It's A Very Pink Tablescape Thursday

Tablescape Thursday  over at  Between Naps On The Porch  is my favorite day of the week!  I try to post a 'scape everyday, but Thursdays are special since there are so many others who share beautiful tables.

It's not really FALL here in Northern California, so I'm sticking with other 'scapes until I feel more like Fall in a couple of weeks!

This vintage tablecloth is by Simtex and is called "Pussy Willow." It is so bright and cheery, I may have to forget that "I'm not really a PINK person."  White, Rose, and Shamrock Post 86 Fiesta with individual Harlequin vintage creamers.  The candle holders are from Crate & Barrel probably 20 years ago, flatware from Macy's, glassware from Pier 1,  vintage Rosenthal vase, individual china flowers are German c. 1950, the bouquet of china flowers is English "Queens Floral", and the footed compote is Schwarzenhammer Bavaria c.1950.  The roses are from my garden.

Flashback to Woodstock

A September California Garden - Outdoor Wednesday

Join all of us who are enjoying  Outdoor Wednesday  over at  A Southern Daydreamer

Here are some shots from my garden here on the last day of September. We're basking in the cool weather for a couple of days in the 70's, will be back in triple digets by the weekend.

Mexican Breakfast

Some of the vintage tablecloths like this one can pose a challenge with colorways that were popular back in the day.  Pairing Tangerine, Persimmon, and Periwinkle seemed to do the trick! The coffee mugs are from the Fiestaware 2000 line, which only went into limited production before its demise at the death of the former Art Director of Homer Laughlin, Jonathan Parry in April of 2000.

Also featured is a vintage pitcher with matching juice glasses, Cityscape flatware and a couple of the Moozaic Cows replicated in resin.  Read more about fellow collector Joe Boeckholt and the full size Moozaic from the Kansas City Cow Parade

Tablecloth Reprise

Here's a different take on the vintage tablecloth previously shown with vintage Hawaiian Daisy Fiesta.   This time it is paired with Scarlet and White Post 86 Fiesta and Made in China chargers.  Napkin rings and glassware from Bed Bath Beyond, vintage Deauville flatware vintage HLC Hudson pitcher.

Mosaic Monday Takes On Fall

It's a little hard to get into the spirit of Fall here in Northern California with the temps in the mid-90s, but here are some views as the spirit of the season takes hold despite our perpetual summer weather.  Join the rest of the Fall fanciers over at the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Shrimp Boats and Roses

Vintage tablecloth paired with vintage Cardinal China ceramic shrimp boats with removable sails and black metal stand.  These work great for dipping sauces or condiments, as well as a shrimp cocktail server.  The boats can be removed and placed on a service plate for shrimp cocktail.  Post 86 Fiesta in Lemongrass, White and Sunflower with Cityscape flatware.  Glassware from Home Goods and roses from my garden.

These little boats are often found without their sails and masts, but it is easy enough to make your own sails and masts to replace the originals.  Art board, medium weight poster board or even canvas can be fashioned into your own sails.  The originals are some sort of wipe-off product that allows you to use the sails as place cards, wipe off and resuse over and over.  Here are the measurements for a home made sail.  The dowel has a slot down the end for attaching the sail.

Fair skies and following breezes to all shrimp lovers.

Both Becky and Sandra have boats that came in a box:

05/22/12 Per Sandra Bond, "Sandra Grazier Bond On one side of the box it says, "Each shrimp boat complete with wood mast and white plastic sail. Use the sail as a novel, whimsical place card for your dinner party." On the other side it says, "The ideal serving dish for a children's party. Put a ball of ice cream in the center and a cargo of cookies around the sides."

Green Fiesta Children

There are several colorways to be found for this vintage tablecloth called "Fiesta Children."  This is the Green version, the Gray version was seen here .  Depending on how the plates are placed you can either see the children or have them hiding under the place settings.

Here the children are visible.

And here they are under the place settings.

The children have some of their burros with them.  All are vintage, the two small ones are Harlequin by Homer Laughlin.

The white chargers are Made in China, Chocolate, Lemongrass and Rose Post 86 Fiesta.  Napkins are from Pier 1, Dansk flatware, vintage glassware.

7 Colors 'n Counting Plus Soup 4 Foodie Friday

So what's with "7 Colors 'n Counting Plus Soup 4 Foodie Friday" - well I had already planned this tablescape for today and I did want to join in again for the FABULOUS food fest for Foodie Friday, so this will do double duty.  Join in over at Designs by Gollum

To actually eat from this table setting I'll have to add some Fiesta Hostess Bowls for the soup.  This is one of the finer designs issued during the re-release of Fiesta over the last 23 years.  At one time it was an exclusive item carried by JC Penney, but now it is available in other places.

Here it is in Juniper upside down, so you can see the detail which is also found on the Fiesta Presentation Bowl.

The soup is going to be Rick Bayless' Tortilla Soup.  The BEST in my opinion, even though it comes out a little differently each time I make it, depending on what kind of peppers are on hand and what kind of chicken I use,  it is ALWAYS spoon lickin' great!

I generally use grilled or roasted chicken.  I cut my tortillas into thin strips for topping the soup and have extras on the side, so they stay crispy until you want to add more. Fresh limes are essential and add the finishing touch .... now I'm really hungry.

Ingredients:
1 large dried pasilla (negro) chile, stemmed and seeded
One 15-oz can diced tomatoes in juice (preferably fire-roasted)
2 tblsp vegetable or olive oil
1 medium white onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 quarts chicken broth
1 large sprig fresh epazote, if you have one
salt
4 (about 1-1/4 lbs total) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch thick cubes
(Rotisserie or grilled chicken can stand in for the raw chicken breasts,add it at the last second)
1 large ripe avocado, pitted, flesh scooped from the skin and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Mexican melting cheese, or Monterey Jack, brick or mild cheddar
A generous 4 cups (about 6 oz) roughly broken tortilla chips
1 large lime, cut into 6 wedges, for serving

I'm cheating a little here, this was my soup last winter ..... but it always looks pretty much the same. :-)

Preparation:

Quickly toast the chile by turning it an inch or two above an open flame for a few seconds, until its aroma fills the kitchen. (Lacking an open flame, toast it in a dry pan over medium heat, pressing it flat for a few seconds, then flipping it over and pressing it again.) Break the chile into pieces and put in a blender, along with the tomatoes with their juice. (A food processor will work, but it won't completely puree the chile.)

Heat the oil in a large (4 quart) saucepan over medium-high. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 7 minutes. Scoop up the onion and garlic with a slotted spoon, pressing them against the side of the pan to leave behind as much oil as possible, and transfer to the blender; set the pan aside. Process until smooth.
Return the pan to medium-high heat. When it is quite hot, add the puree and stir nearly constantly until thickened to the consistency of tomato paste, about 6 minutes. Add the broth and epazote if usiing. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt, usually about a generous teaspoon (depending on the saltiness of the broth).

Just before serving, add the chicken to the simmering broth. Divide the avocado, cheese and tortilla chips among the serving bowls. When the chicken is done, ususally about 5 minutes, ladle the soup into the bowls. Pass the lime separately.

So now that the soup is on its way, time to set the table!


I managed to use 7 colors of Post 86 Fiesta in this tablescape, plus Antique Gold in vintage Ironstone Fiesta, a Turquoise Harlequin Ball (Service Water) Pitcher and for good measure there are a couple of Carnival Turquoise Fruit Bowls.  This is why I love this dinnerware, whatever your mood or favorite colorway ..... there are a multitude of ways to accomplish your goals.

The 7 colors of contemporary Fiesta are:
Seamist, Turquoise, Chartreuse, Lemongrass, Periwinkle, Shamrock and Peacock

What I really am waiting for is the release of the Marigold place settings for the 75th Anniversary of Fiesta in 2011!

Flatware is Cityscape, glassware and napkins from Bed Bath Beyond, napkin rings were an eBay steal!  Metlox Turquoise Spiral Candle Holders were a find for me by a fellow collector at this year's last Brimfield sale. The little Siesta Man Wall Pocket is vintage and it comes in many color combinations.

The Siesta Man is snoozing under Lantana from my garden.

The Marmalade in Antique Gold is also vintage and is shown in the Royal Chrome holder.

Carnival is a lesser known line of colorware from the Homer Laughlin China Company that was given away as premiums in boxes of  Mother's Oats as an example.

Soup's on, let's have a Fiesta!

PS to "Breakfast At Grandma's"

I'm not sure how many readers go back to read responses that I post to comments, but I wanted to make sure you all knew that I am reading and appreciating all of your kind remarks!

Thank you all so much for your kind words about "Breakfast At Grandma's" !

Julie, you are correct .... you can never have too much Fiesta!

Sheila, the ad for the Hankscraft "Fiesta Egg Cooker" is one of many pieces of Homer Laughlin China Ephemera I have. You can see many of the items from my collection on my blog "The Pottery Papers" ©

Linda and Fifi flowers - those wild and crazy napkins were on sale at Pier 1 a couple weeks ago!

Joyce - get yourself down to Macy's and buy yourself some Fiesta!

Deanna, Marty and Joyce - the egg steamer is vintage, but they show up quite often on eBay, and come in other colors too. One goes perfectly with a Jadite collection and another is all ivory.

Mary and Brenda - that fabric was the start of this tablescape, just spoke to me! And tablecloths are my kind of sewing project, done in an hour and on the table!

Thanks again everyone for your lovely comments.

Breakfast At Grandma's House

It's another Tablescape Thursday with our hostess Susan over at Between Naps On The Porch

 Please join us over there for the party.

The only things missing from this table that evokes memories of breakfast at Grandma's house for me are the waffle iron (how many times did I burn the underside of my forearm on that thing???) and the toaster with the two flip down sides.

The pantry fabric used to make the tablecloth is similar to the fabric that used to hang over all the canning jars filled with wonderful treats like spiced peaches, watermelon pickles, and some sort of cucumber pickles ...... makes me salivate just to remember.  In the intense heat of a Kansas summer the cellar was the place to be and more than once my cousins and I raided the spiced peaches, carefully washing the empty jar in the laundry tub and placing it on the shelf that held the "empties."  Do you think she ever knew?

Ivory, Scarlet and Black Post 86 Fiesta, an official Post 86 accessory napkin holder, vintage glassware, Cityscape flatware, contemporary napkins and napkin rings.  Also shown is the electric Hankscraft "Fiesta" egg cooker with ceramic poaching bowl and metal ring for making soft/medium/hard boiled eggs.  The amount of water poured in by the teaspoon determined how long the eggs cooked and when the steam stopped, the power turned off and it was time to eat!

Lid on for boiled eggs.

And here the lid is on with the metal ring removed and the ceramic poaching dish inserted.

Several pieces of Universal "Cattail" made for Sears Roebuck are also shown, a cake tray, pancake set with batter and syrup jugs, and a large bowl shown with fruit in it.