Memorable Father's Day

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. 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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Entertaining Women's first blog post was July 7, 2010. It's hard to conceive that I've been blogging my tablescapes for almost two years. I never dreamed that I would be "published" in any format. It was always my Aunt Ida's dream for me, and I think that she would be happy. I'm having even more fun with my blog today than when my daughter-in-love, Jamiann at THE BLACKBERRY VINE, graciously helped me figure out how to even start a blog. I look forward to my third year. I adore the many new blog buddies that I've come to care about, and I am humbled by your support and unending encouragement. Thank you seems so inadequate. I introduced my blogiversary give-away week before last...a set of 12 Mottahedeh "Sacred Butterfly" dinner plates. To read about it and learn how to be the winner, click HERE.

Father's Day at our house was pretty laid back this year. Although I had prepared to serve a Pork Tenderloin with appropriate trimmings, Sweet Mister requested that we make breakfast for lunch, and that's what we did right after we returned home from church...an old fashioned breakfast of Dirty Scrambled Eggs, Toast and English Muffins, Crisp Bacon, cold milk, and orange juice. We were a small group of five, so I created my table for Sweet Mister at the games table in the living room. I wanted it to be masculine and pay homage to family.

Come on in, I'll give you a tour de la table.

To keep a decidedly masculine flavor, I started with a woven tweed tablecloth that I made. The

Williams-Sonoma "Flax" hemstitched linen napkins picked up the taupe in the cloth's color mix. Soft colors were added by simply placing a hydrangea from our garden on each napkin...just enough without becoming too foo foo.

One of my go-to white patterns, I always enjoy using the Wedgwood "Countryware" dinner plates. The antiqued copper service plates were a great get at an estate sale. They've already been pressed into service a number of times. The everyday Mikasa "French Countryside" goblet was just the right size for a big ole glass of ice cold milk.

Keeping color to a minimum, I chose the L'Argent "Sophia" flatware, bought from Tuesday Morning and Horchow. Horchow still has this pattern listed on their website. It is available in a number of lovely colors.

I had fun creating my centerpiece, with an emphasis on family memories. I used baby shoes to create my mood. These black leather high top button baby boots belonged to my mother-in-love. She wore them in 1919. The anchor of my design was the Wedgwood "Patrician" tureen and under plate, an eBay find. Green garden Hydrangeas perched on a trio of Lenox creamware urns. Tip: These urns are a good example of the importance of waiting and watching items on eBay before deciding to bid. There is currently a pair of these listed with an auction asking price of $125.00. I bought mine for about $25.00 each at estate sales and on eBay. Take Your Time!

The red cowboy boots were...mine! I wore them when I was two years old. I made Sweet Mister a father, after all.

The white leather soft-sole high tops belonged to KC....who will have her first baby and make Sweet Mister a grandfather in September! We're all eagerly waiting for the arrival of Beatrice Emmaline! Little Honey B will be our third grandchild. Our son and daughter-in-love are the parents of our two beloved grandsons, Haden and Jack.

Cards and gifts were placed on the refectory table. I added a framed photo that we have of Sweet Mister's daddy. His daddy was 7 years old in this photo, 1925, and he grew up in Portland, Oregon. I never knew him. He passed away when Sweet Mister was 13 years old. The three silver pieces lying next to the photo belonged to Sweet Mister's father and to my daddy. Left to right: the sterling cigarette case and flask were carried by Hal's father during WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with Patton. The sterling cigarette case on the right belonged to my daddy, who fought in the Battle at Salerno Beach. He was a combat engineer. It was given to him after WWII by my Aunt Ida. She bought it while stationed in Tokyo, Occupied Japan, as an intelligence officer after the war.

I adore this photograph. Sweet Mister told me that is a salmon.

It was a sweet memorable celebration. We had a ball talking about all the shoes! Do you have old baby shoes stashed away some place in your house?

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 June, I think of lazy summer days and time to share a meal with friends. 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!

Wednesday evening is the fifteenth 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!

It's always a treat to learn something new when I go exploring in blog land. Tonight I'm excited to join Yvonne @ Stone Gable for her new meme, TUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS. Bring your notebook...there's so much to learn!

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! KC has just released her 5th studio CD project, "The Tag Hollow Sessions". The sold out CD release concert was this past weekend. "The Tag Hollow Sessions" 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!