Show and Tell - Tea Set

For Kelli's Show and Tell I'm sharing more about my Spring Violets tea set that I featured on my tablescapes post below. This tea set was given to me back in the late 50s by a favorite aunt. I have no idea how much she paid for it, but I saw one like it in an antique shop several years ago for over two hundred dollars! This aunt didn't have much money then and I'm sure she only paid a small amount for it back then.

The tea pot is 7 inches tall and 10 1/2 inches wide from spout to handle,
probably holds eight cups of water for tea.

Spring Violets by Rossetti is on the bottom of the tea pot.
It was made in Occupied Japan.

The Creamer

The Sugar Bowl

Check out the post below to see this tea set in my Violets Tablescape.

Go here to Kelli's for lots more Show and Tell fun!

Have a happy day!
God Bless.

Katherine

Tablescape Thursday - Violets

For today's Tablescape Thursday I'm sharing a tablescape done with my collection of pieces of violets china. Go to Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for lots more pretty tablescapes.

Due to the sudden death of our neighbor, I didn't have time to prepare a new tablescape, so I have an encore appearance of this tablescape done over a year ago.

I used purple fabric for the table cover. The centerpiece is a small luggage look box covered in violets paper. A nosegay of violets tied with sheer purple ribbon is on top with purple shiny beads.

Small flower pots of violets (from Dollar Tree) are covered with bright green polka dot fabric, tied with a ribbon, and placed on top of white plates.

Placemats are lime green, I bought four at Home Goods on sale for $3.00,
the reverse side is yellow.

Violets tea cups are at each place setting.

My violet tea pot, creamer, and sugar bowl were given to me when I was a teenager by a favorite aunt, it is a treasure to me.


A violet colored pitcher is used to pour water into the lime green tumblers.
I bought the green tumblers at Home Goods for $1 each!

Below: miniature violet chintz tea cups hold tea lights

Leaf shaped plates with violets are beside each place setting.

Actually I started out with the leaf shaped plates on top of the white dinner plate.

Like this:

But then started tweaking and decided I like this look better:

Which do you like best? Above, or below?

This is my favorite:

Thank you for visiting my Thursday Tablescape!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my tablescape again, or for the first time.

I'm also linking to Centerpiece Wednesday, go here for lots more inspiration.

Have a happy day!
God Bless.

Katherine

Low Country Boil Dinner Celebration

We spent the weekend in Tallahasse celebrating with my grandson, Taylor. He graduated Magna Cum Laude May 16th from Mercer University in Macon, GA. (See above.)

Taylor refused to wear the silly 2009 sunglasses, so his silly grandmother wore them!

Taylor chose a favorite meal for his celebration dinner, a "Low Country Boil" dinner.
Their plates are empty because we had finished most of the meal.
That's also Tanner, my other grandson, who is 16.

For those who don't know what a low country boil is, a picture of our wonderful dinner is above. It is shrimp, sausage (homemade), corn, and potatoes boiled together in a huge pot. We also had salad, and apples and cheese casserole. Dessert was key lime mango pie and a giant chocolate chip cookie cake (see in background.)

My grandsons, Taylor (left) and Tanner (right.) Their cousins are in the background.

CONGRATULATIONS, TAYLOR!!!
We are so proud of you!

Isn't he handsome!

We praise God for good grandchildren who have never given their parents a minutes trouble! What a blessing!

Katherine

Tea Time

I have been celebrating my birthday almost all week. Yesterday my friends took me to a tea room for lunch. The beautiful swan above is a centerpiece at this tea room.

It is at the end of a banquet table in Shakespeare's Tea Room here in our town.

Instead of the afternoon tea that I usually get, we all enjoyed this spinach tomato quiche with a delicious salad with vidalia salad dressing, and celery leek soup.

This is what I had for dessert! It had one candle.

In the past two weeks I have gone to two different tea rooms, and attended one tea party! What more could one ask for to celebrate a birthday!

I forgot to take my camera to the tea party and didn't get any pictures, but will show you a few pictures of what I wore. I decorated this hat with red roses and ribbon.


Last year I won the hat contest so wasn't eligible to win this year, and I was one of the judges this year. You can check my May 08 archives to see that hat contest.

This is the purse I carried. I pinned a red velvet rose onto it.

This is the jacket I wore with a black shell and black pants.

I really regret not having my camera to document the fabulous array of tea sandwiches, etc. that we were served.

If you didn't see the other tea room I posted about last week, scroll down to see that tea room in Naples, FL.

Have a happy day!
God Bless.

Katherine

I'm doing a double post on Tablescapes Thursday and Show and Tell. Go to Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for more tablescapes. Go to Kelli's There's No Place Like Home for lots more Show and Tell fun!

A Wonderful Birthday!

May 19th, today is my birthday! I have been so pampered! The cake above is a picture from GracesCakes on Flickr. My friend, Laura, Lallee's Cottage posted the gorgeous cake by email for me today! Let's all have some of it, but it's almost too pretty to cut, isn't it?

Sorry, I've been MIA all day/week!! We returned from vacation (Marco Island, FL) last Friday night at 11 p.m. and hit the ground running, we have been super busy every day since. Sat and Sun were special days at church and we were there a lot. Monday was the women's club tea party, and today Joe and I spent the day at Daytona Beach (in the pouring rain!) We ate at Olive Garden (I had their grilled shrimp caprese, it's wonderful check out the recipe below, I just found it on their site!) then he let me go shopping and I chose two of my favorite stores - TJ Maxx, and Marshall's. Tonight I had two friends come over for Creative Memories workshop, they just left. They are taking me to eat tomorrow at our favorite place on the beach (it's supposed to rain again.) I also went to Faith Sharing Group this morning before we left! (Whew!) After tomorrow things may slow down a little, but we are leaving again on Friday for a long weekend at my daughter's in Tallahassee (FL) to celebrate my grandson's college graduation! (This will give you an idea how old I am, if you don't already know my age, I'll tell you, if you really want to know!

Look at these pretty yellow roses and flowers from LaDonna, Gracious Hospitality.


Please have a piece of cake before you go (I borrowed this one from the net, (sorry I forgot who made it!)


God Bless.

Katherine

My birthday lunch today!

Shrimp Caprese

1 1/2 pounds Roma tomatoes, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces*
20 medium fresh basil leaves, stems removed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt to taste
1 pound (26/30 or 21/25) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound capellini (angel hair) pasta
2 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup white wine
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded

* To preserve juices and seeds, use a pairing knife to remove just the top of the core on each tomato.

Combine tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, Italian Seasoning, and salt in a large bowl; blend thoroughly. Cover, set aside, and marinate for at least 1 hour.

Either saute or grill the shrimp; cook approximately 2 minutes on one side; turn and cook another 1 minute or until shrimp are opaque in center (cut to test). Remove from grill and set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pan to keep warm. Learn How To Cook Pasta Properly.

Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add butter and let melt. Stir in white wine and bring just to a boil. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese; bring to a simmer; let sauce continue to simmer and reduce to desired consistency. Remove from heat.

Add cooked pasta and marinated tomatoes to the skillet. Stir to thoroughly coat pasta with sauce. Transfer pasta and sauce to a large oven-proof serving platter; top with mozzarella cheese. Place serving platter under broiler to 2 to 3 minutes or until mozzarella cheese has melted. Remove from oven and top pasta with the cooked shrimp. Serve and enjoy!

Makes 4 servings.

Tablescape Thursday

Since we are on vacation this week my tablescapes will be of a tea room we went to Monday.

This is Brambles (pronounced "brom-bals") Tea Room which is located on 5th Avenue in Naples, FL. It is an English tea room and is decorated in mostly pink, which I love to see in tea rooms!

A lovely setting walking toward Brambles Tea Room.

Brambles Tea Room offers indoor and outdoor seating.

Do you prefer to dine inside?

Or outside?

We chose inside where it is air-conditioned!

Our table. I wish the centerpiece had been in the center!

This is my selection, the Afternoon Tea for One:

Top layer has pastries and whole strawberries.
My tea choice was chocolate cherry black tea.

The second layer: a currant scone, clotted cream, and strawberry jam.
The bottom layer: finger sandwiches, cucumber, salmon, egg salad, and ham.

My husband had the Shepherd's Pie and salad. He chose creme brulee black tea!

Notice his tea pot - "King Henry VIII," very masculine!

They also provide teddy bears for the little ones!


Each side of the large room has
beautiful decor.

I think I counted 20 tables. I took this picture after most of the patrons had left.

Would you like to visit the gift shop before you go?
Lots of goodies to choose from!

So many tea time items and books are displayed.
And note cards.

The King Henry VIII tea pots are also for sale,
for $49.99!

One last look back as we go, we had such a nice experience at Brambles Tea Room!

Next time, maybe we'll dine outside!

Before you go, take a look at this special "tablescape below!"
How cute is this doggie bar filled with fresh water for your canine!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this tea room. See the blog post below to see more of the lovely city of Naples, FL!


Have a happy day!
God Bless.

Katherine