Recently I shared with you one of my favorite crock pot meals. I believe that it is possible to make an everyday comfort food meal seem like a lovely occasion. Today’s post is Day 16 A Feast For The Eyes.
Day 16 A Feast For The Eyes
On Saturday evening Mr. Décor flew home after working out of state for a month. Yes, a month. So I spent most of Saturday putting clean sheets on the bed, fresh towels in the bathroom and cooking a meal I knew he would enjoy.
I like to set a pretty table. Even if it is just a table for four. It makes people feel special. Given that it is fall and temperatures are now blissfully dipping into the 90’s I wanted an autumnal feel.
Free Flowers
Sweet boy and I had to go to the supermarket so I looked for some flowers. Perhaps floral deliveries are earlier in the week because the blooms were a bit past their prime. Indeed the bouquet I was most drawn to included cat tails that had mold on them. So as I laid my other purchases on the conveyor belt I smiled and asked the cashier “Is it possible you could discount these flowers since they are wilting and have a bit of mold?” She smiled back and said, “How does free sound?”
Well, that sounded like a truly lovely gift!
Once home, I snipped a good portion of the stems off, added a bit of bleach to the water and my blossoms perked right up.
I had enough flowers to create three separate arrangements and then just filled in the space with a few pine cones from the park and the recent acorn craft I created with the kids.
Recently I found a set of six bread plates at the thrift store. They are marked “Old Mill” by Johnson Bros. They felt a bit like “fall” to me.
After looking the pattern up on eBay I was quite pleased at the $4 I spent to acquire the transferware plates.
The red roof picked up the color up the mums while the lovely shade of ocher seemed to be reflected in the candlelight. I also like the small touch of blue from the river that works with the blues in the adjoining living room.
A Saturday night spent at home with family. Special indeed.
How do you make your family feel special?
Laura
You are right, Laura. I would feel special dining at a beautiful table like yours. (but it's not happening until I finish my 31 day October series). What was I thinking?
Very pretty! I am sure Mr Decor was happy to be home.
I had to laugh though as you described your temperatures dipping to the 90's! That sounds pretty warm to me! 🙂 There were wet snow flurries on Sunday but thankfully they didn't last! 🙂
YAY for hubby being home!! The table looks BEAUTIFUL!!!
Beautiful table setting for your family. Didn't know about using bleach for flowers so thanks for that tip. Love your stemware! Glad to hear hubby is home!
You set a beautiful table, Laura! Great find on those dishes. I always look for transferware in my GW, but it is a rare find.
I get up every morning and make my husband coffee and then prepare his lunch for work. I escort him out the door, with our youngest daughter, and kiss and hug them both goodbye. I then stand there in my jammies and wave to them as they leave. I'm such an old fuddy duddy that way, but I never know if it's the last time I'll see them and they need to know they are loved and cared for. That's another reason why I hug you all the time when I see you dear lady.
Hugs n' love,
Meri
Very pretty table and flowers! I know all your sweet efforts make your husband feel very special! We should all be this thoughtful!
XO,
Jane
Your table looks so lovely, Laura! I thinks it's so much fun to pull simple components together to create an array with so much impact. Love those bread plates.
Your dinner menu sounded scrumptious. I use my crockpot as often as possible. Not only does it do a great job of tenderizing & adding simplicity to a meal, you simply cannot forget how delicious your entire home smells when the meal is cooking — that's my favorite part!
I set our breakfast room table every night with placemats (sometimes even chargers), cloth napkins & a favorite color combo of Fiesta dishes for just the two of us. I think that is so important!
I wish my thrift store had super finds like those plates–I think people here are just to savvy–got to get there quick.
Laura, Such a beautiful and seasonal table. It “feels” warm and welcoming!
I am so sorry your temps are at 90 degrees. It would be a little hard to enjoy the Autumn season!
Beautiful table and yummy Cream Cheese Crock Pot Chicken!
I love that tablescape – it would be equally lovely for my parents upcoming 50th anniversary brunch (I want to do autumn colors because that's what they had at their wedding).
I too often have candelight with our dinners and seasonal decor. Sarah's friends have told me that they love eating at our house because it's so “fancy”! Apparently, it's entirely different than from their frozen pizza dinners at home. 😉
How fun. I haven't set a lovely table just for the family for a while. need to do that again! And I love the crock pot post too – the idea for the rice is awesome – I'm gonna do that !
You are sooo right!
Laura, what a lovely table to sit down to together. I know you are all happy Mr. Decor is back home and I'm just as sure he is glad to be back as well. I love those plates with just enough color to make them even more special. Ann
You made your camera sing in these photos. They are very good. My eye went straight to your crystal. Meadow Rose is so elegant. I have my mother's and it is so special to me. Your tablescape is quite lovely. Fresh flowers and the great texture of the pinecones along with the juxtaposition of the straw chargers and candlelight and your cute plates make for a great tablescape.
Setting a pretty table takes so little time and always says “welcome, I thought of you,” to me. I love those plates you found!
What a beautiful table and I know your husband felt special after being away from home!
awww, this is so sweet! love everything but most especially your flower arrangement – gorgeous Laura!
Thoughtful. I have told you before but I will tell you again, you are just so amazingly thoughtful! I am sure your family knows how blessed they are to have a mum and wife who goes the extra hundred miles (routinely, regularly) to make the most ordinary things so, so far from ordinary. You are a really special person.
Very pretty table!!
I have been making my family feel special by cooking some of their favorites before I head for the hospital. No fancy tables but still food in the tummy!!
Laura, Your table is beautiful! I'm sure your husband was happy to be home! Love your salad plates and what a great deal you got!
Well, friend, you made it through the month — again! Your “welcome home” dinner for Mr. Decor is lovely, and you did get a great deal on those plates. I'm off to check out the recipe I missed … but I've already read your Sabbath post and it's wonderful! Living in the present and not wishing our lives away is so rewarding! Have a wonderful week!
How warm, I would fell very welcomed at your table. ( I would love to be n 90 degree weather right now!) Happy Fall, Jules ~