BREAKFAST IN PROVENCE

I think these eggs were collected fresh this morning from my french hens......

OK..... So it isn't really in Provence, but since I haven't been to France, this is as close as I can come to what makes me feel a little bit country french ....

I did the menu in french because I knew my friend Debbie @http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com will be looking in and I didn't want to make a mistake since she is all about anything french having been a french teacher and very well traveled in France. I always enjoy Debbie's blog, so stop over and give her a visit.....I hope my spelling is correct in the french menu ....the rest, well it is just my take on the french feeling of breakfast.

I absolutely adore these dishes, they are from Ross. I purchased them a few months ago and have never used them because I only had 1 cup.....however I am relentless....and one day there they were plenty of cups, well I had to have the rest for my set.....

The dishes have french writing on them and a wonderful french stamp on the inside of the bowl...the unusual and refreshing thing is that the backs of the dishes are as interesting as the fronts, I will try to show you in the pictures...

Mr. S. thought he should be in the picture since his favorite meal is breakfast, note that he has been in the garage working and just had to stop in......Mr. S. is the best....even if he hasn't shaved....

Par Avion is french for Air Mail...I know you are impressed......with my french...
The stamp inside the cereal bowl, so cute...

This is the front of the cup<> note that it not only has the rooster, it has that same stamp on the bottom.......and the top...

This is the back of the cup and it has the most interesting french writing and the same french stamp on the top of the cup that is on the cereal bowl.......

I don't know the name of the silver pattern, I have collected simple silver patterns for years and these are from that collection...maybe someone out there knows the pattern, it is King Edward by Gorham and it has a beautiful patina.....

Note how the plates are swirlie around the edges like a dancing girl's skirt, (can you tell I like these dishes)

I am practicing my photo skills in low light again with my lanterns instead of candles. The little lanterns were purchased at a wholesale silk flower co., they actually work quite well and use a special candle oil that doesn't smoke or smell and just burns clean....I told Mr. S. to remember we have these just in case we have an electrical burn out we can actually use these....the cool thing is that you can actually raise and lower the globe to light the wick and you can adjust the height of the flame with the knob...so cool..everyone has their own and you know how I love that...

You remember the blackboard, we used it on Halloween............

The orange juice bottles are labeled magnesia and have old rusty bells wired on the necks, they were from TJ Maxx of all places.....3.00 each... The large rooster is a gift from my sister Bobbie, I think she brought back from a visit to Texas...Love the rooster...

I found the little carrier for my milk bottles at a little thrift shop for 5.00, it is just the perfect size for my little milk bottles.....The sugar baskets are from Michaels and were 1.00 ea.......

The little fresh egg sign is metal and is from a little thrift store and was 2.99.....all these items were collected over time, some I have had for years and some aren't as old....I know you all know what I mean, I have seen alot of your collections and I am so impressed with your wonderful treasures... I usually begin my table scapes by something that has inspired me, then out to the garage to look for items to go with the setting.....then just start adding and subtracting....I always wonder if you all do it the same way, or do you know exactly what it will look like before you begin, maybe it comes easier for some of you?? Which ever way you do it, I am sure you will agree, it sure is creative and fun.....

Thank you for stopping by and being so supportive of my blog, it means so much to me when you hang AROUND THE HOUSE .....I always appreciate all the comments and love it when you choose to be a follower...As always thanks to Susan @ between naps on the porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday. Phyllis

WOW.....I WON A CONTEST

I won this cute jewelry box from the contest at http://yoga-gal.blogspot/ it is from Anthropology and is the cutest, prettiest little box with all the bright colors...

You can see the mirror on the inside back.......

The inside is a beautiful burgundy color and coordinates with the top beautifully....

Thank you for picking me Katie...Go visit katie and see some of the wonderful posts she has...

Thanks for visiting AROUND THE HOUSE......

THE CATS MEOW

This post is for all of you out there who love animals, dogs, cats, birds, but especially cats, because these dishes are so perfect to be paired with the cat picture. Everyone comments on that picture and Tina my cat thinks it is her...As most of you know when my mom passed away a few years ago she left her cat Tina, since everyone in our family were dog people, as were we, we had two sheltie dogs, it was a dilemma. I went ahead and took Tina home and after a month or so she had the run of the house...

Of course you can use the smaller plates for salad or bread plates. I usually don't spread all the dishes out this way, it always kind of looks like they are for sale, you know how the antique stores lay every single piece of the china out on the table. This time I just wanted you to see the dinner plates, they are so cute...The dishes are from TJ Maxx and were on sale 2.00 each, what a deal...

Cupcakes for everyone, isn't she soooo cute....... Just a tiny touch of pale pink on kitties ears and on the top of the cupcakes.,,,,

The dessert dishes are depression glass and were purchased at Quartsite in Arizona a few years ago when we had a place at the Colorado River. We would drive there on Sundays about 10 miles from our river house and find wonderful treasures... They have the largest swapmeet in the world, people come from all over the world for 2 months out of the year, it is wild... The small juice glasses are depression glass as well and were my moms.....

Such sweet little juice glasses.....

These pictures were all taken in the daytime and I am going to attempt to do an evening shoot again, you know how I feel about it when it looks like you didn't pay the electric bill....

I have many many white napkins and decided to put a cats paw picture on four of them, to go with my cat table....downloaded on internet cats paws and copied a picture...drew it in pencil on each napkin and colored it in with laundry marker (black) they will wash up nicely....I even like the way the marker bled a little so it looks like cat fur, lol... I sure wish I had one of those sewing machines that you just touch the computer button and you can have those beautiful initial napkins, I'm dreamin.....









I loved the idea of cat paws walking on the tablecloth, so I cut out the shape from felt and laid them on the cloth, the felt is sticky back felt from Michaels and is very inexpensive. When you are finished, just peel it off.... I do think this would be a great idea for many creative fun little projects for your white tablecloths that won't damage them and can just be peeled off.....hummm I will be thinkin about that.,,,











No I haven't lit the candles yet, soon....

Hey, not to bad, I didn't turn the lights too dark. The candles add a nice little glow....

Tina is gonna love this, don't you think???? I love those cat paws on the tablecloth....

The napkin rings are Lennox and were purchased a couple of years ago.....

I think I will hold Tina up to the table to see it because as you all know she is a very well behaved cat, and she would never get on any tables...don't ask me why, maybe because she was raised with well mannered sheltie dogs and she behaves more like a dog....

I had fun doing this tablescape and (isn't that what it's all about) If you are an animal lover, a plate lover, or even a fun crafter, I am sure you will feel at home for this little luncheon....hope you enjoyed all the pictures as much as I enjoyed creating them.....

Thanks for stopping by and spending some time AROUND THE HOUSE, please leave a comment and let me know what you think....I read them all and love hearing from you...Thanks susan from @between naps on the porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday.....Phyllis

BLUE IS FOR JANUARY

loved the blue dishes, remember I put two on the wall and I was going to go back and get the dinner plates.... You knew I just had to put something on this table, right.....

Well I just kept thinking how much I might really use the blue dishes. I decided on the same design only in white with the blue salad plates on top. The plates are from TJ Maxx and were I think 3.00 each..

Yep, I think the white plates will be wonderful and will go with so many more settings........

The small porcelain birds are from Germany are very old and they belonged to my mom, there are four of them and they are each posed in a different position... The large flower container is a pitcher from Home Goods and a Christmas or birthday gift from my friend Mary...

The small jar is full of silver spoons, it is usually by the coffee maker I thought it looked sweet on the table...,it is a great way to display your silver spoons and actually use them to stir coffee with cream and sugar...

The glasses are from Marshals and actually were cheaper then the dollar tree...could you believe that.....

That is a pie plate with the dome I got at Pier 1 many years ago and I use it for cookies, pie, bread and even danish and muffins, love the pie dish.....

It has just been pouring raining here for the last couple of days...I hope it lets up soon...I shouldn't complain to you all with the snow and bad weather out there that you have to deal with.

These flowers sure do cheer up this space with this dreary weather, hows a girl suppose to shop and browse around town in this kind of weather....









This one looks like he is getting ready to tweet a pretty little song...

I knew he was ready to tweet.....

Some of the little silver spoons are small soup spoons some are teaspoons and some are little sugar scoops......they are all mismatched and kind of interesting...... the votive candle holders are from Crate and Barrel, on sale of course.....










I think the different textures of the charger and the dishes makes for an interesting look...

You gotta have a little sparkle....I always wish I could have the lights down low and have the candles lit and it would look so romantic....somehow when I do it, it always looks like I didn't pay the electric bill and we have emergency light from the candles.....

Thanks for stopping by, you know I love it when you hang AROUND THE HOUSE...Please leave a comment, I love hearing from you and I read them all.....I have a new button and would love for you to pick it up.....Thanks Susan @between naps on the porch for hosting today....