Dinner Fit for a President

The Liberty Blue Ironstone china was made in Staffordshire, England as a promotional item for the American Bicentennial, by Benjamin Franklin Federal Savings & Loan Association.  

I only own a few pieces of this china, just enough to put together a simple dinner table for two, in honor of George Washington, our first president.

The dinner plate depicts Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and it's slightly smaller than a regular dinner plate, so I added the Lenox Federal Platinum dinner plate beneath it, to act as a charger.

Then, came the Bread & Butter plate, depicting Washington leaving Christ Church.

Ever since I began collecting dishes, it's become a compulsion to turn the plates upside down to see what I can find on the back side.

The darling cobalt, glass-blown vase came from the gift shop at Monticello, originally the residence of fellow Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson.  I'm sure Jefferson could never imagine his home becoming a museum with a charming little gift shop, but there you have it.  It wasn't easy, a mere few days after Valentine's Day, but I managed to find some spray carnations with a touch of red on the leaves.  Now, I could have some red, white and blue on the table.

The Reticello lace napkins, were given to me by my godmother on the baptism of my second son.  They are only 18" x 18" so I generally prefer using them for luncheons, but I felt Martha Washington might have appreciated them, following Abigail Adams advise to her husband in a letter dated March 31, 1776, to "remember the ladies."  The placemats are Sferra in the Clearwater color.  Similar shades were often found in colonial homes paired with Prussian blue.

The Jefferson flatware by Reed & Barton for Monticello.  I've had this flatware for years and still love the Fiddle & Thread pattern typical of the 18th century, and which Jefferson loved.  With all his flaws, I'm a big fan of TJ.

The Laguiole butter knife with the rosewood handle, is made in France, but derived from a Spanish-Arabic knife style typically found among the shepherds in Cataluña, Spain.  It's doubtful that it would have appeared in Martha's table, George would probably not have approved, but I love these little spreaders and bring them out to play whenever I can.  

George might have been a stickler for proper behavior, and even wrote a book about it.  I wonder what he would think of today's manners.  I wonder what he would think about my calling him George.

The Cape Fear candlesticks are made of pewter, an alloy very common in Colonial America.  Cape Fear is an actual port in North Carolina, but very treacherous to make landings, hence, the name. Both the glasses came from the Dollar Tree.

The table is set.  For dinner, a hearty beef roast surrounded by root vegetables, all of which could be found in the colonies.

And for dessert, Cherry Pie.  It was delicious, I cannot tell a lie.

Valentine's Day Mantle Vignette

When the days are gloomy and the sun is playing hide and seek, simple, brightly-colored, and not-to-be-understimated carnations, my birth flower, are just what I need to cheer me up!

Valentine's Day thoughts begin to occupy me, and I'm taking advantage of a few days at home, to attempt a fireplace mantle display, and I challenged myself to only use things I already had around the house . . .

So I headed over to my book shelves.  Anna Karenina and Pride and Prejudice!  Wonderful, well-loved romantic novels, and the books are bound in red leather to boot!  They are part of The Easton Press "One Hundred Greatest Books Ever Written" which I started collecting while I was still single!  I perched a pair of love birds on top.

Then, I thought it'd be nice to have something tall at one end of the mantle.  I like to bring out the pewter Cape Fear candlesticks in February, since we also celebrate George Washington's birthday, and pewter always puts me in mind of our Founding Fathers.

When we bought our first house, we commissioned a local glass artist to make us this small panel with tulips, which we installed in the front door of our old house.  When we sold the house, my husband removed it and now we display it on a copper easel, a lovely memory of our old home.

I found the twine hearts at Pier 1.  They come in white and red.  I'm not quite sure what to make of these hearts. They were an impulse buy, and I don't usually do that.  I'm living with them for now, and see if they grow on me.

I'm in love with this red mercury glass votive holder that I picked up at Pottery Barn  a couple of years ago. Isn't this red beautiful?

Then, at the other end, a rustic garden pitcher holds fresh tulips, that, as if on cue, managed to droop at the perfect angle for my photo.  I inserted a mason jar inside to hold the water.

I love this pitcher, and usually keep it filled with flowers during the spring and summer seasons, but there's no reason why it can't come out to play for Valentine's Day, too!  The metal finish echos that of the pewter candlesticks on the opposite side of the mantle, and helps to balance the vignette.

I was trying for romantic, but not too cheesy . . . What do you think?

It's certainly brightened the Family Room!