lulu
When we built our house 26 years ago in a style influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, our sanity was questioned.
Here we were in the midst of very traditional homes, many dating back to the 1930’s, and we were introducing a totally different style.
To make matters worse, during construction I was running for office. Someone who apparently objected to the look we had chosen wrote a letter to the editor questioning my abilities considering my taste in architecture! After that there was never a time when we came by to view progress that we didn’t find curious people walking through. That was a pretty easy way to meet folks and I’ve always laughed thinking that the house provided a successful campaign outcome.
Well, that was then and this is now.
In the last couple of years, new construction indicates a changing taste in architecture.
Since the 1980’s when redevelopment in this area began, decades have been defined by home styles so these may well be the look for the second decade of the 21st century.
I am glad that our house no longer stands alone when it comes to architectural style. It is reassuring that it is as relevant today as it would have been had it been built in the 1930’s which was our intent. No matter one’s taste in architecture, an important criteria is that it withstand the test of time.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
You never know what is going to inspire a tablescape. This one started with orchids which were thoughtful gifts deserving special attention. 
Orchids made me think of Thailand where the markets literally had bags stuffed full with purple, pink and white blooms. That thought led me to choose this beautiful handwoven silk table runner that was made in Bangkok. Thanks to Jim Thompson, the weaving as a cottage industry is alive and well there.
The runner paired nicely with placemats purchased from a street vendor in that same city. I love finding things for the table that are light and take little suitcase space when I travel.
Because it is spring, a season of gardens bursting with color, these dishes that once belonged to my mother-in-law seemed a nice complement all the pink tones. According to the writing on the back, they were handpainted by a woman named Ernestine in Salerno, Italy. I believe they were sent home by a soldier husband during World War II. I would love to know the whole story.
OK, Thailand and Italy are covered, so let’s go with napkins from a Saigon market. Each little flower is hand embroidered. In addition to this table showcasing pieces gathered from my travels, it also confirms my attraction to all things hand done.
All that is left to complete the table is glasses, and they, too, have a story. I don’t know where they are from, but they belonged to a special friend’s grandmother. My friend thought I would use them more than she and gave them to me. She was not wrong, and the glasses with their wonderful texture are much used.
So many of my tables are filled with special memories of people and places. This one, with its international flair, is especially so as with each piece my mind wandered to another place and the experiences had there. 
For ideas, I go no farther than these two cookbooks loaded with recipes to suit any palate. There’s no chance I’ll ever get through the two!
Spoon 1/2-3/4 c. of polenta into the center of a plate. Arrange asparagus around it and spoon the sauce over the polenta. Garnish with chopped herbs.
It doesn’t take long to see what rural Texas is about. Cattle graze lazily in fields
and the sprawling metropolis is replaced by a series of small towns.
This time of year the landscape colored by wildflowers is spectacular. No matter how many times I see fields of blue, red, yellow and pink my heart sings in appreciation of nature’s beauty.
Bottles never fail to get my attention. These are truffle jars that when filled with mushrooms and cotton hold in the moisture necessary for preservation. You can be sure that in my possession they would be filled with flowers to create a centerpiece for a tablescape.
Talk about an unusual flower container. Take a look at this chemical beaker. I didn’t buy one, but the temptation was great. These were $175 each, a little pricey so I’m going to look into finding new pieces and creating the look.
These wooden mallets got my attention because of their varying shapes and heights. In case you are wondering, they were used for barn building. I wouldn’t want someone with one of those in their hand to get mad at me!
One exhibit featured lamps and chandeliers made from the most interesting materials. For a fleeting moment I could imagine one in my eclectic mix of things.
Then, there were those things that reminded me of some of you bloggers. White porcelain
and blue and white pieces are favorites of many of you.
Exhibits are in fields, tents and enclosed spaces some of which are beautifully displayed.
I have a hard time imagining how much dealers have to sell to justify the cost. As one said, it’s always a gamble and you have to do a show knowing that you will win or lose.
Who can resist sweet and juicy strawberries bursting with flavor? Not me, nor can I resist making an all time favorite dessert which came to me via a high school boyfriend’s mother. That means I’ve been making it for a long time!
There are surely fancier strawberry concoctions, but for delicious, this one rivals any. Heck, just looking at the picture makes me want a bite right now! If you want to join me, here’s the very simple to make recipe.
Fold in baking powder, finely ground cracker crumbs and chopped pecans. Pour mixture into lightly buttered 9″ pie pan and bake at 325 until lightly browned. This takes about 30 minutes. Cool completely.
To serve, top the crust with strawberries and slightly sweetened whipped cream. (I often put the berries on the crust a couple of hours before serving to let the juice soak in.)
It’s amazing how a few words can sum up what’s in your heart, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a gentle reminder. These guidelines for a good life are simple. The hard part is remembering to practice them.
There was never a doubt that this beautiful meticulously handwoven runner from India would be the inspiration for a tablescape and dinner for our gourmet group when it next met at our house.
I wanted nothing to take away from the beauty of the fabric so glass candle holders and vases as a centerpiece allowed the colors and pattern to show through.
Gold chargers did survive the cut and became the backdrop for varied colored plates that not only played off the thread colors but were more subtle and took nothing away from the beauty of the runner.
With napkins of gold and burgundy and etched stems with different patterns, the table was simple with touches of elegance that fit my comfort zone.
To this point the only thing missing was the flowers. Choosing roses was a no brainer as in India we were showered with rose petals upon arriving at every hotel. As luck would have it, Trader Joe’s had the perfect colors, and the tea roses nestled beautifully in their globes.
With memories of India swimming in my head, there was never a doubt that the food would also be inspired by that adventure. I opted for chicken tikka masala seasoned with spices gotten in Dehli, and to my delight the hubby found Kingfisher ale at Total Wines.