Friends

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Romantic England

Thank you all for the prayers said at the time of my husband's surgery, they worked! His surgery was a success, now for the recovery period to be behind us...he can't drive at least until March 8th when he has his first post operative check-up. To look at him you wouldn't think he is only a week post very intricate pituitary adenoma surgery, but he is driving me nuts wanting to do things he was told not to...lift, bend, sneeze, cough, blow his nose...all of which he has done without giving them a second thought.

You can enlarge any photo by clicking on it.

You all know by now that my favorite color is green. I volunteer an afternoon a week at the local ARC Thrift Store; while there not long ago I found a few pieces of Meakin's Romantic England china in green...an olivey, limey green...not enough to do a full table, but a start. The remainder was found on eBay.

I paired it with Royal Staffordshire Clarice Cliff purple Tonquin for my table this week. I think it is a pleasing combination.

I already had the green candle holders and bowl of apples centerpiece on the table so I built around them.

Another of the whole table.

Placesetting

For some reason this transferware doesn't photo very good.

The individual pitchers are being used to hold the salad dressing.

The checked napkins are actually a plum color, but here they look more blue than they really are.


The glassware is some I have found over time at thrift stores. The wines are some I hand carried home from Vermont a couple years ago from a little thrift store that you wouldn't find unless you knew the area...it is off the main streets almost in an alleyway! The water glass was found at Goodwill for 37¢ each on senior discount day, which is about the only time I go!

The center of the cereal/salad bowl.

The center of the dessert plate.

The center of the dinner plate. Each piece has a different scene.

The plate I am using as a charger is actually a dinner plate Wedgwood Golden Ivy with a laurel rim, circa 1962-1981.


The rim shot!


Thank you for your visit today, hope you will come back again!

I will be joining in these link parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Wednesdays Bunny Hop Party at Bunny Jeans Decor
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch
Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Monday, February 27, 2012

Garden or Guns?

I found these questions while reading Between Naps On The Porch this morning.

1. Favorite Cocktail? Amarula mixed with a little half and half.
2. Favorite Getaway? A quiet corner to read uninterrupted.
3. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be? My parents for one last lunch with them. (they have both died)
4. Daydream of the moment? Going to the Cotswolds.
5. Your personality in one word? Strong
6. Are you more garden or gun? Garden
7. If you were road-tripping, what is the one album you'd take with you? Eagles The Complete Greatest Hits 
8. What are you reading? The House At Riverton; author-Kate Morton
9. What do you want to do when you grow up? A chef, I am already a cook!
10. What is your greatest extravagance? Sitting at the computer...Guilty pleasure, buying more dishes...
11. Favorite Southern food? There is nothing Southern about me...grits with lots of butter, salt/pepper.
12. Most treasured possession? Other than photos of my family I would have to say my kitchen knives.
13. Favorite Southern name? Jesse
14. What talent would you most like to have? To take great photographs.
15. What is your current state of mind? Thankful


It's your turn, here are the questions.

1. Favorite Cocktail?
2. Favorite Getaway?
3. If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be? 
4. Daydream of the moment? 
5. Your personality in one word? 
6. Are you more garden or gun?
7. If you were road-tripping, what's the one album you'd take with you? 
8. What are you reading? 
9. What do you want to do when you grow up? 
10. What is your greatest extravagance?  Guilty Pleasure? 
11. Favorite Southern Food? 
12. Most treasured possession?
13. Favorite Southern name? 
14. What talent would you most like to have? 
15. What's your current state of mind?

Monday, February 13, 2012

Whimsical Tureen!

This week's inspiration came from another soup tureen found at the thrift store. It was $4.99 at Savers a few months ago. I have been itching to show you this whimsical piece, but didn't have the color tablecloth I wanted. Have you ever tried to find napkins and tablecloths in gray? I found the tablecloth, finally, but not really the shade and of course, no napkins, yet...
It's a clam shell tureen! Probably someone's ceramic project, but I couldn't resist buying it.

Front
Back
Little shell knob

The interior is pink!


I used white dishes, some have a grayish wash on the borders.


The dinner plate, which is actually a salad plate is from TJMaxx, it just has a B in a shield on the bottom.


The salad plate is from Pier One.

.
The rice bowl is American Atelier Athena, but I use them for soup or chili.


Smokey gray glassware.



I have used a white damask napkin. You have seen the flatware several times.



Thank you for visiting today. I hope you will return again.

I may be missing for a few weeks. My husband is going to be having pituitary adenoma surgery within the next couple weeks...we are waiting on another pre-op test to be done and then the date will be scheduled.


I will be joining these parties:


Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Wednesdays Bunny Hop Party at Bunny Jeans Decor
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch
Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Swiss Steak Recipe

I have been asked by several readers to share my recipe for the Swiss Steak. I usually don't use recipes except when baking...here are the approximate measurements for the ingredients and what I did when making the steaks. I don't like the texture of cooked celery, but love the flavor it adds to dishes, so I halve the stalks, using them as lifts for the steaks to keep them from sticking to the pan. Make sure you simmer this until the meat is fork tender, you won't be sorry!


Swiss Steak

1-1½ lb. London broil steak
½ cup flour
3-4 tablespoons oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons tomato paste (I use the kind in a tube)
1-15 oz. can diced tomatoes, don't drain
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
2 stalks celery, halved
1½ cups chicken broth, you can use beef broth, but I like it better with the chicken broth

Cut meat into 3-4 pieces. Dredge meat on both sides in flour, then pound out to about half an inch thick. In large frying pan, add oil. Once the oil is heated add the meat, browning on both sides. Remove meat from pan. Add onions and garlic, sautè until onions are soft, add tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and broth. Next I lay the halved celery stalks into the mixture and top them with the browned steak. Cover and simmer 2-3 hours, until meat is fork tender.
Serve with boiled potatoes and a green vegetable. I always top the potatoes with some of the sauce, okay lots of it!