Christine's Home and Travel Adventures: August 2015

Friday, August 28, 2015

A Seaside Tablescape after a River Cruise

We just came from a 2 week Viking River cruise visiting the countries of Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary. We had a lot of fun in spite of hassles in the airports but I am ready to go again, lol. Anyway, the water prompted me to create a seaside or beachy tablescape, even though we were sailing on a river, the River Danube to be exact. Besides, summer is going fast and I am afraid I won't be able to create a beachy table anymore until next summer.

I could not find my dinnerware with shells anywhere in the garage, probably still in Natchez with the other half of our belongings, so I decided to use these plates. The color works!

After placing a quilted blue table runner, I started my place setting with these placemats, which I love using for anything to do with water. I bought them from an antique/resale shop in Natchez when we still lived there. I miss those shops.

I could not find my shell napkin rings either so I used these 2 beaded ones, alternating them. The colors work, again.

The white wooden plate chargers are from Pier One and the plates are either from Zullily or Joss &Main.

Luckily, I have these aqua goblets already moved to Florida.

I had these shell canisters displayed around the jacuzzi tub in our master bathroom and I just borrowed them.

I bought these vases (2 of them) with dried grass and shells at 70% off from Jo Ann Fabrics and the teal shells on clearance from Marshall's before we left for the cruise. I really don't need any more table accessories but they must have been trying to get rid of summer items and the low prices were just irresistible.

Searching through my stuff in the garage, I found this set of shell place card holders. Yay!

I was already done with the table when I decided to look for a tea set to use and found this fish S & P set in the drawer, so I added it.

A close up of the napkin rings

Most of my flatware sets are still in Natchez but I have this pewter set here. I thought the color is like sand so I decided to use them.

Oh uh! I forgot to add a salad fork on the right place setting. I hope you don't mind cause I did not want to retake the picture since it is already loaded. Probably you did not even notice until I mentioned it.

I picked this tea set for it's color since most plants by the beach are dry and brownish. Besides, I have limited sets here cause most of them are still in Natchez too.

Thank you for stopping by. It's been awhile since I blogged as I have been away and before going away, I was busy preparing for the trip and packing. I hope you enjoy this come back.

Thanks also to the hostesses for the parties I am linking with.

Pink Saturday or Anything Goes
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

Natasha's Weekly Sundays Down

Underrhttp://www.natashainoz.com/

Sally's Blue Monday

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com

Show and Share

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Christine's Table it Monday

http://www.rustic-refined.com/

Cindy's Amaze me Monday

http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/

Creative Mondays Blog Hop

www.clairejustineoxox.com

Kathryn's Make it Pretty Monday

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/

Kathy's A Return To Loveliness

http://www.adelightsomelife.com/

Sandi's Teatime Tues

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Ruth's Tuesday Cuppa Tea

http://www.antiquesandteacups.info

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tues

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/

Maria Elena's Tuesdays at Our Home

http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/

Paula's What's It Wed

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Show and Share Wednesday Link Party

http://www.mostlyhomemademom.com/

Sarah's Homemaking party

http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/

Idea Box Thursday Party

http://milaslittlethings.com

Kathy's Home and Garden Thursday

http://www.adelightsomelife.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Bernideen's Tea Time

http://blog.bernideens.com/

Share your Style Thursday

http://northernnesting.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Home Sweet Home

The Charm of Home

Lorelai's Home Matters

http://lifewithlorelai.com/

Kate's Flaunt it Friday

http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com

Anything Blue Friday

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/

Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday

http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Polish Pottery for our Polish Neighbor

A few days ago, I invited my daughter and her family and neighbors for dinner. I found out that our German neighbor's hubby is actually from Poland so I decided to use Polish pottery. Luckily I had moved enough pieces here from MS to set a table. Yep! I still have a lot left there:-)

The table cloth is from the Waterford linen collection.

The flowers are still healthy and I will use them until they completely wither. I just moved them to a Polish pottery pitcher/vase.

I am beginning to miss Cajun food so I served gumbo and jambalaya.

I alternated blue enamel plate chargers with blue round placemats.

I served gumbo in this soup tureen.

I mixed various patterns of PP plates and bowls.

The green stemmed glasses were from the Dollar store. I bought them for my Thanksgiving table last year. I am still unable to locate my blue set of stemware. I must have left them in Natchez.

The napkin rings are also Polish pottery.

And so are the 2 sets of salt and pepper shakers below.

Funny thing happened. If you have held Polish pottery dishes, you must know how heavy they are. I went out to the kitchen to get the banana bread that I baked and I heard a commotion. The dining table collapsed, well not completely, so the guests were able to take the dishes from the table and nothing fell nor broke. The table must not have been screwed or glued properly cause I cannot believe that the weight of the dishes would cause it. Good thing most of them were done except for the dessert. Anyway, my son in law with the help of the other guys fixed it and all is well now. I just thought it was funny cause I have never had a table collapse on me before.

Thank you so much for the visits and thanks to all the hostesses.

Show and Share

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Christine's Table it Monday

http://www.rustic-refined.com/

Cindy's Amaze me Monday

http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/

Creative Mondays Blog Hop

www.clairejustineoxox.com

Kathryn's Make it Pretty Monday

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/

Kathy's A Return To Loveliness