setting the table

when steve and i merged our lives and bought a home together, we knew we would be entertaining.we both enjoy it. steve is great in the kitchen and the grill, and i love getting the table ready (believe me, nothing like i learned at "charm" school when i was young...i can set a table with 27 pieces of silverware).

last week, steves' family come to town for a family reunion. we had his siblings, their families and chosen family here for dinner...18 people.

steve started a couple of days before the get together, marinating, chopping and getting the smoker ready...


this is what i do... stare at the dishes, the linens, check out my flower garden and look around the house for things to use as a centerpiece. I LOVE SETTING A TABLE!

steve often teases me when i am leaving the house and asks if i am going out to buy more dishes or linens.  haha steve.

i set the table  the  same way i work on a piece in the studio, layers, mixes of colors and textures. 

our table only seats six, so i often set it for buffet style. we are informal anyway, so this works well for us.


more than once when we are entertaining... the question i get asked is... don't you have paper plates, plastic cups and utensils....NO!!!! what would be the point of having stuff if you are not going to use it???  i think that you should use the things you have, and more importantly, surround yourself with people you love. 

and...after the food is consumed, dishes washed, family gone... we get in the car and go someplace quiet for a few days....where we often use paper plates!!