Tablescape Thursday...Holy Moly Tablscape

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting her 49th Tablscape Thursday. Can you believe it?!! She has been inviting us to enjoy her tables and share ours for almost a year of Thursdays. You can click on the TT button for the express trip to join her! My tablescape for today almost didn't happen. I am not by nature a "keeper". My motto is if you don't use it,"get rid of it". So before I started blogging and tablescaping I almost decided to load this up and give it to charity. But indecision lead me to keep it just a little while longer. Thank goodness! Holy Moly! I almost gave this away! This almost ended up in Goodwill!

When I was a young bride to be, my friends and I all picked out three patterns: good china, everyday, and an "in between". The "in between" was company china--not for meatloaf on a Tuesday or turkey on Christmas Day--just in between. This is my pattern, Perouges by Longchamp. Many of my friends had the same pattern and we all just called it Yellow Bird. I received eight place settings and several lovely serving pieces. Later, when one of my dear friends went through a bitter divorce, she gave me all of her Perouges. (Thank you Mr. Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater!). I now have place settings for 13 with LOTS of serving pieces!

I always start with flowers. The hydrangeas are silk; the yellow roses are from the sale bin at Kroger--as always. The urn is leftover from the wedding reception.

The "in between" is just right for having dinner guests. We'll start out with a nice cold soup since I have the bowls. The salad will go on its own plate. I love that this will go in the dishwasher.

I combined Dollar Tree glasses with Waterford crystal. The Lismore wine hocs will add that "company" touch. The Target birds, well-rested from their honeymoon, were anxious to get back to work!

Crystal candle pillars and votive holders will provide soft lighting.

The flatware is "First Love" by International, a silverplate pattern I found still in the silver chest while cleaning out my father and mother's house. It's perfect for in between--not stainless; not sterling.

After dinner I'll be serving fruit and coffee from the small sideboard in the breakfast room. I have the teapot if you prefer tea instead.

On a whim, I decided to check out Replacements.com for this china pattern. Holy Moly! The dinner plates are now selling for $119.95! I didn't even add up all the serving pieces. I believe the company that made it no longer exists. The back of the plate does say "Hand painted in France". At these prices do you think they were painted by Renoir or Monet?!! Don't bother checking the Goodwill Thrift Store anytime soon for this china--I'm hanging on to this! Don't forget to click over for more tablescapes with Susan!