Easter with Peter Rabbit

Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail . . .

. . . and Peter.

Peter Rabbit reminds me of everything that was wonderful about my children's childhood:  The innocence, the mischief, the simple pleasures.  Oh, Beatrix Potter!  How I've missed you!  

When I saw these salad plates, I instantly new they were coming home with me.  I didn't even care if my husband, who had come along, was silently judging me.  I love all the charming details on these plates.  The insects put me right over the edge, especially the bee.  I love little bees.  If next year they come out with Jemima Puddle-Duck or Benjamin Bunny plates, I'm going to be in trouble again!

Since the setting of the Peter Rabbit story takes place in the countryside, I pulled out my Wedgwood Nantucket dinner plates and coffee cups with the lovely basketweave pattern.  They are quickly becoming my favorite dishes. 

Of course, willow chargers and napkin rings seemed to fit right in as well . . .

Here's the bird's eye view of the table.  The table cover picks up the color of Peter's jacket, and the gingham pattern provides another sweet country touch.  Does the table feel a bit French to you?  Whenever I take one of those "What's Your Style" quizzes, I'm usually identified as Cape Cod, Country French and Traditional.  That sounds pretty accurate, actually.

I found the flowers at my local grocer, in the perfect colors to match the Peter Rabbit plates.  In fact, I took the plate with me when I went shopping for the flowers.  See those tiny daisies?  I just learned that they are called Fleabane Daisies.  Before they bloom, the petals are closed so tightly that one might suppose they are giant fleas, but then, when they open up you have a plethora of cuteness!

I set up a Bread and Butter Station on the kitchen counter.  Would you prefer a slice of the French Cheese Brioche Braid, or a Hot Cross Bun?  Or a jelly bean? 

You can't have Easter at our house without jelly beans!

The menu was very simple:  A traditional Spanish Omelette with Onions and Potatoes, by popular request. I added fresh berries and coffee; for dessert, my mom's Vanilla Pudding, which I forgot to photograph.  I hate when I do that!

It was a quiet day for us, as it was for most of the country, staying at home in order to keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy.  My most fervent prayer this Easter is that we get past this tragic chapter in our country's history, the overwhelming challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Be safe, dear ones!

Dinner Plates and Coffee Cups and Saucers - Nantucket by Wedgwood

Peter Rabbit Salad Plates - Williams-Sonoma

Juice Tumblers:  La Rochère Napoleon Bee

Flatware:  Napoleon Bee by Wallace

Gingham Table Cover:  Pottery Barn, Sky Blue

Napkins:  Williams-Sonoma, Bluebell

Chargers and Napkin Rings:  Pottery Barn, Honey Willow

Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail figurine:  No markings, bought in a vintage shop

Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see some wonderful tables!

Lemon Tablescape

How many of you remember the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” story from your children's childhood?  My husband and I must have read this story - and its sequels (“If You Give a Moose a Muffin,” “If You Give a Pig a Pancake”) a hundred times!  And, ahem! we only did it for the kids, not because we enjoyed it in the least.  Oh, what fun times!

And now, I've created my own version.  It goes like this:  If you give Maria a Lemon Thyme herb plant,

the variegated Lemon Thyme that she can find locally only at Trader Joe's every other year . . .

chances are she's going to want to bake something special . . .

like the Citrus Loaf Cake from Rattlebridge Farm . . . 

When she makes the cake, she'll realize she needs to put together a table to go with it.  

She'll want to use her Botanical Citrus Salad plates from Williams-Sonoma, featuring limes . . .

blood oranges . . . 

grapefruits . . .

and, of course, lemons!

To complete the table, she'll realize she needs a nice centerpiece . . .

Some lemony yellow roses interspersed with creamy whites . . .

Set on a vase surrounded by lemon slices . . .

Once the table is set, she'll want to invite some friends for lunch . . .

  

If she invites some friends, it'll dawn on her that she's now going to have to prepare some food, because, unfortunately, it won't magically appear on the plates.  She makes a nice arugula salad with shaved Parmesan cheese and dressed with a lemon vinaigrette . . .

using her precious olive oil, bought in Italy last year while she was traveling in Tuscany.

Then, she'll prepare one of her favorite dishes:  Chicken Marbella, from the Silver Palate Cookbook.

The chicken is prepared with yummy treats like olives, capers, prunes, garlic, oregano, and, of course, more precious olive oil . . . All those good things that remind her of the Mediterranean . . .

Then it's sprinkled with brown sugar, which will caramelize during baking and flavor the chicken beautifully . . .

Once the chicken is done, she'll need to turn her attention to the beverages, and, since her mind is still taking a short trip back to Italy, Pallini Palmers seem perfect for the occasion!

Made with her favorite Arnold Palmer recipe, and adding a generous portion of Pallini Limoncello.

It's a perfect summer drink!

There are a lot of lemons in this post, but as Mae West once famously said:  “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!”

She and her guests can glance at her flowering clematis in the backyard, just to cleanse their visual palate . . .

Her friends will come and share the food, the drinks, and some lovely conversation on a beautiful summer afternoon . . .

And chances are . . . she'll have so much fun, she'll want to do it again and again!

Black Friday

Oh, sure, some folks went shopping . . . but some of us relaxed with good friends and comfort food . . .

There was already a pretty centerpiece ready to be used again . . .

And this time, the table is set in calming neutrals.  Pretty soon, we will be surrounded by Christmas colors!

I love that hour before a party starts, and the table is set . . .

The sun is setting and its rays are streaming through the windows.  It's such a lovely sight!

Won't you join me for an apéritif before the guests arrive?

Featuring:

Dinnerware - Traditions by Williams-Sonoma (my every day dinnerware)
Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Glassware - The Dollar Tree
Wheelbarrow Cellars (used here for red pepper flakes) - Pottery Barn (several years ago)
Linens - Pottery Barn Classic Linen in Flax
Mini Salt & Pepper Shakers - Crate and Barrel eons ago
Tall candlesticks - Marshall Field's (wedding present 30 years ago)
Short candlesticks - The Dollar Tree

Happy Easter!

My children's schedules continue to be as crazy and unpredictable as ever, so this year we celebrated Easter with an early morning breakfast.  The table was set the night before . . .

First thing first:  My husband/sous chef checking e-mails before heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast . . .

Some pretty egg-shaped salad plates in soft pastels . . . 

The soft paisley green napkin by Ralph Lauren goes on top . . .

These fun hopping bunny napkin rings appeared in last year's Easter table, too.  Click here to see that post.

I love all the different textures on the table, the homespun squares on the tablecloth . . . the bird's nest chargers . . .

Beautiful tulips . . . Spring is here!!!!!

Then the Easter bunny did his thing and filled the table with candy!

He even brought chocolate umbrellas and hung them from the flower vase . . .

Here are our two “little” boys, who never seem to grow too old for candy . . .

And now, Mama can sit down and have a cup of coffee . . .

And before long, my oldest goes back to college with a batch of cupcakes for his buddies . . .

Happy Easter to my family and friends!  God bless you!  The Lord is Risen!  Alleluia!

Details:

Nest Chargers - Pottery Barn

White dishes, cups and saucers - Traditions by Apilco from Williams-Sonoma

Pastel egg-shaped salad plates - Pottery Barn

White ramekins holding M&Ms - BIA Cordon Bleu, Amazon

Napkins - By Ralph Lauren at HomeGoods

Napkin Rings - Pottery Barn last year

Green water goblets - The Dollar Tree

Tulip-shaped wine glasses - IKEA

Parfait glasses (holding jelly beans) - Bed Bath and Beyond

Flatware - My everyday from Costco

Mini salt and pepper shakers - Crate and Barrel bought eons ago