Tablescape Thursday - Ladies Luncheon

Since we've just become friends here in blogland - I thought I would invite you to lunch...so we can get to know each other just a bit better. And just because you're so special, I'm putting out the "good" china. I've set the table on the crocheted star a friend gave me for my birthday years ago. We have gold rimmed glass chargers I purchased from e-Bay. My china is Stanford Court by Noritake - My mother used to give me a piece every year for my birthday and Christmas - until I got settings for six. When it became discontinued a few years ago - I started trolling e-bay for pieces. I had gotten up to eight, when there was an auction for full place settings for six - for less than $200!!! Wowie Zowie! I think that goes for my best bargain auction ever! Then I found the cream soup bowls - (also on e-Bay) Carlton by Meito China. The crystal iced tea glasses and coasters were from Tuesday Morning. The salt cellers were my mothers-- they're very old. Pepper shakers from Tuesday Morning. I picked up the shell theme with my brass place card holders (I'm sure that you noticed that...because you're so observant!) The silverware was given to me by my mother-in-law years ago -- as a matter of fact, getting the silverware was what started me on the china, since I had not picked out wedding china...but you HAVE to have pretty china to go with such pretty silverware! It's also old -- came from her aunt - old and heavy -- I think it's called Imperial - and it's monogrammed with a "K" -- not our initial -- but pretty close -- we're "H". In my grandmother's cut glass vase I have some faux flowers - complete with a faux bee buzzing around! (something for a touch of whimsy). I thought in keeping with our shell theme - we would have a seafood luncheon. So let's start with some She Crab soup. Then we'll have garden greens with cold spiced shrimp and a light vinaigrette dressing. For our main course, we'll have my husband's best ever crab cakes (a no filler recipe that came from his mother) -- They are the BEST! Along with that we'll have some fresh steamed asparagus with baby new potatoes sprinkled with fresh parsley and butter. I'm so glad that we could linger and chat into the afternoon with our coffee and fresh berries with cream and shortbread cookies for dessert. My little silver sugar scuttle is in service if you would like just a bit of sweetness in your coffee. It's been wonderful to have you for lunch! The dishes are all done and back in the china cabinet. Please come visit again -- I loved having you! Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch to see all the lovely tablescapes this week!

See ya!