Tuesday Tea No.36~ Breaking Out the China…

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2.8.11

Tuesday Tea No.36~ Breaking Out the China…

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Welcome to Tuesday Tea! I hope you are enjoying a delicious cup of something lovely though you may not prefer it hot today. I had Harney and Sons Passion Fruit tea and it tasted delicious! Perhaps you are using a ‘china’ cup today—there’s nothing quite like china is there?

Please feel free to link up here if you would like to join us.  I know we’d all love to see your tea things too. 

Frankly, I think I need another cup! I wrote such a nice post this morning and was all done at about 9:30 am when Dear Hubby came in to chat about some things that had come up with one of the kids.

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One thing led to another…and I began cleaning to get ready for company tonight and can you believe it? I forgot clean about Tuesday Tea!!  I DID get my desk all clean and orderly, set up new files (with pretty folders) and was feeling so good about all I had accomplished. Somehow, as I was cleaning I got to thinking of a post I had written a long time ago about putting everything back in the exact right place. Before you know it..that’s what I was doing. 

Sigh.. I decided to move the computer from the dining table where Rebekah and I were having tea and laughing over facebook posts..to my desk.. Out went my power..and my post disappeared..just like that! I must surely be the MOST sidetracked person on the planet!

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I was planning to chat about how amazing the effect of music, candlelight, crystal, and especially CHINA can have on even the simplest meal or occasion.  It was on my mind because we just celebrated Dear Hubby’s birthday last night.  I set the table super nice! 

Funny..I just wasn’t ‘feeling it’ last night--you know?…the celebration..the excitement…  It was the strangest thing, I must say! I just couldn’t get ‘in the mood’.

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We were having grilled rib-eye steaks and baked potatoes, green beans and a store bought chocolate type pie.  It really was the most basic of meals..but one of Tim’s favorites.  It’s always tough making a ‘festive’ birthday for an adult when they just aren’t the ‘festive’ type. Tim can never even decide what he would like for a gift and he doesn’t want a big fuss made. So it always takes some of the ‘umph’ out of my preparations.


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Since I couldn’t think what else to do, I decided to just set the table really nice and started pulling out the linen tablecloth…and setting out the china and crystal.  The more I worked the more beautiful the table looked. One thing led to another and the next thing you know…the whole setting rivaled the Olive Garden! 

I put on an old record of ‘dinner music’ (instrumental piano) which really added some ambiance.  Then I got out the silver (actually this is nice stuff but not the real thing.)  I have the real thing, I just didn’t get it out this time.
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We even set out tea cups and saucers to hold coffee to accompany our dessert--We rarely do that.  The table really did look special and with the music and candlelight.. everything suddenly seemed festive. :o) Tim certainly loved it. He and the kids and I chatted over dinner and it seemed to me that they all lingered much longer over the table than we normally do. I was convinced it was the ‘atmosphere’.


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It made me wonder why I don’t ‘break out the china’ more often.  I decided, right then and there, to plan a weekly ‘wow’ meal. And why not?   It’s just a bit of dishwashing which never hurt anyone. (Don’t want to put china or silver in the dishwasher of course!) We lay out a big bath towel on the counter for the occasion and let everything air dry. (I usually dry silver right away though.)

In my original post, I talked quite a bit about our china, how we finally managed to get some (on sale of course-tee-hee!) and how it has been so iconic in most homemaker’s homes over the decades. But now, I’ve lost my train of thought so it will have to wait for another day, I’m afraid.


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Still…if our little family birthday dinner experience..that was miraculously transformed from ordinary..to memorable… inspires you...then I’m sure it’s ‘enough’ for today’s tea chat. :o)

Do you use your china very often? Why or why not?  Do you feel that sit down family dinners have been lost in the rush of our modern world’s hectic pace of living as I do?

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Perhaps it’s time that we all ‘broke out our china’ and let it grace our tables just a little bit more often…even if it’s only for one or two. 

If you would like to see some incredible place settings and lovely tables…you will definitely want to visit these ladies’ special tea parties.  They are certainly inspiring!

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Linking with these lovely ladies...
Kathy’s A Delightsome Life: A Return to Loveliness
Amy of Tea Girl in a Coffee World
Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday
The Plumed Pen's  Tea for Two
Rose Chintz Tea Time Tuesday
Martha's Favorite Teacup Tuesday

11 comments

Charlotte said...

What a nice birthday dinner! Your table is very lovely. It is true that china, candles, music, ect. change the whole mood. I hope your husband enjoyed his special night.

Blessings,
Charlotte

The distracted thing...me too!

Amy said...

I always say I can relate to the mouse in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. . . one thing leads to another! I think it's wonderful you gave your husband such a nice birthday celebration. Our guys don't think they care, but I know the love expressed is appreciated. Also, we don't have china, but you never know. I may find some like you did:) Looks lovely.

(I tried to link up, but I don't see it. If it doesn't come through, let me know and I'll do it again. Thanks:) )

A Primitive Homestead said...

Your table is set so beautifully. Blessings!
Lara

Joy @ Joy Of Desserts said...

Funny coincidence, I was just telling Trish at Sweetology101 for Tea Party Tuesday that I also use my fancy tea cups and other pretty things everyday, because if not now, when. I think it's good to make our family and any guests feel special and welcome.

Maria Killam said...

Love the table Donna and the hits of yellow! I'm not married anymore but I have been using my 'wedding china' it's white Wedgewood, Strawberry and Vine for years and not a single chip. My sister got stoneware for her wedding china and it has lots of chips in it. So I say, use the bone china cause it's stronger than anything else anyway!
x
Maria

Donna said...

Bone china is certainly more durable than stoneware. No question about that. Funny, but I hadn't thought of that before.

Anonymous said...

What a simply lovely table setting
It looks so elegnant and inviting!
I like to set my table pretty even if it is just my hubby and I dining
It seems to lend something to even the plainest food!! And makes it more festive and like you said, people seem to linger longer, chatting, after the meal is over.
I have been collecting inexpensive plates, goblets, and flatware in different colors, for two, but it is the most fun to pull out my Nortiake "ANTICIPATION" china made in Ireland...a long ago gift from my sweet mother.....I think of her whenever I use it....
I am new to your blog, but marked it to return to..thanks for sharing
with us....Francy

Kathy said...

Oh, I can be so sidetracked too. I sit at the computer, reading, posting - thinking - other things pop into my head - there I go! Rabbit trailing!
We all do it from time to time!
Love your tablesetting! I am almost 100% sure that your china is the same pattern my mother had - that my baby sister now has! So lovely! Thank you for sharing your post with A Return to Loveliness,
Kathy

bella said...

Your tablescape is lovely. You should link up to the blog "Between Naps on the Porch" on Thursdays. I adore your china!

Terri said...

Your hubby's birthday dinner turned our beautiful! Your china is so pretty with the lacey details around the edges. It is the perfect set to go with just about anything.
You are so right about the value of making an effort to set a nice table and create an atmosphere as well. I love having music during a meal.
Thank you for your lovely thoughtful post!
Hugs,
Terri

Martha's Favorites said...

Hi: What a special table you have set! Love the china, it is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing the special day with us. Blessings, Martha

“There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” ~ Margaret Sangster

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