Table Talk

Well, I'm back from the beach, and it's way past time to update the blog.  Most of the problem with writing a blog is subject matter.  In my mind, it's a fine line between something interesting and something boring.

Today, as we were shifting stuff around the shop (which as most of you know is an hourly occurrence), we came across this pitiful table top.  

So tired and thirsty (kind of like me sometimes!)  Well, Sarah whipped out the Restore-a-Finish.  What a difference!

We carry this stuff because it's so darn good.  You can see the left side is done, and the right side isn't.

Here is the final finish.

All of the difference in the world--right?!

Now if I had a decent camera that I knew how to use, you would REALLY  be impressed.

We were so smitten with our 'new' surface that we decided to really dress it up.

We have just gotten in these pieces of Wedgewood's "Flying Cloud" pattern.  Then we have this great Pottery Barn lantern.   Next we found these 2 red pottery pots--perfect.  Then, of course, a table setting needs glasses.  AND, one is never enough.  Finally, we have these napkins that go with a tablecloth to put out.  

We would so set a table like this when friends and family come over.  Here's to a shrimp and grits kind of dinner!

Karan

A Little R&R

I'm heading off tomorrow for a little R&R.  I'm meeting a group of girlfriends at Southern Shores in Nags Head.  To me, that's the best R&R. 

                              

With just the girls, you can:

1.  Stay in your PJ's all day long if you want to.

2.  Sleep as late as you want because you don't have to tend to someone else's breakfast (or lunch if you REALLY sleep in!)

3.  Go shopping without having to tell anyone you won't buy much or the time you will be back.

4.  Depending on what you do, there's no makeup or much hair care involved.

5.  Dinner can be wine and cheese and crackers---no planning and shopping and cooking.  UNLESS you want to.

6.  No one else's laundry, towels, etc. to have to deal with.

7.  You can read, take a 'drop-down' as my friend, Hazel,  says (AKA a nap!) any time you want.

8.  You can stop anywhere, anytime, for how ever long on the trip down and back.  


Now, I love my family to pieces - and I enjoy our trips to the beach together.  Here's a throwback picture of Allison and me at Myrtle Beach many moons ago...

         

 BUT, girlfriend trips just fill a real 'rest and relax' niche.

When I get back, I will have:  

1.  My husband's office move with which I am involved.

2.  A bridal portrait bouquet.

3.  A dining room table arrangement for a party.

4.  5 centerpieces for a bridal shower.

Will be thinking about this (not) when I'm trying to decide whether to have beer, wine, or something with an umbrella.

See y'all in a few----------

                                                      Karan

Wedding flowers

Back in March we did flowers for a wedding in Williamsburg.    The ceremony was in the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary.  What an historic place for a wedding!

The reception was held at the Alumni House of W&M.  The bride, Meg, was a long-time family friend of Allison's husband, Jon.  The colors were blues, greens, purples and yellows.

We think they turned out well, and the bride and her mom were pleased.   That's a score in our world!

Congratulations Meg and Brian!

The Lay of the Land

When I go home to visit my mom in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, I go  on what I call my 'morning coffee tour'.  Instead of making a pot of coffee for just me, I go to a close-by Hardees and get a large coffee.  Then, I take off on my tour.

Huntsville is a beautiful city.  The landscaping is really nice and, in many cases, different from what we are accustomed to seeing here in Virginia.  The areas that I usually cruise are the Twickenham, Five Points, and Blossomwood areas.  

This last time, Allison was home with me.  I drove and she snapped photos of landscaping that we like so we could 'de-construct' it to apply to our yards.

This one is owned by a landscaper!  The tiered stone levels with the plantings make this just lovely.  This is not a large yard at all.  In this particular neighborhood, the '50's red brick ranchers and cottages are being bought and completely re-modeled.  This was a little red brick house with white shutters and a centered front door.  Now look at it!  I am amazed at the creativity some of these folks have.

This is an older home that has more simple shrubbery design with just boxwoods.  But what makes this so great, is the similax vine growing over the entire porch.  Many of the homes have big front porches and most of those have smilax vines growing over them.  The columns, rails and colors are so well chosen.  If you look closely, you will see a lamp on a table.  Many of the porches have lamps on tables along with seating arrangements.  It looks so inviting at night to see the lamp light.

This garden had a great mix of shrubs and perrenials.
We figured out that they plant to the edge which would help  keep weeds at bay.  The bird house gives it some nice height and structure.

And, finally, the symmetry of this starting with the planters at the front door leading to the planters down the steps was just perfect.

Now, can we find the time and ability to execute any of these ideas?  Wishing, hoping, thinking and praying so!!!

                                                        Karan

Shady business

These lamps came in for consignment this week.  I fell in love with them.  However, when I put the shade on them, I fell in "maybe a little like" with them.

These lamps are a great illustration on how just changing a shade, and usually the harp, can make such a difference.  The old shades were humongous and blocked the pretty top of the base.

So, simply using a couple of consigned shades, I made a new, more up-to-date lamp.  I changed the harp to a smaller size.






Look at the difference in the size of the two!
                                 

Now, these may end up at my house---maybe.  Need to find a pair of matching shades, BUT am now thinking that the shade on the lamps I am replacing would work.

Stay tuned-------

                                                               Karan

Sweet Home Alabama Part 2

You may have noticed a little lack of blogging around here lately - but don't be afraid, we've not abandoned our effort to provide you with a glimpse into our corner of the Earth, we just traveled back to Karan's home state of Alabama.  We spent most of our time in Birmingham visiting with our dear family that we don't get to see often enough.  

We had to start out trip off with a visit to one of our all time favorite comfort food spots, The Greenbrier Resturant or as we call it "The Catfish Place." They've got simply the best hushpuppies and fried catfish on the planet. Good thing we packed the Tums.

We also spent a good deal of time visiting with the menagerie of animals that live with our family in Birmingham.  I've always wanted backyard chickens so imagine my delight at getting to meet Beyonce and Billie and check out their amazing coop!

Beyonce

Getting to know Billie

They provided us with fresh eggs every morning and a lot of entertainment! They live in a pretty posh spot if you ask me. I also got a chance to meet Lindy, the hedgehog. She's pretty cute and her quills were a beautiful ombre!

It was so fun for the animal lover in me!  Stay tuned for other ways we spent our time during our visit!

Allison

Tough Love Fallout--Dining Room

The final phase of the 'tough love' visit from our friend, Giggi, was the dining room.  I didn't really change a lot in there because I have what I have in the way of furniture.  BUT, the surfaces were in desperate need of some love.

The side board still had a couple of Christmas items.  They had landed there and hadn't moved.  I was tired of my typical 'more is more' look, so I tried to pare down a little.  Here is the sideboard before.  Yep, those are frosted cherries.  Definitely needing some spring.

Here is the new, fresher sideboard.

Snowball viburnum, eggs, rabbits---much better for April.  BTW, if you have one of those large silver platters that have the wells in them, they are great to use as a 'base' for a display.  I love this one because it is heavily accented on the sides and is footed.  

Next was the table.  Now for true confessions.  My dining room table is always full of stuff---and not cute stuff.  It may be stuff that needs to go to the basement but just hasn't been taken down yet.  Or, it may be stuff that I haven't quite decided what to do with it.  Regardless, there is always a pile.  Therefore, I decided that MAYBE if I set the table, maybe I would/could keep it straight.  Here is table now.

Except, I didn't like just the plain placemats.  So, I added a salad plate from my grandmother's handpainted china.  That looked too plain, so I added the rabbit placecard holders.  Better.

Still have to work on the radiator cover and re-do the china cabinet.  There's a little leftover Easter and Christmas there too.

Maybe I can get it done before fall :)