Today I’m catching up with cleaning, organizing, and posting before the New Year is upon us. I know it’s trite, but where has the time gone? I’m looking around at the decorations which will be packed away in the next little while and planning the kitchen change over with mixed feelings. I love the anticipation of a brand new year with “no mistakes in it yet’ as Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables put it so eloquently, And in looking back on 2017, I want to savour the wonderful bits, reflect on things that might have been done better, and be intentional about how I approach 2018.
In the spirit of savouring, let’s look at the Christmas Eve pictures. We had the local kids and grandkids, so ten in total at table, plus a high chair. We knew that excitement would be running pretty high, and focused on keeping things festive and fairly low key. Winter’s Wonder by Pier 1 fit the bill nicely.
Made of ironstone, it combines durability, practicality and attractiveness. Red caterer’s chargers from Pottery Barn many moons ago formed the base, then Pier 1’s coordinating Christmas Holly & Tree dinner plates, topped by Winter’s Wonder salad plates. For reasons clear to Pier 1, but not to me, the pattern comprises five different salad plates, which seems an odd number. The first is a Christmas sleigh:
A deer and tree:
Two plates featuring Santa – carrying a lamp and riding a tricycle.
The last one is a red truck and a bunch of dogs. So cute!
Rustic, woodland and colourful. Not too precious, but festive enough to infuse the holiday spirit in adults and children alike.
The Venetian glassware added a touch of luxe.
The water glasses have a ruby bowl and base, and I paired them with clear bowled wine glasses with a gold twist stem. The shapes are similar, though the red glasses are a mixed bag of sizes.
The little ones eagerly look for their pictures at the table, which indicate where they sitting. There is something special about seeing pictures of themselves all ready to greet them, and they insisted on taking their photos home with them.
I used a combination of moose and bicycle picture frame holders, both from Pier 1 this year.
It’s an added bonus if they also feature in their parent’s picture.
Woodland creatures, including a squirrel and owl, occupied the centre of the table…
… along with some birdhouses and snow-covered twig cabins
Red paisley napkins from Pottery Barn several years ago, and pinecone napkin rings from Pier 1 at the beginning of this year completed the theme.
It was a very Merry Christmas!
Ok – now onto today’s chores, which include the semi-annual overhaul of the Butler’s Pantry. Time to take everything out, wipe it, clean the shelves and put everything back. It takes a few hours, but I actually enjoy the quiet, contemplative time, especially after the bustle of the season. I will listen to an audiobook and plan new table combinations 🙂
Have a great day, folks!
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Your granddaughters must be so we’ll behaved considering all the beautiful glassware. Beautiful table setting AGAIN. Looking forward to your next creative table setting. Happy New Year to you and Glenn.
They were very well behaved. We gave them each a small sherry glass and kept refilling it with ginger ale during dinner. Kept everyone occupied!
Happy New Year to you and Bill!
Beautiful table again as usual. I love the red glasses and the red chargers and the vintage looking designs on the plates is so cute. The photo place cards is a fun idea. So festive.
Thanks, Lorri. It is a very traditional table, and that seems to appeal to kids and grandkids at Christmas. They’re all for inventive and modern at other times, but at Christmas they want tried and true.
I loved how beautiful and charming your table was. I like to have place cards too and especially liked how u used pictures, what a terrific idea.
Thanks Debbee. I got the idea for the pictures because the grandkids are too young to read, but I thought they’d recognize themselves. They were a huge hit! It really makes them feel special and included. The adults are pretty happy about it too 🙂
Love the idea of the individual photos! I like to use place cards, even for small groups. I think it adds a sweet personal touch. I usually do it associated with a small take home favor.
I’m new here and left a comment on the first post I read, but it doesn’t seem to show as posted, so here it is:
Juliana, sounds like my kind of girl. I, too, love all these feathered friends and find them fascinating. I’m new to your blog, sent over by my friend Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry. I’m so very happy to have you on my reading list now. I’m suspect I’ll be scrolling down through post after post trying to catch up on all your pretty tables. Your Lacaze rooster dishes are fun. I’ve a stack of various rooster themed dishes in the cupboards and others that I’ve recently gifted as it’s time to edit out some of the dish collection. I have the WS 12 Days of Christmas series. I didn’t know anything about the artist, so thank you for sharing. I’m off to read more…..
Hi Sarah,
I’m always delighted to welcome a new reader; thank you to your friend Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry (a lovely blog!).
As to Juliana, I think the rooster/chicken/bird thing runs in the family. I love bird-themed plates, myself. J’s favourite “stuffy” is a duck, which I believe she received one Easter and it became The One.
Learning about Marc Lacaze was new to me, too, and I tracked down some more plates for which he was the artist, featuring – birds!
Enjoy your reading. I’m looking forward to hearing more about you as we get better acquainted.
With kind regards,
Helen
Nice to see you have have set a beautiful table for the Christmas eve. Table looks festive. The selection of dishes just apt for the gathering. Love Sujatha:)
Thank you, Sujatha. We really enjoyed Christmas Eve this year and last. The more casual settings are much appreciated by anxious parents!