A Special Birthday

Today is a special day.

It's the day to observe the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

It's also been 365 days since this joy came into our lives.

This little cutie is one year old today.

Happy Birthday, Annabelle!

Page above is from my new 2011 Mary Engelbreit day to day desk calendar. I still enjoy using my M. E. engagement calendar for making notes, but love the convenience and daily dose of M. E. art offered in the new format of the daily sheets of the desk calendar. Both are published by Andrews McMeel Publishing and are available here at Mary Engelbreit's site.

Linking to

M. E. Monday @ The Cherry Chick

Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World!

Happy Winter

Cold, wet day here, but then it is January!

HAPPY WINTER!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE SNOWMEN.

Joining M. E. Monday

over at The Cherry Chick

Friends Till Spring

It's cold outside, there isn't much blooming, and soon the garden will be covered with winter blankets in anticipation of the arctic blast expected early next week.

But during the bleakness of winter, there are some friendly faces here at HFTS to warm one's heart till springtime flowers begin to bloom. As with my Many Faces of Santa post that you can view here ~ No words are needed.

Thank you to the ladies who are hosting each of the following memes. Please click the links below to join these weekly parties.

Few of My Favorite Things

@ Bargain Hunting & Chatting with Laurie

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Three or More Tuesday @ The Gypsy Corner

White Wednesday @ Faded Charm

"Thyme" to Celebrate

January 4, 2011

"Thyme" to CELEBRATE

These little birdies told me that this . . .

Special lady was celebrating her 90th birthday. I know! She doesn't even look like she could be an octogenarian, much less someone moving into her 9th decade.

So to celebrate a special aunt's 90th birthday, some of the girl cousins gathered for lunch and an afternoon full of laughter as we shared stories of times spent together through the years.

I'd put away the reds and greens of Christmas, but left up this gorgeous wreath of fresh greens that I received from Liz @ Rose Vignettes. It still smells wonderful, and with its silver accents it fit right in with the party colors. Be certain to stop by Liz's for a visit this Friday as she hosts Fresh Cut Friday.

I added other white flowers with silver about the house.

Champagne mimosas started the celebration with a toast to the birthday girl.

Along with a few nibbles of pretzels.

The tables were set with mini pots of thyme,

details of silver and gold . . .

And black and white.

Hour glasses reminded us of times that we've shared through the years.

I layered black and white Courtly Check chargers on larger chargers in Ambiance Vintage Garden. These were topped with black plates and small white soup cups.

The smaller table was set with pewter chargers and checkered plates by Royal Stafford.

Shortly before the guest arrived I added a rose bud at each place setting for a touch of color.

The coasters with their elegant gold monogram were in the $1 bin at Michaels. I didn't use a table linen, so these were perfect to use under glasses of iced tea.

The luncheon offered another opportunity to use the little silver salts and peppers that were one of my birthday gifts last year.

The champagne bucket, repurposed to hold Winter Cloud phalaenopsis orchids, once belonged to my aunt. She gave it to me several years ago because she no longer entertains. It's perfect as a vessel for flowers.

Lunch was served buffet style.

~ Potato Leek Soup ~ Spinach Salad ~ Onion Walnut Muffins ~

And of course Birthday Cake!

The cake was Lemon Lavender Pound Cake. You can find the recipe here. It's a rich, moist cake made with sour cream. The glaze is lemon juice infused with lavender flowers. I highly recommend it!

Brownie bites, baked by a niece who couldn't be with us, were passed around as the birthday girl opened her gifts. Rich dark chocolate and yummy!

Everyone took home one of the small pots of thyme as a memento of our gathering.

I wish you special times with family and friends during 2011.

Joining

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Fresh Cut Friday @ Rose Vignettes

Friday Favorites @ Whistle Stop Cooking

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Silver Sunday @ Gypsy Journal

Happy New Year ~ 2011

Hope your celebration was full of fun

and a bit of bubbly.

Joining

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

to wish each of you . . .

1-1-11

Looking forward to the new year.

Celebrating Friends ~ Christmas 2010

The joy of Christmas for me is time spent with both family and friends. Our holidays are simple times of shared meals, laughter, and friendship.

Traditional red, green, and white were the colors of the evening.

Our Christmas Eve dinner was around a table simply set with a theme of evergreens and red tassels.

An antique ironstone tureen held fresh spruce branches accented with ornamental cabbage, white mums, and cuttings from the garden.

Christmas red tassels severed as napkin rings for monogramed white linens.

The tassels gave a nod to the festive border on the dinner plates in Queen's Rooster. The border of red gingham, swags, and tassels was the perfect compliment for the evergreen wide bands of the Zrike chargers. Larger white charges beneath were used in place of a linen cloth on the table.

Place cards were little decorative favor boxes filled with chocolates for each guest to take home for a late night snack.

The next evening's table of pine trees, pomegranates, and red birds continued the color theme for Christmas Day dinner for four of us at a friend's home.

A simple white bowl held bright red pomegranates, white twigs, and gorgeous tree ornaments.

A closer look at the ornaments shows red birds among a snowy scene.

Each place setting featured this little winter birdie on the red linen mats with green borders. The Vietri red chargers with white polka dots held traditional Spode Christmas Tree dinner plates.

Spode Christmas Tree, a favorite traditional Christmas pattern, was first introduced in 1938. Even after all these years and with all the other beautiful Christmas patterns available these days, I find this pattern totally charming with its simple pine tree decorated with ornaments.

Linen napkins with a peppermint candy design were held with rings of red jingle bells.

Petite boxes of Godiva chocolates were the sweet little favor to carry home.

Christmas 2010 is now but a memory ~

One of joyful memories of cherished friendships!

Joining

Tablescape Thrusday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home