MARDI GRAS MADNESS

Mardi Gras is the time to celebrate! This year it is February 21, 2012, also known as Fat Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday.  We love the city of New Orleans and all the parades, foods and music! There are many different places which celebrate this occasion. Many consider this the last time to indulge before Lent.

A feast of rich foods and rich colors for you to taste, smell and see. The deep purple, grass green, and gilded gold are the familiar colors of this celebration. The jewelry thrown from a parade float or worn on a costume.

A crown worn to celebrate or as a religious remembrance! 

 The words of Mardi Gras expresses indugence!

Mardt means Tuesday.

 

 Gras is the fat in Fat Tuesday.

 Colorful jewelry and coins are thrown from floats during the parades and are symbols of the wealth and riches.

 Part of creating this tablescape was searching for the crowns and these have the bonus of a the french Fleur de Lis!

 The table linens began with the lavender place mats then the contrast of the grass green place plates.

 The surprise is the china produced by Inspire.

 Deep Purple background for the salad plate and the lush design of the exotic bird and floral is in contrast to the black and white. 

 The simple design of the flower is repeated on the bowl. The spicy gumbo speaks of the mix of cultures and served up with a golden soup spoon.

 The deep purple of the napkins and tablecloth pops the colors of the place setting. 

 Your feathered mask and colorful chain can be worn for the celebration.

 The gold beaded napkin ring echoes the beaded necklaces.

 The  gold tray centers the extravagance of this table of celebration.

 The fat of feasting will come from the sweets of the famous Cafe du Monde!

 The spirits of libation will be served in colors of Mardi Gras crystal.

 So play your horn, in that jazz and blues rhythm!

 And drink your Cafe au Lait in the special mug and ask for more powdered sugar on your beignets!

As they say, "Laisseez les bon temps rouler" or "Let the good times roll"!

Hoot...Hoot....the Owl says Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day and a big Hoot..Hoot 

to you from the lovable Pinky the owl.

 The Valentine theme of owls began with a visit to HomeGoods.

I visited one and only found 4 plates and 6 mugs, but

while at another store I found 6 plates. I bought the 6 plates and went back to store number 1 and the 6 mugs were still there for a happy purchase.

 While at HomeGoods, I also found these darling red lips on a pedestal.

Just the right sentiment for the Valentine's  theme with "a Kiss Me".

 Also included was a pink heart and red heart

both on pedestals, which flanked the Kiss Me centerpiece.

 At the top of each place setting I have placed a gift sack,

and a 2 piece glass setting. The gift sack was surprising found at JoAnn's.

 The red goblet will hold lemon water and the heart decorated flute will

tickle the nose with the bubbly.

 Looking from the rear of the table, you can see the sun

streaming in on the pink cake stand containing the Kiss Me centerpiece.

 A close up of the gift sack is next to pink crystal heart votive.

 Adding to the Owl theme, a red boy pepper shaker and a

pink girl salt shaker finish out the cake stand centerpiece. 

 As you can see the Owl mug matches the salt and pepper shakers.

 The red roses and red hearts are displayed into 4 heart shaped vases.

 These tea towels were also a great find at HomeGoods,

and were a perfect use for napkins.

 This overview presents a scene of happy Owls sending out

love and kisses for this Valentine's Day!!

Warm inside and out

The warmth of winter is keeping us out and about in the wonderful weather!

The temperatures were up to 80 on the car thermometer, yesterday! This is a warm and delightful time for January. I wanted a treat this morning and set the English wooden tray with something new and special.

My thought was to include my new mug by Creative Tops Ltd. The pattern is RETRO TEA and is capitalized on the mark. The chintz style tea images are very retro and the blue background makes them pop.

 Included on the tray, is a cat creamer in the delft blue pattern made in Holland.

The photo above has three great milk chocolates by Ghiradelli and are so delish! I matched their color with the blue and white stripe linen on the tray. The brown bowl contains the strawberry tea leaves and adds a wonderful aroma. 

If  you are left handed, you can read HERBAL in the hearts on the mug.  The flowered teapot definitely is an image from several decades ago.

The blue and white teatime feels like winter even though the temperature is warm outside. A simple white teapot completes the setting with the taste of strawberries and then a bite of chocolate.
I have always enjoyed the Tuesday Tea Parties at different blogs! I was saddened about the news of the lovely blogs of Wanda Lee and Pam being discontinued. Every week they have given me so much joy and I just want to personally thank them.  Sometimes to just sit and read their beautiful blog would make my day.   

Santa's Scotty Dogs and the Presents

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Santa is placing the Presents in his sleigh! When those sassy Scotties come bouncing and jumping and knock packages off of Santa's sleigh onto the snowy ground.

The saucy Scotties run off to the Pond and Skate away with only thoughts of winter fun!

See how happy the Scotties are skating the day away!

They are so cute Santa will just look around and start laughing, "HO! HO! HO!"

The fun of new china is in decorating a Christmas table. We will be warm with a hot pot of tea.

Just add cream or sugar or Both!

The place setting begins with the Scotty shape salad.

And the stack of plates, with another of the Plaid Scotty salads. 

Red Salad.

Plaid Scotty dinner Plate.

White embossed Christmas dinner plate.

The Christmas color water goblet and the Scotty mug.

Peek inside the mug and sweet Scotty appears.

Either a green or red stem can be chosen.

The snowy scene of a sleigh and reindeer.

Reindeer are waiting for Santa.

Still watching.

Still skating.

More presents?

The present is lighted! What can it be?

Peek into the clear package.......What is red inside? Where is Santa? You will have to wait until the Night of December 24 th for you may hear reindeer hooves, some barks and woofs, and probably the big "HO! HO!HO!".