Birthday Breakfast at the Junction

June is an especially busy month. There are recitals and graduations to attend. Of course a wedding or two. And the end of the school year always brings Field Day and outings that were postponed due to the long snowy winter - they are crammed in there too.
However in the excitement of all the endings and beginnings, my family always pauses the third weekend of June to have a very personal celebration that is always shared by three members of my family. My younger daughter and I have birthdays three days apart that bookend Fathers Day. We have gotten very good about sharing our "special" day with each other - it just means more presents to open, more good food to share with family and friends, and it seems to span the entire weekend. Lot's of fun. 
Today I decided to set a Pretty Pink tablescape for the ladies. Dad will have his day, don't you worry.  
Stop in to see the table - I'm off to buy the goodies!

Lots of pink going on here and rose patterns too

Perfect for the ladies Birthday Breakfast

The topiary are a hold over from

my pink phase long ago

The little rose cereal bowls as well as the salad

plates were from Ross a few years back

Under them is a clear glass gold trimmed

dinner plate which I found this year at

GW in Annapolis - my favorite haunt.

I think they were $2.00 each!

Pretty pink etched glasses from HomeGoods

will add elegance to the OJ served this morning

The swan centerpiece was made by yours truly

during my ceramics class adventures more

years ago than I care to remember

This little covered dish thingy was a steal

for $1.00 -

I thought it was just the sweetest thing -"y".

Along with OJ, we will of course have coffee.

I must have my coffee!

And even though it is just breakfast, there

should always be a touch of crystal.

Today I am using the candle holders

from my older daughter.

And yes.... there is a pitcher. LOL

I'm off to do little shopping....

Fathers Day is up next!

Thanks so much for taking time to drop by my little blog.

Your visits are so appreciated.

I will be joining

Tablescape Thursday

and

Seasonal Sundays

Click on the links to the right to see

all the other Tablescapers creations.

Where do you keep it all?!?

I love this Blog Party topic. Just because I love seeing how everyone creatively stores, preserves and displays all of the beautiful china, crystal, nic-naks and accents they share with us week to week.
So, when The Tablescaper put out the invitation to join her in celebrating her second blogger-versay, I was happy to respond.
Happy Second Blogger-versary The Tablescaper!
 I have loved every one your inspiring, truly awesome tablescapes. They were my jumping off point when I decided to join this wonderful community of artistic people who design, create and inspire week to week. Your comments kept me going when sometimes I wondered if I was going off the deep end with this passion of mine.  I have so loved being a part of it all.

Here's to all of us, who delight in all things beautiful!

We begin in the kitchen

 where I am lucky enough to

have two pantries like this for storage.

One of course, HAD to be for food.

 Imagine that.

The other was immediately designated dishes only!

Of course there is the kitchen hutch.

Here I store the color coordinated accents

to match the kitchen decor

The island cabinet has two sides.

Again, every space must share with

  Tablescape items!

I finally moved the crystal

to their own little cabinet

in the mud room this year.

They seem happy all together now.

From the kitchen we move

 to the diningroom hutch

Here I store my fruit patterned china.

Hey look there's a space!

I have to keep that in mind for the next shopping trip!

The diningrooom buffet where the holiday

glassware is stored

It all looks pretty tame doesn't it?

Well, because we're friends I'll

let you into .....

the basement!!!

Every tablescaper knows it's all

about the accents.

Here is where the true fun begins!

This area is best for holiday specific items

used infrequently

A left over chest is best for storing....

Napkins! Of course!

My old Hoosier cabinet is also pressed into duty.

Here vases and apothecary jars found a home.

Ok, not so bad you say. 

But here is where I let my crazy out to play.

These storage bins have been

with me forever. I think they

were the beginning of it all! LOL

And yes my friends, they are labeled.

 By holiday, and just plain "party" items

Ok, out of the dungeon

Lastly, my old 'friend' recently relocated to the

sun porch, is also a treasure keeper

of the outside accents.

I hope you had  fun touring my addiction.

I certainly had fun celebrating

the Second Blogger-versary of

The Tablescaper

and thanks to her for his party

 and her weekly links. 

I wish her many more beautiful

settings in the future to share with us.

Click on the link to the right to view other

storage and design ideas on...

Where do you keep it all?

Memorial Day at the Junction

Memorial Day. A day to recognize and appreciate those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. I personally have two family members who served in World War Two and Vietnam and my family was blessed to have them return home, so the day has special significance when we gather to celebrate.
The festivities embrace all the trappings of the un-official beginning of summer as we plan the menu for the first bar-be-que of  the year. Hmmm lets see, always hamburgers, hot dogs, my famous potato salad, chicken shish ka bobs and well you get the picture. For the first time in many years the weather has been amazing - a lot like the middle of summer rather than mid spring, and I was inspired to set a Memorial Day table that family says looks like a parade float. Never mind them ...

Welcome to The Memorial Day Luncheon

I was so happy to find that there were so many

adorable new accents to add to my tablescape this year

I picked up these little flag napkin rings

from Kohls this year - perfect!

Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue!

The little serving dishers were a GW find and

the perfectly paired with the napkins.

The center bowls were also a new addition this

year from CTS. Love that place!

I can see using these many times this summer.

The Homer Loughlin dinner plate has to be my favorite

Sorry- no date on these, but I know they were an

Annapolis GW find

Ok - this view does sort of look like a parade LOL

The buffet was set as well although it was a little early to

fill the lemonade dispenser, but there were

Red, White and Blue wrapped Tootsie rolls

And a bucket filled with crackers dressed

 in the colors of the day.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I hope you have a memorable

weekend and stop by

Seasonal Sundays

and

Between Naps on the Porch

to see how others have expressed their

thoughts on this holiday.

Mothers Day at the Junction

Not surprisingly today's post is dedicated to Mothers Day. The one day when we pause and truly say thank
you to our Moms, Grandmoms and those who loved us like Moms. My thank you on this special day also goes out to my children for giving me the pleasure of being their Mom. They inspired me, helped me grow, taught me patience and the true meaning of unconditional love and family. My first child a daughter was the child of my youth. I grew with her. I became a woman as she learned to walk and talk. She is now a Mom herself and a wonderful Mommy.  My second child, also a daughter inspired my creative and fearless side, and I learned to try new things and embrace life. My third, my son came along when I was older, more serious and conservative, but he reminds me every day to laugh and not sweat the small stuff. Together they are what make me a Mom. Everyday I am thankful for them and the pleasure they give me.

I created a table for one today -  for me, to celebrate being a Mom and I feature my Grandmother and my Mom as a baby with her. A beautiful legacy. I wish all the mothers out there a very Happy Mothers Day.

Of course I chose pink for the tablescape today

with lots of chintz and flowers

The azaleas are from my yard - yes my Southern

Sisters they finally bloomed!

I love this picture of my Grandmother

holding my Mom.

 It is on display everyday of the year.

The picture to the far left is of my Grandmother

with my Mother out for a day in the park.

She was so dressed up for the occasion!

This setting is in my favorite location in the house -

my porch.

The perfect cup of tea, and the perfect reading material

in my favorite spot. I'm set to celebrate!

Don't you just love the mix of colors here in the Azaleas?

They were all said to be pink when I put them in,

but they each have a slightly different hue.

Wishing you all a very

Happy Mothers Day!

This week I will be linking with

Seasonal Sundays

and

Between Naps on the Porch

and

Tabletop Tuesday

Click on the links to the right

to see more!

The Lemon Brunch at the Junction

I'm almost positive this has happened to you. You're in the store, something catches your eye and immediately you begin to think of a Tablescape! See, I knew it!
So, I'm sure you will understand how the little napkin rings shown in this post inspired this table setting for brunch.
I was captured at first glance by their little lemons accented by the blueberries. The little green leaves just spoke of spring, and even though I'm no "foodie" all I could think of was blueberries and cream, maybe even some lemon bars. So, home they went with me!

I began with a soft yellow tablecloth

so the deep blue chargers

(which are probably the biggest I've ever seen)

would be a standout anchor.

I then stacked a yellow scalloped charger from CTS, followed by a plain navy blue dinner plate

and a blue rimmed salad plate

from the J.C. Penney American Living collection.

I just loved the pattern of this salad plate, and

although the soup bowl is not from the same collection,

 it accents the pattern quite nicely,

and I love, love, love paisley!

Inside the bowl is a beautiful paisley sprig.

The napkins, also from the J.C Penney

American Living collection

are amongst some of my faves!

To the right is a sugar and creamer

 that has been around for eons -

they are from Crabtree and Evelyn

I think their casual style works well with this setting.

No matchy-matchy here.

 I've tempted the designer gods

and added yet another pattern!

This is my attempt at creative floral design.

Getting those leaves to stay put

was a test of my patience!

I think I must have a thing for pitchers.

If you've visited before,

 you know I seem to have

one to match every tablescape!

Whatever - a girls gotta have a vice

and I just love how it sets off my

inspiration piece - the napkin rings!

Which by the way are from BBB.

In this pic you get a glimpse of

all the accents together.

Another old piece; this butter dish is from

 the Block Country Orchard collection by Gear.

Are you inspired by the little things?

They can sometimes lead to

lovely Tablescapes!

Thanks for dropping in for my take on the Lemon Brunch.

I just love your visits and comments - they keep me going!

This week I will be linking to

Tablescape Thursdays

 at 

Between Naps on the Porch

and

Seasonal Sundays

with

The Tablescaper

Click on the links to the right for more inspiration!