Bleak Midwinter Dinner

How does one dispose of the bleak midwinter blues?  Dinner with friends seems the likely way to dispell all those blue feelings.  The holidays have come and gone with all the fussiness, tinsel and crowds.    Christmas tables deserve color to make them festive. 

The sideboard is laden with Johnston Brother's

 " Friendly Village" , http://www.amazon.com/ ,which I use from Thanksgiving until after Valentine's Day. This stoneware pattern was introduced in 1953.  My aunt, Lillie, used this pattern to set her holiday table for years. I think of her and her tables every year when I put this out.  I love the snowy scene, even though we have often celebrated Christmas Day with 50 degree temperatures.   My cousin, Guy, inherited his mother's  pieces, so I have purchased mine from Ebay and my friends have been gifting me with this for birthdays and holidays since discovering I was collecting.  This is still being made in China and you can find it at department stores and sometimes even pieces are available at TJ Maxx., http://www.tjmaxx.com/ for locations.  It is not expensive and I put mine, old and new in the dishwasher.The table is completed with silverplate goblets (inherited or purchased over time from Ebay, http://www.ebay.com/ ), chargers purchased years ago from Pier I, antique red sherberts(used for wine) purchased years ago at a flea market, red napkins purchased from a discount store for two dollars each, and my cream stoneware purchased from discount store for five dollars each.  The hanging flower vials were purchased many years ago and make for a great flower arrangement.  The flowers are decorative but not an interference.  Placecard holders were purchased at Pier I Imports, http://www.pier1.com/,  (they sell them for each season)  Poppers are a British tradition.  They hold a crown for each and a suprise gift.  My friend, Barbara was the first I saw use these and they bring a smile to the youngest and oldest face on Christmas morning.  These can be purchased during the holiday season from TJMaxx.   This table has all the elements to make Christmas morning festive and happy.

Fast forward to the bleak midwinter month of February.  The festive red holidays are over.  The sideboard is now decorated with creamware.  These pieces have been collected over the years and are kept in my "prop" closet to be brought out when winter is nearing its end.  This table is set for a spagehtti dinner for eight.  Same chargers, cream dinner plates, silverplate goblets, flatware. Crystal tumblers are used for wine glasses.   The black and white napkins are one dollar bandanas from Walmart, http://www.walmart.com/ , (they can be found in the accessory department).  The black and white salad plates were two dollars each and from TJMaxx.  Iris and yellow accent flowers from local florist create a lighter mood.  Pierced cream jars became candleholders to shed some soft light on us all. 

The food was simple.  Homemade spaghetti sauce with pancetta, pork and beef.  Purchased french bread with olive oil for dipping.  A mixed green salad.  Bottles of Chianti. For dessert we had dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate (purchased at TJMaxx) and port.   My husband, I and six other guests enjoyed this on a bleak midwinter evening .  A quiet dinner for eight.  There were winter snow stories and much laughter.  This table was laid for pennies on the dollar but the bonding friendships  priceless.  The time spent in changing the tableware was worth the lightened mood.  It created a mood of transition.  Winter to longing for spring.

A note:  This is the same dining room transformed by the change in the tablescape and accessories. The "prop" closet contains vases, candleholders, linens,  etc.  I keep these items so that the seasonal transformation is possible.  The "prop" closet allows me to hang onto items inherited, bought and given. 

Before Martha Stewart

Before Martha Stewart, before HGTV, or any lifestyle venue, there were women in my life who were the essence of fine living.  Claudia, Cody, Jewel, Lillie, Sally, Barbara, Verna, and Mary Virginia.  These are the women who influence the way I live life.  These have become the parts of my life that have defined fine living.  Claudia,who had ironed sheets that made going to bed a treat.  Cody, who set her breakfast table each morning with her finest silver and china.  Jewel, who approached everyday as an adventure.  Sally, whose zest for life filled every room she entered. Barbara, whose garden is always full of table ready flowers and who is willing to share and whose holiday feast invitiations promote jealousy in those not included;  Verna, the original Martha Stewart, whose creativity can produce a party in the most simple environment and Mary Virginia, whose quiet dignity and joy is a pattern for the perfect party guest. 

This blog is named to honor Lillie.  She has always had a natural sense of taste and style.  Her home a timeless environment above anything seen or experienced in the latest home journal. Her homes have always been a warm, welcome environment. She innately selected just the right shade of soft pink that was timeless and flattering.  She knew what furniture was valuable enough to keep and what to dispose of. These choices never appeared fussy and she never prohibited a child or animal from enjoying even the finest chair or sofa in the living room. As was the case in all my influences'  homes, there was never a television in the living part of the house.  This allowed for real conversation and interaction.  She never appeared frustrated when presented with an extra guest.  All were made to feel welcomed.  The tables she laid were sometimes simple and sometimes elaborate.  Always just right.  It is because of her that I now set my holiday table with Johnston Brother's "Friendly Village" stoneware.  She used this pattern. It came out for Thanksgiving and was used until the holidays were over.

Changing the tableware  I use everyday is something I look forward to with each season.  Something so simple.  Something to announce in that subtle way that one season is over and another here.  One something to keep life moving in a different direction.  A simple act that enhances our everyday eating experience.

I hope to honor Lillie and these other fine women with this blog.  I intend to write about any and all components of fine living.  Sit back, relax and lets learn together how we can enjoy fine living and live our own lives with grace and pleasure.  I hope you will discover as I have, that fine living has less to do with spending elaborate sums of money and more to do with how we share ourselves and what we have with others.