waterford Lismore
Flatware- Reed & Barton Crescendo II
Basket-weave flowerpot with geraniums- borrowed from the patio


I'll be joining Susan at  Between Naps on the Porch  for Tablescape Thursday.

New Year's Eve Dinner For Two

Ack! It's Wednesday night? Seriously?  Already?
(Pardon me while I quickly scramble through my photos.)

Err, *ahem* yes, of COURSE I'm organized and ready for your visit. Cool, calm and collected - that's me!



I did a table for two for New Year's Eve .  That's because we're such a romantic couple *ahem* and not because the Snow Village is still on the dining room table.

 I folded a gold tablecloth and draped it over the back half of the table to create that feeling of intimacy we lovebirds so desired.  *insert eye-roll emoticon here*

And just because I happened to be packing away Christmas decorations and holding a handful of bows, that's no reason to assume the idea of shoving them in a vase and using them for napkin rings wasn't sheer creative genius honed by years of education and experience in tablescaping. *cough, cough*

Of course, I used the same old crystal and silver because I love it, and not because I'm new at this and don't have a lot of stuff.  *sniff*

Hubby looked so handsome in his jammies tuxedo, as he served up the meal I  he'd prepared.  I was careful not to get any sauce on my sweats designer gown.

Did I mention the solid gold dinnerware we rich folks use?   I understand Pier 1 has an exact copy in gold  glass.

Sending you champagne wishes and caviar dreams from A Cottage in the Clouds
A Mansion in the Mist.

Crystal stemware and candle holders - Waterford Lismore
Crystal  bowls and vase - Macy's, long ago...can't recall brands
Silver - Wallace Grande Baroque
Chargers - Godinger
Gold votives - Stats
Gold dinnerware - Pier 1 Imports



I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.