A Simple Late Summer Table -- Come For Lunch!

Ah, Thursday!

Time to play with our old stuff and our dishes.

I'm joining three blog parties today; click on the icons to join in yourself,
or see what everyone else is up to!

Thank you Leigh, Suzanne, and Susan for hosting these parties!

*****************************************************************

On this late summer's day, with its clouds and occasional drizzle, you are visiting a friend, who just happens to live in an old yellow country house.

She welcomes you with good food, a simple table, and lots of laughter.

Your friend apologizes.

The plan had been to take advantage of the very last of the warmer days
and dine outside. Mother Nature made other plans.

The next best thing is to have lunch in the glassed-in conservatory, high above the street -- it's almost like being in a tree house, only you needn't scramble up a ladder to get there.

On the table, a few simple garden flowers in an old lustreware teapot,

Blooming sedum, and a few small, late summer volunteer mums:

Vintage lace upon lace on the round oak table,

Place settings of old Wedgwood:

The Patrician style, hand painted in the floral Bognor designs.

Your friend has been collecting these sweet dishes for several years.

Some are from her in-laws,

some arrived through the magic of Ebay and UPS.

The flatware is 100-year old silverplate, the type that was used

"downstairs" in great houses, and used by working families.

(Your friend likes to watch Merchant-Ivory films and spot this same
silverware in the scenes at the servants' table. Yes, she does need more hobbies.)

These few are slightly tarted up with a design; most that your friend has are completely plain.

Oops. One fork was a bit of a brawler in its younger days.

****************************************************

Hmmm... something smells good . . . and you are wondering what's for lunch.

Oh dear! You'll have to wait for Friday to find out!

I hope you are not too hungry;
if you are, you can always dodge the drizzle, and grab some of these, outside:

Enjoy your visit!

Remember to pet the dog. He loves visits from lovely friends! -- Cass