A Purrrrrfect Pretty Kitty Tea Party

by Helen Kain | Feb 18, 2019 | Accessories, Black, Featured, Tea, Winter Tablescapes

One of the great joys of grandchildren is elevating everyday experiences into memorable ones, whether it’s with special food or fun tableware.  Tea parties are a favourite ordinary-turned-special meal with our crew, and when they include a cat theme,...

A Fresh Green & White Palette for Spring

by Helen Kain | Jan 10, 2019 | Antique glassware, Featured, Green, Spring Tablescapes, White, Winter Tablescapes

Now that all the holiday clobber has been stored away, the bones of the house are once again revealed, and a quiet calm prevails. I kind of like the starkness. It reflects the bare trees and muted tones of the landscape outside and provides a chance to appreciate the...

A Scottish Themed Tea with Paisley and Spode

by Helen Kain | Jan 6, 2019 | Appetizers, Featured, Pink and Red, Sweets, Tea, Vintage china, White, Winter Recipes, Winter Tablescapes

For the Scots, Hogmanay, or New Year, is a much bigger celebration than Christmas and is marked by much feasting, often over several days. I thought it would be fun to pay homage to this tradition with a Scottish themed tea. Daughter Kirsten, son Adam and Papa...

A Rustic Woodland Outdoor Table

by Helen Kain | Nov 8, 2018 | Blue, Brown, Fall Tablescapes, Featured, Terracotta, White, Winter Tablescapes

One of the delights of fall is waking up to an unexpected jewel of a day with bright sunshine and warm temperatures, just when we’ve resigned ourselves to gloomy skies and plummeting thermometers.  We had already brought in the outdoor furniture for the...

Bistro Brunch with Perigord by Williams Sonoma

by Helen Kain | Feb 1, 2018 | Black, Blue, Cobalt, Fall Tablescapes, Featured, Green, Pink and Red, Spring Tablescapes, Summer Tablescapes, White, Winter Tablescapes, Yellow

Duck confit, foie gras, asparagus and many varieties of luscious strawberries. That’s what the Perigord region conjures up for me, and what we experienced when we visited the market while staying in a lovely flat right in the middle of Sarlat a few year ago....

A Splash of Blue

by Helen Kain | Dec 27, 2016 | Blue, Casual Chic, Cobalt, Featured, Spring Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes

Five quarts of turkey stew has been squirrelled away in freezer and the last dish from Christmas dinner has been washed and put away. Soon it will be time to take down the decorations and change over the house for the new season. January is too early for...