Endless Love .... ..

and Tablescape Thursday

hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Ladies of my generation ....

do you remember the movie

"Love Story" ?

I must have watched it a million times,

and sadly music student Jennifer Cavilleri  still died

and law student Oliver Barrett IV was still heartbroken. 

I haven't seen it in years,

and I bet it is so corny now....but alas, it was

a love story for all time, or rather for my time.
Love means never having to say you're sorry
(hahaha)

Valentine's Day,

this day of romance and love

caused me to think about other love stories. 

As I started decorating my table I realized it was

taking on a very vintage look. 

Maybe more vintage than the generation

I am going to tell you about,

but vintage enough to stir my memories.

Who were some of your favorite romantic couples?

Maybe Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant

in

  Philadelphia Story

(of course I would take Cary Grant anytime, anywhere)

Tulips are so plentiful this time of year....I could put fresh tulips  in every room.  Oh wait, I did!!!

Except for on this table....

Maybe Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in

Sleepless in Seattle?

Oh Valentine...Be Mine

Maybe Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in

It Happened One Night.

You don't know that one? Yes it is very old.

As I sit here and think of some of

my favorite romantic comedies

I think 80% of them have Cary Grant in them.

Here's a romance you don't know about.

Once upon a time, sometime prior to 1953,

on the east coast of our great country,

another love story was about to begin. 

This one started in the usual manner, a boy met a girl. The girl was not as crazy about the boy as he was about her.

But as most stories progress, they got to know

each other, they fell in love and were married.

This is my mom and dad on their wedding day .... 1953

They looked happy, but on the way to the ceremony

my mother's car lost sight of the lead car and they

got horribly lost.  She was at least an hour

late to her ceremony and my grandfather

had to force her down the aisle.  She

was so embarrassed.  Can you imagine

how my dad felt, thinking he had been stood up.

Those cell phones would have sure come in handy.

On the opposite coast,

another boy was falling in love with another girl. 

They too were married and began their life together

This is my mother and father in law.  My mother in law

had just gotten out of the hospital.  She

had been thrown from her horse and had

a full body cast on under her wedding dress.

I don't know how she did it, but he was

pretty cute.

hugs and kisses ...

Both couples were lucky enough to have celebrated their 50th anniversaries.

My mother and father in law are shooting for their 60th.

I thought I would do a tribute to these endless loves.

Remember

Gregory Peck (fine figure of a man)

and Audrey Hepburn

in

Roman Holiday?

Or

Judy Garland and the boy next door

in

Meet me in St Louis

Should I be talking about my table or just listing more

couples?

How about Catherine Zeta Jones and Antonio Banderas

(one of my favorites...hot and spicy) 

in

Zorro

I guess I could go on and on.

My daughter Kristi took all of the pictures of

my table while I watched the g-kids

Good deal don't you think?

Thanks Kristi.

I guess I could add

Kristi and Tim Rush

in

Family Rush Hour ;)

to my list of romances

Tell me your favorite movie couple of all time.

Even if it's Thelma and Louise.

Grace Kelly and Cary Grant

in

To Catch a Thief

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson

in

Twilight

(is that destined to become the

Love Story of this generation?)

Thanks for putting up with my nonsensical post.

and please leave me a glimpse into your

favorite movie couple.

Maybe it was

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore

in

50 First Dates.

I can't wait to find out ....

Damask for Four

No RED today....

Christmas is over and it's time to move on...

Oops !!!! 

I do have red, but only as my centerpiece,

but more about that later.

My table today is embracing the Damask.

Do you ever have words that you totally

confuse yourself in their proper pronunciation?

Damask is that word for me.
http://howjsay.com/index.php?word=damask

This napkin ring is from Roger's Garden years ago....the

only thing I have ever seen there for the low

bargain rate of $3.95

I got my inspiration from this cool runner.  I love runners

and use them as often as I can.

My candlesticks are a combination

of various odd shaped, silver Mercury glass.

The latest ones were an over priced (love them anyway)

purchase from Pottery Barn.

I also tried a second napkin ring .... just for fun.

What do you think?

 These glasses are my wedding crystal.

I don't remember the name of the pattern...but

I do remember they were 10.00 each.   I had

never purchased a 10.00 glass before.  Come

to think about it they were gifts....sooooo

A glimpse from above.

I am practising with my new lens and failing miserably.

My daughter stopped by to give me some pointers and

come to find out I had a setting that was not

right for my failing eye sight.  She changed it back

and I felt like I got my camera back....most of

these pictures were taken before the adjustment so

are blurry.

Reflection practice.

I also have the hardest time with light

and dark and settings

for the flash.

But you get a good look at the Damask pattern

on the candleholders.

Here is a closer look at one of my

Pottery Barn candlesticks.

These roses are left over from an open house we had for a

friend who is going into the Army.

I took the flowers from very

patriotic arrangements, bought a new vase and created

this new centerpiece....with 24 red roses.

They were so pretty.

Playing with my lens again. 

Focused on the crystal glass with a candle in the background

And focused on the candle in the background instead of the glass.

Kind of fun!

Thanks for joining me...I am linking to Tablescape Thursday

hosted by Susan

At

Between Naps on the Porch.

Be sure to check out the tablescape fun.

I know the last picture was too dark....

practice, practice, practice.

Have a great day!

Family, Food and Theft ...

Quick Tablescape Thursday...

The Rush Family Dinner

Every December my daughter and son in law host

a family dinner.

I know, isn't there enough to do without

throwing another event

into the mix? 

Well NO, not really.

Kristi set a rustically elegant table. 

That is she used wood chargers and more earthy elements, but also threw in a little sparkle. 

After all, it was the holidays.

I love the deep reds and that fun green.

Like a happy olive.

Our menu was Italian themed and delicious.

We enjoyed an assortment of appetizers,

blue cheese and walnut salad, Italian sausage with peppers and onions,

a pasta dish and  homemade pizza.

As usual we ate TOO much, laughed TOO hard, and

had a GREAT time!

It was such a lovely evening, darest I mention the incident?

Kristi has a stolen treasured ornament.  It was removed

intentionally accidentally from my home. 

and someone, I won't name names, decided to

return it.  And when I reference "it" I really

should use it's proper name. 

"The Santa Poop"

Needless to say, Kristi was distraught....

I just hope it finds it's way back

home next year....

and so the games begin ....

Thank you Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for hosting.  Be sure to head back to see

all the tablescape fun.

For the Love of Santa....

Santa's busy season has come to an end,

and after a long night of delivering packages

around the world,

Mrs. Claus in her usual Mrs. Claus fashion has planned a small dinner party

  to congratulate Santa on another
successful year.  Just Santa and the Mrs.

with another couple. 

Have I mentioned Santa and I go way back? 

So this is a post Christmas party celebrating

 Santa's hard work and Mrs. Claus'

love for the big guy.

Who knew?

I will let you in on a little secret ...

I got a new lens for Christmas.

Someone I know (unauthorized of course) tried it

out for me

before Christmas and said it worked great.

I am not so sure. 

I took these pics with the new lens and

I am having a little difficulty. 

I am however, looking

forward to practicing and improving.

He requested I sit next to him at the table. 

Mrs. Claus, always

the most charming of hostesses, always seats

boy, girl, boy girl.

Did I mention Santa and I are tight?

Since Santa's favorite color is red,

the Mrs. embraced the red on her table.

Check out the cute rhinestones in her rose arrangements.

She even added a few reindeer....

since Santa does love his reindeer

Mrs. Claus' roses almost looked artificial, but

she grew them in her garden.

Santa has many names and faces...Mrs. Claus

emphasised this fact by using a set of

plates showing Santa's many personalities

She especially likes him in creams and whites.

The Mrs. has a fear of color.

Santa perfers himself in RED...of course

Mrs. Claus is a fan of lots of bobbles and glitter

Kristi got me these cute candle holders with the

starburst on

them for Christmas...I love them

and loaned them to Mrs.

and I loved the patterns on Mrs. Claus' candles.

I think she said the elves made them...or

maybe she bought them at Kohls.

anyway we had a lovely evening.

and Santa settled in for a long nap...

Until next year Santa....

We'll be good.

I am linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday....be sure to join in for all the fun.