Let's Dish ~ Easter Dinner Details

Let's Dish 

about the details of 

Easter Dinner

on the terrace.

First off the theme was 

Hen and Chicks

The exquisite arrangement above was created 

by the talented Bonni from Posey.

I love the way she paired orchids with succulents 

and this clever touch of yellow detail to fit into 

the theme of Hen and Chicks.

I added some colorful 

little hens to nest below.

And a silver compote filled with 

tillandsia (air plants) and a tiny Beswick chick.

With ten dinner guests, I set two tables.

This was the centerpiece on the larger table.  

I filled a silver basket with mixed 

hen and chick plants and trailing sedum.  

Hens and Chicks 

are succulents that form in clusters of rosettes.  

Babies or "chicks" form from 

shoots off the mother or "hen".

They can be red or green.

Some of the "hens" were flowering.

The handles of the silver basket 

have a sweet tassel detail.

And a wonderfully fluted base.

Little yellow chicks 

added a touch of whimsy.

I also tossed some 

chocolate carrots around the tables.

It's spring, 

so the tables were set with our colorful 

and whimsical MacKenzie Childs plates.

You might recall that they 

were the topic of last week's Let's Dish.  

You can read that post here.

Flatware is Italian by Showroom, 

napkins are by April Cornell, 

and vintage napkin rings with silver initials

were a find at Round Top last year. 

The smaller table was set with pastel plaid 

with a nesting hen for the centerpiece.

This sweet hen on nest is unmarked, 

but definitely vintage.  

I think she has the sweetest face.

Vintage yellow linen napkins were 

found at a neighborhood estate sale.

Pewter napkin rings were used at this table.

I added other touches of yellow with annuals.

And filled this terracotta hen 

with yellow kalanchoe and more trailing sedum.

The Quimper hen on nest was filled with cornbread.

Served with sweet cream butter.

MacKenzie Childs bowls in the 

Flower Market pattern held a variety of salads.

Printable recipe for 

Wild Rice Salad w/ Dried Sour Cherries here.

We also add brussel sprouts to the mix.

Main course was leg of lamb.

Party Favors


~ English Soaps ~

Hope the Easter Bunny 


left you a basket full of goodies.

Joining 


Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen


Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP


Home & Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life


Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage


Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home


Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home


Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm


Say G'Day Saturday @ Natasha in Oz


Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Sister Time

~Pink Saturday~

~A Few of My Favorite Things~

~Silver Sunday~

~Summer Sunday~

~Three or More Tuesday~

Oh, for the lazy days of summer . . . the perfect time to steal away to visit those friends and family who live miles away . . . and the perfect opportunity to explore new territory, ie ~ Antique Shops.

A recent trip to visit my sister was just that and yielded some Silver Sunday finds in time for Beth's Silver Sunday Giveaway Post. Be certain to stop by The Gypsy Fish Journal , put your name in the drawing, and then add a Silver Sunday post of your own.

Seems I always find some silver plate treasures when my sister takes me to her favorite shops. Each of these were thrifty finds black with tarnish, but just look at the lovely details once I polished them.

The beautiful unmarked basket vase stands 16" tall.

It is perfect for these delicate Stargazer Lilies and has the most wonderful details . . .

Like this basket full of flowers that is featured on the curved handle . . .

And this wide lacy edge that dips gracefully around the open cavity that holds the blooms.

Trays are a favored accessory here at HFTS, so I was all smiles when I picked up two different oval gallery trays. The larger one has detailed pierced sides with a fluted edging and . . .

Beautiful intricate engraved details that cover the entire surface.

It will be perfect to move about for various things, like this silver fern pot that is currently home to a gorgeous pale pink hydrangea.

Just look at these delicate little blooms!

The smaller gallery tray is just the right size for my petite fern pot that holds an African violet that will be covered with little pink flowers in its next bloom cycle.

The rim edge on this tray is simple, but the sides have a wonderful open work design.

And finally there was this bride's basket marked MF'D & Plated RV Reed & Barton 4740. It's doing duty in the kitchen at the moment, but will be useful for all sorts of things. No doubt it is the oldest of the items I found this trip. If anyone can help date it, please let me know.

The double handle features a central ball and a little tassel half way down on each side.

The rim edge is a stylized leaf design, and the footed base is full of charm.

This one just might be my favorite!

I hope the remaining days of summer offer up

some special time for you with your family,

and a perhaps a chance to explore new territory!

Click here for details on the Celebration Giveback @ HFTS

Thank you to each of the ladies hosting the following memes:

Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Laurie's A Few of My Favorite Things @

Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

Summer Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Beth's Silver Sundays @ The Gypsy Journal

Three or More Tuesday @ The Gypsy Corner

Jungfrauenbecher or Maiden's Cup

Dating from the 16th century, the Jungfrauenbecher or maiden's cup, was traditionally part of German wedding ceremonies during the 16th and 17th centuries. The cup, usually of German silver, is in the form of a young maiden holding a basket above her head.

The maiden's bell shaped skirt, when inverted, serves as a goblet. The small basket above the figure's head pivots so that it can remain upright when the figure is turned upside down.

According to tradition, both the skirt and the basket are filled with wine. The groom makes a toast, then drinks from the skirt, and then is to turn the figure right side up without spilling any of the wine in the smaller cup from which the bride then drinks.

Since posting this, Johanna of Silber-Rosen wrote to share the following information on the jungfrauenbecher:

"Oh Sarah, you have always very intresting items and so nice stories to tell. I appreciate this Jungfrauenbecher so much because it is a speciality of the Hanau Antique Silver Manufacturers. I was told the story, that once a young silversmith wanted to marry a nice girl. Her father told him, he would only allow the marriage when the young man would be able to create a goblet, that allows to drink both on the same time. So this Jungfrauenbecher is the result and the couple got married."

Our Jungfrauenbecher was given to us by my mother-in-law at our rehearsal dinner. She changed up the challenge a bit. We both had to drink the wine from the cups at the same time, and the first to finish their cup was said to be the one who would be the "boss" of the household. Obviously, I drank the few sips in my cup before my husband could finish his large cup of wine. You can see from this photo of our rehearsal dinner that we were amused with this challenge.

Both my own mother and my mother-in-law are dear to my heart. We lost my mother-in-law to throat cancer in the 80s. My mom, 95, is still with us. As today is Mother's Day, I'd like to raise a toast to these two incredible women who have had a lasting influence upon my own life.

Happy Mother's Day, Dear Ones!

Here is one more shot capturing the "blue hour" on the eve of Mother's Day 2010. If you missed Susan's post about "blue hour" photography, you can read it here.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

It may be Mother's Day but it is also the 2nd Sunday of the month and that means Beth @ The Gypsy Fish Journal is hosting Silver Sunday. Click here to see the beautiful and usual silver fish that Beth is spotlighting today and for a list of more silver to be shared.