For Mama

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. As you consider your own philanthropic opportunities, I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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I always love a good challenge, so when Cuisine Kathleen threw down her latest challenge, Moms' Day for "Let's Dish", my mind went into high gear. The Garden Friends came for a birthday luncheon today, and I thoroughly enjoyed creating a tablescape for them that celebrated my mama. Daddy was an architect and an engineer, and he always leaned toward minimalism. Mama was decidedly more traditional, but she always made an effort to respect Daddy's preferences in design. Together they created a lovely blend of styles. They both had a great appreciation for oriental art, and my sister and I are blessed to act as stewards of their beautiful pieces until the time comes to share them with our children. Today's table reflects her quietly elegant manner with a nod toward their fondness for the Asian arts.

Mama liked blues and greens, and I wanted to make that my color story for today.

I kept the centerpiece low-key with a trio of white reticulated porcelain lanterns and the pair of Republic Period Rose Famille lidded rose bowls, which I found at an estate sale. The lanterns are from a local flower shop, and I'll bet that they can currently be found in one of your local stores, too.

Making an encore appearance, a pair of the Lenox cream urns topped with Hypericum Berry topiary balls flanked the other pieces in my centerpiece. The Williams-Sonoma navy blue linen hem-stitched tablecloth was an eBay find.

The gold bamboo flatware was a very inexpensive estate sale purchase. I don't know the maker. When I folded the napkins, I was thinking about the oriental scrolls that Mama adored. I have some of her charming antique pieces framed on my walls. The Tiffany Blue linen/cotton hemstitched napkins are another great eBay purchase. They are held in place with the

Coalport "Countryware" napkin rings, also eBay.

The Steelite Cobalt Charger Plate, another eBay score, was yet again called into service as the base for my place setting...

I always feel Mama smiling when I lay her classically beautiful Royal Doulton Harlow on the table...wonderful English bone china, with a gold rim and a simple cobalt and gold ring at the verge, punctuated with cornflower blue blossoms...

...And then there's the Coalport Chinese Willow Accent Plate. This pattern has been on "the list" for a long time, but I've never bought any because it is so. dang. expensive. My nod to Mama's collection of oriental art was, yep, another eBay acquisition. This plate sells for about $140.00 each...I found a set of 12 for $60.00...$5.00 each. And you're not shopping on eBay because...?

I love you and miss you, Mama. I think that you would have liked this, too.

Continuing with my color story, I've chosen the Vietri, Apple Green Optical goblet and the AJKA Arabella Cobalt wine stem.

When I was a little girl, I remember the gorgeous flowers that my daddy would grow each Spring and Summer. I've shared that I am not a skilled gardener, so it was an absolute thrill for me to walk out to my garden this morning and cut fresh Hydrangeas to fill the pair of oriental vases on the buffet. It mattered not a whit that they weren't the same colors as my table design...I was ecstatic!

I can hardly wait for my Garden Friends Bible Study to walk through the door. This will be our last study before our Summer hiatus. I anticipate that we'll linger long after lunch for laughter and sweet fellowship.

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY." Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

When I think of MAY, I think of my mama and precious memories celebrated on Mothers' Day. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!

Tonight is the eighth edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH". So excited to be a charter member. Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "Orchid." It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!