Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Tablescape Thursday ~ We Want To Be Alone!

My husband and I should be empty-nesters by now, but not only do we still have grown children living under our roof, we also have our four-year-old grandson sharing our lives and our home with us. And while it's very nice to have a fun-filled house, on the rare occasions when we have a quiet house, it is most welcome!

On this quiet late summer afternoon we decided to do an early dinner. My husband popped in a movie and I set up a little tablescape on the big ottoman in the livingroom.




First I set down a beautiful table runner that my husband's grandmother had embroidered.







Then I used the dinner plates we had recently purchased from the Williams-Sonoma Outlet store for only $3.99 each!



I love how the swirl design of the dishes mimics the swirl design of the embroidery pattern.





Not only was I drawn to the soft swirl design when I spotted these dishes on the store shelves, I also loved the colors and the price was right, so I just had to have these plates!





I loved both the yellow and the blue and I was having a hard time deciding which color to purchase. I don't have any blue in my kitchen, and the yellow was much better suited to coordinate with dishes I already own, but the soft blue was calling to me. In the end I went with yellow for the dinner plates and blue for the salad/dessert plates.






The flatware is our everyday set purchased from Target.






The napkins and napkin rings were all purchased at the Pottery Barn Outlet store. The napkins were $1.97 each, and the rings were only ninety-seven cents each! I love the napkins, but I'm not really all that fond of monkey napkin rings, but at that price I couldn't pass up these little guys!


I guess I can always try to hide them under the napkin, but...

...they are really growing on me!







The glassware we're using are two Ravenhead English Dimple Pint Beer Mugs purchased years ago at a local church White Elephant Sale. We won't be drinking beer though, it will be lemonade with dinner for my husband, and iced tea is my choice.






The centerpiece is just a simple trunk candle purchased from Pottery Barn for $3.95. As late afternoon turns into evening, this candle will be lit and we'll sip a nice after dinner grappa to enjoy with our dessert.





Wait a minute! What's this little smiling dimpled face peeking at me from behind those dimpled beer mugs?
When did the rest of the crew sneak back into the house?!
Oh well, I guess we'll be setting a few more places for our early 'alone time' dinner! And I guess we'll be popping a Disney movie in to watch, and dessert will be ice cream sundaes instead of grappa. (Sigh)

But that's okay.

My husband and I both know how truly Blessed we are to be surrounded by the joyful noise of family, (and we also know how Blessed we are to survive the strain of all this joy), we really do live a fairy-tale life, but I still think it doesn't hurt to have a tangible reminder sitting and staring us in the face:





Please join Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch, she is the hostess of Tablescape Thursday, go here to view all the participants beautiful dishes and unique tablescape creations.

34 comments:

  1. h Girl I had to laugh about the kids...I know how that feels...with my grnads kids just popping in...last time me and Len wanted to use the hot tub...turned on the heater left it on all day to be ready by night time...made a special dinner for 2 and just we were going to get in the tub here comes my grandson and his wife...oh well so much for that romantic evening ha ha!! May you have a great week my friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  2. Hi Eileen!
    Oh, how I can relate to your evening with your husband! You really have to have a good sense of humor to live with adult children and their offspring. We've had two of our sons separately live with us through the past several years. As much as I love them and all the activity they brought with them, I am relishing most of the quieter times today. We do have the grand-dog most days...and she is anything but quiet! Makes romance a bit tough, but that's part of the spice of our lives...
    I really enjoyed your post today. And I thank you for your kind words on my blog.
    Have a wonderful week...and may you and hubby find a little time for yourselves.
    Smiles,
    Jane (Artfully Graced)

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  3. I hope you find some time to be alone soon !!
    Love the plates - great colours, favourite of mine too.
    Warm wishes, Irene x

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  4. There is no such thing as an empty nester ... believe me. Love your presentation . .. TTFN ~ Marydon

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  5. Eileen- this is my favorite table of yours yet. Your photos are great and I love your table cloth and your William Sonoma plates. Great job!

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  6. This is wonderul,Eileen. I love the tablecloth!

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  7. We worry ourselves sick about them leaving us and then they show back up--with a child or a dog or both! Your tablescape for two is lovely. The tablecloth is beautiful and a real heirloom!

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  8. We're a LONG way from being empty nesters so I can well appreciate that feeling. Looks like you had a lovely afternoon. Love that runner.
    - The Tablescaper

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  9. I love the needlework on the tablerunner Eileen. That was my favorite. I also liked the plates, clever of you to settle for both colors! The monkey napkin rings were super cool in my book!
    I'm just sorry that you couldn't enjoy the entire dinner alone with your husband. But there's always next time!
    Love Di

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  10. I'm always drawn to handwork and I know how precious that tablerunner must be. Now I adore those monkey napkin rings! Everything looks perfect for a dinner for two (or more!)

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  11. Hi Eileen! Oh, what a great idea for you two and the little smiling face peaking through! :)
    I love that olden embroidered runner. How special is that! Your yellow plates are so perfect with the blue ones! The napkins and napkin rings are wonderful. Love it all. Now what movie did you watch!?
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  12. I like the dinner on the ottoman and a movie idea! I can relate to the kids. What seems like ions ago, my husband and I had a conjoined family. Well the two boys (out of high school and jobless) laid around all day watching TV while we tore our hair out. My husband, an old Marine, even invited a Marine recruiter to talk to them. No it didn't work. They finally got jobs and moved out!!!!

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  13. Hi Eileen,
    What a charming post. I love your dishes, isn't it fun when dishes call to you? What a sweet hubby you have to share his evening with you and include the fam. Love the little peeking face, you gotta love it.
    Enjoy.
    Maryrose

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  14. Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed the music! It was a real treat to visit today.
    Happy Tablescape Thursday and hope to see you at my place to toast Susan on her anniversary.
    http://hyacinthforthesoul.blogspot.com/

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  15. Oh, Eileen, I loved your post...I understand the kids...you love it when they're there, and love it when they're not! We need more
    R & R after the grandkids come along...they wear us out! Love your plates,and that you bought the yellow and the blue for salad...great idea. The monkeys are growing on me, too...like lobster, you have to acquire a taste for monkey! Have a wonderful Tablescape Thursday...you're a dear! Mary

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  16. Eileen,
    Cute post. I wish I had a Pottery Barn near me. :( Pretty plates!

    D

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  17. This is such a sweet post! A nice dinner for two! I love the yellow and blue plates together, and the embroidered table runner is perfect with the swirl on the plates!

    "Happily Ever After" - doesn't get any better than that!

    Katherine

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  18. Too bad your "table for two" got interrupted but also how nice that you took it in stride. Your swirl plates are very pretty and love your "happily ever after" sign.

    DD

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  19. The perfect romantic dinner ala casual! Just lovely.

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  20. Hi Eileen, your tablescape is wonderful. The colors are so soft and pretty and the runner is absolutely gorgeous! Just delightful.

    Thanks for your sweet visit to Bella Vista and the comment about my header. You made my day.

    Blessings, Barb

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  21. Barb, I can so relate to your situation. One of my grown children has just moved back in and with her came a puppy Boxer that has kept me as busy as having a small child in the house. I too miss our quiet time with just me and hubby. I'm glad you were able to spend some time, quietly, together :) Love reading your blog!

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  22. Hi Eileen,
    I really like the way you combined colors with your plates --- I think mixing is much more interesting than matching. The heirloom runner is charming.

    Your story of the loving adjustments families make when faced with unexpected changes (mingled with twinges of disappointment) is moving and something to which most us can relate.

    Thank you for your kindness and friendship.

    Bill

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  23. LOVING!!!!!! The table runner is priceless. You just cannot find those anymore. I would love, love one, but want a new one...am I just dreaming? :)

    And your Wm.Son. plates? To die for, esp. the price! Oh, how I love outlets...outlet prices!

    Lovely tablescape, as always!

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  24. Eileen,
    I love the plates and the idea of a quiet dinner for two. I clicked on your blog and saw you and I are the same age and my son lives with us and I have a grandson here too! Three other grandchildren join us lots of times. Many of my friends are empty nesters and I do envy the quiet order in thier homes and I do love the fun our children bring into our lives at the same time, but anytime you want to come float in my pool I will be happy to provide a drink and we can just relax....if only until my troops arrive back home!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  25. Hey you grab a little romance where you can, right? Oops not this time? I just love to dine this way. Your setting looks so pretty..and I just love those napkin rings! We truly have the good life don't we? Grandkids and family just add to the joy. I love your profile words. They sound just like my own feelings.

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  26. Hi Eileen,
    Thanks for popping over to Normandy for a visit, I really enjoyed visiting you in return.
    The hand embroidered cloth is beautiful and what a surprise to see English pint glasses on an American tablescape, it made me quite homesick.

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  27. I really like this setting. The plates were a great find, I like the colors too. I'm sure you had a lovely meal with your hubby ~ sometimes it is nice to have a quiet evening every once in a while!

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  28. Weaving all the generations in to your tablescape is so "you"! What a beautiful runner...and what mischievous eyes :)

    May God continue to give you quiet moments once in awhile to match and maintain the energy and joy of watching your grandson and all his antics.

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  29. Hi :) I seen your comment on my friend Jessica's blog so thought Id pop by here. You have a lovely blog!

    Candy-Faith :)

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  30. How special to have that wonderful runner made by your mother-in-law. Your new dishes are just perfect with it.

    I love the monkey napkins ring. They add a nice touch of whimsy.

    I hope you all enjoyed the Disney movie.

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  31. Oh how sweet this post was. Dinner for two. I just love the color combination of the two plates. I think the yellow and the blue plates go very well together. I just loved that embroidered table cloth. Oh my, your so brave to use that. I would be scared to use something like that in my family.(LOL) There's always accidents happening over here on Peek-A-Boo Street! Have a nice evening.

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  32. Thank you so much for your warm welcome back!!! I have missed everyone and look forward to catching up!!!

    Your tablescape is gorgeous!!!

    Have a wonderful day!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  33. I love your tablescape! (I've been away and haven't had Internet access, so I'm just catching up on Tablescape Thursday.) That table runner is so precious! The blue and yellow dishes are gorgeous! Love the napkins, too.

    Jane

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  34. oh my gosh, those napkin rings are adorable! The fabrics are divine. This blog will be drawing me back for future visits!

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