Wednesday, January 30, 2013

~ A Blue and White Table For Winter's Sake ~ Pin It

If you're like me, you may be a dish addict. You have loads of dishes, those you use for every day and that "special" set of china you pull out for that big event or gathering. Over the last few years I've discovered I'm not getting any younger, OK I admit it I notice it every time I look in the mirror along with trying to do certain chores that take me a lot longer than they once did. With that revelation hitting me in the face on a daily basis I've decided to use as many sets of dishes as I can. I'm no longer going to store them away, I'm going to use them. I'm proud of saying I don't spend an arm and a leg for any of the dishes I must have, I shop wisely and mix the old with the new.

I'm sure many of you must think the only dishes I have are blue and white or black and white. I promise you the pantry is full of colorful dishes. Yesterday we were in the 70's unheard of this time of the year in Missouri. Today is a different story entirely, we've had rain a bit of ice and now snow is in the forecast our temperature as I write this post it is 25 degrees,  instead of using some of the darker pallet dishes, I longed for something more Spring like. 
The soft
glow of a candle always calms my soul, a sense of peace washes over me and I can forget the days troubles and woes. I try to look at the glass as if it were half full instead of half empty.
I've gotten a lot of mileage out of my Maidenhair Fern. The soft leaves are the perfect combination for the blue and white fish bowl planter.
I love the process of pulling napkin rings from my stash to add some pop, added texture as well as coordinate the table setting.

My treasured crochet tablecloth grounds all the blue and white.The story of the crochet tablecloth can be found HERE
The sunshine adds a bit of glow to the light and airy table.

The blue flatware was a buy from Target quite a few years back. I have every color they sold at the time except for the red set. I've since purchased a red set yet to be used, stay tune for that table.

The Herringbone pattern water glasses were purchased at Garden Ridge 16 years ago this month. My girlfriend and I drove 50 miles to the city in frightful weather to check out the new Garden Ridge. I came home with quite a few blue and white pieces that day, only to go back the following week to pick up more to finish up that set. I was so afraid they would be gone, a gal just can't take a chance on such things. The wine glass is from Walmart.

Looking across the table.
Looking into the dining room the color palette from the table flows directly across to the hutch. A fluke thing not planned, a pleasant site none the less.
I hope you decide to pull out your stored away china make a pretty table for your family or just yourself. Why save it for a special occasion? After all you are the special occasion.
JOINING:
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

~ A Shout Out For Your Opinion ~


Anyone that knows me well, knows once I start a project I get so focused I can't concentrate on anything else. I'm slowly making a few changes around here, changes that have needed to be done for a while, at least in my mind they have, Mr. P on the other hand isn't crazy about changes, never has been. Us women we're all about changes aren't we? Small or large they can make a big impact on our moods. 
Dare I say it involves more blue and white? 

The changes

Sunday, January 27, 2013

~ A Romantic Cabbage Rose Tea Set ~

Hi everyone, How's it going your way? I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Our weekend has been cloudy and occasionally a bit of rain, just enough to tease the ground and create a muddy mess. The birds have been flocking the bird feeder, just filled yesterday I'll be filling it again later this afternoon. I can't let my cardinals go hungry can I?

Cloudy afternoons are perfect for lighting a candle and grabbing a magazine to while away the afternoon. With Valentine's Day right around the corner I pulled an earlier edition of Romantic Homes Magazine, the perfect choice to enjoy putting my feet up, taking a break and generate a few more creative ideas.
You can't have a candle burning and good magazine without a spot of tea.

My cabbage rose tea set tugged at my heart to be used.
The tea cups have the most delicate legs.
The handles graceful nature make you feel like a queen for the day.

Put all together you have the makings for a restful, relaxing afternoon.

My break is over folks I need to get  back to working on my project, I hope to have finished to share with you soon. By all means stick around and enjoy another spot of tea. 
LINKING TO:

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

~ Some Retail Therapy ~

You may recall the other day I told you we'd be making a trip into Kansas City for a doctor's appointment for Mr. P. For those of you not familiar with our area it's a 50 mile drive one way. For convenience I could switch to our local doctors, if I do that we'd never get out of Richmond. So.. off we went on a very cold and cloudy morning. The doctor's visit went fine, all is stats are where they are suppose to be, next scheduled appointment is in March. Now, the poor guy has that nasty flu that's going around, makes a person want to stay out of a doctor's office. 

On the way back I cut through a little area where my daughter used to live. Kansas City is know as the City of Fountains, reported to have more than Rome, with over 250 around the area that's a lot of beauty; you can read up on the fountains in our area HERE  
I've sat at this stop light many times trying to get a shot of the fountain with out traffic being in the shot, thank goodness for a long light and traffic thinning long enough for me to grab this shot. You can see all the the frozen mounds, I've seen the frozen sculpture a lot higher, just wasn't lucky enough to get a decent shot. 


After leaving the doctor's

Monday, January 21, 2013

~Winter Mercury and Ice Tablescape

As afternoon clouds move in I'm glad to be home and back inside, man alive it is cold out there. I am NOT a cold weather person, I prefer being outside when the grass is green and the temperatures a whole lot warmer. Once things were unloaded and put away I got busy working on a post and blogger started acting all wackadoodle on me. Not only is it difficult for you to leave comments now it's difficult for me to upload pictures and put a post together. Scream, scream!! Guess this is the life of a blogger huh?

UP DATE:  A big thank you to Debbie@confessionsofaplateaddict for all your help this afternoon. Keeping fingers crossed we've gotten to the root of the problem with the pop up occurring. It was a program that has been on the lap top since 2010, it is now removed. Please if anyone see's the pop up when trying to leave a message or visit the blog please email and let me know.

Now let's move onto more things like playing with dishes, candles and flowers.
My passion

Sunday, January 20, 2013

~ The Ever Changing Hutch ~

Hi everyone, can you believe another weekend is behind us? I hope you've had a great one. It's been pretty quiet around here, no surprise there. I've stayed busy with the cleaning out of closets and the usual. Have you done anything exciting? I would love to hear what you've been up to.

I know many of you have seen the hutch in the breakfast room like a GA-zillion times. With the kitchen being the working hub of the house I look at it A LOT through out the day. I know you know what I'm talking about here, it's an area you look at constantly, changing it up often runs through your mind right? Come on now tell me I'm not the only one that can't leave a vignette along for long.
You might remember I spoke

Saturday, January 19, 2013

~ Afternoon Tea ~

After closing the shop for the day, most of my afternoons and evenings are busy spent playing catch up with household chores. Do you have those types of evenings? Or are you one to sit back relax and take time for yourself? Do you light a candle and let the world take you away?
The other afternoon late

Friday, January 18, 2013

~ Winter Beauty ~

The last couple of years our Winter month's have been quite mild. I love that we had snow over the holidays, the beauty it gave us was beyond words. We're into the middle of the month and it stretches on without any moisture. Will I eat my words and we get blizzard conditions soon? I hope not, I really don't like the cold.  I'm not trying to rush the season, I'm just ready for green and to be able to walk outside without being dressed like I live in the Tundra, after all this is Missouri. 

Today's temperatures are suppose to be in the middle to upper 50's, warm temperatures for this time of the year, the wind is really blowing so the afternoon walk with the dogs is going to be chilly, along the way I'll look for some Winter beauty.
They say Beauty

Thursday, January 17, 2013

~ Strawberry Pie Anyone ~

Sometimes I look up and notice the week is almost gone, seems like they fly by a lot quicker than use to, do notice the same thing happening to you? How's your week going? My week has been a very productive one enjoying the moments as they come. 

 I'm the kind of gal that makes sweets on a whim, a craving, a spur moment or just because. This week was one of those weeks. Come a long and I'll share how I put together this delicious No Bake Strawberry Pie. I don't recall where I ran across this recipe I've made it for years, it's always a big hit with the family.
If you're in a hurry for something sweet light and airy

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

~ Sometimes It's the Little Things That Make Us Smile~

Hi everyone, I hope this finds you having a great day! It's a beautiful crisp winter day here. How's your week going so far, has it been a productive one? I've gotten loads of things done, many more to come, I'm slowly whittling down the to-do list for the month of January. We won't even talk about the February list. 

I know many of you are as busy as I am, getting furniture reupholstered, painting walls, refinishing furniture and the list goes on and on. Do you fall into any of those categories? I'm not planning anything large, just getting a paint colored picked out so I can start painting the kitchen. 
The days of doing anything

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

~ A Green and White Table ~

With our temperatures being in the teens the last few days I wanted something more warm for our winter table. Something green instead of browns, golds or even the reds. 
Even though I chose

Monday, January 14, 2013

~ The Entertainment Center ~

How's everyone doing today? Did you enjoy your weekend? It was cold in our part of the country, too cold for me to go outside, so I stayed inside and played. 
When we built the house 16 years ago Mr. P. was adamant the T.V. go on a certain wall,

Sunday, January 13, 2013

~ The Kitchen Desk ~


How's everyone doing on this cold blustery afternoon? At least we have clear skies and sunshine after yesterday's sleet, snow and blustery winds. Are you one of those people that look at something see a change that needs to be done and for the life of you just can't figure it out? I sure am, more times than I care to admit, but where's a will there is a way.
Our kitchen has a small desk I use on a daily basis to write the blog and keep up with all of you.
It's a quaint little area

Friday, January 11, 2013

~ Kitchen Blues ~


If you're like me your home isn't feeling as full as it did through the holidays. Typically January is a long drab month, a time of organizing, planning and revamping our vignettes, and possibly seeing a new paint color on a wall or two.
I know you've seen

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

~ Black and White Staffordshire ~


How's everyone doing today? I've been busy busy around here. I've gotten all of the Christmas in the shop put away, (still a few pieces left on the markdown table) or so I thought. Until.. I walked outside yesterday with a customer and realized the outside Christmas is still everywhere. So, with rain in the forecast that was the first thing on the agenda when I opened. Do you have "all" of your Christmas put away? I'm personally glad to see it put away for another year.
I've been trying to stick

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

~ There's Always a Few Leftovers ~

I'm sure many of you, if not all of you have your Christmas decor put away. I have all of the house broken down, put away and "almost" completely re-organized. When I put the Christmas away I'm always in the mood to re-organize "everything", hoping for a better transition for the next season. Are you like that or do you just put it away forgetting about it until next year? I'm in the middle of breaking down the shop now, trying to get it re-organized in the war storage room. January is such a long drab boring month I'm adding "tons" of greenery to all the displays. Anxiously awaiting the Spring shipments to arrive. 

Along with the Christmas decor there are Christmas dishes, now empty but still leftover. In our home some of those dishes we use all winter, like the snowmen plates and some of the Staffordshire, the plaid is put away for another year.
I hope you don't

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

~ Happy New Year 2013 ~

Happy New Year!! I hope this year brings you all that you desire. Do you begin your year with resolutions? Promises to yourself? I heard on the radio this morning the top 5 resolutions and the time span they last, most fail in the first week.  Most start off with a bang and before we know it, the resolutions have flown out the window.

The end of the year and the beginning