I was remiss in posting tablescapes last year, but I have a good
reason for it...I didn’t do many. I have a good reason for that too; I’d
decided to use the dining table as my worktable. It was centrally located in
the house, comfortable, was ideally placed as to have both a great view of the
TV and the outdoors. What can I tell you? That was that.
This year it will be different, and I’m not just saying that. You may remember
little more than three years ago I had a rather pitiful deck removed from the
back of the house and replaced with a large one that included a 10’ x 16’ open
area and a 16’ x 16’ screened in area henceforth known as the lanai. You can
read about that here
and here.
At the beginning of next week, the lanai will be transformed into a
conservatory. OK, OK, it is actually a four-season room, but the word
“Conservatory” sound so delightfully CLUE game to me, that I decided to embrace
it. It is going to be my own special space, my Jungalow as it were. A pair of
windows and a door in the bay in the dining area are going to be removed so
that the traverse from the main part of the house into what I hope will be a
tropical paradise will be an easy one. I plan to move my worktable out there,
pile all of my favorite throws and bohemian pillows on the existing furniture,
and fill it with plants. Frankly, Joe can’t work fast enough to get it done.
As a consequence, knowing this is coming, I have been enjoying my dining table
and created my first tablescape of 2021 that I call “ Winter in the Woods.” I’m
always hesitant to take down Christmas decorations that aren’t specifically
Christmassy, and by this I mean greenery, pine trees, pine rope, candles, and
other such items that can do double duty. When people say “Seasons Greetings”
it should not refer to a holiday, it should refer to the entire winter season.
With that in mind, I decided to make use of some plates normally considered
Christmas-only because of the text, and intend to use into February.
The tablecloth is one you have seen me use again
and again. I believe I got it from Decor Steals, and it is the most versatile
tablecloth I own. It is topped with a nubby runner from Pottery Barn.
The pinecone plates, also from Pottery Barn, are
among my favorites. They are on top of wooden chargers (that are actually
trivets) that I found last year at Target.
The salad plates that read “Seasons Greetings” and feature a
moose/elk/reindeer, remind me of the quiet woods of Maine.
The green plaid napkins were my mother’s as were the solid green
napkins. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out which ones I liked the best so I used
both; pinecone napkin rings I bought a couple of years ago at Pier 1.
The pinecone flatware came from Cabela’s. Never underestimate the tableware
cuteness they have at Cabela’s.
The elk salt and pepper shakers came from
Ballard Designs three years ago.
I am a fan of having salt and pepper shakers at either end of the table, so chose this pinecone set as well.
The brown stemware was my mother’s.
The wooden tree candlesticks were made by my dad and painted by
my mother, so very special.
The trees I picked up at a local shop. I love them so much.
The truck, this adorable truck, used to be in my mother’s “Northwoods”
bedroom. Now that I look at this table I really should’ve covered it with a
quilt that she used in that bedroom. I may just do that next time.
The metal houses I’ve had for a while and
honestly can’t remember where I got them. The little reindeer candle holders I’ve
had for years.
My mother had a large collection of Wilton Armetale. The sugar and creamer set, and pitcher are both WA.
I may be dining alone these days, but it does my heart good to dine in such
fine fashion. More tablescapes to come!
This post is linked to:
Tablescape
Thursday
