I've Got the Colonial Blues

It’s time for another Tablescaping Adventure.

And this time, we’re even using real dishes.

And it’s decoupage free.

I know… I’m as shocked as you are.

The inspiration for our table came from this cup and saucer.

It’s from the set of everyday stoneware

which I chose when I got married 26 years ago

during the 1980’s revival of colonial blue.

The pattern is Kilkee by Noritake.

It’s the set we most often use for our family meals.

It’s also The Practical Daughter’s favorite set of dishes.

I yakked all about that HERE.

This table is all about her,
and we wanted it to look like her.

There will be no whimsy.

Just simplicity.

We’re using only two colors, ivory and colonial blue.

And flowers, well of course.

*******

In keeping with the colonial theme,

we moved my grandmother's table in front of the fireplace.

The sister gathered ivory and ivy from her lawn,

 and we they  The Duchess arranged it in a
simple iron basket.

The blue candles usually live
in The Practical One’s room.

They came downstairs for the party.

The floral votive candles were compliments of the sister.

We floated them in a blossom napkin
for no good reason at all.

Now, usually, I use solids with this pattern,

but the Duchess suggested a little

vintage tablecloth exploration instead.

She has two antique trunks full of old family linens. 

My great-grandmother passed them to my grandmother,

who passed them to my mother,

who will pass them to my sisters and me.

(Just checking to see if  the sister is reading...)

Just about everything else on this table
 was a wedding or shower gift

all those years ago.

You might call this my “blue phase”.

The stemware is Aurora Blue by Denby.

I have enough of this stuff to serve the colonial army.

The flatware is, appropriately,
 American Colonial

 by Oneida.

The invisible people are having shrimp cocktail.

We included my Kilkee coffee service on the table too.

Just because I like it.

A colonial table... 

by candlelight

Pretty good, huh?

In full disclosure, I’ll be serving visible people this time.

The Practical One is home from her summer internship this week,

but she’s packing to head back to school over the weekend.

We have a window of opportunity to sit down and enjoy

the last family dinner

until my two girls return home for a first weekend.

A different kind of blue phase, I guess... 

Now, the visible people are not having shrimp cocktail.

And it’s way too hot in Georgia for a heavy dinner.

Instead, they will be enjoying fruit and a great grilled chicken salad

from Gnee at Singing with the Birds

Their table will look like this.

But for now, let’s gather around this colonial blue table

with the invisible people

and play a game of Let’s Pretend.

Thanks for playing along.

I'll be posting this with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday