Romantic Valentine Candlelight Dinner

We usually don't make a big deal of Valentine's Day. A nice quiet candlelight dinner is how we will celebrate the night.

The table setting is simple. The roses and candlelight are the stars here.

The mercury glass vases each hold six red roses, plus one rose for the napkin.

There are ten mercury glass votives marching down the center of the table, plus the red votives at each place setting casting their candlelight glow.

Let's turn out the lights!

How romantic is this?

A close up of the place setting.

A sweet Valentine bouquet.

The roses.....

and candlelight....

make a romantic dinner for two.

Floral Plates: Sur La Table

White Plates: Pottery Barn

Chargers: Costco

Mercury Glass Votives: Cost Plus

Placemats, napkins, silver and cutlery, etc.

from my own collection.

I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. I'm sure there will be many Valentine themed tablescapes, so check them out!

I'm also linking up to Laurie at Bargain Hunting with Laurie for her Valentine's Party on Friday. It will be fun to see all the Valentine inspiration there.

New Year's Eve Dinner for Two

New Year's Eve is going to be very quiet this year. Just the two of us! I set a table au deux for tonight behind the living room sofa. The drop leaf table comes in handy for this.

The china is our wedding china, circa 1982. It is the "Henley" pattern by Aynsley. I'm not fond of this pattern anymore, but it was fun creating a table vignette with it, using gold chargers and layering the plates.

These are our toasting glasses, also from our wedding. I had them hand painted and loved them at the time. They will come in handy at midnight as we welcome 2010.

These copper colored mercury glass votives set a more modern tone and bring the whole setting into the new century!

The jardiniere holding the amaryllis is Weller Pottery. I think it compliments the china nicely.

It has been more than 20 years since I have used this china. I'm thinking it looks pretty good!

Mr. A has been aging this bottle of wine for 10 years. He set it set aside for our New Year's Eve dinner. Forget the champagne!

In setting the table with our old china, I couldn't help remembering the past and all the memories that went with these plates. The many dinners and holidays we hosted when we were much younger. I am looking forward to next year hoping it will be also filled with wonderful memories.

So without further ado, we wish you a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Be sure to check out more fabulous tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch, hosted by Susan.

Christmas Eve Morning

The table is set for tomorrow's Christmas Dinner. There will be 14 of us this year and trying to fit everyone was a challenge. I decided to forego the Christmas plates and use my transferware instead, varying the green and red.

My Welsh cupboard looking very Christmasy with the Mason's Vista, majolica and Paperwhites

The morning light is so beautiful that I decided a take a few more pictures around the house. My sunroom with the view of the redwood outside.

Pinecone urn in the entry. I'm hoping the poinsettias last one more day!

The Christmas tree in the entry.

The mini Christmas tree on the family room credenza decorated with family photographs.

In the living room, behind the sofa is this victorian urn, inherited from my mother-in-law, filled with paperwhites.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a healthy, happy 2010.

Christmas Eve Supper

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. The table is set for a Christmas Eve Supper. I used my fun Christmas dishes and mixed it up with tartan and toile.

Nothing too fancy for Christmas Eve. The plates are from Target, and I think they are so fun and playful. Christopher Radko designed them and they are still available.

The opposite view looking in to the entry and the living room.

I found these mercury glass containers and filled them with white roses and boxwood from my garden. I think it compliments the centerpiece.

The centerpiece is a silverplate wine bucket with deer heads on both ends. I purposely left it tarnished to compliment the mercury glass.

The setting including soup bowls. I envisioned the table waiting for our family's return from midnight mass. A large pot of soup is waiting, followed by a winter salad. Santa is soon to arrive.

Plates and bowls, Target

Mother of Pearl knives, vintage Sheffield

Tartan placemats, Marshalls, several years ago

Chargers, Bordello Pinheiro majolica

Silver, red wine hocks, napkins, wine cooler and vases are from my own collection.