Christine's Home and Travel Adventures: October 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Deer Stampede, A Hunter's Dream

Last Sunday, we were invited for potluck lunch to a friend's house, but her husband was called to work so she canceled on the last minute. We had already prepared what we were going to bring so the rest of us just decided to push through with the pot luck and have it at home. I offered since I already had this table set up for my tablescape contribution on my blog for this week.

I bought this pair of big bucks from the antique store on our shopping trip last week after our walk. I forgot to show them when I showed the other items cause they were in boxes.

John bought the smaller wrought iron does from a store in St. Francisville after Christmas last year. They were 75% off. I only wanted 2 but he bought all of them, lol.

I bought the deer napkin rings from Utah during our trip there last summer. The bone flatware are from Horchow or Neiman Marcus. They are very heavy.

The dinner plates are American Atelier's Mehndi Brown.

The salad plates featuring different animals that get hunted were from Z Gallerie. I used wooden plate chargers but the 2 at the end of the table are cross sections of a tree trunk.

Wine glasses have game birds and hunting animals on them. They are Ebay finds. I paired them with my green goblets.

Spode duck S& P shakers from HG in FL. The squirrel is from a local antique shop. I bought the antler candle holders from a Filipina who moved to another state. I can't remember where the squirrel S & P shakers are from.

John wanted me to take a video to make the deer look like they are walking, lol. I have not watched the video.

Here are my lady guests with me. I set the buffet table on the kitchen counter. We had egg rolls, pancit palabok, veggie omelets, sotanghon with patola, sauteed veggies with mushrooms, ginataang bilo bilo and of course rice and dessert. Sorry if you are not familiar with the dish names, they are mostly Filipino food.

I set the round table in the kitchen for the kids. We had 3 kid guests. I used the same ghost plates that I have shown a few weeks ago, I thought the kids would enjoy having a Halloween theme. We gave the younger kids their meals first and then got ours.

And here we are! We all had a lot of fun even though it was a last minute planning.

Below is our dessert table which some of you have already seen from the tea parties yesterday.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you get to visit our hostesses too and their other participants. Happy Halloween to all!

Linking with

Centerpiece Wednesday

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com

Kathleen's Let's Dish

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Susan's Tablescape Thursday

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Kathy's Home and Garden

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com

Katherine for Favorite Things Thursday Hop

http://katherinescorner.com/

Richella for Grace at Home

http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Honey's potpourri Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Sherry's Home Sweet Home Friday

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Monday, October 29, 2012

Dessert Table

We had a luncheon last Sunday and this was our dessert table.

I baked brownies and a Filipino dessert called Cassava. I know I make this a lot but it is always requested.

We had English Whittard of Chelsea's Blueberry/strawberry tea.

I served some Halloween cookies too.

I decided to use different patterns of tea cups. The teapot is Tirschenreuth and I used a Polish pottery tea warmer and sugar & cream servers.

Our youngest guest, Ryzlyne. Isn't she a sweetie?

Thanks so much for stopping by. I will share my buffet table and the 2 tables where we gathered around to eat, on Wednesday.

I am linking with the following gracious ladies:

Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/

Sandi's Teatime Tues

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

Kathy's A Return To Loveliness

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tues

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Tuesday Cuppa tea

http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

Miss Spencer's Teacup Thursday

http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Thnanks for hosting!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Early Morning Walks and Shopping is Good For the Soul

We are very fortunate to be so close to a board walk along the Mississippi River with a great view. Although it is in another state, it is less than a 10 minute drive away from home. My friends and I like to take a walk in the morning especially in this perfect fall weather.

Do you see the birds above the bridge?

Here is a close up of them.

We are in Vidalia, LA and the other side of the bridge is Natchez, MS. We can walk on that side too but we like the paved walkway here.

There is my friend Noemie just absorbing and enjoying the crisp air.

The bridge on the left is going towards Vidalia and the one on the right is headed towards Natchez.

Promise Hospital is right across the river.

Right after our walk, we take our exercise

further by walking through the antique stores downtown Natchez and this is really fun. Below are what I bought last Wednesday....my favorite is the pair of Blue Willow oil lamps. They will be perfect when I set a table with my Blue willow dinnerware and/or tea set. They were discounted from $45 to $19.00. I bought the pink pitcher with raised design for $18 and the bargains are on the lower pictures, 50 cents for the fall colored plaque (quite big, same size as a plate charger and heavy too!) and the basket filled with foliage and little pumpkins was 10 cents.

Last Friday, we took another walk in the same place, shown here with Noemie. She is half my size and almost half my age too, lol,

but we do get along so well.

Brenda was off so she was able to join us this time.

And again, we went downtown Natchez right after to browse the antique shops. I am so happy with my finds.

I thought this stein set below was a really good buy, $19.99 for all. I did not even bother to ask for a discount. I could not find any markings on it.

Look at the beautiful details! A courting couple and then it looks like people partying in the background with a fox below. The pitcher is pretty tall.

Then, we discovered a store that is closing and everything in it is 30 to 50% off. I bought this beautifully shaped transferware expresso set. I paid less than $60 for the set. I fell in love with the shape from the tray, pot and the cups, so graceful!

And I also bought a tea for one red and white transferware tea set for $14.00.

The bunny was 50% off at $10.50. He is tall and I think he is cute. Great for my Easter table.

I bought this unusually shaped vase and a squirrel. I have a set of dishes with magnolias and I thought this would be a great centerpiece when I set a table with them.

I also bought some lace linens and a long runner with silver scroll. Perfect for a silvery Christmas tablescape, I think. I love the lace edged placemats with magnolia (which BTW is MS's national flower). Too bad they only had 2 but I can envision a table for 2 being set up soon with a magnolia theme.

Lastly is this set of mini grapevine wreaths that I bought for $1 for the whole set. I am going to use them for napkin rings, perfect for a rustic look, don't ya think?