Tablescape Thursday - Spring!

Once again it's the day of the week all us "dishaholics" love to see what everybody else is dishing out over on Susan's porch ....(between naps of course)!




In the words of The Beatles -- "Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear." But after that long winter....


....nothing says "SPRING" like daffodils!




Don't you just love it when the daffodils begin to bloom?



These plates were an eBay find last Spring.



Manufactured by Mikasa....I'm not quite sure how old they are.... from the 60's or 70's I'm guessing.



Napkins were purchased last spring as well -- either Tuesday Morning or Marshall's. All tied up with polka dotted ribbons.



I found these dinner plates at Kroger last year.



These charger/placemat/trays came from Nell Hill's online end of summer/early fall. They came in round or square -- but I just looked last week and they aren't being offered any longer.


My grandmother had real bamboo flatware that she used for breakfast. These are faux, but I still really love using them because they remind me of her. These came from Marshall's awhile back.



I found these green goblets at Goodwill around Christmas a couple of years ago. I've used them a lot -- I should look for more because they only had four -- I would love to find at least 2 more!



While I have daffodils blooming in my yard -- I thought I would leave them there because they look so cheerful. Since I didn't have time to stop by the market, I just used faux ones. I'll use these in a Spring wreath for my front door. They're in a black iron tealight holder I found in a Yankee Candle catalog a couple of months ago. Love that you can use it for tealights, flowers or both!



This was the table I set last year using these same plates after I first got them (and the daffodils were real ones)




Isn't it fun how just a few changes make a whole different look? Which do you prefer?

Be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps On the Porch" if you love seeing lots of pretty dishes and tablescapes. I look foward to the inspiration I find there week after week!

See ya!

Greening the cottage

What a difference a month makes! When we celebrated Valentine's day last month it was cold and Winter weather. Then a month later, St. Patrick's day seems to be the start of Spring! So I've been "Greening" the cottage. Since Easter comes late this year, I'll keep my St. Patrick's green around all month. Here's a little early spring fluffing at my washstand. My little chalkboard was giving birthday greetings this week for our daughter Katy.



My cloch has captured a little Irish angel. I think he's singing a sweet Irish ditty. I've used dried split peas for a green base.



Early spring asparagus stalks -- I love fresh asparagus! And some sheep. (I know it's early spring because their wool hasn't been sheared yet.)



This jar has captured a leprechan and his loot -- but he really doesn't look to unhappy about it. Maybe he's thinking of split pea soup!




All arranged on one of my big cabbage leaf placemats.



My sideboard has changed for Spring as well. The white runner has been switched for a green one.



Would you like a bit of Irish tea?


A small collection of little Irish cottages and a church.



Looks like instead of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow -- I have a sugar scuttle of gold coins.



A few more signs of Spring in the kitchen.


Bunnies and a bird nest....


....and a shamrock pail filled with cabbage and another bunny.


Shammrock plant.....




....and garden flag. It's beginning to look like Spring!

Are things "greening up" at your cottage too?

I'm joining Marty at Tabletop Tuesday

Tablescape Thursday - St. Patrick's Dinner

It's Tablescape Thursday again -- and this week EVERBODY's Irish!


Our daughter's birthday was Monday and she always requests a corned beef and cabbage dinner since St. Patrick's day is right around the corner. These pictures may seem a little more random than usual because they were taken quickly after work before everyone arrived for the birthday celebration.



The centerpiece was a pot of "shamrocks" from the grocery store and a platter of David Winter cottages set on the "greenery" of dried split peas. And a few gold coins mixed in.









I gave one of these to my friend Jane for her March birthday too and she's got a bloom on hers. I'll be happy if I can just keep mine alive.



















I found a couple of "Partylite" sheep last year around this time at two different thrift stores. They reminded me of the Irish countryside so they joined the table too.




















All four of my grandgirls got some green to wear for St. Patrick's day. These were for the twins. My other two girls got theirs in the mail last week. We'll be seeing them soon (but after St. Patrick's day)















I found these little Irish cottage plates at Marshall's a couple of years ago at an after Christmas sale --- thought they were perfect for St. Patrick's. The napkins were from Kohl's a couple of years ago. White Gibson dinner plates from Big Lot's....thanks to Gollum for sending us all there!











I love using these large cabbage leaves for St. Patrick's and Easter placemats. These were from a craft store.















The girl's also got to take home their St. Patrick's cups to have for this week too --- perhaps they'll be drinking green milk! These came from Target this year. They loved the floating shamrocks.















Green polka dot plates from Target are always fun!





















Another angle of the centerpiece.














I love Irish soda bread -- always good for toast the next day as well.















Green goblets would be perfect for green beer.....but we just had water in ours. (suits me....I don't like beer)




















Tee shirts to go!
























Our birthday girl also won some awards this weekend at a state Nursing Student competition. Now she'll get the chance to compete in a national competition in California. Go Katy!


















Nana with her two Irish lasses! Happy St. Patrick's everyone -- be sure to see all the fun tables set this week over at "Between Naps on the Porch" -- hosted by Susan who always encourages us to have fun with the dishes for every occasion!

See ya!

My favorite things

I'm joining Laurie over at "Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie" for My Favorite Things Saturday. It's always fun to see the treasures that everyone shares.


















I have two very special pictures hanging in my living room. These are two pieces of my mother's handwork. This first one she made for my grandmother for Christmas 1967.

















I love the daffodil and these bees. Perfect for Spring.








This is the picture that my parents had hanging in their living room for years. I believe she made this one around the same time. Two of my favorite treasures. I've done some cross stitch and needlework myself and know the hours spent on these, and I hope that one day they'll be treasures in the home of one of my granddaughter's in years to come. I guess with four granddaughters, I need to get busy in come up with two more pictures to hand down.

Have a great weekend everyone -----see ya!

Tablescape Thursday - Mardi Gras

It's time to set the table for this weeks fun! I know that some of our southern tables from the Gulf Coast are in full party mode for Mardi Gras. Well, even though Virginia isn't Mardi Gras country....why miss a good party? I've never been to the "Big Easy", so this is my modified version. I hope you'll visit Susan, our tablescape hostess at "Between Naps on the Porch" for tabletop fun from all over blogland.


















Welcome to my Mardi Gras table.....Virginia style.


















Come on and join the party....there's always room for you!


















This truly is a Mardi Gras mask that was given to a friend of mine from work.....true friends lend you stuff off their walls for tablescaping! Thanks Lori!


















My little "French Quarter" topper was from my mantle.


















These aren't official Mardi Gras masks.....but I used them because I hate to have a "bare backside" to my centerpiece.....although from what I hear about Mardi Gras......Well, Never Mind!


















Colorful beads and golden coins add to the party theme. I've used green, gold and purple which I believe are the traditional Mardi Gras colors....but I may be wrong about that, since I've never been.


















My amethyst stems were my choice of glassware. I sort of like the view of the mask through a purple lens.



















A few golden coins in my antique champagne glasses. I found those on the St. Patrick's isle of the craft store....the only thing I could find for my Mardi Gras table in this area -----maybe I would have had more luck at one of the party stores.....but no time in my schedule to go look.


















Golden napkins tied up with our party colors and a peacock feather.


















White dinner plates ....as an afterthought, I wish I had used my black and white checked salad plates on top.


















I found these glass gold rimmed chargers on eBay several years ago....I've never seen them again. I've used these for many tablescapes.


















Since I don't own any golden hued flatware.....I decided that my Treble Clef was the best for this party table.


















An overview of my "not quite" Mardi Gras table.


















Overview of the centerpiece feathers of fun!











Time to light the candles and say......well certainly not "goodnight".....but "Come on Baby let the good times roll!" Happy Mardi Gras!

See ya!