Dad's Coming! Tablescape Thursday

     My dad is coming home today for a couple of weeks. He actually is driving the 1000 miles this time and I will admit that I've worried a little about him making that long trip for the first time alone. When I asked him how it felt, he said it was "boring". I think my mom would be glad to know he was bored without her.

     So many of you have kept my dad in your prayers since my mom died 4 months ago. You have no idea how touched he is when he reads your comments or I tell him about emails that I've received. He told me not long ago that he understands why I love my blog, because the people who read it are so kind.

     Dad has done remarkably well. He misses my mom so much and yet he has made a huge effort to keep going and to enjoy his life. He has been to visit my Disney daughter twice. He took homemade chicken and noodles (he even made the noodles) both trips. He didn't want her care packages to stop just because mom wasn't here. He has switched from the huge church where they felt invisible, to a small chapel on the island and is slowly getting involved there. He survived the birthdays of 3 twenty-something granddaughters and made sure that each one had a special gift along with their check from grandpa and he proudly informed me that he has started his Christmas shopping! He is actually coming home for my sister's 50th birthday next week. We are really proud of him and my mom would be so happy with some of the things he has done.

     When my dad is here, my son is also here for most dinners. So, it becomes "boys night out" every night around here. I wanted to set a table for dinner tonight that looked like it was for the guys, but also reminded them that there is a woman in the house too!

     I've had this table runner (HomeGoods) for several months and couldn't really find a way to use it. When I decided to set a black and white table for tonight, I decided the pink would add that touch of whimsy that I love. Black round placemats (Kohls), white square American Atelier Bianca Leaf dinner plates (HomeGoods), round black plates (WalMart) and small Gorham Newport Scroll bread and butter plates with a touch of pink in them, create the table setting.

     I added black stemmed wine glasses (garage sale) and also black spotted tumblers (Macy's) along with the charcoal flatware that you have seen me use many times.

     For the center of the table, I took a cylinder vase and wrapped it with a piece of scrapbook paper for a slightly masculine look. The hot pink roses are from my yard. I used tape to secure the paper to the vase, it took about 2 minutes to create. I used 2 tall candles in Lenox crystal vases (thrift store) to keep the center of the table simple so we can visit.

     The napkins are dish cloths from Walmart.

They are pefect for a "manly" dinner.

Please visit Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday.

It is the party of the week, every week!