Australia in Natchez

I had just arrived from Florida for my grandbabies christening. Please scroll down one post below if you have not seen my grand triplets. Anyway, I was still unpacking when hubby called and told me he invited an Australian surgeon and his wife for dinner on Friday night. But wait a minute, I have a girls night out already planned for that night since a month ago so I asked him to change it for the next day, Saturday. And so it was set for Sat.

For sometime now,  John has been telling me about inviting them. I kept postponing it cause I have been too busy, plus the floors had to be done first. Well, I have no more excuse now since the floors are done, although I am still busy. We have house guests and trips scheduled starting next week. Anyway, since he mentioned his intention to invite the Australian doctor, I have been searching for Australian stuff on Ebay. I found this table topper.

 More Australian touches: kangaroo S & P shakers and a pair of koala bear figurines, all from Ebay.

 The plates are from Horchow, one of my latest acquisitions. I love the oval shape and the grayish color and the subtle print. The pattern is called "Sari" and they are made in Portugal. I thought I could use them formally. The problem is I could not find any serving pieces to match the set so I used silver and pewter serving pieces. And here, I thought I already had everything when it comes to tableware, lol.

 Look at the details of the pattern! I love the scalloped edging of the bowl too, which I intend to use for the salad. The salad plate, I will use for appetizers.

 I used oval wooden chargers from Horchow which I have had for years now.

 The behind of the kangaroos.

 I think this little S & P shaker set is so cute.

 It was a little bare behind the flowers so I added a pair of taper candles on short sterling silver holders. For a vase, I used a lion headed champagne bowl. I had another glass bowl inside it to hold the flowers together. I don't know but I am thinking of cutting the stems more and lowering the flowers a bit.

 At first, I used a pair of creamy white candelabras. But I replaced them with this tealight holders. Though they are very rustic, I think the color blends well with the dishes and wooden chargers and it gives the table a more relaxed look. I want the guests to feel relaxed.

 I am serving fish on the Selancor pewter tray, coconut chicken appetizers on the silver bowl and chili sauce on the little jam server.

 The flowers are from Walmart.

See the defocused pewter bowl on the right? I am serving roasted rosemary potatoes in it.

 A table set for 4. I moved the other 2 chairs by the window.

 I still have not decided what to serve for dessert. I have a key lime pie or I can make a flan. Which do you think is better for my menu? I am serving rice in that Princess House Pavillion cream bowl.

 I am serving pancit (Filipino noodles) here. I found this silver warmer from an antique store downtown about 4 years ago. I just love the details of the legs and on the handles.

 Silver Wallace Baroque flatware.

Thanks for stopping by. I am linking with

Marty's Tableop Tuesday at

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop at

http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Kathleen's Let's Dish at

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Susan's Tablescape Thursday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Kathy's Home & Garden Thursday at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Sherry's Home Sweet Home Fri at

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com

Addendum: Dinner was a success and here are our lovely guests.

A special thanks to all the hostesses. I appreciate you all doing this week after week.

My Grand Triplets' Christening

You might have read that I just came from Florida to attend my 3 grandbabies' christening. Although they did not all come from one  mom, I call them my triplets because Tina's baby, Reese, is only 15 days older than the twins. Here are the babies in their christening gowns.

Baby Halle

 Baby Rea

Baby Reese

 Rochelle, Derek and the twins.

 Tina and her family, though Nathan is not in the picture. He was running around. This was taken before the ceremonies started.

 This is the twins' big sis, AJ.

 Reese was baptized first.

 He cried after the holy water was poured.

 Then Halle went

 She was fine, did not cry at all.

 Last but not least, Rea was next.

 She was fine at first but had a delayed reaction and then cried, lol.

 After the baptismal cermonies, we all went to have lunch and partied at my son in law's parents' home. Shown here are my 2 sisters in law, a friend and one of my brothers.

 The twins: Rea and Halle

 Reese is 15 days older than the twins.

Presenting my grand triplets: Halle, Reese and Rea.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

I would like to link with the following.

Ms. Burrito's Color Connection on Friday

http://www.kids-e-connection.com/

Beverly's Pink Saturday at

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Sarah's Homemaking Link Up Weekend at

http://bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/

A special thanks to the hostesses!

Copycat Challenge Landed on the Dresser

My contribution for Debbiedoos' copycat challenge is very simple. I just got back from FL for my 3 grandbabies' christening and was not ready so I opened my Charles Faudree Details book and scanned it very quickly and found something I know I can do in a jiffy. And here it is!

This is my inspiration. It is frenchy though mine is not. I love that chest of drawers and the mirror!

I did not have the right lamps but I have these matching ones sitting on the mantel in the living room. I think they're ok since my dresser top is smaller.

 I have a lot of boxes spread all over the house, another one of my obsessions that I have been collecting over the years, so I just picked 3 to copy the picture.

I could not see the details of what was on top of the top chest in the inspiration picture and so as you can see, I tried 3 different positions of the birds. Which do you like better?

This dresser is in our guest room designated for grandkids when they visit, but it is usually decorated more child friendly.

 But I can leave this here for a while since our next guests are adults and they will most probably stay in the other 2 guest rooms.

I found this antique empire dresser from an antique shop downtown and immediately went home and dragged hubby there to see it and to buy it for me. I love those glass knobs and its excellent shape.

 Did I pass?

Thanks Debbie for hosting a fun party. And thank you all for stopping by.

Don't forget to see the rests of the copycats at

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

I am also linking with Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop Wednesday at

http://bunnyjeansdecorandmore.blogspot.com/

Kathy's Home and garden at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/