Spring Has Sprung

It's a new day around here....it really IS spring....the season has really changed....  the calendar says so..

As I sit here writing, it is still gloomy with short spurts of sunshine and temp in the 40's...BUT as of midnight tonight, it is the first day of spring..and I am sticking to that!!!!!!!!!!

I fixed this breakfast tray or lunch tray...and had it ready to take into the garden as soon as the sun came out.....   well......I waited and waited... and it came out for about 10 minutes..but I was ready. hahaha
I am a natural light photographer and depend on the sunlight a lot...let's see what I was able to get...

Instead of picking the flowers and putting them in the vase, I just plopped the tray right down in the flowers..
I usually eat with the tray on my lap and enjoy the flowers..

This old wicker tray is perfect for garden lunches and breakfasts..

The pattern is Harrison's Rose by Haviland.  this was my Grandmother's china and I cherish it..

I covered the tray with  a beautiful embroidered , cutwork cloth that came from my other grandmother..

The daylilies are looking so healthy..

I always love flowers inside a cup..

I am sure this 5 fingered vase will get a lot of use later in the season...

Or I could move over to the area of the garden that has this huge clump of snowdrops...
The spring season is a most welcome time of year for us...  I simply could NOT wait another week before I took the tablescaping outside...

My goal is to simplify these settings....Most of our meals are just the two of us anyway and I intend to set a lot of these showing just how pretty it can be done when it is just a small table for two...  After all, my husband is my most important guest..the one I love the best...and he should be shown how much I love and appreciate him by getting my best tablescapes... There are plenty of opportunities to plan big get togethers...but, this is everyday life around here.

Happy SPRING y'all.

Love, Mona

I am so glad you came by and I hope you'll visit the parties I am joining....
Home and Garden Thursday
Tablescapes Thursday
Seasonal Sundays

The Beginning of New Things

I just really needed to turn the page on my blog.  It needed to have 2019 in the post somewhere. 
So, here goes. There are a lot of possibilities awaiting us in this new year.

I took some pictures this week to show where we are and to dream of where we can go...

yarrow

my daylily seedlings

the new arbor

byzantine glads

spanish bluebells

Tula

an empty daylily bed

I am reminded that life is short and we should make the most of every day.  It's the little things that add up and make a big thing.  Our life..

These daylily tags were hand made by my Daddy. This will be the first spring that he is not here on this earth anymore.  It makes these tags even more meaningful because there will be no more.  But they are a reminder that it's the little things that sometimes mean the most.  and that life goes on.  So I am remembering to make the most of the time because the days are short..Very thankful that I took the time to dig these daylilies from my Daddy's yard while he directed me on which ones he wanted me to be sure to get.  A very special day. 

Even though the landscape looks a little bleak, it will soon be coming alive again.  Before we know it, it will be spring again..

That's all for today y'all...Have a great weekend...

Love, 

Mona

Yellow Roses at Centerstage

This table came together around a bouquet of yellow roses that my sweet husband brought me.. they represent love to me..a symbol of our very early stage of dating...

The china is Impromptu Iroquois by Ben Seibel  and this pattern is Bridal White..  I am slowly building a set of this because it goes with everything and is so durable.  It is the china my Mama had as I was growing up. We lived in a very, very modern 60's house.. I loaded many  loads into our dishwasher with this china...I wish I had her set..It has been a long search and lately it is a little easier to find.  I am still a 50's and 60's style lover..I guess you call that mid century...not a purist, just to juxtapose with other styles and eras...

Engraved brass napkin rings with patterned napkins....

The chargers are Pottery Barn hammered metal..

My ever present White Orchid silver...

I am trying to get more creative in the use of different fabrics on my tables.  I am a true fabricaholic..LOL  and it needs to either be used or leave this house...yeah, right..famous last words...
But, I am going to be more freely mixing and using these beautiful fabrics on my tables..
This week..
the gray and white chevron ,the gray tone hexagons and then this coordinated(well, sort of)
fabric for napkins....

I am so happy that Kathleen decided to do an impromptu tablescape party tonight to celebrate spring...I am all in on that one!

Come and join in at  Let's Dish..

Also come visit these parties full of beauty and inspiration

Tablescape Thursday
Home and Garden Thursdays
Simple and Sweet Fridays
Seasonal Sundays

One more view with candlelight...

I am so glad you came by....
Love, Mona

Birds and Chickens on My Table

I am so happy that Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen is having her monthly tablescaping challenge...This month is all about birds, eggs and nests..I have two of these on my table....Come and see what I have done and then go see what all the others have done too...

Since it is our birthday week and we just had our anniversary, I thought I would start out with these lovebirds..

and these so cute chicken egg cups...yes, those are real eggs...for props only...the only thing that makes me gag are egg yellows..I cannot stand them...don't even want them on my plate and I am not a picky eater at all...It's just these yukky egg yellows that get to me...  I know you really wanted to know that..  LOL

I absolutely love my crystal but I rarely use it...need to remedy that and use it more often..  I chose it in 1973 and it was made by Wallace..  The pattern is Cherrywood and it is now made by Gorham but all of mine preceded that..

I brought out my sterling for this spring birthday table... a classic.. Chantilly by Gorham....

The clear charger is from Lenox, the white plates Coalport Countryware, and the black and white plates are Churchill made in England..

This real robin's egg was a big inspiration for this table.  I always pick them up and bring them inside when I find them in my yard.  This one has been on my shelf since last spring.  The color is just exquisite..one of my favorites..

I did a place setting with flowers in the eggcups too.. Which one do you like best? I am leaning toward the flowers....

I am so glad you came by today..Please do come again...

Love, Mona

This was my view while I set the table..the real birds were having a ball at the bird feeder..can you see him on the right side of the feeder?

Here is the link for Let's Dish on Wednesday night
and Thursday Tablescapes on Thursday morning
and Seasonal Sundays on Saturday night
come join in the fun...