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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Frog Blog!

I live in the south. I live in the south on a small lake. For those of you who share this common bond, you understand the sounds we hear sitting on our screened-in porch in the evenings this time of the year. Frogs, frogs and more frogs!

I have been thinking about frogs a lot lately. It started when I moved my rather large trash can and a small frog was hiding behind it. I wish that I had been carrying my camera or phone that day, so that I could show you a picture of the little guy. Alas, I had left them behind so that my hands would be free to roll the trash can to the street.

The next thing that made me think of frogs was my sister-in-law’s announcement that she will soon be publishing a new book about her frog family. She is a children’s book author who has written several books. The first few books were about a girl named Ida Claire. That series was somewhat autobiographical about my sister-in-law and her cousin, Mike, who was “Will” in the series. My husband who is older than his sister, also, is featured in the books as “Franklin”. It is not a particularly pretty picture that she paints of him, so we will just leave that one alone!! He swears he never did any of the things that she said he did in the books and for our family’s peace – I have chosen to believe him. However, I was the youngest child in my family with an older brother and sister and I know how they treated me at times (just sayin’!).



Anyway, back to the frogs! The series that my sister-in-law has recently been writing is about a frog family who goes on lots of adventures.

This is the cover of her first frog book. The book is illustrated by a very talented artist, Jean Weiner.


I decided that I should invite my sister-in-law’s darling four year-old grandson, Maddox, to lunch and we would surround ourselves with frogs! Maddox loves his grandmother’s books and he might make an appearance in the upcoming one.


I started the place setting with some new placemats from Dillard’s. I love these, since they are reversible. This side is plaid and the other side is a beautiful floral. A green Bordallo dinner plate went on top of the placemat.


Next, I used to Weimar German plates, which feature frogs decorating the rims. I bought these charming plates on eBay.


The girl for me

The boy for Maddox


For our bread plates, I used Bordallo, again. Tiny frogs sit on the little lily pad plates – perfect!


Oneida “Cantata” flatware and white napkins with napkins rings that fit in with the nature theme – they were purchased on the One Kings Lane website and have tiny bees on them.


Hazel Atlas “Eldorado” green footed glasses complete the place setting.


The centerpiece is a collection of three pieces – a peace lily in a bronze urn, my sister-in-law’s book and a beautiful C.E. Cory frog pitcher made in Portugal that I purchased at a different time on the One Kings Lane shopping site.


I think my little guest and I will have a jolly good time lunching together and talking about frogs. After lunch, we might even meander down to the lake and see if we can find any. Maybe, I will let him take one home in his pocket. Isn’t that where little boys are supposed to carry their frogs???

Diane

P. S. If anyone is interested in purchasing any of my sister-in-law’s books, her website is: www.KayHeathBooks.com.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

A Birthday Tray for Emma





Emma may have spent her birthday morning eating birthday cake for breakfast, but she had a special tray for her dinner. These Lenox Painted Camellia salad plates were part of her birthday present from her grandmother. And the awesome Barbie salt and pepper shakers were a gift from a friend of mine from high school!




Why these plates are called Camellia, I don't know...






The plates could go with all colors of glassware. I can see more than just the aqua and pink!




I like the Barbie motif with the leopard tray! Oh là là!








Happy Sweet 13, Emma!


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http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Better Late Than Never!


Please forgive my tardiness in posting! I have started two new jobs in the last two weeks, and I have not had time to write this up!


But, really every day is worth celebrating living in the United States, so I don't feel too bad about uploading these pictures almost a week late!


Last week after a pre-July 4 lunch (pictured here), we were enjoying fireworks at Stone Mountain, Ga. and spending time at the lake. Despite the fact, the park was so crowded it eventually was closed to people trying to get it, we just made it in and it was soooooo worth it!




My July 4 brunch was simple because I love these dinner plates. They were made by Syracuse for the Continental Insurance Company. I am not even sure when. I pieced together a eight dinner plates that were the same from eBay sellers. The Anchor Hocking sherberts are used for floating tealights, (also from eBay). 



I love my little George and Martha salt and pepper shakers!




The red golf ball crystal iced beverages are by Morgantown, and the eagle wine glasses are by Libbey.



I used Imperial Queen by Whiting mixed with my Sir Christopher by Wallace.









Thank you to my ancestors Josiah Daniel and Richard Hamlin who fought in the American Revolution. 


God bless America!


-Andrea



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Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Birthday, America!


“There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is. It is the American dream.”
Archibald MacLeish

On this July 4th, the 235th birthday of our nation, I am extremely grateful for all of the freedoms that we enjoy. Hopefully, the American dream is alive and well. To celebrate, our family will have a “Happy Birthday America” party.
My husband is the star of this holiday, as we enjoy the food that he grills, the homemade ice cream that he churns and the fireworks display in our neighborhood to which he contributes.
I do get to “set the table” and there is no question about the colors I choose – the traditional red, white and blue!


First I used a white tablecloth and layered red, white and blue placemats with stars on top.



Next, the dinnerware was added – red “Louisa” plates, then Johnson Brothers’ blue and white “Asiatic Pheasant” plates.


Coventry “Liberty” salad plates went next. I used them as an under plate for the ice cream bowls, which will hold my husband’s yummy dessert. Red, white and blue sprinkles usually top the ice cream, which adds to the Americana theme.




Blue Artland Glass goblets with wine charms attached were chosen for our drinks. Each wine charm has a patriotic theme.


White napkins with red napkins rings were placed at the settings. Tiny American flags were tucked into the napkin rings.



Hazel “Moderntone” salt and pepper shakers were used at one end of the table. Tiny red, white and blue star salt and pepper shakers were used at the other end.


I placed blue and red star votive holders down the center of the table and sprinkled patriotic confetti all around.

For the centerpiece, I used a pitcher from my pottery collection with a wonderful cobalt blue glaze. I placed cypress branches, sparkles and flags inside.


Leaning against the pitcher is one of my favorite books. It was given to me years ago by a friend and I pull it out every July 4th. It is The Spirit of America by Barbara Milo Ohrbach. It is a collection of recipes, quotes, poems and songs about America. The illustrations are charming and always put me in the spirit of this holiday.
I hope all of you remember the “Spirit of America” this year and have fun celebrating the birth of our nation. It is a special one and many thanks to all who have fought to keep us free!
Diane




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