Luncheon with Friends

A friend of mine, Alice, called one day and wanted to bring her grandchild over. Her daughter adopted a teenage Filipina girl who I have met once and told her that if she is ever in this area again, to come visit us at the house.

I invited them for lunch and I also invited Brenda, another Filipina, to join us, so she can meet them.

Unfortunately, Lydia, the granddaughter, cancelled her trip due to some school sports event, but since I already planned the luncheon, I told Alice to come for lunch anyway, just the 3 of us. I set a 4th plate setting just in case John came home for lunch.

I planned for a beachy theme since The Philippines is an island and we  have a lot of beaches there.

 Capiz shell plate chargers (we have an abundance of capiz in the Philippines), paisley dinner plates, shell salad plates, which we used for dessert since I did not serve any salad, turquoise goblets with blue base.

 I folded the napkins to make them look like a stingray and used beaded coral shaped holders.

Starfish S & P shakers are from my sister a long time ago. She likes to feed on my obsession, lol.

John bought this shell compote from Red Door about 3 years ago and I just filled it with shells.

I borrowed my pelican and lighthouse from the guest bathroom. John bought these a long time ago. He feeds on my obsession too, lol. Then, I added a beach chair tealight candle holder and a mermaid.

And there is my tablescape! I had it set the night before so I was able to take evening pictures even though it is a luncheon.

I cooked pancit (Filipino stir fried noodles with shrimp and veggies), mechado and of course, rice.

For dessert, I baked cassava (yucca) bibingka and Brenda brought her famous yummy leche flan.

Thanks for stopping by!

And special thanks to the hostesses:

Kathleen's Let's Dish

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Susan's Tablescape Thurs

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

The Style Sister's Centerpiece Wed
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Honey's Potpourri Friday

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

China Cabinet Moved To Mama's Bedroom

This cabinet used to be in our family room. Although I love the cabinet, I always thought it did not fit in the FR because it looks too formal and delicate and our FR is too rustic and informal. So, when John and I were at Red Door in Baton Rouge, we saw a cabinet that we thought would look nice in its place, we bought it and moved this beauty into our guest room that I reserve for my mom when she visits. Though my mom's room has simplier furniture, I think this newly moved cabinet gave the room more charm and it is safer there because it has less traffic than the family room. Besides, it is not always occupied because my mom rotates among us 5 siblings in 4 different states.

I thought of selling it at first but I couldn't bear to part with it so I searched really hard to find another place for it. This was before the cabinet was moved to my mom's BR. I had to slide the leather chair and ottoman to the left to make room for it.

At first, I thought I would display some designer purses there since it is a bedroom but decided to store some tea sets instead. After all, they have gracious lines and look feminine. I was able to fit a lot but it did not fit everything I have. Darn! I need another cabinet, lol.

How do you like it now? It also doubles as a night light.

The top shelf holds my Johann Haviland "Brown Rose" set, 2 Bavarian Tirschenreuth teapots, Tirschenreuth "Briar Rose" tea and coffee set, Myott "Hedgerow"  pot and a hunt scene cup and saucer set.

The second shelf includes Hammersley's "Bird of Paradise" set, a Victorian set with a courting scene, Tirschenreuth Hutschenreuther Gruppe tea set, and Polish "Warvel" set.

The third row has Kent Pottery "Herbs" tea set, Royal Stafford "Enchantment" teapot, 222 Fifth green and white "Adelaide" teapot, a green and white Tirschenreuth Bavarian tea set and Tracy Porter's "Artesian" tea set

The bottom shelf consists of Spode's "Emma's Garland" tea set with a tray and vase and dessert plates, a gold and white English teapot set that I received as a 25th birthday present (I couldn't quite read the mark except for England), a Debbie Mum "Sakupa" china small bee teapot, another gold and white teapot I bought from an estate sale that says Le Roi 24 karat gold in the back and a fine china coral set made by Royal Majestic in "Seascape" pattern.

And there they are, a part of my tea set collection.

Thank you so much for allowing me to show you the cabinet and ma's room. I hope you enjoyed the tour.

A special thanks to our hostesses below for their fun memes. I hope you get to visit them too.

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Mary's Masterpieces Monday

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Marty's Tabletop Tuesday at

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/

Sandi's Teatime Tue

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tues 

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Tuesday Cuppa tea

http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

Miss Spencer'sTeacup Thursday

http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

Kathy's Home and garden

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

It's Too Hot But Some Flowers Are Still Thriving

It has been too hot here so I haven't been working in the garden.  I am surprised, there are still some flowers that are still thriving, in spite of the extreme heat. I do water on the deck around the pool though and the sprinklers water the yard. we had a leak on one of the sprinkler valves and our outdoor water bill last month was around $450. Inside was $179. Ouch! Do you also get 2 bills every month? We do!

I will name the ones that I know for sure what they are called and leave the others that I am uncertain of, these fuschia flowers, pretty though, huh? I love the fan shape. It just popped up in the pot where I have my lemon tree planted.

 Not sure what this is called!

 Honeysuckle

 Black Eyed Susan?

 Bouganville

 White Lantana

I also have the pink with orange and yellow mix in the front yard but I really did not take pictures of the flowers there.

 One of my favorites, the sampaguita, which is the national flower of the Philippines. It belongs to the jasmine family and is therefore very fragrant.

Crown of Thorns

Dahlia?

white crape myrtle.

We also have pink ones in the front yard but they are very high. This white one just popped up here and is only 2 ft tall as of now.

 Roses

 

 Hibiscus

 morning glory

They are so pretty in the morning with their deep blue color.

 I thought this was a forsythia bush at first but I don't think so now. I planted it about 2 years ago and it was only a small plant then, less than a foot tall and just one stalk but look at it now! Does anybody know what it is?

Thank you all for coming by. Please visit our hostesses and other participants.

Linking with:

Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday

http://www.tootsietime.com/

Beverly's Pink Saturday

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

Sally's Blue Monday

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Mellow Yellow Monday

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Thank you very much for hosting!

Birds And Colorful Flowers!

I am not too sure if Kathleen's challenge for "Let's Dish" is this week or last week. I just wonder because a lot of participants posted summer tables last week or could it just be the season?

Anyway, I might be a week behind, nevertheless, I am showing a summer table.

 Summer to me means a lot of birds and colorful flowers, so that's what I have on this table.

Dinnerware is "Fantasy" by Mikasa.

 A salt and pepper shaker with a bird perched on it.

 More birds. Even the rustic napkin rings are birds.

 Yes, you got it..... more birds!

 And with birds, come birdhouses.

A wheelbarrow salt dish and rosemary placecard holders from Pottery Barn speak summer also, after all, I do a lot of gardening during this season.

Solid green sparkly glass plate chargers.

 I cut various small flowers from the garden in different colors for the centerpiece. I love colorful flowers.

 Green and orange goblets from TJ Maxx.

I fell in love with the bird on this plate.

 Isn't she pretty?

Can you name the various flowers? I can't!

Thank you Kathleen, for another challenge.

Please visit Kathleen and her other participants at

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Also the following hostesses:

Karin's Centerpiece Wed

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com

Susan for Tablescape Thursday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Kathy's Home and garden at

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Honey's Potpourri Friday at

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

Ms. Burrito's Color Connection at

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

Thank you all for hosting and thanks for the visits!