I love to make Sunday dinner special. To take the time to just set a pretty table makes such a difference. I really do this on a daily basis, even for just my husband and I.
I fear sometimes that people misunderstand and think me to be "showy" when contrariwise, I'm just being a Homemaker and taking a little extra effort to make my home; even at meal time a pleasant place to be, if not a memorable one.
The dishes in the photo...pretty..are ones collected at the grocery store! Yep..buy groceries and get a lovely place setting for a mere $5. I did this over a period of time and VOILA...look at the simple, yet pretty presentation.
We recently had a young couple over for Sunday dinner when this photo was taken. The husband commented..mind you the HUSBAND....
"these are very nice dishes"...
he noticed? Yes...men do.
My husband has always appreciated a meal with a nicely set table..not that we haven't ever eaten off paper plates! What a lifesaver in time of need!!! And there have been the plastic days...but, then too..I try to find even plastic that is nice to look at on the table. Why not? Why not take a little effort to make everything in your home life special. This is your place of refuge...your husband's when he comes home from a day out there...battling the world the flesh and the devil.
I looked up some words for this post.
CRAFT: occupation requiring special skill
Skill in DOING or MAKING something with great care.
INGENUITY: quality of being cleverly inventive, resourceful.
Skill of conception or design.
Now, take these two words and put them in the category of the HOME.
Just setting the table can require a care in DOING something with conception,design and resourcefulness.
Let's say...instead of putting a cooking pot in the middle of the table (my mom would just die!)...but really, think of the difference if you were to just reach into the cupboard and pull out a nice bowl and place the same ingredients in a bowl and place on the table. DIFFERENCE ladies!! Now I'm not at CAMP!
There is a "place" for some things!
I have some very nice white bowls from WALMART! not expensive...but go with everything and even brightens up the table!
I have white dishes that I love...but now starting to show the 20 years of age...so for Thanksgiving we bought a lovely set with a green trim and white/cream center. I made sure to find a set that complimented the rest of my dishes so not to buy a whole new array of "matching" items. RESOURCEFUL!
For this table...I bought a small piece of fabric and cut squares..finished off the edges and made cloth napkins and put the extras under each plate. I was so pleased at the outcome..simple. I then found these pumpkins at WALMART! for .50 and added my candlesticks given to me by my mother years ago. By the way...the glass punch cups..from Big Lots, less than .50 a piece.
My blue and white dishes I had first (purchased many years ago...and still in use...then the white dishes (a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift from kids)but, worked well with my blue and whites! When my mother gave me b'day money one year, I found the salt shakers at Pier One Imports on SALE for $3 I couldn't believe it! RESOURCEFUL! though matching. YEA!
Why not take a little more desire and have fun as a Homemaker...you will find that it is an enjoyable "occupation" that becomes a creative time of pleasure. Add a little candle now and then...or a little bouquet...or cloth napkins (just throw in the wash!) not so hard to do...
another thing...I always use baskets with a cloth for rolls, muffins etc. I had someone comment one time..
"Oh, don't do that for us"...I replied..." I always do this!".
So you see....they saw it as an extra SPECIAL touch. I did tell them, I would do this especially for you even if it wasn't routine here! They smiled.
Being a homemaker does take skill...purpose full skill that is acquired over time. I've been married 35 years...lots of practise and fun! The enjoyment surpasses the work as some think it to be. I find it...working with my hands and heart!
Try it tonight and see if your husband or kids notice.
"WHY? the nice table tonight?"...."What's the occasion?"..."Someone SPECIAL coming for dinner tonight?"
"YES....YOU!"
We always go back to Proverbs 31 and why not? The perfect chapter in a book on wisdom and instruction that brings blessings and rewards.
Proverbs 31:27-28 She looketh well to the ways of her household, she eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many a time, my husband has praised me for taking the time...he sees this as my appreciation to him for his hard labours day in and day out. He sees that little extra effort....for him...for my family and my home.
It says a lot more than you realize!
Perhaps you have a little extra something you do that you would like to share? Please leave it in a comment for my readers to glean. I'd love to know your "Creative Heart".
Thank you for visiting!
HOPE
9 comments:
Looks beautiful!
Oskar wanted me to let you know that he has started his own blog.
http://thedailyoskar.blogspot.com
Maybe Gus can be a guest blogger!
I feel the same way. I love to set a pretty table and feel sometimes my friends think I'm showing off when in reality I'm not! I once had a bunch of my friends over for my really good friend's bday. I set out my good china, crystal, etc. Wanted to make it special for her but then kept thinking I should take it down, that they would comment, etc. Then my friend, the birthday girl came in and she was so moved that I used my best for her, she almost cried. We should do our best because the Lord gave His best for us! By the way, I have the same blue dishes!!! Enjoyed your blog, will be back!
I loved the way your place settings in all the pictures but I'm partial to *anything blue* so the blue & white settings were especial favourites :o)
These thoughts have encouraged me to make the extra effort *every* night for my husband, son and myself!
Blessings!
Sorry I'm so late commenting! I love your blue dishes...and wondered where you got them. I have the same dishes, but mine are displayed, not used...they were my grandma's and then my great aunt had them...I remember using them as a child. Finally they were passed to my mom, and kept in a box, until I convinced my parents to give them to me! They are mostly 'Willow' but I have a few 'Countryside' too.
I don't often make my table setting special...I guess because I have boys....and yes, often a pot is on the table!
If anyone could truly be accused of being showy it would be God with His spectacular show of the morning sun as it rises with colors washed across the heavens. However, it's an appropriate show of His glory. He is the first lover of beauty and we've inherited that same love from our Father. Your shared beauty is an appropriate reflection of His riches which stems from a gracious heart to give the best.
Love your dishes!! Well done.
A pleasure to meet you.
I bought my Blue Willow at Kroger when I was teenager. I had them stored away in my hope chest. I had been to Rich's and fell in love with them and had a heart attack at the cost. So when Kroger ran them in the 80/90's I bought them.
So again I'm curious...are the Blue willow plates copies of the original ones? Mine were made in England...my Grandma lived in Ontario and then brought them to Manitoba. I see them all the time in movies set back in pioneer times! They are so common, I assume they were once the everyday dishes for many families back then.
I was just stopping by from the Songs From My Journey Blogroll and I'm glad I did! I so needed to read this.
Thank you for the gentle leading on creating a lovely home for our families Every Day, and for the encouragement in setting a lovely table, for the delight in finding and creating something beautiful, and for sharing the pleasure this small effort brings not only to the family but to the atmosphere of the home. You've both blessed me and challenged me!
I always put pots on the table!! I figure why dirty more dishes to wash!! I've been places where the table is so pretty, and it does make it seem more special and homey. Your table is beautiful. If I ever set the table like that I can just imagine the comments. When I tell the kids to clean up, they ask "Who's coming over?" Or if I say "Go get dressed" They ask, "Where are we going?" Can you imagine the questions if the table was that beautiful?
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