Olla-Podrida: Cabbage Bunny Tablescape

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Cabbage Bunny Tablescape

Earlier this week on Facebook, someone posted a link to an article entitled, “Your Kids Don’t Want Their Grandparents’ Stuff.” A lot of people took issue with this, saying that they would be thrilled to have things passed down to them from their grandparents. I'm not sure how many people feel this way. I do, but I'm a different generation than the current one. I am from a generation that followed one that was made up of people who didn't have much, and who didn't save much. These days people have so many things, leaving behind a colossal amount for their bereaved descendants to have to deal with.

I came face-to-face with this when Mr. O-P passed away, and I was left thousands and thousands of books, along with hoards of other things. This taught me a bit of a lesson in that, people who are grieving have enough to deal with, without the added burden of dispersing someone else's stuff. Now this is not to say that a lot of people wouldn't be thrilled to have things left behind by their parents and grandparents. My boys have already told me things of mine that they would cherish having. That pleases me. But I've also told them to discard my things with reckless abandon should they not want it. Donate! Gift! Consign! Sell! Don’t be sentimental about it. Don't feel guilty about it. Pass it along to someone who will love it as much as I did. I want them to have what they want, and nothing more. What I love, may not be what they love, and they shouldn't be stuck with it.

Why am I mentioning this? Because as I sat at this table today, I was thinking about the various components of this table setting, and the meaning that they have for me.

The candlesticks Jim gave to me early in our marriage. I’d spotted them in an antique store when we were out shopping one day, and immediately fell in love. I'm not sure why, because generally they're not my style, but I was crazy about them, and crazier still when they became mine.

The little juice glasses on this table have a bit of a provenance. They came to me from my mother, but they came to her from her childhood best friend, Shirley, who was also Maid of Honor at her and dad’s wedding. They are a set of six, and match a little darling little pressed glass carafe. Shirley long knew that she wouldn't be using them, so decades ago gave them to my mother. I don't think mother ever used them either, so she gave them to me. Naturally, I adore them. So not only is Jim at this table with me, but so is my mother, and her friend, Shirley.

Joining this group is tablescape blogger friend Marigene Purcell, who gifted me with the green charger plates. Isn't it fabulous how one table can have so much meaning? It's things like this that make the table feel special.

The flatware belonged to my mother as well. She gave it to me after she’d given me some yellow chalices that she’d bought at the same time. After she gave me the chalices, she was sorry that she did, because she saw all of the ways in which I used them and figured she could've done the same. So, she decided I might as well have the flatware to match. It gives me a smile every time I pull either of these things out.

The white plates and bunny mugs are new additions this year; the cabbage plates I've had for decades. The green glassware is also new.

This is the first of two Easter tables that I'll be doing this year. Be sure to come back for the next table, that has equal the history as this one.

Wicker placemats - Pier 1 (You can get them here)
Green chargers - gift
White plates – Amelia Blanc by Versailles (You can get them here)
Green leaf salad plates - Williams-Sonoma
Green glassware - Villeroy & Boch
Yellow flatware - Noritake

Bunny mugs – Maxcera (Similar ones are available here)
Bunny Basket - Pier 1

Napkins – Pottery Barn