Ho Hum

This is the best I could do for the table setting of my Breaking Dawn I viewing party without purchasing anything new. It's my mother's mother's china and my father's mother's silver and stemware. Simple but classicly beautiful.

The Best Thing I Ever Made

I was once married. We had a wonderful wedding, almost all handmade by me. I love tablesettings anyway, but for my wedding, I wanted the best. When the caterer told me I would be paying $6 per napkin rental, I knew exactly what to do with that roll of natural linen in my fabric stash: hand sew 126 dinner napkins with mitered hems. It was the most relaxing sewing project of my life. They looked wonderful at my wedding. They have survived countless parties and picnics. They match every scheme. I couldn't live without them now. They are the best thing I ever made.

Taos: just a pretty picture

the breakfast room at the Sagebrush Inn: don't you just want to eat chipolte butternut squash and bacon soup?

Taos: I heart the Love Apple

I love a good meal. I love to travel. I fell in love with the Love Apple in Taos.

Scent is the first seductress...a wood fire in the courtyard waiting room warms the stomach. Inside the old church building, home cooking and real candles fill the fresh air.

The Table Setting: unmatched silverware, unmatched tables and chairs, and of course the fabulous food is served on unmatched vintage china and melamine, but all the perfect shade of blue that matches the outdoor trim.

My Meal:

blue cornbread muffins and chokecherry butter

farm greens with pecans, fried goat cheese, warm peaches, local honey dressing

ruby rainbow trout in a cornhusk with lime compote and chipolte creme

and they so graciously substituted: french lentil salad

I can't even talk about the lavendar honey panacotta for dessert

Place Settings: The Three Little Drawers

I definitely think every dinner deserves a place setting. Even if it is just me, I set the table (the coffee table). For years, I've lived with the placemats, napkins, and coasters from denby that perfectly match my denby dinner plates, but recently I've started collecting pieces that just make me happy. It really doesn't cost that much to buy one or two place settings of anything.

I keep my placemats in the top drawer...open pick one! I keep my napkins in the second drawer...open pick one! I keep the napkin rings in the third drawer...open pick one!