Your table looks very pretty. I might use shorter vases and more of them. Especially at a less formal meal, I don't like tall flowers. This table scape takes it to an extreme, but I think keeping things low and bountiful has a nice feel and I would try to go in this direction.

I’m so happy that the silver salt dog survived the decorative cut!

Very festive!

Pretty!

Looks wonderful, K!

Love those chargers. I don't cover the whole table like in the pic above, but I do like long and low. This basket is filled with small juice glasses. I just cut stuff from our garden.

I also like to use herbs in with my flowers for luncheons. I started doing that because we had so many growing in our potager. Parsley and cilantro are especially pretty, and mint for little nosegays.

I am doing my grocery run today and potted herbs were on my list! They are smaller than the shamrocks and i have nicer pots for them somewhere.

Adding, thank you all for the comments and suggestions! Unfortunately there is nothing blooming yet so my flower choices are limited by the florist. He usually has white hydrangeas at this time of year so i know i can count on those.

I did not want to use the silver but my everyday salad / luncheon forks have been disappearing. Not too long ago I had a full service for 16 in Othenia, a very plain Oneida stainless pattern I’ve had for years. Now we are down to TEN luncheon forks 🤯 It did not occur to me to count them last week. So I ordered some of that natural bamboo handled flatware (which I do not need but it **was** on sale and fills a very specific entertaining niche) and hoped they would be here with expedited shipping, but it looks like I won’t get those until Monday. So my plans have shifted several times with seating and table accoutrements. 🤷‍♀️

I have had a crush on bamboo (and tortoise, of course) flatware for a while but after a very disappointing set from Ballard, I ended up with Laguoile in ivory. You will have to let me know if you like it when it comes.

I didn’t order mine from Ballard but that generic or store branded stuff is usually from the same mfg. I tried to find out if the stainless part is 18/8 or 18/10 and no one knew. If the box doesn’t say I’ll be returning it— especially since it’s no longer needed.

I have Laguiole sharp knives and love them, and considered the wood handled flatware at some point, but it wasn’t recommended for the dishwasher. Can you put the resin handles in the dishwasher? And don’t they have a tortoiseshell resin handle??

Yes, they go in the d/w. They may have a tortoise version, not sure. You know how that brand is, lots of permutations at different price points and mine were the modest ones.

The first set of knives I bought were not even French, even though the advertisement had the word in bold print. The word French was followed by the word ”design” in a much smaller font. They were Chinese and one literally fell apart as it was in in use. I threw them out and bought a set of French knives that have lived up to the area’s name and reputation. They were middle of the road pricewise for ‘authentic‘ Laguiole products.

But as much as I would like a really cute set of casual flatware I should probably just return the bamboo handled stuff, take a deep breath and live out my natural life with our current four sets of flatware regardless of any missing niches!

Maybe we could do a flatware time share!

Not for St Pat table, but for other spring decorating the mixrd bunches of pink-white-purple radishes and their fresh green tops can be quite nice This isn’t my image

—- I usually am lured into purchasing them and let them languish in the fridge.

That's so pretty, Lisa

That is beautiful, Lisa! I happen to have a couple of silver pitchers that would make great vases. Why have I never thought to use them ??

Mtn when we lived in NYC our parents’ association ran a lending library of big toys, car seats, walkers walkers, etc. People could check items out for six months at a time, no charge, just bring it back as spotlessly clean as possible or risk not being able to borrow again. We had members who only needed car seats when they went on vacations, or needed a playpen for a few months (which is about as long as anyone could stand having those huge things in their tiny apartments). It worked really well. All the items were donated by people who bought very fancy and expensive gear (as we all did or wanted to) and were only too eager to get rid of it the moment it was no longer useful.

I can TOTALLY see a gardenweb lending scheme of all things decor!

I don't own any silver pitchers - just a couple of silver teapots which I use occaisionaly for small arrangements. I have a white stoneware pitcher that I love to use as a vase in the summer.

Also, I love your chargers - they are timeless and elegant.

I have a "hotel silver" pitcher I use next to my stove for utensils. It took a while to teach everyone that only the wood and metal ones go there; the plastic ones are tucked away in drawers!

KSWL, it’s a lovely, fresh look, but needs some color, imo, as mtn added the touch purple. I also like long and low, AND cheap and easy! I have numerous small glass jars that held yogurt etc. Place them in a bread basket, or casserole dish as in the TG pic. and nestle amongst greens, acorns, etc

i also use florists sponge…wrong word.😳

Your tables are looking lovely, @Kswl.

Kswl, your tables are always perfection. Your guests will be delighted.

It’s true, your table is lovely and special, the food will be yummy I’m sure. and your guests are in for a treat.

Thank you for these sweet comments. The truth is my tables have gotten into a bit of a rut because I am not especially creative. I tend to use the same type of arrangement (flowers, potted flowering plants, something tall, something low, etc.) every time. Although I do look at tablescapes online I don’t get much inspiration IRL.

Entertaining among our friends has become almost exclusively cookouts or meeting at restaurants or clubs (not night clubs!) And even the country club we are still nominal members of in town and those our friends belong to have sort of lost their oomph. Party settings, esp weddings and special events, are still lovely but it’s all looking very same old, same old— nothing new or fresh. As far as parties in people’s homes go I see very little effort beyond barbecues but oddly enough everyone is always excited to dress up and come to a dinner party here. Maybe the time for this sort of thing is over…. maybe the pandemic just put the lid on a dying culture of entertaining at home?

I still do it because it makes me happy, and because there is nothing more fun than providing a delicious meal to people you know and like and others you want to know better, hearing all the conversations and laughter and the late goodbyes and the phone calls the next day and finding out from Dh what his end of the table was talking about. You know?

You never fail to impress with your table settings - always so pretty and such a treat for your guests!

everyone is always excited to dress up and come to a dinner party here

Well of course!

I still do it because it makes me happy

It is my favorite thing to do. I really don't like meeting a couple for dinner out. You have what, 1.5 or 2 hours together? When people come for dinner it spans hours and is so much more fun, as we usually play games as well.

I too perfer to entertain at home. Once you are in a restuarant, you are kind of restricted to talking to the people on either side of you or directly across from you. At home, you can mingle before and after dinner and have a chance to talk to everyone.

OMG I LOVE THE CARROT ARRANGEMENT! And the others are also fabulous!

Maybe i need to go on Pinterest … I went on it before DD decided to elope and honestly it made me crazy. But those flower and veg arrangements are fantastic! Thank you Oly!

oh, a couple more great for Easter:

Oh the peeps! I need to do that for Easter!

The carrot arrangement is fabulous.

I think Covid had people hunkering down and a lot of people are slow to emerge. Hopefully we will get back to dinner parties. So much nicer than meeting at a restaurant. In re. the Peeps - my otherwise totally healthy, whole food eating daughter has a thing about Peeps - I don't get it but I love to indulge her.

Thanks for sharing those, Olychick. Makes me wish I could throw a dinner party!

“I still do it because it makes me happy” Yes!! I so identify. And I have come to understsnd that hosting isn’t for everyone. Some are just over cooking while others are made nervous the very thought. I do totally get that . i keep inviting my desrest friends , and it bothers me not that there’s little to no reciprecating from some. . I appreciate their wanting to come to my house. It gives me joy to gather friends at home.

I do enjoy the pre-planning, the perfect table, food, etc. I had a SP day luncheon for gal pals the other day. Everyone arrived at 11 and no one left until 6:30; you just can't do that in a restaurant. (The menu was pub food and included potato/leek soup and toasties-well received!)

That sounds delicious Maddie! Yes, homes are so much more intimate and welcoming and comfortable.