Tablescape Thursday-It Isn't About The Dishes

     Life is getting back to normal and that means it is time for Tablescape Thursday. Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch is our hostess. Please take a moment to visit her and some of the other participants. You will be amazed at how creative people are in Blogland.

     I've barely had time to get the laundry done from our trip and put away the Christmas decorations. Playing with my dishes has taken a back burner this week. I thought I'd share with you my "tablescape" from Christmas Eve.

     The dinner plates and salad plates are Hallmark, as are the napkins. The flatware was black plastic. The relish tray and fruit bowl are from Publix. Note the creme brulee' cheese "ball" in the back right corner. It was much easier to make it into a spread rather than a ball, considering I whipped it up in a Styrofoam cup in the hotel room. I served it with graham crackers. The tablecloth was white plastic and the cheese board is from a travel bag that goes with us everywhere. My mom's ham loaf was in the microwave at the time I took the picture.

     This was the first year we decided to open gifts on Christmas Eve. My daughter worked on Christmas Day. Last year we waited until she was off work, went out to dinner and ended up opening gifts until midnight. It wasn't all that fun. So, this year she had Christmas Eve off and we decided to eat in our hotel room, open the gifts and have time to have fun!

     Of course we had to decorate our patios at the hotel. Sorry about the pictures, this is the best we could get!

     Now before you think, "I could never do Christmas like that" and feel sorry for us, I want to share a few pictures from Christmas Day.

     This is the view from my chair by the pool. It was close to 80 degrees.  When my daughter got off work, we went to the Walt Disney World Beach Club for dinner.

This is made out of gingerbread.

     Traditional? Not at all. But, we had fun with family and great food...that is really what counts! I've learned that as my children have gotten older, I have to "go with the flow" and be open to new traditions. I hope the new year is starting out great for you all.