FROM TRAY TO COFFEE TABLE

I love the last hour of the last day of an estate sale. That's when I bought this giant metal tray. (To be honest, I bought it 15 minutes after the estate sale's advertised closing time, when everyone was ready to lock the door and get out of there, leaving as little merchandise as possible.)

TABLESCAPE REVIEW

I am reviewing some of my tablescapes from the year 2012.  If you would like to see the entire post on any of these tablescapes, you may click on the photo.

WELCOME 2012:

EVENING IN PARIS TABLE:

VALENTINE TABLE:

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CELEBRATION:

A TOAST THE BRIDE PARTY:

A QUIMPERWARE DINNER:

TEA PARTY:

EASTER BRUNCH:

MOSAIC OF EASTER DINNER TABLES:

FOURTH OF JULY TABLES:

BACK TO SCHOOL CHILDREN’S TABLE:

CELEBRATING THE U.S. CAPITOL:

OUTDOOR DINING IN THE FALL:

A COWBOY DINNER FOR MY SWEETHEART’S BIRTHDAY:

A FALL BREAKFAST TABLE:

HALLOWEEN PARTY:

A ROOSTER BREAKFAST AT THE KITCHEN ISLAND:

PRE-THANKSGIVING BUFFET:

THANKSGIVING DESSERT TABLE:

THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLES:

CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST TABLE:

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER TABLES:

Whew, that was a lot of tablescaping!
Finally, I’d like to share one of my Christmas photos.  We have about 30 family members for Christmas Eve.  One of our favorite traditions is the Christmas pageant performed by all of the young cousins.  This picture was taken at the end of the pageant, when the children sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

I also want to share that we had snow in Arkansas on Christmas Day!  I know some of you are asking what is all the excitement about.  We seldom get snow in Arkansas, and never on Christmas Day (The last time was 100 years ago! No, that was not in my lifetime.), so give me a break while I celebrate our little Christmas Day snow.

I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  I don’t know about all of you, but all holiday celebrations have me wondering what day of the week it is for days after the holiday.  If I’m not too late for it, I’ll also link to Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish Wednesday.  Thank you for stopping by to review my year of tablescapes.  laurie
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I DON’T WANNA GO TO WORK

For years, I’ve been telling my sweetheart that if I didn’t have to go to work every day, I would prepare and serve him a delicious breakfast before he headed out to the trenches each day. 
So, this post is for my husband of 43 years.  Are you looking at this, dear?  It’s our side-by-side breakfast place settings.  Isn’t that sweet?

Just slip your napkin out of that fowl, and

prepare yourself for the hearty breakfast you deserve to eat every morning.

Go ahead, crack that egg.

Oh, you think the rooster egg cup is more fitting for your masculinity?  Okay, you can have the rooster egg cup.  See how agreeable I can be when I’m not having to race around to get ready for work.

You’re right.  That is a small juice glass for such a strong, handsome man.    

That’s why this rooster is filled with delicious, homemade orange juice.  Let me refill your glass for you.

Yes dear, the orange juice did just come out of that rooster’s beak.  Would you like salt and pepper on your egg?

The oatmeal is still warm.  That will start your day right. 

Here are a couple of those spicy sausages that you like.  I wouldn’t want you to go out into the world without a big breakfast.

Let me just get the biscuits out of the oven.  Do you want white gravy, or

would you prefer some of my homemade strawberry preserves?

Did you notice I cut the last of the roses from the garden this morning – just a little touch of beauty for you before you face your day at the office.

Well yes, those are faux eggs in that basket.  But if you’d like, some mornings I could fill it with real eggs. 

No, I would not expect you to reach up to that basket to crack your egg.  I wouldn’t expect you to expend your energy on that task.  I would remove one of the egg cups from the basket and place it on your plate.  When you finished that egg, I would remove another egg cup to give you.

Sweetheart, can’t you just picture it?   This hearty, delicious breakfast - a kiss and a hug - and you’re off to start your day with a healthy happy heart and a full stomach.

Well, ah, yes, I realize there wasn’t any food in these pictures.  Um yes, I know I’ve never made strawberry preserves, but that is because I have to go to work five days a week. This was just a “dry” run -- just to give you an idea of how you could begin your mornings – if I wasn’t having to get ready for work.  What? You thought there wasn’t any food, because I didn’t have any grocery money? 

Okay, you’ve made your point.  Stick a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster, while I go get  ready for work.  If there isn’t enough Welch’s grape jelly for both pieces of toast, I call dibs on the jelly.  No, I’m not as agreeable as I was earlier.
(Plates and bowls:  “Queens”; Napkins: Old Time Pottery years ago; Chargers:  J. C. Penny’s years ago; everything else: estate, garage, and flea market sales.)
I’m linking this shattered dream to Let’s Dish Wednesday at Cuisine Kathleen and to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  Thank you for coming for breakfast in my kitchen.  I apologize for the lack of real food.  Sadly, I have to get to the office. (P.S.}  This is totally fiction.  My sweetheart has never read my blog!) laurie


 

SCHOOL DAZE

Yes, around our house, we are having School Daze.  With our youngest beginning pre-K this year, all four of our grands are now in school, so we celebrated being in the daze of going back-to-school and starting school.









When our youngest grand came by my office after her first day of Pre-K, I asked how her first day went.  She said, “It was good, but I thought the teacher might talk about Ronald, and she didn’t.”  Puzzled, I looked at her mother for a clue, and her mother said, “Her teacher’s name is Mrs. McDonald!”

I’m so glad you came by to see what kind of daze I am in now!  I apologize
for being such an intermittent blog poster.  I just don’t have  anything interesting
going on in my life right now.  Once a week, I  post on my writing blog,
Battling  My  Inner Critic, Please stop by there for a visit.  Thanks! 
Laurie