Will You Be My Valentine?

Valentine's Day 

is just around the corner.

So today's table 

is set for two.

My valentine likes 

simplicity and loves chocolate.

So the table is set with layers of bold

bands of gold and brown upon white.

Square red placemats anchor the Ambiance Vintage Garden chargers, while gold ruffled edge glass plates hold Kate Spade Cordell Place Chocolate salad plates by Lenox. The wide, chocolate brown border is a nice compliment to the petite berry bowls in our wedding china, Palermo Brown by Richard Ginori.

Brown enamel flatware by Christophe

continues the chocolate brown theme.

As do the 

crystal stems by Denby.

To add some fluff and a feminine touch to the layers of chocolate, I tucked in colorful napkins by April Cornell. The rosy plaid sprinkled with the bright blooms offered the perfect touch of pink.

This shy little girl has 

a message for her valentine . . .

"Will you be my valentine?"

Off goes cupid's arrow zooming

right to her sweetheart's heart!

With a box of chocolates in hand,

I do think he IS her valentine.

Chocolates by Lina's Coco Couture.

Here, have a heart!

~HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! ~

Click the links below to join the celebrating at the following parties:

Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP

Colors of Love Coast to Coast @

The Little Round Table

The Ongoing Valentine Party @ Holiday Haven

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Favorite Things Friday @ Whistlestop Cafe Cooking

Your Special Valentine

Ann Estelle Paper Doll ~ HOME COMPANION, April May 2001

Ann Estelle is still in her robe and slippers because she slept-in this morning. She has had a busy weekend with all the Chinese New Year festivities. Click here if you missed her Chinese New Year Party.

1997 by Charpénte

Valentine's Day 
is just a week away.

1988 - Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Hong Kong

Do you have something 
special in mind for your valentine?

1986 - Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Hong Kong

Perhaps you plan 
to bake a special pie.

Not Dated - Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Hong Kong

Or spend some time together, 
just the two of you.

1988 - Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Hong Kong

I'd go to the end of the Earth 
for my special valentine.

Sharing my small collection of Mary Engelbreit valentine tins at the following blogs. Click the links below to see what others have to share this week.

M. E. Monday @ The Cherry Chick

Holiday Haven's Ongoing Valentine Party

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Three or More Tuesday @ The Gypsy Corner

REDnesday @ It's A Very Cherry World!

Shadows in the Snow

Welcome to Shadow Shot Sunday and Seasonal Sundays.

We woke to a soft layer of winter white on Friday morning.

As I looked down to the terrace there was

a mirror image of the table and chairs.

Graceful, architectural images

appeared on the powder covered steps . . .

And began to mix with those from nature.

I noticed the black and white check

pattern and smiled to myself.

Our walk was a silent one

among the shadows of the trees . . .

Long, lean, and void of any leaves.

Shadows cast upon small drifts along the rocks

gave the appearance of hills and valleys . . .

And painted the snow covered

path with layers of charcoal.

Thanks for joining me for Shadow Shot Sunday @ Hey Harriet.

Click here to join others who have shared shadows today.

The Tablescaper is hosting Seasonal Sundays here.

The Year of the Rabbit

Ann Estelle has been waiting for you

to come visit for Chinese New Year.

She has lots of favorite things to share today.

(Click here if you missed Ann Estelle's M. E. Monday post.)

The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year began on February 3 this year. This celebration is a time of family, friends, food, and fun. Red, an auspicious color, is the predominant color for the New Year celebration because it is a symbol of joy, virtue, truth, and sincerity.

It is customary for family and friends to visit each other during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Meals are shared and gifts of fruit or sweets are given when friends and family visit each other's homes. Mandarin oranges are one of the most popular fruits during this celebration.

They represent luck and good fortune, which is why Ann Estelle has brought gifts of mandarin oranges especially for your visit.

Red envelopes called "Ang Pow" are given to children during the New Year celebrations.

It is customary for the red envelopes to contain money in even amounts with the number eight considered to be very lucky. You can imagine Ann Estelle's excitement when eight gold covered chocolate coins tumbled out of her red envelope. She squealed and clapped with glee.

2011 is 

"The Year of the Rabbit"

Those born in the "Year of the Rabbit"

are said to be ambitious, articulate, and talented.

Ann Estelle has prepared a little tasting plate.

~Chinese Orange Chicken and Fried Rice~

It's both sweet and spicy.

A nice compliment to a bowl of steaming Egg Drop Soup. Traditionally this soup is served at the end of the fifteen day celebration. The ribbons of eggs in this tasty soup will warm you on this cold winter day.

Go ahead, pick up your 

chop sticks and have a bite.

And don't forget to take along 

an orange and a fortune cookie.

Looks like Ann Estelle has 

already opened her fortune cookie.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Congratulations and be prosperous

in the Year of the Rabbit!

Click here for a look back at

last year's celebration for "The Year of the Tiger"

You can read about the Chinese New Year celebration in detail here at Wikipedia.

Joining

How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Beverly always said PINK is derived from RED

Hope she doesn't mind if join in today.

Bargain Hunting & Chatting w/ Laurie for

A Few of My Favorite Things

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Old Man Winter is Back

News Flash and Update:

Since Thursday, we've gone from this . . .

To this.

What a difference a day makes

when Old Man Winter makes a visit.

Gives a whole new meaning to "Snow Bunny".

Today marks the first day of Chinese New Year, and despite the fact that it occurs in the midst of winter, it is also known as Spring Festival. Texas has been enjoying spring like weather for the past week, and I had planned a post for "The Year of the Rabbit" today,

BUT . . .

Old Man Winter came knocking at our door.

Suddenly we've gone from 70 to 17.

It's cold and blistery outside,

so come on in and join a different kind of party.

As Andy Warhol would say,

The snowmen are all excited to have their

"15 minutes of fame".

I've set a table for us on the sun porch

where we'll be warm and comfortable.

These cheerful fellows are so happy you have joined us today.

They've actually been patiently waiting

for their turn to be featured on a tablescape.

The cute little salad plates, designed by Williraye Studio, are called "Snowy Smiles". Can you see why I just had to have these? Yes, indeed! These little plates have a black and white check border.

To pull out the red and yellow colors of "Snowy Smilies" I used a yellow dinner plate for one setting and a red one for the other. The Courtly Check chargers mimic the border of the salad plates.

The snowmen thought these colorful glasses

with etched "snowballs" were a good choice,

Along with the "Treble Clef" flatware with its curled shape.

White winter berries ring the napkins which are edged in lace.

The delicate lace designs remind me of

the little snowflakes of the "Snowy Smiles" plates.

I layered various textiles to give the table a cozy feel.

A recent birthday gift, I've been eager to use these vintage tea towels which are large enough to use as table cloths on my small drop leaf table.

Both have fringed ends, and the largest of the two

has rows of red check details at either end.

The other has wonderful textural details and end borders of this red design.

A couple of friends, while shopping at Round Top last fall,

bought these with my birthday in mind.

They know me well ~ I couldn't be more thrilled!

Ironically, the beautiful little hand towels that I pulled into service as napkins were a gift from one of the same friends. Though after many years she's probably long forgotten she gave them to me.

I wanted you to feel warm and cozy, so I pulled in a couple of my French provencal pillows to use as chair cushions.

Layers of rich colors

highlighted with my favorite

black and white checks

warm my heart.

Even the snowmen are happy to be inside today.

So pull up a chair and join me

for a light lunch and a little conversation.

Suppose we talk of the early spring that

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted for this year.

We won't talk of the record snowfall that

has covered much of the country this winter.

Although snow does have its perks!

Please join me this Sunday for the

Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday meme

for "The Year of the Rabbit".

The Snowmen will be joining the following memes.

Please click on the links below to visit.

Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Friday Favorites @ Whistlestop Cafe Cooking

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home