We spent a wonderful day on Long Island's East End yesterday, checking up on the beach house. I took loads of pictures, and I'll post about the house and our plans for it, very soon.
The weather was perfect out on the North Fork, and we hated to leave, but here we are back in New Jersey, and it's time for Sunday Favorites, hosted by Chari of Happy To Design.
Click here for more blasts from the past! Mine is from March 2008, and it's rather silly, but I had fun with it! I hope you do, too. . . .
The weather was perfect out on the North Fork, and we hated to leave, but here we are back in New Jersey, and it's time for Sunday Favorites, hosted by Chari of Happy To Design.
Click here for more blasts from the past! Mine is from March 2008, and it's rather silly, but I had fun with it! I hope you do, too. . . .
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Oh where, Oh where can my single malt be?
Oh where, Oh where can it be?
For a whole big batch of wonderful tablescapes, all of them better than this silly effort, go visit Susan at Between Naps On The Porch.
Don't these Tablescape Thursdays zip around awfully fast? I wasn't going to play along this week -- brain freeze -- but I got to thinking last night, as I watched a DVR'd episode of an Agatha Christie mystery, of a fantasy tablescape I could set up, right in our study.
(No, not one of those fantasies, you saucy minx!)
Play along with me. There's the reveal of a hidden secret at the end! I guarantee you will laugh. Or at least grin. Probably.
Here goes. . . .
Howard and I are not the ritual-cocktails-before-dinner types. With us it's more a welcome home, quick kiss, feed the dogs, pop open a Fresca before dinner ritual, but, just for tonight . . . we pretend. . .
I am sitting in our comfy, feet-up study near seven in the evening, flipping through The Economist (this is a fantasy, remember), and waiting for my guy to return from the trenches of Manhattan. I've tossed a cloth over the coffee table. On it, waiting, are a couple of simple sturdy glasses:
an old cobalt blue pottery ice bucket by Pfaltzgraf that I have had for more than 30 years:
a pretty little Italian pottery plate, with a pre-dinner tease of aged cheddar and whole grain crackers:
2 linen napkins, and a small bunch of Peruvian Lilies:
in an anniversary vase my daughter Anne made for us when she was 12:
and ... and ... and ... hey! Hey!
Something's missing!
Something's missing!
Where is that wonderful single malt Scotch we bought at the duty free shop at Gatwick airport?
I think DH deserves a little splash of good whisky at the end of a 14-hour day, don't you?
I think DH deserves a little splash of good whisky at the end of a 14-hour day, don't you?
Where oh where can that single malt be?
Wait.
What is this?
The end of the table is moving!
What is this?
The end of the table is moving!
It's swinging open!
The end of the table swings open to reveal. . . the single malt Scotch, hidden in a secret compartment!
Now the tablescape is complete.
Ta-da!
Ta-da!
About that unusual coffee table. . . I found it last year on Ebay. I couldn't resist it. (Yes, it was cheap!)
It's got strong Art Deco lines, and I bet it was made during Prohibition in the U.S.
I wonder if it was meant to help clever hostesses hide their liquor?
I'd be more likely to hide M&Ms. (Aged cheddar would get stinky after awhile.)
I wonder if it was meant to help clever hostesses hide their liquor?
I'd be more likely to hide M&Ms. (Aged cheddar would get stinky after awhile.)
Each end of the table swings out to reveal hidden compartments for -- what else? -- booze, and also a small ice bucket,
shot glasses, everything the good hostess needs for a clandestine cocktail party. Except the olives.
shot glasses, everything the good hostess needs for a clandestine cocktail party. Except the olives.
It's a neat old dear, in good shape for its age, with great curves and a heavy plate glass top -- just right for putting your feet up.
Its style doesn't really "fit" with my other furniture, but I am a believer is using
what you love, and if you love it, it will work.
what you love, and if you love it, it will work.
This piece is on loan to me; I know that someday one of my girls will beg for it, and I will fold. But meanwhile it's got a home in our study. It cracks me up and I love things that make me smile.
I forgot one of the important elements of a cozy pre-dinner drink and chat in the study:
the dogs join us. They are hoping for a bite of cheese.
Poor Dion and Connie -- always hopeful.
the dogs join us. They are hoping for a bite of cheese.
Poor Dion and Connie -- always hopeful.
(Sorry it is so blurry; they were a bit quivery with excitement as I was holdingtheir attention with one of those cheese slices. Yes, they got some!)
P.S. I learned something valuable today; I have no decent double old-fashioned glasses. (I think that's the right term.) Can you tell we are not cocktail folks? But this must be remedied. . . .
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Update 5/31: there were several sets of old-fashioned glasses at the beach house, so I brought a set home yesterday; they are vintage, and very cute. More on them at another time! -- Cass
Posts
That "cocktail" table is cool!
ReplyDeleteGM Cass girl I remember this post and I still love that coffee table...it's so unique to say the least...love your new header picture of your house...May you have a great Sunday my friend..Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
ReplyDeleteGreat cocktail table. Your little dogs were probabley thinking, get the picture taking over with - lets eat. :)
ReplyDeleteGlenda
That is the coolest table I have seen! Your furry babies are so funny, I love that "quivering with excitement" look. LOL! Great post, TY.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2nd time around Sunday!
xJ
MaidenShade.wordpress.com
Such an unusual coffee table and what a conversation piece. It is so neat. Great post and yes, I did giggle. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteHi! What a just beautiful house you have! It is fantastic!
ReplyDeletegreat post!
xoxo
Yep - - - I remember this post too. BUT, last time I did NOT notice that the crackers are Triscuits, and I do love me some Triscuits!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat table is the coolest! And you should ALWAYS have a pre-dinner drink.
ReplyDelete:)
Cass,
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! I remember this and I thought wow is she creative! If I had that, my teens would find it for sure! LOL, Cindy
Your table definitely deserves a walk-on part in an Agatha Christie movie. Although it works well for hiding the malt, I can see the script requiring the murder weapon to be hastily concealed in there too!
ReplyDeleteCass my old aunt Leah used to have hidden bottles too but it was not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteArt deco pieces were often directed toward the cocktail hour. The bar sets, the cigarette lighters, the martini shakers.
Very cool table.
Cass
ReplyDeletehaha! Love the secret compartment--any man would be glad to come home to a warm room like that!
Just blog hopping today and enjoyed reading your blog...
ReplyDeleteI am posting on our Disney trip so hope you will stop by. Also, the June giveaway starts today..
all comments left in June will be in the drawing for the "June Card Box"! You will have to go down a few posts to read about the monthly giveaway.
Happy Sunday!
Hi Cass...
ReplyDeleteMy friend, I'm so glad that you joined in with the fun of Sunday Favorites this week!
Ohhh...I remember your cocktail table from another post! It's quite memorable...that is really the most awesome little table that I've ever seen!!! I've never seen another one like it!!!
I bet hubby was excited to see that you had a little R&R waiting for him when he got home from work! Sounds yummy!!! Girl, I just love that vase that your daughter made for you...it's beautiful!!! Does she still do that kind of craft? I also loved seeing that pretty little plate that you had the cheese and crackers on...Oooh, so beautiful!!!
What a great post...I really enjoyed it! Oh yes...and your fur babies are just precious!!!
Have a great week, my friend!
Chari
Oh how I love that table! Something this pretty, this unique and cool just HAD to come home to your place! I love a home filled with allmanner of things, eclecticly decorated. Make is all more interesting and fun.
ReplyDeleteYour tablescape is wonderful...just the sort I would love! Now, don't you think that Dion and Connie could have a nibble of the cheese please?? Please??
Love,
Sue