New Year’s Eve 2009

It’s time to celebrate!!! The close of a year and beginning of a new one.  In ways its been a very difficult year, with the loss of my father and a good friend. In ways its been an amazing year, with the beginning of my blog and meeting of all of my wonderful friends in blogland. A new year is before us filled with fresh possibilities.

Everything is bright and sparkling!

This evening Grand mom Lillian’s cherub candelabra don silver candles to match all that glitters.

A place is set for everyone.

Even the tablecloth and place card holders glitter.




The napkins are from my Mom’s extensive collection of hand embroidered napkins and amazingly the napkin rings were a Wal-Mart find!

I am fortunate to have inherited my Mother in Law’s complete set of Waverly by Lenox with a platinum band.

The crystal is my wedding crystal, Araglin by Waterford, from over 20 years ago!

We are serving lobster and needed place to set the warmed melted butter that was as elegant as the rest of the table. I choose these crystal saucer champagne glasses and set them upon silver plates.

My parents used to frequently cruise and they collected these glasses while cruising on the Italian Cruise line. I believe they sailed on the Michelangelo Note their insignia.

The sterling is Marlborough  by Reed and Barton which I am blessed to have due to the generosity of my Brother in Law. As my husband would say,  it was his brother’s mother’s. Got that?

Can’t you just hear the ice crackling in the branches? The vase is also by Waterford. Note the stars in the vase.

Only to be warmed by the glow of the candles.

Silver and glass stars danced upon the mirror. The glass stars actually hold tapers and I just turned them upside down for this table. They are from Pier One. The silver ones are from Wal-Mart.

My mercury glass is from over ten years ago. It’s so in vogue these days.

This little leaf shaped bowl was also part of my Mother in Law’s collection.

Enjoy the splendor of the evening as we begin a new decade.

Happy New Year!
Stop over at Susan’s for more celebratory tables. Also, come visit Show and Tell Friday. over at My Romantic Home.
- The Tablescaper

Christmas Mosaic Monday

Hopefully you all had a blessed and merry Christmas and are now relaxing a bit. The stress is off and we’ve had some pajama time. Everyone has sat around and enjoyed their new toys – computer, electronic, books, etc. It’s a wonderful  time to enjoy your family, home and gifts.
I put together a little mosaic to enjoy a bit more Christmas.

I’m hoping to link to Mosaic Monday on Little Red House, but I know she’s taking a well deserved break and I’m not sure when she’ll be back in blog land.
- The Tablescaper

Christmas Luncheon

I love Christmas, but it is such a crazy time. I have a million (OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration) of photographs of my home that I would love to share with you, but time is short. I find it odd that our most beloved holiday, I know I speak for many, is crammed into 4 short weeks, when the season of Autumn is stretched across 3 months. It doesn’t quite seem right.
But here we are. I am crazed. Putting a post together seems to have dipped low on the list, but I must share these photographs with you.
I entertain a good deal and Christmas Eve is THE event in our home, but I have come to love my ladies Christmas luncheon. There are years that I have have thought about putting it off, due to the many demands of the season, but realize how much I enjoy it. And so it begins…

As my guests arrive I have a cocktail awaiting them.
 
Amongst the Christmas trees, toile and candles is a Cranberry Cocktail.
 

It’s 50% cranberry juice and 50% champagne, with a few floating fresh cranberries.
 

Just a little something as we wait for all to arrive – except those with car trouble that couldn’t make it – ahem Kathleen.
 

A little something awaited each guest at their seat. Yes, Kathleen, I have yours set aside.
 
Please join me for my Christmas Luncheon.
 
It’s when I pull out my best for my best friends to enjoy.
 

Ruby cut glass collected through the years from Barron’s and Century 21.
 

A special place for everyone amongst the amaryllis.


Grand mom Lillian’s cherub candelabra, that were antiques when she (who hasn’t been with us for over 25 years) purchased them.


 

It’s been a hard year. Many of us have lost a parent since our last luncheon. And so tragically we even lost dear Betty who was with us last year.
 

The gorgeous placemats came with matching napkin rings.
 

My husband bought me these beautiful beautiful compotes from Horchow several years ago.
 
A now discontinued Christmas Lenox place was our focal point.

 
Incredible Villeroy and Boch chargers, that I was so lucky to get on sale last year, were our base.

 
It was a stellar day when I procured these placemats from Century 21.
 
A medley of red and green and gold.
 
And now, it’s time for lunch.
 
I couldn’t decide between shrimp cocktail or crabmeat cocktail and so I did both!
The roasted asparagus were tied as little Christmas bundles.
We dined on Chicken Marsala (a post to come), asparagus and a touch of cranberries atop the fanned Clementines.

I hope you enjoyed my luncheon as much as I did. It’s a special time to share my best with my best.
Come see a ton of lovely Christmas tablescapes at Susan’s Merry Christmas
- The Tablescaper

Christmas Benefit House Tour – Part III

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour so far! My dear friend Kim helped me stage a home for a benefit Christmas House tour.The first week we toured the outside of the home, the entryway and the dining room. Click here to check it out. Last week we toured the living room and the sun room. Click here to see that.
This week, for the grand finale, we will tour the family room, the in-between room (that’s what they call it) and the kitchen. Hope you enjoy!

Onto the family room.

Sit for a spell.

Oh no, sorry, those are for Santa.

The doe-full eyes have clearly seen better days but is adorned with a wreath and surrounded by an incredible array of Santas.

Large Santas presiding over the room, international Santas adorning the mantel, and even a Santa enjoying the bar!

Once again, I’ve neglected to take an overall photo of the room once it’s decorated (hopefully I’ve learned my lesson) and so I’ve snuck a pre-decorated one in to help you gain some perspective of the expanse of this room.

One of the homeowners was a volunteer fireman of many years. Their collections reflect his passion for the cause he gave so many hours to.

Many Santas dance among the shelves of collectibles from the homeowners many travels.

The hand carved Inuit bear was bestowed with a place of honor amongst the fallen (faux) snow.

And this guardian gave us such a fright as we moved him about – he seemed so real!

On our way to the kitchen, we pass through what the homeowners call the in-between room. It’s ready with a glass of champagne for you!

Have a sip.

Nutcrackers of all sizes and origin enliven the in-between room. Note the fireman nutcracker and his engine!



Excuse the fuzzy picture, but I wanted to share how we camouflaged the humongous file cabinet.

The steps to the basement are graced with a beautiful giraffe, a reminder of the homeowners many excursions.

And now, to my most favorite room of the house – the kitchen!

The interplay of black and white toile with bursts of red enhance the coziness of the kitchen.

The black and white toile charger is the perfect frame to the red plate that encircles a snowy homestead.


Warm yourself by the hearth, with the modern conveniences built in right next store!

Ahh, the wonders of a gas fireplace. With just the flick of a switch you have the perfect combination of innovation and ambience.
Even the Santas don black and white toile.

A magical perch within the hearth.

A bear from Harrod’s must enjoy his porridge, even if it is in a New York kitchen.

What’s that coming out of the oven?
Looks like the giraffes have made their way to the kitchen too.
And now it’s time to bake!




It’s been such a lovely time.

I’ve been tweaking this picture, but it sure doesn’t do the room justice. Somehow getting the warmth of the room with the wreaths hanging about proved to be a photography challenge so you’ll have to deal with my amateur attempts to enlighten my darken photographs. I wanted you to feel the full warmth of the room.
Many a merry Christmas have been had in this home filled with warmth and love.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.