Valentine Dinner for Eight

    

Playing House on New Year's Eve

     For January, I chose a blue and white theme for the dining room and kitchen.  Transfer ware is one of my loves and collecting it is so much fun.  Most of the plates are by Spode and two are commemorative plates.  Cobalt glass is another love of mine, so I used the few pieces that I have.

     The kitchen table features a few pieces of Wedgwood Potpourri, the casual pattern I chose when I married Wendell Hair in 1989.  I still love it, even after all of these years.

     It is such a joy to pull odds and ends together for tablescapes.  They have been collected from thrift, consignment, and antique stores and bought for a song......cheap is the name of the game.  Some pieces have come from family and are cherished.

Treasures of the Heart

Thursday will be August 21, a much dreaded day and one I hoped would not come. It will be a day filled with mixed emotions. Three pieces of my heart are flying home to Mongolia. Even though I am happy that they are returning to their family, I am sad to see them go.

Upon learning that this family would be coming here, I had no idea what an impact these girls would make on my life. My first memory of them is at church. Suzanne, who became their surrogate grandmother, brought Tsomo and Emma to the children's choir room and introduced me to them. She spelled their names for me and I wrote them on the board so I would not forget. I can still see little Emma, a third grader, and Tsomo, a fifth grader, standing there looking unsure and frightened. Emma was huddled close to her older sister. Due to school grade, they were supposed to be in different groups. However, I did not have the heart to separate them and allowed them to stay together. Uka was not quite three and I still remember those beautiful dark eyes looking up at me.

What a joy it has been to see all three girls blossom in so many areas. They quickly picked up
English and developed an ear for music. At the beginning, they had no concept of pitch or rhythm. All three girls became good choir members. Tsomo and Emma also learned to play choir chimes and handbells at church, in addition to singing. Uka did well in her choirs.

Uka completed Kindermusik, with her last two years doing the Young Child curriculum. She learned to play a glockenspiel, dulcimer, and recorder. In June, she began piano lessons. Even though Uka learned English very quickly, she was reluctant to talk to everyone. How wonderful to hear her voice for the first time while she was playing on the porch!

Emma began piano at the end of fourth grade. How exciting it was when she wanted to share her music by playing in worship and on the spring recital. She developed a love of books and many times was seen reading while walking and eating. Emma disappeared at church one time and was found sitting on the back of the commode, reading a book.

Tsomo has had three years of piano and progressed very quickly. She is very musical and has willingly shared her beautiful music in worship, on recitals, and at an assisted living facility. Tsomo has progressed to level 6, the last level of the method books. She also learned to play the violin at school.

How blessed my life has been to teach these adorable girls and to share the love of music with them. They will be missed dearly and will always have a special place in my heart! With the technology we have, our hope is to continue piano lessons via Skype.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Traditional Gaelic Blessing

Dressed in Blue

The dining room table has gotten a much needed change. It has turned blue. The foundation of this tablescape has been used several times, changing out a few things to make it different. That makes it easier to have a change.

July 4 Tablescape

This was our table for the July 4 picnic on the lake porch. We enjoyed a meal and fellowship around the table before the kids hit the water. It was fun to watch the girls with boyfriends this year.

Bunny Tablescape

Yes, I know it is Memorial Day and I am thankful to all those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. However, instead of a patriotic tablescape, I chose a bunny theme.
The lake cottage has a bunny theme and collecting them is fun. A collage of bunnies formed the centerpiece. The bunny plates are from Portugal and the napkin rings are by Arthur Court.
Our family enjoyed a hoppy and scrumptious picnic on the porch this afternoon.

Valentine Tablescape

Using the same winter white base used for the January snow tablescape, a few minor changes were made to create something for February. My hope is to use this same base for several months so stay tuned.

Salad plates are Wedgwood Patrician
Tea glasses belonged to Mrs. B
Napkin rings are strands of Christmas tree pearls