TOP 'O THE MORNIN' TO YE

If it weren't for Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, I'm not sure I'd ever have anything to post on my blog. I do know that, at least once a week, I can post a tablescape. I also know that my tablescape does not have to be anything spectacular. People often leave a comment that they want to start participating in Tablescape Thursday, but aren't comfortable doing a tablescape. I cannot imagine that, after seeing what I get away with on TT, anybody would feel inhibited about posting a tablescape on their blog! That's why I do these tablescapes--just to make everyone else feel great about their tablescapes (well, that and the fact that I can't think of much to post on my blog!)

I know last week I said my tablescape was a hodge podge, but I think this week I topped the hodge podge of last week! When I decided to do a St. Patrick's Day tablescape, I started grabbing everything I could find that was green. One thing led to another, and I've ended up with ANOTHER hodge podge table (can you believe spell check doesn't recognize "hodge podge"-of course it also doesn't recognize "ya'll"!--I think we need a Southern version of spell check!).


These bamboo place mats are perfect for me (they are cheap, they come in a lot of different colors, you can roll them up to store them, and they don't have to be washed-just wiped off-- as a matter of fact, they are so inexpensive, they are almost disposable. If I have a messy guest, I just throw the mat away! Yes, I do occasionally throw something away!)


The plaid plates remind me of a kilt, so that is how (in my hodge podge mind) I justified using them on the St. Patrick's Day tablescape. Of course, at Christmas time, they remind me of Christmas, and on other occasions, they remind me of something else-I'm not sure what, but I am sure I've used them at other times).


See those leprechaun bumble bees on the table square? That's what made me think I could use a yellow tablecloth, yellow napkins, and a bucket with bugs on it. (My brain tends to tie things together in strange ways - this may also be referred to as Laurie justifying putting things together that don't match one another).



I'm sure ya'll have figured out that the reason I love to use mug trees for centerpieces is that they are inexpensive (so much nicer than saying cheap). You can find these mug trees (and measuring spoon trees, which I've also used in centerpieces) for a quarter at junk stores. I've never used one for mugs or measuring spoons. Maybe NOBODY ever has, and that may be why I always see them in junk stores.

Tuesday Morning sometimes carries these "smokers" (I think that's what they are called). I often buy them on sale after Christmas, but since this one is an Irishman, he gets stored with my St. Pat's decor instead of the Christmas decor (well that, and the fact that there is not one one more inch of space left on the Christmas storage shelves).

Of course I have a leprechaun with a pot of gold. I'm just hoping that he is going to find me a real pot of gold some day (Every St. Pat's Day, I say to him [in a whisper, so my family won't have me committed] "sweet little green guy, if you bring me real gold, I promise I'll share it with you"--so far I've had no response from him, but I still hold out hope).

The mug tree holds more leprechauns and a vintage bridge tally that my mother had saved.

Since I ran out of St. Pat decor to hang on the mug tree, I got out this vintage costume jewelry that belonged to my grandmother to hang on the tree (well, it IS green-don't you just love how good I am at justifying?), and beneath the tree is a gold shamrock with mine and my dh's initials engraved on it. This was gift from my childhood friend, Melinda. I just love anything that has a wonderful memory attached to it, and my memories of my friend Melinda are certainly wonderful.

I'm sure there are frogs in Ireland! (Of course my justification for using the frog pitcher is that he is green). The tea towel under him was a gift from my sweet sister in law, Brenda.




I snapped this picture before I took any other photos of the table, because I knew I'd start eating those Ande's chocolate mints before I finished photographing the table. I love those things. (I put them in little St. Pat cups, for my guests to take home-I'm re-thinking that now though).



What do you think?

Be sure to go to Between Naps on the Porch, and see the links for all of the wonderful tablescapes. And, now that you've seen just how hodge podged (I'm sure the past tense of hodge podge is not in spell check) your tablescape can be, please join in next week.

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Two of the sweetest bloggers, with two of the "bestest" blogs have given me the Sisterhood Award. If you haven't visited Carol at Carol's Heirloom Collection and Miss Laura Lu at Hidden Promise, you really need to go see them. Carol has the most precious new grand baby whose pictures are currently posted on her blog (and probably many more to come-you know how we grandmothers are!) Laura Lu hasn't been blogging long, but you wouldn't know it to see her wonderful blog.

A lot has been said about this award by other bloggers, and I don't think I can add to it. However, I do have to agree that Blogland is filled with a wonderful sisterhood of women, and I feel so blessed to have found this sisterhood and to feel so welcomed and accepted by this sisterhood.

Thank you so much Carol and Laura Lu for honoring me with this very special award.

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Now, at the risk of making this post WAY too long, I just have to tell you about Kathy (Life in the Slow Lane). She is the s-i-l of my friend, Susie, who so graciously welcomed us into her home and her Valentine's party on my blog. Some of you have already met Kathy. She has had a blog for awhile now, but she has recently joined our great sisterhood of bloggers. She is a very talented lady, and if you are not already a regular visitor to her blog, you should run right over to see it here.

Thank you so much, my sweet sisterhood of visitors, for stopping in to see me. laurie