The Gift of Friendship

I had the privilege of hosting the Christmas dinner for my group of girlfriends who have been  in a dinner group for over thirty years.

The table was set with festive cranberry colored dishes

and sprinkled with golden glitter. 

The cranberry chargers are Italian by Bitossi.

Dinner plates are Queen's Rooster for Neiman Marcus.

Comfort cups are Winter Frolic by Juliska.

Sterling flatware is Sir Christopher by Wallace.

Antique napkin rings are French.

Kate Spade ornaments dangled from above

to set the mood of Fa ~ la ~ la ~la ~ la.

Fragrant winter greens mixed with winter berries, lilies, peonies,  hydrangeas, and an exotic bloom filled my cherished 

MacKenzie-Childs Piece de Resistance tureen.

Festive glass Christmas balls served as party favors

and place name holders for each guest.

Some with golden polka dots, 
some with golden stripes.

Others with golden words of Fl La La or Merry.
All echoed the Kate Spade ornaments from above.

Dinner was prepared by "The Chef".

We served Beef Bourguignon 

and a side salad.

 Dessert was served from the buffet with a choice of

home baked pound cake and a variety of Tiny Pies ~ 

cherry, apple, pecan, or chocolate.

The delicious pound cake was a gift from my cousin.

The recipe, Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake

is found on page 208 in Ina Garten's Cooking for Jeffrey.

The cute Jingle mug with its golden antler 

reindeer stirrer is new this year, 

but the Winter Frolic party plates have served 

us well for the past several years.

Dapper Santa figures dressed in tuxedos

are by folk artist, Nancy Thomas.

The "sleigh" of Santa figures are vintage from the 1950s.

All the Courtly Check is available at MacKenzie-Childs.

It was a Merry Christmas evening! Sadie and I wish each of you a very festive  Merry Christmas! Joining

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda  Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern StyleTablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the PorchShare Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Foodie Friday and Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound