My Heart is Yours Valentine Tablescape

 

Obviously, I set lot of tables, and generally have a fairly easy time of it, but when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I’m always a bit stumped. Valentine’s Day is just not my holiday. Not because my sweetie has passed on to that big Valentine’s Day heart in the sky, but because my mother was the one who used to host the Valentine’s Day dinner every year and I suppose, because I never did it myself, my interest was a bit lacking.

 

 That said, I don’t like to see the holiday go unobserved in this household, so decided to put together a table for two that is bit bolder than those I have created in the past.

I took a cue from my Chinese New Year and went with red, black, and gold. Black is not a color that one would generally associate with Valentine’s Day, but it does look quite striking here. 

 The table covering is a bit of yardage that I inherited when my mother passed away. She was quite the seamstress, had a huge supply of fabric, and, despite the fact that I don’t sew, I had to have it all. On top of the polka-dotted table covering are round black placemats that are then topped with bold, red chargers that are encircled by a bit of raised rhinestone bling.

On top of the chargers are square black plates on top of which I have placed white heart-shaped salad plates. On top of those are sweet red heart-shaped soup or casserole dishes complete with matching lids. I believe I got these from Joanne about four years ago, but I’m not 100% sure.

  

The goblets are among my favorites and are from Villeroy & Boch, the gold flatware you’ve seen many times. I chose rustic candlestick holders for the center of the table, and after trying a number of different types of candles, decided on the metallic gold to complement the flatware.

 

The napkins are handmade out of Valentine fabric; the black cappuccino cup finishes off the place setting.

To add a bit of interest to the table, and break up the monotony of all those tiny little polka dots, I have scattered Valentine cards that my mother collected over the years.

 

 Whatever you have planned for your day, I hope it’s sweet, and that I have been able to provide you with a tiny bit of inspiration to aid you in setting a romantic table.

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Valentine Table for Two

I don’t know about you, but over the course of time, it becomes more and more challenging to come up with a holiday table different from those that I’ve done in the past. This year I decided to put my clear  Duralex luncheon plates to good use by placing them on top of a plaid dinner plate from Pier One, and then use floral wrapping paper to place beneath the clear plate to make it appear as though it had a cluster of roses in the center. I have used these Duralex plates in the past here, here, and here, and enjoy the creativity involved in coming up with something suitable to put underneath each time. It can make a table setting deeply personal.

I wanted to incorporate neutrals, and I did by using a brown table covering, white shabby chic charger, and square black plate to form the base of my place setting. The red flatware I inherited from my mother.

The napkins were made by my cousin years ago. My mother taught her how to hem napkins, and these were among the first that she made. Happily, tiring of them over time, she gave them to me. 

I decided to use both red and pink in my table setting. The white pitcher is filled with pink tulips. A scattering of Valentine M&M’s add a bit of whimsy, not to mention dessert.

Speaking of dessert, I made delicious white almond cupcakes on which I piped pale pink almond butter cream frosting. I shared this with my number one son and his family, and they were over the moon with these.

I wanted to add a bit of crystal sparkle, so incorporated knife rests that I inherited from my mother, and used the crystal candle holders that the late Mr. O-P bought me as we celebrated our first Christmas together.

 

While I did send Valentines this year, opting to send them through Juliette, Georgia to get the special postal cancellation and cachet. I didn’t get as many done as I had hoped, so used the remaining as tabletop decorations.

 A trio of glassware rounds out the place setting. The cranberry cut glass liquor glasses hadn’t been used in quite a while, and I thought this would be a good time to get them out. The LaRochere wine glass will be put to use as will the pale pink pressed water glass.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours.

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 I generally don’t post on weekends, but I thought I would share this picture of the Valentine cards that I put into the mail this year, as well as the lovingly collaged envelopes.

Consider this my virtual Valentine card to you. Have a lovely and romantic day, and if you live anywhere near the Mississippi Valley, as I do, stay warm!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

DIY Valentine Greeting

Gosh, I am SO excited that I just had to share this with you. I love serendipity and this is certainly it.  First of all though, let me just say that things have not been all rosy at the old O-P abode. Mr. O-P spent Christmas in the ICU and New Year's in a rehab facility as the result of the ravages of chemotherapy that he was undergoing for bladder cancer, that put him into renal failure. His cancer diagnosis came last August, following fairly closely upon, first a hip replacement, and then a knee replacement. As if this isn’t enough, and, trust me, it IS, he lost both his younger sister and older brother during the holidays. The mister is 20 years my senior (he was my college professor, scandalous, I know), so this has been pretty rough on him. As caregiver, it hasn't been peachy for me either.

Why am I excited, you ask (if you haven't hanged yourself by now)? Because Mr. O-P will be released on Valentine's Day and I have just come up with a wonderfully clever Valentine idea that I know will make him smile. The mister is one of those guys (and, really, aren't they all?) who struggles to throw anything away. While he's been gone I have been doing a bit of, ahem, “organizing.” In the doing, I discovered a plastic bag that contained hinges from the shutters on our former house, an American Victorian farmhouse that was built in 1892. The shutters had been ripped off during a tornado, the hinges scattered everywhere. He collected them and saved them in a bag. 

I'm not sure what gave me the idea, but I wanted to use them in a table setting somehow. While I was ruminating, the phrase “you unhinge me” popped into my head. So, I took a photo of our shutters, edited it to remove all color, added the text and a couple of hearts, printed out four on white cardstock, cut them out, and placed a card at each place setting along with one of our antique hinges. 

A cute, original idea that cost me nothing, and is guaranteed to give the mister a smile. The process of this was very cathartic for me, and took me back to the good old (and I do mean OLD!) days when kids used to make cards for Valentine's Day. 

Hope this helps to get your card-making juices flowing.

This post is linked to:

Wow Us Wednesday
Work It Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday

Before and After Wednesday

Thursday Favorite Things

Create It Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Show and Tell Friday 

Friday Unfolded

Flaunt It Friday

Fridays Flash Blog
Simple and Sweet Fridays

Valentine Breakfast in Bed Tray

Is there anything that says I love you more than a lovely Valentine tray set for breakfast in bed?  Okay, it's not diamond jewelry, but then it doesn't cost as much either. 

If you were clever, you put your scone ingredients together last night, so while your beloved is sipping the fresh orange juice that you squeezed this morning, you can be baking the scones.

The newspaper can divert attentions until they are ready, hot coffee or tea can be poured into the little glass hottle to be consumed when desired. 

If you don't have a sweetie at home, then do this for yourself. (Yesterday's scones, if baked ahead, can be heated for 5-8 minutes in the oven at 350 and taste as fresh as the day they were made.). 

Relax, have a peaceful breakfast, and enjoy your day. 

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

This post is linked to:

Seasonal Sundays

Tabletop Tuesday

Tablescape Thursday

Be Inspired Friday

Show and Tell Friday 

Flashback Friday

Malted Pecan Waffles

Heart-shaped malted pecan waffles and café au lait.

With St. Valentine's Day just a few days ahead, it's time to start thinking about a loving way in which to start your day.   Nothing says romance first thing in the morning, like a delicious hot breakfast. (Okay, nothing REALLY says romance like an extra few hours of sleep, but I digress... )   In this case, thanks to my heart-shaped waffle iron (a gift from the mister before we were married, how's that for romantic!), a plate of malted pecan waffles.

Now I realize that not everyone (few in fact) have heart-shaped waffle irons, so consider making square waffles and cutting them out with a large (3" to 4") heart-shaped cookie cutter.  That failing, make the square waffles and top them with heart-shaped butter pats, that are actually purchasable (much to my surprise) at some food markets.  That failing, if you plan ahead you can make your own heart-shaped butter pats using candy molds available at hobby and craft stores (e.g. Michael's - take your coupon!) by simply allowing butter to soften, pressing it into the molds (a rubber spatula works well for this), and chilling in the fridge until you need them.

Equally romantic are waffles topped with whipped cream and strawberries, or if you really want to go for broke, sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top of the strawberries and whipped cream.  You're limited only by your imagination.

Here is a waffle recipe I particularly enjoy, but if you're under a time constraint use the recipe on the Bisquick box, adding a teaspoon of vanilla, a tablespoon of sugar and gratings of  either nutmeg or lemon zest.  It gives the waffles a taste that doesn't scream "out of the box," and will leave your diner with the special impression that you spent more time on them than you did.

Malted Pecan Waffles

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla malted milk powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, separated
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
A few gratings of fresh nutmeg
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat waffle iron. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, malted milk powder and baking soda. In a separate bowl, beat together egg yolks and milk. Add milk mixture, butter, oil, and pecans to flour; stirring gently to combine. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks have formed; fold into batter.  Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown. Keep warm in oven while remaining waffles cook.

Have a romantic day!


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