Hyacinth Blue Monday

Yea! It's time for another Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally.

Hot summer days are perfect for picking up a good book to escape to another time and place, if only in one's imagination. So for today's Blue Monday, I'd like to recommend a book, GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE by Susan Vreeland.

Vreeland’s novels of historical fiction are some of my favorites, and I find I return to her work again and again. Though I read GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE years ago, it continues to captivate my thoughts.

In the winter of 1995, I traveled to DC to experience first hand the unprecedented exhibit of Vermeer’s work on view at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibit, considered by some to be the show of the century, featured 21 of the 35 paintings credited to Johannes Vermeer.

Though the painting in this story is only from the author's imagination, GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE is a poignant story of this imagined painting of the Dutch master, Johanannes Vermeer. The novel begins in a contemporary setting where the painting resides with its present owner who acquired it from his father. Questioning the circumstances of how his father came to own the painting during World War II, the son secretly keeps the painting in a locked study. He suspects that he might own an original Vermeer.

From that point, Vreeland skillfully weaves a captivating tale of the life of this painting as the novel chronologically progresses backward to the scene when Vermeer supposedly painted it. Each new chapter, set in a previous time, introduces the reader to yet another character’s story and personal circumstances with this painting. The reader gleams details of the painting through the characters as their story and relationship to this painting is revealed. The thread of connection of course is the love and passion that each character has for this particular painting.

So perhaps on this Blue Monday you just might want to acquire a copy of GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE and settle in for an enjoyable read. Those with an appreciation of art, are sure to find this a fascinating work of art related fiction.

Happy Hyacinth Blue Monday!

I hope you'll leave a comment below and let me know about a good book you are reading. Then click here to see a list of others with Blue Monday posts.

Pink Hydrangea Saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday hosted by Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound. Today I'm sharing a delicate pink hydrangea with haiku, an inspiration from an early morning walk.

Happy Pink Saturday to all my friends!

Morning Encounter

A Summer Haiku by Hyacinth

Luscious pink petals

Shimmer in the morning light ~

Kissed with summer dew.

August 2009

Click on "Comments" below to leave a note to let me know you stopped by today. Then click here for more Pink Saturday Fun.

A Little Ingenuity & Another Party

A Birthday Party at the Beach!

Welcome back to Hyacinths For The Soul

and Tablescape Thursday.

It's another party!

Last week was spent enjoying the pleasures of the seashore with my friend, Kay. It was five days of summer seaside simplicity: just us girls sharing, stitching, and savoring the delights of leisure time.

The trip happened to coincide with Kay's birthday. So a birthday celebration was definitely in order! I wanted to do a special tablescape, but I certainly hadn't packed my china and silver, nor anything that I would normally use on a table. So I had to rely on ingenuity. I began to scruntize the lovely beach house that was to be our home for the next few days. The dishes were a simple creamy white. Excellent! Food always looks best on white dishes, and white would be an easy color with which to work.

I rummaged through the closet to see what else might be useful. Wow! Ocean blue placemats and coordinating napkins. The napkins were lovely with a seashell print on one side and stripes on the reverse. I couldn't have selected anything more appropriate if I'd gone shopping myself!

So now the theme was set!

(As if it might be something other than a beach theme?)

Oh, just look at this group of enchanting birthday hats in one of the local shops!

Can you guess which one was just made for our party?

Yes, the perfect party hat modeled by the adorable young shopkeeper.

The house was a treasure trove of wonderful beach themed goodies. The centerpiece would definitely include fish! No problem here! I rounded up a few of my favorites.

This was one of a pair. It has a little tea light holder on the reverse so that candle light glows through the blue glass.

And this stunning guy was truly a work of art. Can you see the miniature scene within the glass fish? Sorry, the photo does not do this one justice.

My favorite was this handmade pottery fishy. His vivid colors, big eyes, and wide open mouth made me smile each time I looked his way.

A vibrant yellow Gerber Daisy bouquet was the perfect choice for flowers.

They were stunning in this blue stoneware vase.

I added a large pillar candle pulled in from one of the baths and colorful curled ribbon tossed about to give a festive touch in honor of the birthday celebration.

I think we're ready!

Dinner ~ a light, simple salad with fresh, boiled shrimp.

Nothing better than fresh Gulf shrimp when you are at the coast!

And what is a birthday celebration without a birthday cake?

Winn-Dixie makes a terrific lemon sour cream goodie that was perfect for two on a diet. Yummy key lime pecans were scattered around the sides. The musical candle plays "Happy Birthday" continuously. Another Winn-Dixie find!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAY!

Not bad for an impromptu party table? What do your think?

If you missed the celebration at HFTS last Thursday, click here.

To view a few photos from the Florida Gulf Coast posted yesterday for

Outdoor Wednesday, click here.

I like to read your comments. Please leave one!

Then click here to join Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday and a list of participants with tablescapes to share.

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY AT THE SHORE

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday with Susan @ Southern Daydreamer. I'm sharing some photos from a recent trip. Just click PLAY to see a few sights from the Gulf Coast of Florida. It will take a few seconds to load. Then click on each photo to enlarge.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Hope you enjoyed the photos. Try out Smilebox. It can be lots of fun!

Please leave a note. Hope to see you tomorrow for Tablescape Thursday.

Blue Willow Monday

Welcome to my Blue Willow Monday

It's Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally's, and I'm thrilled! Our home is filled with blue!

We have several rooms with blue walls,

Wingback chairs in blue leather,

blue upholstered French bergere chairs,

Dinner plates in Spode's Blue Room series, . . .

The list could go on and on.

Blue is one of those magical colors that compliments other colors. Think of the fresh feeling that combinations of blue and yellow provide.

Or the patriotic spirit of red, white, and blue.

Homes with collections of Blue Willow in blue and white always catch my attention and imagination. Though I don't personally have a collection of these age old charming ceramics, I can visit some mighty fine collections in homes of friends. The fresh, crisp feeling of blue and white never fails to fill my senses with joy.

What I do have is a very limited, but extremely sentimental grouping of a child's set in the Blue Willow pattern.

When my parents married in 1939, as a new bride, my mother dreamed of having her very own set of Blue Willow for her dining table. Placesettings of this fine china were far too expensive for the young couple's household budget, yet Mother must have longingly admired sets and continued to wish for a set of her own. As a surprise one day, my sweet and clever father brought home a set in miniature. It wasn't the table setting Mother desired, but she loved and appreciated the little set all the same. During our youth, my sister and I, along with our friends, hosted many a tea party with the treasured little set of Blue Willow. Unfortunately all that remains of Mother's set is this small group.

The Blue Willow pattern was first designed in the late 1700s by Thomas Minton. Over the years it has been produced by many different manufactures, and all these years later this classic pattern is beloved by many a collector.

The classic pattern portrays a Chinese legend of two young lovers. The elements within the design all have significance from the legend. The border of a zig-zag fence represents the father's efforts to separate the young lovers.

Weeping willow trees,

various fruit trees,

three figures on a bridge,

a boat,

and pagodas,

all have significance in the story of the young couple.

There are many variations of the legend, but all end with the young star crossed lovers being transformed into immortal love birds.

My Parents in 1939

Today, the few remaining pieces of this cherished child's set have a place of honor in the living room of our home. Not only do they bring me memories of happy childhood tea parties, but they also speak of the romantic days my parents shared as newlyweds. Years ago I offered to purchase a set of Blue Willow for my mother. She simply smiled and said, "I'm happy with the set your father gave me." I treasure these little dishes as heirlooms.

Who knows, perhaps this little chard of a long ago broken plate will become the topic of a future Metamorphosis Monday right here at Hyacinths For The Soul.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you again real soon.

It's A Celebration!

Did I hear the doorbell? Greetings! 
I'm delighted you stopped by.

When I found BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH and discovered Susan's extraordinary blog, I was hooked. Thursdays are now my favorite day of the week! Truth be told, Tablescape Thursday is the primary reason I started 

HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL. 

I wanted to play too!

So please do come in. 

I'm having a party to celebrate the inaugural week of 

HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL.

Entertaining in our home is always a joy for me. 

I'm forever daydreaming about table settings 

and how I can make gatherings special. 

My MacKenzie-Childs ceramics often 

provide the seed of inspiration. 

MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check design is one of my favorites.

 In the end though, it's the friends and tasty food 

that are the key ingredients for a successful party.

Detail of coffee table arrangement

May I offer you 
a glass of bubbly?

A glass of one of 
my favorite champagnes?

Perhaps you'd prefer sparkling Italian pomegranate soda 

or a glass of sparkling water?

Please help yourself 
to some "Afternoon Bites".

We have turkey avocado panini with ailoli and homemade potato chips, smoked salmon tarts with crispy capers and créme fraich, and baby vegetable crudites stuffed with herb Boursin cheese.

Please have a seat, visit, 
and enjoy the music.

Do you have a request?

No celebration is complete 
without something sweet.

The chocolates are made 
with expresso coffee beans.

These petit fours were designed 
for the Courtly Check theme.

Delicious!

Let me fix you a cup of coffee?

Just pick your choice of coffee. Would you care for an expresso? Rather have a decaf? Whatever your choice, these coffees are dark and rich. They are made from pure, premium beans. This little machine makes the perfect cup of coffee!

I'm so pleased you stopped by today.

Please sign my guest book, 
and I hope to see you again soon.

Don't forget to stop by 

BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH 

where you'll find many wonderful posts 

celebrating the art of the table.