A Favorite Heirloom for Sunday Favorites

Each week my friend, Chari @ Happy To Design hosts Sunday Favorites. With this weekly Meme, Chari gives bloggers the opportunity to share a favorite post from the past.

This week my mother will celebrate her 95th birthday, so in honor of her I'd like to "revisit" a previous Blue Monday post that was about one of my favorite treasures passed down form my mother.

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 always a treat to read your comments so please leave me a note below. Then click here to visit Chari @ Happy To Design for a list of more participants of Sunday Favorites.

Pink Teddy Saturday

The Best of Friends

by Jeannie Hand-Stuart

There's nothing as nice

As a new Teddy Bear.

To tickle and cuddle

And take everywhere

To share all your secrets,

Your laughter and tears

To keep by your side

Through seasons and years

There's nothing as nice

As a new Teddy Bear...

Except for an old one

With memories to share.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These cuddly pink ribbon bears are being offered at my local grocery in exchange for a donation for breast cancer research . Let's all work together to spread awareness that early detection saves lives.

Thank you for stopping by to visit. Please leave a comment below so I know you were here.

If you don't know Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch, you are in for a real treat. Click here to see what she has for Pink Saturday this week.

Thank you to Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for her weekly Pink Saturday. Beverly says, "Pink represents hope, joy, and love." and that, "After all, every girl needs a bit of pink in her life." So click here to see a list of Pink Saturday participants.

Pink Splendor

Pink Splendor

a Haiku by Hyacinth

Pink jewels of splendor

Dance along slender green reeds

Joyful abundance

September 2009

The spectacular blooms on this Phalaenopsis are veined with deep magenta. The elegant blooms grow along the graceful stems and are truly a sight to behold.

Thank you to our hostess Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound. I invite you to visit another Pink Saturday post I left for today and also to stop in to meet Pink Saturday participant Kelley of Teacups and Ponies.

First please click on "Comments" below to leave a note to let me know you stopped by today. I so appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!

Click here to visit my QCI post of some interesting pink pottery from France.

Click here to visit Kelley @ Teacups and Ponies for some beautiful prose and breath taking pink roses.

Then click here for more Pink Saturday fun at Beverly's How Sweet the Sound.

Fall Dinner Celebration

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday with our hostess Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch. Tuesday ushered in the beginning of a new season. A cool front blew through the previous night, temperatures dropped into the 60's, and much need moisture has moved into our area. So we are celebrating!


If you joined me for my "Fall Nesting" on Tuesday, you've seen the simple arrangement of white pumpkins and oversized acorn that greets guest from the bachelor chest in our entry. A lovely bouquet of fall blooms, a hostess gift from a thoughtful friend, has now been added.

The weather is so pleasant, with cooler temperatures, let's go out to the sun porch, have a glass of wine, and visit before dinner.

Mr. Scarecrow is here to set the mood. The fall leaves that landed on this sweet guy are about the only colorful fall foliage you'll see here in Texas.

But the flower markets are full of beautiful fall asters, hypericum berries, and godetia.

Pumpkins and blackbirds ring out "Fall Is Here"!

A bunch of bittersweet makes the perfect fall statement.

And what fall decor is complete without candy corn!

But I know you don't want candy corn with a glass of wine. So help yourself to a little gouda and crackers.

The jewel like grapes will be a better choice with the cheese. Leave the candy corn till later.

We'll go into the dining room for dinner.

My "Fall Tableau" posted for Metamorphosis Monday this week, will set the stage for dinner.

I wanted to include the rich hues of the fall season in as many elements of this table as possible.

I've selected a bottle of red wine to go with our meal.

The squirrels will feast on their stash of acorns.

We will dine on a salad of greens with figs and blue cheese, roasted pork tenderloin, potatoes dalphine, and fresh French haricot vert. OK, I know that's not what is printed on this vintage menu card, but don't you think it is a nice touch for the fall table?

There's a spot for each of you, so find your place at the table.

Of course Susan is joining us. I recently assured her that there would always be a place set for "Our Queen of Dishes and Tablescapes".

Brass pear shaped placecard holders are from Pottery Barn. Fall leaf accents are simple foil confetti added to plain cards.

Napkins are from William Sonoma. The lush gold textile with its embroidery of French royal bees and fleur de lys give the table a touch of France. The silver and enameled flatware is Talisman by Christophe.

I started with Zrike porcelain chargers with a wide band of deep green.

The dinner plates, our wedding china, are Palermo Brown by Richard Ginori.

Salad will be served on Royal Crown Derby's Olde Avesbury.

We'll finish with a baked apple drizzled with a warm caramel sauce and a swirl of whipped cream served in the Denby sherbet stemware.

The crystal, also from our wedding registery, is a rich amber color by Denby.

Fresh hot dinner rolls will be served in an Italian silver basket with Le Jacquard Français linen to keep them warm.

What a treat it is to celebrate the change of the seasons!

Here's to fall and a most welcomed change of crisp, cool air!

I'm so happy you joined me for a fall dinner celebration.

Now that my guest have departed and the dishes are done. I think I'll have a little sweet snack before heading up to bed.

It's going to be a wonderful fall! Thanks for joining me today. Would love to have you leave a comment to let me know you stopped by. Don't forget you are just a click away from more tablescapes here at Between Naps on the Porch.