JULY MEANS ROSES FOR A THEME

 

With the July heat on I thought it was time

to set the dining room table with an "all 

about roses" theme.  We are in the 90 degree

range now everyday it seems and eager to

stay in where it is cool.  I made a big bouquet

with garden flowers which is always fun.

I have shared this tablecloth before made 

from older damask fabric and also the

center cut work topper which is a favorite with 

me!  Someone made it long ago - but not me.

I got out all my rose type teapot and many

of those in the armoire were Crown Dorsets from England from

 the 1990's era.  The others were

various English brands.

 I have been selling some of my tea things on

Etsy but of course I am not eager to part

with these pieces yet....

It seems like we all have similar and

different favorites and I do love roses.

I certainly understand that not everyone

shares my passion for English china, 

collecting and table setting but then 

I realize some do or  else you probably

 wouldn't even be here.

PANSY TABLE TIME

 

I am sure, just like you, I love the arrival

of pansies in the springtime.

I have collected pansy related china pieces

for years.  On the table are both English and

pieces from China.  

I so admire the old vintage embroidery and in

this case, the appliqued work.  I was never one

to do detail long term projects but I do  admire

them immensely.  This topper has little tea

napkins to match.

I have shared this cosy before that I made

from an old runner.

I clipped some pansy blooms from the garden.

We have enjoyed lovely weather this week.

I love the spring in Missouri.

I did not paint the metal holder but have

had it for many years.  Someone was sure

talented.

These dessert plates (above) were English

Crown Dorset from the 90's.

I am remembering all the snow we used to

get in Colorado in the month of April.  I feel

a little guilty sharing the flowers from our

garden but just remember if you are having

that snow now you will probably be enjoying 

cool evenings and afternoons this summer

and here in Missouri it will be high up in

the 90's with high humidity.  

"TEA IN THE GARDEN" With Irises for 2026

 It is time for a first bouquet from our garden. 

 This year won't be a bulb year as we had a nasty 

March freeze but that doesn't mean we can't

 find other flowers.  There are no lilacs and

 even the Red Bud blooms were non existent.

I am thrilled to see cardinals building a 

nest in the lilac bush just outside a front

bedroom window.  That will be fun to watch.

The female keeps getting on top of the pile of

twigs she's bringing and squashing them down.

Today I set up a little "Tea In The Garden"

photo shoot.  We have lots of irises blooming

right now so they are the main event.

I made some cookies that are so similar to

Oreo Cookies you buy.  I will put the recipe

here at the bottom of this post.

The fabric topper is made with Pierre

Deux toile fabric.

I need to stop and read the new Victoria

magazine!  I do love it!

 Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cookies

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Sift together 3 cups sifted flour, 1 ¼ tsp baking  soda, 1 tsp salt.

 Heat 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed,  ¾ cup butter, 2 Tbs, water to melt butter.  Add 2 cups Choc chips and stir to melt.  Beat in 2 eggs. Stir in flour mix.  Drop by heaping tsps onto Greased Cookie sheet and flatten slightly.  Keep sizes similar and smaller!

 

Bake 350 degrees 5 minutes   Cool

You will be forming a sandwich with 2 cookies

 Filling: 1 tsp peppermint extract:  Blend 1 cup sifted conf. sugar, 1/3 cup soft butter, 1/8 tsp

Peppermint extract!  Now Beat in 2 cups sifted conf. sugar alternately with ¼ cup milk –spread this mix between the 2 cookies to make a “sandwich”.

VALENTINES DAY MAKES FOR FUN TABLE SETTING!

 

If you enjoy doing table settings you might have a similar

problem as I do.  Without thinking, it's easy to do it the same

the way next time!  I noticed that before so I decided to grab

a different table cloth this year and start there for this 

Valentine

table setting.

Last year I put out the plates that I now have above in

my armoire so I purposefully chose differently this time.

The little Valentine angel is a Nicol Sayre creation.

I have these little heart shaped plates from the

90's that are fun with Victorian style clip art and

 I mixed them with some USA red transferware

called "English Abbey".  The white plates from

are from Czechoslovakia with a pattern name 

"Bernadotte".

I had made the tea cosy last year.  The fabric

is by Cynthia Hart The Gifted Line.  The plates inside

the armoire are Victorian images of romantic

couples that are by Adams and are English.

I think I got the fabric for this tablecloth on Ebay.

I also made a runner for the buffet.

I also want to say you might not like my style of things

and I am ok with that! I don't ever remember a time when 

there were so many different styles.

Here are some Cupid vintage napkins I found a year

or 2 ago:

As a senior, I really enjoy table setting even if I

am not having anyone for dinner.  I go from season

to season or holiday and especially love that I have

flowers in the garden to enjoy making bouquets for

the table.  Do you enjoy table setting?

CHRISTMAS DECORATING FOR 2025

 At the Thanksgiving table someone asked me if I plan

to put up a tree this year.  Often, when people get older

they "drop out of the decorating phase" in life and I do

understand.  As long as I am able, I do plan to keep finding

joy in holiday and seasonal decorations.

I took an existing tablecloth and cut a strip off the

longer sides.  Then I added a deeper ruffle in a different

toile fabric.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.

I have had this tea cosy for a long time.  It is

made with a tea towel piece on the front by

an artist who was big in the 90's.  You might remember Sandy

Clough who illustrated so many of Emelie Barnes 

earliest books.

My other Christmas tea cosy is from

a long time back too.  I love this older Anne

of Green Gables fabric.  I rarely can find this

fabric from the 90's.

I love angels that were designed by Nicol Sayre.

Mine are all from years ago including this

sweet Nativity:

And one last collage:

On Monday we got a little snow....not much but we love it!