Which Fork Do I Use? (Tablescape Thursday)

I knew before I blogged my first post that I would write about table settings. It can be a bit confusing when you are setting a table, or when you go out to eat and don't know why there are two forks. Once I started blogging, I started seeing the "Tablescape Thursday" tables hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch and I wanted to play along. I've always thought I had a lot of dishes and accessories, but the people that do tablescapes around here, really do them well. I can't begin to compete, but I can have fun sharing some tips and also playing with my dishes.

I found a fall tablecloth that I didn't remember I had, for a table that I no longer have. I don't have any charger plates, I've never really liked them. I am noticing how pretty they look on the tables of some of the other bloggers. I don't have them on this table, but they may show up on a future table.

*Mom hint-A charger plate is a large plate that goes under the dinner plate. You do not eat from it, it is simply to "dress up" the table.

I took a picture of the table at dusk. Everything looks better by candlelight. The candle was cinnamon cider, and the house smelled so good.

I had to take a picture of my new sparkly gourd/pumpkin...I'm not sure which it is. I bought it at HomeGoods while we were on our recent trip. It is sort of a bronze mosaic and it simply called my name. The flowers were from my yard, the tiny vase is from Crate and Barrel. The dark green dinner plates are from Walmart, the napkins and pumpkin plates are from HomeGoods. The wine glasses are antiques. The flatware is my everyday pattern.

Now, let's talk about those forks. When in doubt, always start with the silverware on the outside, and move in. This is an informal place setting. One of these days I will set a formal table for you. The fork on the far left is for salad, the fork near the dinner plate is for your main meal. The knife and spoon to the right of the plate are for obvious use, but you might have a second spoon to the right of the one here. It would be for soup. The spoon above the plate is for dessert (it might be a fork, depending on what is being served). When setting a table, the glasses (wine or water) go on the upper right. The napkin can go under the forks, in the center of the plate or in the wine goblet (not my favorite). I took some liberty with where I put the napkin because I wanted the pattern of the salad plate to show, and I wanted to dress up the napkin with a touch of ribbon, therefore it wouldn't fit under the forks. Some tables will have a bread and butter plate placed to the upper left of the dinner plate.

Hopefully, I accomplished my "mom" blogging, and took a baby step into "Tablescape Thursday" all at the same time.

RSVP

Definition: French abbreviation for répondez s'il vous plaît (please reply).

Over the past few years I have noticed that people tend to ignore the RSVP on an invitation. I confess that I’m guilty of it myself when I get invited to one of those parties where I’m supposed to buy something. I tend to wait until the last minute to decide if I’m going (because I don’t really want to) and/or I simply tuck the invitation somewhere and forget about it. It isn’t the right thing to do, but I justify it by the fact that the hostess wants something from me and most likely will just be serving drinks and cookies anyway. If I show up or not won’t really matter to her, other than in her sales figures. Really, there is no excuse for my being rude.

However, when someone is having an actual party, I do RSVP. It is really important to the hostess that you do so. We’ve all been there. We’ve invited 20 people to our homes and we’ve only heard from 8 of them. How much food do you buy? How many bottles of wine? How many places do you set at the tables? Do you call the person and ask them if they are coming or is that too pushy?

I have learned that you should never assume that someone isn’t coming, simply because they didn’t call. My own opinion is that if you haven’t heard from your guests and it is time to buy the food or prepare party favors, call them. If they are too rude to let you know, it certainly isn’t too pushy to call and ask them. I resent it when I have to do that.

I have a friend who recently hosted a party. Two people volunteered to come early to help, they didn’t show up early. People who said they were coming didn’t show up. People who said they couldn’t come, did. For the most part, no one came on time and a meal was being served. Luckily my friend is the type who can “go with the flow” and she got through it. It is so difficult for a hostess when those things happen. It takes two minutes to make a phone call. It can save your hostess time and money if you do so. The way I see it, people don’t have that many parties anymore. If I’m lucky enough to be on someone’s guest list, I want them to know I appreciated the invitation.
　

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

We have become an age of technology. Obviously if you are reading this blog you are computer savvy. More than likely you email, text, blog and tweet your way through the day, just like I do. Thank you notes have become a lost art. They take time, they require a trip to an actual post office and you have buy stamps. OMG! Who has a stamp these days? It really shouldn’t matter how you thank someone, as long as you do thank them-right? Wrong.

I promise not to sound like Great Aunt Betty and lecture you on writing a note to everyone for everything. I screw this up too. Sometimes I simply forget to write a note, other times I write it so late that I can barely remember what the gift was. I’m not proud of it, I know better. There are times when an email or a text will do. You and a friend have met for lunch and she picks up the tab as a late birthday treat. You later text, Thnks 4 2day. Had fun. I think that’s okay. If she brings you a present, she should get a thank you note.

If you receive a gift or check from grandma, send a thank you note! It is in your best interest to do so. Believe me, the senior generation already thinks that baby boomers are spoiled and their kids are inconsiderate. Let’s prove them wrong. If you are the grandchild that writes the note, you move to the top of the list. The gifts will keep on coming and your cousins won‘t get your share, besides you love grandma-make her day.

I try to write a note if I’ve gone to a party at someone’s home. I’m not talking about 4 people ordering pizza. I talking about a situation where the hostess has cleaned her house more than ever before, spent a month’s grocery budget on food and is about to drop over from exhaustion when people get there. Think how nice it is for her to get a note a few days later telling her how much you appreciated being included.

I never expect a thank you note from my kids, even though they no longer live at home. My daughter has on occasion surprised me with one anyway. I don’t expect them from my parents, but my mom is really good at note writing. If you live with the person, or they are immediate family, I think an in person thank you or a phone call is more than enough. Actually grandma might rather have a thank you phone call than a thank you note, you can be the judge of that.

Anytime there is gift given, someone has given their time and their money to think of you. Spending a couple minutes to let them know you appreciate it really isn’t too much to ask.

The process is quite simple. Pick up a package a note cards. They don’t have to say thank you on the front. All you need is to follow this format:

Dear Grandma,

Thank you so much for the ear muffs. I have always loved royal blue plush and can’t wait to wear them on one of our chilly days here in Florida. I wish you could have been here for my party. I can’t wait until you come to visit. Thank you again for thinking of me.

Love, (or whatever-I suggest love for grandma)

Your name