Circle of Friendship

This Thursday marks the 100th week of Tablescape Thursday, the delightful weekly meme that Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch hosts each Thursday. Susan suggested that we share an outdoor table or something festive this week in celebration of Tablescape Thursday's big day. I chose to share a table from a recent visit to Santa Fe, NM, where I was a guest for a leisurely week in a lovely adobe home that sits in the hills of Santa Fe looking west to the Jemez Mountains.

Not one to let a tablescaping opportunity pass me by, I set about playing with the dishes in the cupboards. A charming set of oval dishes from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico caught my imagination. I was drawn to the naive paintings and the little story that they tell.

The rustic brown tones were the perfect compliment to the outdoor Mexican equipale furniture crafted from tanned pigskin and Mexican cedar strips.

Placemats of natural reed added an interesting layer of texture on the pigskin tabletop.

A woven rebozo casually draped across the table provided both color and a place for serving plates to snuggle in.

The loose weave and subtle colors gave a soft touch to the table.

Colorful bandanas offered more color and texture when tied with simple curling ribbon of bright colors.

Add a small bowl striped in vibrant colors . . .

A mug of turquoise for one placesetting, and . . .

One of sunshine yellow for the other.

Normally the evenings usher in a brilliant sunset, but this particular evening offered cloudy skies with rain in the distance.

It still afforded a magnificent backdrop of the mountains to the West.

Candlelight set the mood.

As the circle of friends gathered round to share the evening.

The sun slowly set in the West, and . . .

The magic of the "blue hour" provided the perfect touch for our evening meal outdoors.

Happy 100th Week of Tablescape Thursday, Susan. I credit you and this wonderful meme as the reason I began HFTS.

The circle of friends that I've made in Blogville have touched my heart with their constant generosity of creativity and shared friendship.

The "Circle of Friends" candleholder known as Dansas en Circulo de Amigos was created in Mexico to represent continuity, the connection within families, and the close bond between friends. So circle around, dear friends and join Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch in her celebration of this memorable 100th week of Tablescape Thursday.