Tablescaping, Thrifting, and (Always) Thanking!

Today, I'm doubling up... and doing the very popular Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch (click to visit more tablescapes!). . .

. . . and also Thrift Store Thursday, a brand new blog party, hosted by Holly at Homebody. (Click to visit more thrift finds!).

Thanks to both of these lovely ladies. It is a lot of work to host one of these; the commenting alone must take hours. Thanks!

And now.... it's lunchtime...

I am home alone, but the conservatory beckons, with a soft tapping of drizzly spring rain on the glass roof. Also beckoning -- lunch, and a pretty tablescape in greens, of old and new.

It's said that all greens go together, that Mother Nature's main hue in all its many variations live happily side by side.

Let's test this out.

Start with a green cabbage plate, bought about 20 years ago at The Doofpot in Greenport, on eastern Long Island. There's a backstamp but it is illegible.

Add a luncheon plate, once used by my Grandmother.
It is marked as Syracuse China. A pretty border -- pink and green!

So . . . something old, something new, nothing borrowed, and on today's table -- nothing blue! But there is some silver. . .

The flatware is old, probably turn of the 20th century or earlier. It's silverplate, Rogers, and very plain, quite spare and modern in design; it's what the common folk used. It is firmly "downstairs" and not "upstairs."

It is strong and sculptural: it is what it is. Its form follows its function and there's no folderol. It is easily found in thrift and antiques shops, and is not expensive.

Above, a brand new mug, one of 4 given to us just this past Saturday by Nick,
a friend of our daughters' from back in high school, who came to our House Blessing.
The mugs are Franciscan, and delightfully oversized; just right for a giant cup of rainy day tea. Thank you, Nick! (I always liked that boy.)

Green pottery tea pot. Where did I get this?
It's a lovely green, with under-glaze color variations.
No marks. Methinks it was a gift.

This little cream pitcher is simply marked "Made In Germany" on its little bottom. Love the lustre-pink around the top.

A thrift shop find!

This sugar bowl has a bit of recent history, despite its age. (Like the pitcher, above, it also has lustre around the top.)

Back in June 2000, I helped organize a large club tea at a hotel. For table decorations, we planted blooming annuals in vintage sugar bowls we'd gathered over the past months from thrift shops and secondhand stores.

We gave them away at the end of the tea . . . but (shhh!) I kept this one for myself.
Well, heck, it was one of the few that actually had its lid!
It is marked, "Germany" and has a wonderful strong silhouette.

Now . . . from France . . .

. . . comes this little Limoges plate. It has a bisque-like finish, sweet spring violets, and was a gift from my mother-in-law, who always found wonderful things in secondhand shops.

It will hold the tea bags.

Who among us can resist old table linens, lovingly worked by hand?
This vintage bridge cloth is embroidered with flowers and baskets in each corner.
Just right for a spring table.

And -- Daffodils. Miniature ones nodding high over their pot.
A gift from a guest at our House Blessing.

Did you ever see giddier looking flowers?
How can you not smile back?

A book is a wonderful companion, when lunch is over but there is still tea in the pot.
My daughter Alida found this at our local village book shop this weekend, and
left it behind for me to read when she returned to California on Monday.

Dover Thrift Editions are amazing bargains, even new!

Time for lunch. . .
with Syracuse flower-bordered plate, or not?

And something lovely to look at. . .
two Venetian masks, gifts last July from Claudia, Alida's friend from Verona, Italy, who graced us with a visit. A beautiful, charming, kind young lady; it makes me happy to have these reminders of her time with us.

Thanks to the people whose hands made these items, old and new. Thanks to our friends and family who celebrated with us on Saturday, during our House Blessing (more on that in another post). And of course, thanks to you, the bloggers and readers, who inspire me to record the happy adventures at That Old House. You are all true blessings.

And now, it is almost noon.... so go have lunch!

Mangia!

If you are wondering about all my curtains (click for story). . . well, most were up for the House Blessing party, but I am not happy with all of the results. I'll post pictures and story tomorrow. More to come! Nothing is ever finished. . . .