My Dish Addiction

 I have no business buying one more plate.

But I did.

I couldn't resist these pheasant dishes from Tuesday Morning.

So I eased my guilty conscience by just buying two place settings and the serving bowls. And they work on my favorite fall tablecloth, a vintage aqua/white piece with soft brown, aqua and yellow leaves.

Flowers are easy at the end of the season -- just raid the garden! Zinnias, coleus, dusty Miller, sedum and more found their way into this arrangement.

Since I already have turkey plates and autumn plates, I didn't feel right getting a full set, so I got two complete place settings and the serving bowls. I know, I said that before. But I have to keep reminding you and if you saw my basement, you'd know why. Mostly, I have to keep reminding Rick. He does not have the dish addiction.

I liked the border and if I have to have more plates than the turkeys will allow, I can flesh it out with these and only the sharp-eyed will be any the wiser!

So, join me for a treat or two. But be careful -- don't do this...

...or it might turn into this!

And trust me, finding a replacement burner for a 1964 stove is not easy -- or inexpensive. Ah, life...

A Little Easter in the House!

Christmas decorations remind me of home and past and I love revisiting those old friends. But Easter and spring just makes me smile! Bunnies and chicks, eggs and nests. It's spring!

This year I started with my hutch. Laura from Decor to Adore described hers as a "cabinet of curiosities" and I like that idea. Mine is, as well, changed up for the season.

In fact, I'd like to keep the doors open all season -- but I'd probably bump my head on the corner too many times!

It's a time to revisit tiny bunnies and some of my china collecting favorites, like this Fiesta jug. (The plate behind it was a gift from a friend who found it in Normandy and I love the colors!).

The little pink peat pot is one of several that were part of a peat-pot-making-spree several years ago.

The other side of the top shelf finds two bunnies in front of a favorite photo by Cheryl Rice, who is also one of our Cork Poppers.

Years ago when Cheryl was doing art fairs, I got this one and it's moved from room to room! Perfect for spring. (Aren't those shiny eggs cute? Target bargain section, $3 for two. They're place card holders!)

Down below you'll find my favorite Hall Crocus pattern jug. Those dishes always make a spring appearance, too. (And you'll see -- even in the kitchen!)

And of course, a little crystal to pick up the light. I'm very fond of these metal bunnies.

Atop the china cabinet you will find a few things near and dear to my heart!

This sweet wooden bunny has such personality, I can't resist him. I've had that egg in front of him for longer than I can remember. It's a favorite! The photo behind him is by my friend Jane Rosemont. Sort of perfect for Easter, don't you think?

The hydrangeas and baskets came from Southern Exposure. I love the lift that the bright green gives!

And of course you will note the sweet little baby-in-a-nest next to it. That's our boy!

Across the room on another cabinet is the wreath I did at Southern Exposure several years ago. It remains one of my favorites! (Southern Exposure workshops start again next month and I can't wait!)

I added in a few touches, a sweet velvet bird, among others. Couldn't resist.

In the corner, a little village.

This egg tree (and the one you'll see in another post) are golden oldies.

And I just love these!

The Pendelfin bunnies (along with Hummels) were my first collections, started as an Easter gift from my mom. I don't see them often now and it's fun to make friends with them again!

And of course, you have to have something on the coffee table. (Well, OK, usually there is a lot on the coffee table and little falls into the category of home decor!)

I found this small aqua box at Target in the almost-a-dollar section. ($3) The bunny was an "old friend" and I added the daffodils, eggs, moss and these cute Target lights (same spot, $3 per strand.) They had them in pink and natural too, and I need to go back for more!

Another table holds a large basket of eggs.

My second "cabinet of curiosities) didn't get much of a change-up inside.

But it was fun to add a floral swag, bunnies and an Easter banner at the top!

There is even a sprig of lily of the valley for the Greeting Angel.

And some cheerful flowers and fairy lights to brighten it all up!

Then, of course, there is the family room... but we'll save that for later!


Delighted to join in this week with Share Your Style, Share Your Cup, Simple Saturdays and Pink Saturday as links become available!  

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

I'm excited to join in on the Thoughts of Home on Thursday Thanksgiving event this week and Jann's Share Your Cup. We'll be sharing share some of our favorite Thanksgiving vignettes and tablescapes and I thought I'd start today.

For me, it isn't really Thanksgiving unless I get out mom's turkey dishes (Johnson Bros., His Majesty). I remember going with mom and dad to Canada when I was maybe nine or ten to get these dishes and they've been part of my table ever since!

We used them on the last Thanksgiving we spent with my dad's cousin, Marie. Marie was my last remaining relative of the parental generation and died this past spring.

When I think of her, I think of that wonderful Thanksgiving. It was made special by many invisible guests at the table.

The table cloth came from Linda (Shoreacres). The wine coaster was a gift from my friend Jane -- it had been her parents'. And of course the silver and crystal was mom's.

There's a story about the crystal that I've shared here before. About seven years ago, Rick was in a serious bicycle accident in November. We had no Thanksgiving plans (the kids were with their mom) and planned on a quiet day. (I had a broken rib at the same time from tripping on a sidewalk crack under leaves -- be careful out there!) On Thanksgiving morning we awoke and felt relatively good. Knowing we had two sets of friends who were also spending their holiday alone, we called them spur of the moment and invited them for dinner.

Now, I agonize over things like this more often than not. But that day it was just "Please come." I didn't worry about party favors. I didn't have a centerpiece but pulled some things from the craft supplies and there it was. And then came the settings.

I knew the plates would go, of course, and the silver. But then I looked at Mom's wine glasses -- the glasses I never used because it was an out of print pattern and I was so afraid one would break. Having nearly lost Rick, though, changed my perspective. They do no one good sitting pretty in the cabinet. They must be used, for any day could be our last.

The group that day was warm and cozy. We all offered thanks, we all enjoyed dinner and fellowship in this throw-together potluck. And it was perhaps my most memorable Thanksgiving ever.

The turkey dishes make the rounds. When we have dinner at Rick's instead of my house, the dishes come along!

Our Thanksgiving is a mix of the traditional -- turkey and stuffing...

...along with new recipes, like this fabulous Sweet Potato casserole that is savory, not sweet.

We're never quite sure how we'll spend the holiday, which day family Thanksgiving will be, or where we will be, now that the kids are older.

But we do know this -- we will be with people we love and celebrate those who cannot be at the table. Our invisible guests, and giving thanks.

Bits and Pieces of Spring!

Spring really does seem to be here.

I always wait with baited breath for the first bulbs to pop -- this year it was the mini-irises that flowered first...

Spring. For me it's anticipating Easter -- I love the decorations...

...and the colors!

And as far as I'm concerned, as long as the table is set nicely and looks pretty, I can get away with a multitude of cooking sins.

A sure sign of spring is decorating Easter eggs with our friends, Mark and Jan. (Rick did his raw instead of hard boiled. I'll let you know how that comes out -- no unfortunate breakage accidents, though!)

Our Easter itself was nice, with Greg and Rick for brunch...

I made WONDERFUL muffins! Blueberry muffins with lemon glaze.

And for dinner we actually ate outside! That NEVER happens! My Pavlova died a painful meringue death, so I quickly came up with a back-up dessert: Shortbread with Strawberries and whipped cream.

(Amazing what you can do with some flour, sugar, butter and vanilla. It rocked!)

Another sign of spring for me is the MSU Museum's annual wine tasting party, which was about a week ago. It is the mother of all wine tasting parties, with 200 wines to sample!

I always run into my wine tasting buddy Cheryl...

...and this is Kate with Marcia McDowell, who is THE ace curator at the museum.

But what really makes it spring?

Yes! The first robin!

All this, and Harry the Heron too! He was pretty far away, and my zoom was maxed out -- still, you can see him a bit!

My world is waking up. It's spring!