SPRING TABLE, A CARROT CAKE AND BOUQUET

 I am sharing a perfect cake for Easter

and a springtime bouquet for

my table.

It is such a delight to finally have some blooms

to pick in the garden and know there will

be plenty for bouquets in the coming months.

I have been enjoying my pansy themed

English pieces and now adding some

purple Rural Scenes transferware.

We still have a few daffodils and jonquils

blooming around the yard and some

tulips still coming on.  It won't be long

and the irises will really show off for

a while.

And what would spring be without a Cream

Cheese Walnut Carrot Cake?

The recipe for this cake came from this

older favorite tea book which is now

out of print.   If you don't already know this,

older used books are inexpensive and available!

This is something wonderful and simple!

SETTING THE TABLE FOR A TEA LUNCHEON

This Saturday I am having a few  senior

ladies over for a tea luncheon.  I 

was wanting to do an Afternoon Tea

but I think a tea luncheon is a better

plan for me. 

To have an Afternoon Tea I would be making 3 savory finger foods and 3 sweet finger foods, a salad and scones.  I have my table all set

using a spring pansy theme:

  For a luncheon I will serve a

 vegetable salad, a fruit salad, chicken salad croissants and a 

dessert.  So you see, that is a whole

 lot less work.  Of course, we will have 

hot and iced tea too.

I have a nice big teapot with the

tea cozy I made from an old vintage

runner that had pansy embroidery. 

 This week my husband and I drove westward to Overland Park Kansas 

to the Glenwood Antique Mall and 

I love this Victorian cake stand I found.

I really enjoy having ladies over

but at my age I think I will be keeping

the size of the group smaller.  This

group will be 5 ladies plus myself

which is much easier to handle.

Will be you having a tea soon?

Or a luncheon?  What do you 

think about the "gift of hospitality"?

I will try to take some photos with

the ladies but I must say, I often

get so busy that I forget to do that.

PANSY TIME IS HERE

We have been enjoying all the spring

flowers this year and certainly pansies

are always a special delight so it was

time for a pansy themed table

setting.

 

 A pansy tea cozy was needed

for the table.  This one is made

from an old table runner.  I

wonder who embroidered this old

piece?

The backside is just

as pretty as the

front.

I was never what I call a 
"long term project" person.

I can only imagine the hours

spent on embroidery after

watching my Grandmother

sitting in her chair working

away.  Back in the 70's she gave me 

the ice tea glasses on the table

which were from the 50's.

The plates with pansies on them are

Crown Dorset from England.  The pansy

teapot in the center below is a

Crown Dorset also.

I also collect violet tea wares and

actually I have more of those

pieces collected.

I love old linens and appreciate the

skills and patience of those who

left them behind for us to enjoy.

When we think of spring there

is a succession of how the bulbs

bloom and flowers arrive but

truly everyone loves the

arrival of pansies.

I am hoping to get back out

in the garden for another

tea time vignette.

This tea cozy is not for sale.

LAURA ASHLEY EASTER TABLE

 

Greetings from chilly Missouri.  I

believe most of the country is still

chilly these days.  I have been shocked

that in spite of the cold, we have had

an abundance of bulbs blooming in

our yard.

I recently found some old vintage

Laura Ashley fabric to make this

tablecloth for our Easter table.

The fabric has a lot of bold drama

which is a little different than what I

might usually choose.  I am using some

old vintage "English Abbey" dishes by

Taylor & Smith of West Virginia.

A close up of the dish setting:

We celebrate our Lord every day 

but also love this special time

of Easter when we focus on the

price He paid to forgive us for our

own sins and then His resurrection 

from the dead.

Happy Easter!

EARLY EASTER TABLE

 

Today I decided to set my hearth dining

room with some pansy dishes and

a Spring/Easter table setting.

Today was one of those odd times

we had sunshine and rain at

the same time.

I can't wait to actually go buy

a flat of pansies for my garden.

Hopefully, next week that will

happen.

And welcome to our front door:

SOME EASTER AND SPRINGTIME DECORATIONS

 I always enjoy

getting out the

Easter decorations:

I enjoyed making some Easter

cards this year. They are rather

homemade and simple.

 

All my decorations are from prior times:

We have had these

bunnies for decades 

and this year they

are downstairs in

the tea room:

And of course the old wreath

for the front door: