St. Patrick's Day Lunch

It’s March! Can you believe it? I’m wondering what happened to February, and yet Valentine’s Day seems so long ago. Now that they are both behind us, it is time to think spring and St. Patrick’s Day! Not all inviting dinner tables need to be over the top, some can be beautiful in their simplicity, and such is the case with this table set for a holiday luncheon.

This table is simple, but sweet. It features green luncheon plates with matching soup cups, as well as stemmed fruit bowls, that I inherited from my second mother, Betty, when she passed away a number of years ago. Mother, Betty, and I would get together once a month. I would take the ladies on “field trips” every other month, driving them all around the city to places they wanted to see, but wouldn’t go to on their own. Each outing had to consist of a stop at a bakery. I can’t tell you how many bakeries we visited. It was great fun. Ahead of time I would make up an itinerary, include the menu of the restaurant where we were going to dine, and send it to them in an appropriately decorated envelope.

On alternate months we would dine at each other’s homes; Betty always served us using this set of dinnerware. I can’t tell you how much I miss our get-togethers, but when I’m feeling down, I get out this set of dinnerware and reminisce.

The centerpiece of this table is one I use every year. It is the leprechaun pitcher from Fitz & Floyd, filled with a pot of fresh shamrocks. A small pot of green and white M&Ms – mint flavored – sit at the base representing the pot of gold.

Crystal glasses by Mikasa were gifted to me by a friend. The table runner is from Pottery Barn; the placemats are woven water hyacinth. The white chargers (that I use again and again, and will never regret purchasing) are from Pier 1. The understated cottage salt and pepper shakers are by Magnolia Home.

Keep this simple table in mind when you get ready to set one for yourself, friends, or family. You don’t have to be over-the-top spectacular to be inviting.

  This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Early Spring Tablescape

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I don’t know how the weather is where you are, but we are unseasonably (shockingly) cool around here. This is my first spring tablescape and it represents our unseasonable weather in that instead of being soft pastel colors of spring, it still bears some of the darkness of winter.

I treated myself to many things during the pandemic, one of which is this fabulously over the top tulipiere. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers, but I never had a great way to display them until now.

 

 The tablecloth is also new this year from wayfair.com, and I love the boldness of the vase with the tulips at center.

The water hyacinth placemats are versatile and among my favorites. They are topped with Bordallo Pinhiero geranium leaf chargers. On top of them are square black plates that my son and daughter-in-law tired of and passed to me. This is my first time ever owning black plates, and I have to say I like them.

 

My interest in collage art made these salad plates from Pottery Barn quite appealing. I have yet to see any butterflies this early in the season, but I’m certainly inviting them to my home with all of the flowers I have planted thus far.

 

The glassware was a gift from a friend. The cappuccino cups are from Amazon.

The flatware is Mackenzie Childs “Courtly Check”, also available, surprisingly enough, from Amazon.

The white butterfly dishes are favorites of mine and I have had them since I was in college. They are designed to be used when serving Chinese food, to hold sweet and sour sauce and mustard sauce. I use them quite often to hold pats of butter and homemade preserves. I thought they made a nice addition here. I wanted unobtrusive salt and pepper shakers, and these house salt and pepper shakers from Magnolia Home filled the bill.

This post is linked to:

Tablescape Thursday