Where Do You Keep All Those Dishes?

     I really don't like posting this "before" picture. The rest of my house is actually kept neat and organized! Some of you may remember a few months ago I decided to turn a bedroom in the basement into my dish room. This room will never be cute or stylish. We have pulled odds and ends of old furniture that we were going to get rid of to use in here. I did think over the weekend that I'd like to turn my friend Kim @ Savvy Southern Style loose with her paintbrush in here. I know things would look better with a coat of shabby white paint on everything, but I also know that in this room...the paint would get scratched very easily.

     This room started out somewhat organized, but over the months and after many trips thrifting and all those times I asked my husband to "put this in the dish room" after tearing down a tablescape...this is how it looked. Cluttered, messy and simply awful. So, over the past two weekends, we emptied the room, added a fresh coat of paint to the walls and started over.

The walls are now a deep taupe

(almost every room in my house is this color)

and the woodwork has a fresh coat of white paint.

     Remember when I bought my thrifted desk and it came with a hutch I wasn't going to use? It is perfect for holding wine glasses. We thought about hanging it on the wall, but I decided there was less risk with breakage at this level. I love using old crocks to store floral supplies, tubs hold the larger items.

     A large antique crock in the corner holds more floral supplies. An old rocker from my grandparent's house is covered with vintage quilts. See the cute little pretty hanging on the pine cabinet...it was a gift from my pal Jenny @ Jenny Matlock.

The pine cabinet is full of Christmas

things and teapots, cups and pitchers.

     The old cedar-lined wardrobe (ugly thing isn't it) holds all my tablecloths, runners and throw pillows. Large vases and my grandma's china sit on top (the pink cup is an "oops, I forgot to move the tea I was drinking before taking the picture". The old walnut bookcase is nice and sturdy for glasseware. I had a couple shelves I purchased and painted for other locations and didn't like them...up on the wall they go!

     My cedar chest is full of spring and summer dishes and topped with ones I will be using during the winter months. You can see another crock full of florals to the right.

These shelves were from my daughter's dorm room.

They aren't very sturdy, but perfect for ribbons and crafty things.

  

     The oak dresser was the first piece of furniture we bought after we got engaged. It was $35 at an auction. It holds napkin rings, candles etc. Silver sits on top. The rocking horse was mine as a child and the dollhouse my dad made for my daughter's 9th birthday. It still feels a bit cluttered in here, but that is because I have too much stuff and keep adding more. At least now it is organized clutter. I have my glass table in the room so I can play with combinations before I carry things up the stairs. Not all of my dishes are kept here. My good china and crystal are upstairs, as are several other sets of dishes that we use frequently. My mom's china is stored in the kitchen in the wet bar. I like the idea of our good china being a bit more protected from collapsing furniture or young grandchildren.

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.

There are some great decorating tips to be found there!

Have You Tried An Arepa? Foodie Friday

     It isn't often that I stumble on a new food that I've never tried or heard of, particularly one that is absolutely delicious. When in Orlando visiting our daughter who works for Disney, we always love to find things to do that don't have anything to do with the theme parks. One of our favorite places in Orlando is Lake Eola Park downtown. On a recent visit we went to the park for their Fall Festival. They have wonderful artisan booths as well as a wide variety of food. We could smell the Arepa booth before we got there. I'm not usually all that comfortable buying food at a booth from people I don't know, but I did not hesitate this time at all.

     The arepa is a flat, unleavened patty made of cornmeal which can be grilled, baked, or fried. The characteristics of the arepa vary from region to region: It may vary by color, flavor, size, thickness, garniture, and also the food it may be stuffed with. Arepa is a native bread made of ground corn, water, and salt which is fried into a pancake-like bread. It is either topped or filled with meat, eggs, tomatoes, salad, cheese, shrimp, or fish. Wikipedia

I found a recipe for Arepas here.

I thought I'd share a few more pictures of Lake Eola Park.

It is so interesting to see this gorgeous park

surrounded by the tall buildings of the city.

The pigeons found a place they liked.

You can get up close and personal with

the swans or ride in a swan boat if you so choose.

They often have live music at the bandstand.

It is a beautful spot to escape the tourists and the traffic

that suuround the them park areas.

I am joining Michael @ Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Please take a moment to visit our hostess!



Fall Lunch With Friends-Tablescape Thursday

     Sometimes it is nice to make the time for a relaxing late lunch. The inspiration for my tablesetting was another scarf of my mother's. My sister had a really great idea when she suggested I bring them home for tablescaping. Once again, it proves that thinking outside of the box can make for an interesting table. The menu would be sandwiches, salad and wine...perfect, don't you think?  

 The wine is sitting on a pottery trivet

that we brought back from a Michigan trip.

. 

     Casual cream placemats were topped with dark green plates

(Wal-Mart) and salad plates from Pier 1. Gold napkins

 and rust handled flatware (from one of my kid's college days)

along with thrift shop green stemware create the place setting.

The centerpiece is simple twig pumpkins

and a few wine corks from favorite wineries.

See the wine bottles and wine labels on the scarf?

The salad bowl is from Southern Living at Home.

A pair of Lenox crystal candlesticks to add a little elegance.

We can't forget the wine, from an area winery!

Time to light the candles.

We will just assume it was a really late lunch!

I am linking today with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday. If you have never visited Susan,

you must go see her wonderful blog!

I Believe...

     I have always loved rainbows. This year, rainbows have taken on a new meaning for me. I seem to be seeing them much more often these days. Most of the time when I'm seeing them, there is no rain. I think of each one as a gift from my mom. On our recent trip we saw two unusual "bows". The first two pictures were taken while we were sitting on the beach. I was thrilled they showed up in the pictures. The sun was so bright, I couldn't see what I was getting in the lense. We could see the brilliant prism only with our sunglasses on. It was gorgeous...these pictures don't do it justice.

     The second two pictures were taken out the car window somewhere near Chattanooga, TN. Once again, no rain in sight on a hot fall day. There were actually two prisms of color, but from the car I could only get a picture of one of them. You may have to enlarge the pictures to see this one. It was pretty, but nothing like the one we saw over the ocean above.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high,

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.

I am joining Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

Heidi @ Heart and Home for Wednesday Gratitude

Kathleen @ Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Please visit our wonderful hostesses!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Inspiration photos...Table Top Tuesday

     For Table Top Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life, I'm going to share a few random photos from our recent trip. You know how it is, when you blog you carry a camera everywhere. Sometimes I see something and snap a shot with certain blog friends in mind. That is why I took these photos. The above shot was taken in Franklin, TN on our way home. Franklin has a historic downtown business district with wonderful little shops.

A shop window in Franklin just screamed

 "your blog friends will love this"!

I love this shop in Franklin.

A few things from here found their way home with me.

  

A chandelier made with old spoons...isn't it wonderful?

     These photos are obviously from a different location. On my way to Sarasota I read about a dish warehouse that I didn't know about. I had to find time to stick my head in and see what it was all about. The dishes were impressive, I loved these photos of colorful Fiesta. The prices were not discounted, the people working were not friendly and the place smelled strongly of smoke. Needless to say, I was really disappointed. I was told they prefer to sell from their online site. I not only left empty handed, I would never order from them. Our blog favorite CSN is a much better place to shop!

One last shot from Franklin. I love this look!

Please stop to say hello to Marty!