Spring Fever

With the warm sunny weather we had over the past two weeks, the trees are budding, the bulbs are coming up, and there are even a few roses blooming on the climbers.  We've been spending all our free time on Spring cleanup and planting outdoors and even though we put six tied bundles and four cans of green debris out for the trash, there's still a lot to do.  And that's besides what the gardener does.  Of course, as soon as we got the annuals planted the weather changed and we had a couple nights of mild frost. It looks like they are fine, but our neighbor's Cape Chestnut tree is dropping all its new leaves onto our yard, right after we got everything cleaned up.  Yard work, like housework,  is  never done.

With Spring in the air, I decided to set the table with dishes Hubby brought home on one of his trips to Marshall's.  No, I don't send him there daily, but it's right next to the mail box store so he's gotten into the habit of popping in when he collects his mail.   Fine by me! *grin*

This pattern is Feathered Friends by 222 Fifth.  I think it's a sweet, pretty Springtime pattern.

It took me a while to figure out what to use with these dishes.  I never did find a suitable square charger.  I meant to order a pink tablecloth like the ivory one I frequently use on the breakfast table, but I accidentally ordered this satin-finish one from the same company.  Ugh, too shiny.  So I used the butterfly doily to tone it down a bit.

I found this vintage wishing well planter on eBay from the same seller that had the little baskets I used on Valentine's Day.  It could hold a votive candle. 

I shopped the house for the centerpiece.  This was a gift crafted by a local florist with  a real orchid plant in it. It's not blooming right now so I replaced it with a fake one.

I was hoping to find similar little birds in nests to use on the place settings instead of bowls, but it's either too early or too late, because the craft store had nothing.

But they did have wired butterflies to hover above the napkins. One must be flexible.

The centerpiece has similar butterflies, so it worked out okay.

I hope Spring arrives soon in your neck of the woods, too.

Obligatory candlelight shot.

Wishing you butterflies and bluebirds -
A Cottage in the Clouds


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