Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Quiet Valentine's Day Dinner


I hope you all had a wonderful and romantic Valentine's Day! I am finally back home from almost 2 months of spending time with the ever growing grandkids but I am still in a daze, not from the trip but from coming home and walking into a war zone! Yep, I guess 2 months of being away and leaving a man alone will do that to your house. But that is another story. I am sorry if I have not visited you yet but I have been cleaning non stop until my back cannot take it anymore. I thought I would take a break and post my tablescape, which I did while on a break too.

John and I had a quiet dinner at home. I did a quick dinner fix cause I was too tired to go out and too tired to cook something fancy. I had a frozen chicken stuffed with boudin in the freezer, which I bought from a Cajun market before I left for Florida, so I baked that and cooked some corn. Our fridge is empty. John throws everything out when I am away for a prolonged time and I have not had time to go grocery shopping, Luckily, one of  his patients gave him a bag of sweet potatoes so I baked some of that too. And good thing he left the freezer alone, one of the few places that he did not touch in the house. He probably would have if I extended my absence for another week.


For my place setting, I started with a basket weaved hot pink heart shaped placemats that I bought from HG in Fort Myers and the pale pink salad plates, also from there. The pierced plate charger came from Ebay, one of a few packages that came in while I was gone. Did I say few? LOL! I will tell you more about that later. They are made in Portugal. The dinner plates, I have had for a while. They were just convenient for me to use cause they were in a bin that was sitting on the kitchen floor. Nope! I have not unpacked the dishes that I stored in bins before my trip, to prepare for the replacement of our floors, which by the way is 95% all done. I will show you a room on Monday for MM.
 I could not decide which napkin holder to use so I used both, a brass with pierced heart and pink and red beaded ones. I also bought the "love" napkins form HG.
 John gave me this teddy bear for Valentine. Last year, he overwhelmed me with presents. This year, I got this precious teddy and overwhelming packages that I picked myself. He did not buy them but he is paying for them, ha!ha!
 Do you see the jar with tulle and a bow with a rose in the foreground? I made those for my stepdaughter's wedding favors. The jars are filled with honey. I kept 2 of them.
 And here is the table without the food. I set it for 4 even though it was just the 2 of us who ate.



While I was gone, I went on an uncontrollable shopping spree on line. John moved all the boxes to the kids' guest room because there was no room left in the living room and foyer. We hired someone to help me open and empty the boxes for 2 days and here are some of the empty boxes, just so you would know what I meant by overwhelming, lol. I couldn't even get all the boxes in the picture and if you look closely, smaller boxes are piled up in bigger ones to make room.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I will try to visit soon. I am probably 50% done in putting stuff  away but I stilll have to work on putting dishes back in china cabinets. It is a lot of work but the floors turned out beautifully.
I am linking with Bunny Jean for Bunny Hop Wednesday at    http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/
Susan for Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Sherry's Home Sweet Home Fri at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Sherry's Open House Party Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Kathy's Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Honey's Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Gollum's Foodie Friday at http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/


Thank you so much for hosting!
I hope you get to visit these gracious ladies.

28 comments:

Lady Linda said...

Your dinner looks lovely. The napkins are so cute too. Yes, quite a shopping spree!
Linda

Cindy Adkins said...

Welcome Home! What a beautiful tablescape! It's so nice that you were able to spend a long time with your precious grandchildren - but sorry about the "man mess" when you got home!! :)
Hugs, Cindy

Bunny Jean said...

Hi Christine!

You sure "pulled" together a nice valentine's Dinner. Luckily you had some pretty dishes that were not packed away.

Now a word about that shopping... WOW!

Thanks for sharing at my Bunny Hop Party!

xoxo Bunny Jean

Dolores said...

Christine, you are so amazing. I don't see how you accomplish so much all the time, with your travels, taking care of people, decorating.....keeping your home beautiful.... the list is endless.

That's a lot of boxes!! You did go wild.....

Your Valentine table is lovely!!
Welcome home...

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Welcome home! I love your tablescape, especially the new cutwork dishes. They are gorgeous! You did far better then me for dinner, I just decided to bring home take out since we both were working. LOL! I can't wait to see more of your interesting and beautiful purchases! Have a great day!

Richard Cottrell said...

You know what they say, shop till you drop. Richard from My Old Historic House.

Sweet Meanderings said...

It looks like you had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner anyway! It looks delicious and your table is beautiful!
Candy

Chubby Chieque said...

Simply elegant, Ate Xine...

OMG... you'll got loads to do huh? Hope soon... everything's will be in place.

Have a great day & your lovelies,Aldo!

Greetings from freezing Stockholm,
/chie

Debbiedoos said...

Welcome home Christine. WOW on the shopping spree. How fun! Pretty Valentine table.

Unknown said...

A beautiful table! Welcome home! Glad you had a nice vacation but sorry for the mess. You set a pretty table considering all that is going on at your house. My hat is off to you! Hope everything will be in place soon.
Blessings My Friend,

Denise said...

Welcome home Christine! Your table looks beautiful. My favorite things are definitely the pink place mats and the BEAUTIFUL salad plates! Your meal looks delicious, even if it was quick and simple. It sounds like you've definitely come home to a lot of work.

Hope you have a restful weekend. :)

XO,
Denise at Forest Manor

Kathleen said...

The plates are beautiful, and i love those glasses!
You are seriously lucky John is so good to you. If I left for 2 months there would a major garage sale and all my treasures would be gone!
Can't wait to see what you bought! I love those white pierced chargers! I think you overspent on your allowance. :)

Sarah said...

Christine, your table looks perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner. Dinner looks delicious!
LOL ~ I'd have to agree with Kathleen. If I were gone for 2 months who knows what would be sent away. Looking forward to seeing what was in all those boxes. ~ Sarah

Chandy said...

Christine, lovely table yet again! I love the plates! Finally got a table done again so I'm able to visit. I'm trying my friend... I'll just have to have your blog on minimized so I don't forget... I'm glad you had a great Valentine's Day...

bj said...

WOW, I got tired just reading about all this work,Christiney.
I am glad you are home...hope you get someone to help you do all that cleaning and then, go to your bedroom and have meals brought in...watch tv....sleep....read....eat...take long bubble baths....drink wine....eat chocolate....and don't come out until you are fully rested. :)) *I know it's a lot easier SAID than DONE.
xoxo bj

FABBY'S LIVING said...

WELCOME HOME! I love it that you made a tablescape dear Christine, beautiful as always! I love the placemats and your new plates, they are so pretty. I'm glad at least you're half way from working, please take it easy in between, backs pays a toll on us. I'm glad you had a quiet Valentine's evening and so much fun to take out all the new things, although tiring too.
Love,
FABBY

Alycia Nichols said...

Oh, for heaven's sake, Christine! Seeing all those empty boxes makes me SO happy because I know you now have lots of fun new toys to play with!!! That was QUITE the shopping spree, m'lady! Isn't if funny how men suddenly think they are "helping" by cleaning out the fridge, etc. in your absence? After one such incident here, I told my husband that if he ever again so much as reaches in the fridge for ANYTHING that he would pull back a nub! :-) Threats are my best weapon! :-) I'm glad you are home safe & sound, and I hope you are able to get some much needed rest and time to yourself. A quiet, pretty Valentine's Day dinner seemed to be just what the doctor ordered! Have a great weekend, Christine!

Robin said...

Wow, you have been busy doing some serious shopping! I love those chargers with that great cutout detail. Your Valentine's Day for 2 is lovely especially those glasses. Your impromptu dinner looks good too I travel down to Ft. Myers on occasion, any good stores I should visit? Do they have a World Market? Take care of your back and I'm sure it feels good to be home!

Robin
Robin Flies South!

xinex said...

Thanks, Robin! Yes, there are great stores in Fort Myers and they do have a World Market there, also Old Time Pottery, Homegoods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross....all my favorite stores and much, much more. I love the shopping centers there!..Christine

Anonymous said...

Your dinner looks so yummy. Your plates are beautiful, and I love your beaded napkin rings. Have a super day!

Entertaining Women said...

You've gone above and beyond with your beautiful Valentines tables cape...especially after your long absence and in the midst of your floor renovation...overwhemling task. Thanks for inviting us for a peak and welcome home. Cherry Kay

Marigene said...

Your table is beautiful, Christine. I love the salad plates.

We hired someone to help me open and empty the boxes for 2 days and here are some of the empty boxes, just so you would know what I meant by overwhelming, lol....yes, I am laughing! If I left for more than a couple week, my husband would have taken everything to the local thrift store...

Sue said...

I love the dishes on this tablescape...so pretty! I'm sure you are glad to be home. I was gone 2 months last year when my mom was sick and after she died. It was so nice to sleep in my own bed.

I just read my husband your "We hired someone..." paragraph! I'll remind him of your shopping spree if he ever makes fun of my shopping again! Where are you going to put everything??

Debby@Just Breathe said...

So glad you are home. (well not really because I would have loved to have meet you in Florida in a few weeks!) Sounds like a nice dinner and your table is beautiful. I have been trying to stay away from the shopping online. OMG you really were uncontrollable!
Lucky you have such a wonderful husband.

Maria said...

Wow! I'm going to show my husband what a REAL shopping spree looks like! I hope we get to see some of the stuff you bought!

Jewel Sauls said...

Such a pretty table! Can't wait to see your shopping spree goodies!

Kathy said...

Love the table decor. So romantic! I know you've had so much fun spending time with your family that I can understand how shopping can be just as much fun! Love to open boxes!
Thanks so much for sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy

Honey at 2805 said...

Your table is just gorgeous! That's a lot of boxes, my friend! Can't wait to see what your shopping spree yields! Thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday!

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