Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Young at Heart


For months now, we had been planning to use these heart plates from Tiffany and Co. as the inspiration for our Valentine table.

Maybe next year...  


Because in the middle of our dish playing,
the Duchess brought out this whimsical heart fabric.
We decided to do an about face 
and go in a completely different direction.

A more childlike one.
Who says Valentines’ Day has to be pink and red?

We dubbed this table Young at Heart.  
Remember how exciting
the big day was when we were growing up?
We’d spread all our cards out on the table
and match them up...

classmate by classmate
checking our list so as not to forget someone…
picking out that special one for that special little boy...


But kind of hoping that he didn't notice...

Because we would be a little embarrassed if he did.

We'd say...

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you...



Or... 
There are tulips in the garden
There are tulips in the park
But the tulips that he likes most of all
Are the two lips in the dark…
(That rhyme came courtesy of the Duchess)

The Practical Daughter got her very first special valentine in kindergarten when a cute little fellow named Tyler decided that he was twitterpated. He waited until the end of the day then ambled up to the car and thrust a little red heart through the window.

“Here,” he said.
And off he ran.

She was very offended by my giggle, and I’m almost positive that she would have rejected it completely had she not had a powerful fondness for chocolate. 

They became an item. 

I was volunteering at recess a few weeks later when Mr. and Mrs. Tattletale came running up to report a playground infraction.  Apparently, they had been accused of that most egregious kindercrime...


Sitting in a tree…


K- I- S- S- I- N- G
First comes love
Then comes marriage
Then comes Mary with a baby carriage

Oh the shame of it all...
But wait!

The accusation grew much, much worse
Those teasers had added a second verse.


That ain’t all…
That ain’t all…
There goes Tyler drinkin' alky hol.

At that, the budding Romeo put down his foot.
He could bear the shame of being called a tree smoocher, but that son of a Baptist deacon was utterly unwilling to be accused of doing so while under the influence.

The romance didn’t survive the scandal.

Ah, youth…

So there you have it: Our childhood inspired Valentine table and a walk down Memory Lane.  By the time we gather on Susan’s Porch again, Valentine’s Day 2011 will be a memory.  Hope you all have a wonderfully romantic weekend of a more adult kind.


As for me?  I think I might just grab the man of the house
and climb the nearest tree.    
*****
Sharing this with Laurie
And on the porch.





46 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

I have to say it is one of the prettiest table scapes I've seen! Gorgeous and so elegant and classy! Lots of memories.

I am going to send you my address so you can ship those plates from TIffany to me - they are fabulous darling!!!

Love,
sandie

Lynn said...

Cute table Debbie! Great colors and I'm lovin' your pretty heart dishes! Also got a chuckle from the tulip poem-have a great V-Day:@)

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

What a happy table. It is so cute, and so different. Like you say who says Valentines day tables have to be red and white. I like it very much, and loved your lil story about the kingergarteners and the old rhyme we all know.
That was fun....have to say I have never heard that 2nd verse. So today!!! Sad actually!!
Glad the boy had a problem with it!!
Good for him.
Blessings, Nellie

At The Picket Fence said...

So cute Debbie! My kiddos would love this and I cracked up over the story of your daughter's first experience of the highs and lows of "love". :-) My son has always said he is going to marry me but I just recently heard through the first grade grapevine that another girl might be trying to weasel her way in...er...capture his heart. The nerve! Lol!
Vanessa
P.S. Did you get my email???

The Decorative Dreamer said...

This was so cute! The whole post! First off your table is wonderful, it reminds me of sleeping bags that were popular when I was growing up, with hearts all over them! LOL! Secondly the story of your daughters Valentines debut was so sweet. Poor fella! Yes, I do have wonderful childhood valentines memories...Oh, how I loved opening those little childhood valentines cards and creating the boxes and large envelopes to hold them all in class. What fun!

Anonymous said...

Debbie, this is just too cute, I think I enjoyed reading as much as this tablescape.
OUTSTANDING!...thanks for the smiles.
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly

Red Couch Recipes said...

What a fun table and commentary you have given us this evening. I love the tablecloth and your tulips -- as well as the "two lips" rhyme. So fun and brought back memories of my daughter kissing in preschool and memories of carefully selected Valentine's for those I had a crush on (and they were so unaware). Also selecting the few conversation hearts to slip in the card -- now, the kids get a ton of candy. Very fun table -- I hope to always stay young at heart! Joni

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love your tablescape, it is gorgeous, and your story is so tender and sweet. I love it. Hugs, Marty

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Love, love the table mainly because mine is about kids this year with stuffed animals as the center piece....yours is so cheerful and your story through out...great...of course it was the son of a Baptist preacher!!!

elizabeth said...

I remember sleeping with the little dime store valentine from my grade school crush under my pillow and riding my bike up and down the street in front of his house hoping he would notice me! LOL!
Love your post my friend and your tablescape!

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

So much fun my friend. I want the heart plate too. LOL
What a great tablescape!!! Tell the Dutchness she is the best.
Blessings,
Bren

The Charm of Home said...

So very cute!:)
Sherry

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

I do remember waiting to see if I would receive a Valentine from the boy of my dreams--a different one every year in grammar school! Great fabric! Linda

Unknown said...

ahhh, young love!
I can still feel the butterflies when you mention Valentine's Day and school...making the holders for the cards, wondering who would put what in it...glad I have my very own Valentine now!!!
xo
lynn

Mary said...

Those were the days, exchanging Valentines's, secretly delivering them along with conversation hearts *sigh*...thanks for the walk down memory lane. Love your festive table & two lips :-)

Angel said...

Oh, Debbie - This is just wonderful. Such a sweet story to go along with your whimsical tablescape. I heart this post!!!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

love IT ALL... the table and the story! So cute and fun! Your tables are just amaaazing! :)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

I love all the hearts and colors!!! Beautiful table scape!!!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debbie, this post has me just grinning from ear to ear! First of all, the brightly colored tablescape makes my heart sing and immediately put a grin on my face. Then, the story about your daughter's first valentine, and the way you told it, just widened that grin. I laughed out loud that you had included the "tulip" ditty! My smile covered my whole face when I saw that you were going to link this post to my V'tine par-tay! I love this post, and I love that you are bringing it to the party. Thank you so much! Big Valentine hugs! laurie

Marlis said...

Loved the tale! It had me in stitches. The fabric is a wonderful starting point for the light at heart table. Well done!

Denise said...

Your table turned out WONDERFUL! The colors are great and whimsical. I think the table cloth choice really set the mood for the whole table. The hearts on those candles turned out great, too. Your wit, as usual, was the cherry on top.

I can't help but wonder about the Duchess and the two lips in the dark... :)

Linda W said...

This was just the best smile-maker of my day! Love the table and the 'love story'.

I'm still laughing about the "alky hol". As always, you are too funny!

Amy Kinser said...

You always make me smile, giggle or break out in a big ole laugh.

Love the table.

Kelli said...

First, the table is full of whimsy and I "love" it!! Second, the Little House on the Prairie books are my favorite and my 9yo daughter can't read them quick enough! I grew up with Mary and Laura and now she is too!!

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
Wow! The table is wonderful...very playful and fun! Loved your whimsical mood today, too!


~Jean

xinex said...

Your table is so cute, Debbie, and so is the story. Your plates are really cute too! Thanks for being on the look out for the creamer...Christine

Alycia Nichols said...

What a cute story, and what an inspired table! It's nice to see youthfulness at work!

Sarah said...

Debbie, you keep me in stitches. Love the tulip verse. That's a new one for me. ;-)
Cute table. Love the heart dishes. ~ Sarah

Entertaining Women said...

I'm so thrilled that The Duchess pulled out that wonderful, whimsical fabric. You've created a marvelous, animated, dynamic tablescape. Right up my alley and a wonderful walk down memory lane, too! Before she married, my daughter used to call Valentines "Singleness Awareness Day." LOL Thank you for sharing your charming design and for stopping by my post. Cherry Kay

Phyllis said...

I am enjoying your fun table.....so different the road you traveled to create this young and vibrant look. Your personality shows through the screen and I hope you and hubby stay warm "up in that tree"....LOL

Crickit said...

First I want to say that I love your fun tablescape. As for the valentine's card and "special boys"... I remember that well. We would decorate bags in elementary school and we would walk around to each persons desk to drop in our cards in each child's beautifully decorated bag. I ALWAYS picked out a special card for that "special boy" in my store bought package of valentines day cards...hoping that when he got home to look at all of his cards, he found my "special" one. Thanks for sharing this great post!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Such a fun and whimsical table.. Sure put a smile on my face.. hugs ~lynne~

Tricia said...

Great post! I'm still smiling! That really IS fabulous fabric for inspiring a tablescape -- and I love how you added some of the motifs to the flowerpot. So colorful and cute -- and I always adore tulips! Thanks for your visit this week!

Ann said...

I LOVE your table. Now, just HOW many sets of dishes do you, the Dutchess and your sister own? LOL!

I'm lucky to get my family to sit at the table .... perhaps I need to do some "tablescaping" too.

LOVED your story of MD's first love. Too cute.

Thank you so much for posting these stories and photos. You are so talented in both arenas!

Bill said...

Love the whimsy, Debbie. What a fun, colorful, totally unique table! Hope you have a very happy Valentine's Day!

Anonymous said...

Great tablescape! And great poem by The Duchess!

Sharon said...

Such a cute post!! I L-O-V-E-D it!

And the tablescape is SO colorful and cheery! I want to sit there with my valentine! And I wouldn't mind doing a little K-I-S-S-I-N-G with him either!

The Duchess is a "saucy" little thing, isn't she?!?

This was fun, Debbie - thanks for sharing!

Aledia said...

Where to begin..... Well, first of all I say Thank You for your recent visit to Plum Perfect! You will find me to be your newest follower.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your tablescape! Everything is just perfect! I also enjoyed the two lips!

I look forward to seeing what else you bring to the table! Have a wonderful day!
Aledia~

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Such a fun reflection on childhood Valentine's days gone by!

★Carol★ said...

What a sweet little table, and such a sweet story to go with it!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Carol

CAL said...

I laughed through this entire post, it was a delight for the eyes and the heart.

The tablecloth was so colorful and cheerful, made me think of those colorful sugar hearts with the messages on them. REally lovely Debbie, amazing!!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Absolutely a darling post. The tablescape is just stunning! Have a great Valentine's Day!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debbie, thank you so much for linking this to my Valentine party. You are such a sweetheart. Have a great weekend. laurie

Unknown said...

This is such a wonderful festive table setting
and the table linen is so much fun.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Yours Sincerely,
Shirley

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Since I can't identify with a morning person (I'm a night owl!!) I'll comment on this adorable Valentine tablescape! The tablecloth is really cute and those clear plates with hearts are so pretty! Love it all!!

Katherine
P.S. - I did enjoy reading about you sleeping in!

Marigene said...

Debbie, your table is adorable...I love the material you used for the tablecloth.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails