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26 January, 2009

My Third Tablescape Tuesday...or...Chintz and Toile

Welcome to my third Tablescape Tuesday hosted by our Hostess with the Mostest Susan at Between Naps on the Porch! Be sure to stop by her blog to see a list of everyone who is participating and to see her beautiful tablescape as well!

First allow me to introduce our co-hostess...the lovely Mademoiselle Isabella. She is filling in this week for Baby Kitty, who has flown to New York to consult his legal team concerning contract negotiations.

I am calling this week's tablescape Chintz and Toile. We are going to slip away to my virtual home in a little village in the south of France. So this tablescape has a provençal theme, using my two favorite colors...blue and yellow. I used many of my favorite pieces, so it really fell together much easier than the first two. Are you imagining that we are in France??


I used a pair of blue and white candlesticks in the center of the table and votives at each place for ambiance.


The placemats are a large Chinese toile which I use frequently. You may notice that I am using my mom's flatware Silver Flutes by Towle once again. I love its simplicity! I also chose it because we will be having soup tonight and this will give me a chance to use the soup spoons.


The soup bowls are Chintz by Spode. I really like the way the pattern runs off the edge and has no border. Do you see the little touches of yellow in the flowers?


The plates are Albany by Spode and are intended to coordinate with the Chintz. It makes mixing and matching so much easier!


I used the napkins that match the toile placemats and folded them like little fans, then put them in the goblets to give them a little more presence. The goblets are Dublin from Godinger and the wine glasses are bargains from Goodwill!


I am so excited because I get to use some of my favorites tonight! These are my Quimper salt and pepper shakers that I bought when we visited the factory in Quimper, France.


I actually found these little heart-shaped Quimper plates at TJ Maxx several years ago! I will put one at each end of the table for lemons for the sweet tea. We can't be entirely French!


I also found these Quimper pitchers at TJ Maxx! The trouble with collecting the traditional pattern is that you have to buy two of everything! You can't separate the little Breton couple!!! I will put iced tea in one and water in the other.


I love my Blue Willow soup tureen! I got it half price when a terrible storm hit several antique stores in Lawrenceville, Georgia. They had a sidewalk sale while they were cleaning up and I figure I cleaned up, too!


We are having a French-style supper tonight, which is usually a simple meal. I have a French friend who has soup every night...year round. This is loaded potato soup topped with grated cheese and bacon crumbles...not necessarily French, but I like it!


Of course, you have to have French bread! I am serving it in a provençal bread basket that I found in France. I love it because you can untie the corners and fold it flat to store....and to pack!! There is a different pattern on the inside and it can be reversed.


After the soup, we'll have our salad. That's how it's done in French homes. The salad is French-style also...just lettuce! The dressing, however, is homemade tomato basil, while the French would have a simple vinaigrette. The salad utensils are special favorites of mine. They are made of olive wood and were bought at the Sunday market in l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France. I wish I had bought a bowl, too! When I got home and looked at prices here, I decided to wait until I get a chance to go back!


In restaurants, the cheese is a separate course, but in someone's home, it is eaten with the salad. I love the combination! Usually, you have several kinds. I just have mild and sharp cheddar...very American....and my favorite...real French roquefort cheese! I will not tell you how much I paid for that little chunk of cheese!


Well...that's it! Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed my little French supper! Please be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see the list of participants. Prepare to be inspired by the variety and creativity you'll find there!


And thanks to our little Miss Isabella for standing in for Baby Kitty this week! Good job! Oh oh! Excuse me...it looks like she's got her eye on my roquefort cheese!

64 comments:

  1. So pretty! Those plates are yummy! Your kitty seems like she is enjoying herself!

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  2. Hi Debbie! How I love this table and there is even such yummy looking food to go with it! I love blue and yellow and this table just calls to me!!

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  3. Debbie, I love blue and yellow! What a beautiful table. Isabella did very well. I think Baby Kitty should fear for his job! :-) You have the most beautiful pieces. I need to lean more about Kimper ware...I'm sure I mispelled that. :-)

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  4. Debbie,
    This is my fave so far! I just love blue, yellow and toile. I can't get enough of it. That blue willow soup tureen, the place mats, the china, oh I love it all! On top of that,the meal looks fabulous and your stand in kitty did a great job. Oh, I love the candlesticks too! Well, just everything. Cindy

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  5. Debbie, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the blue and yellow., totally French and I love it! When I was in France, I too...purchased the adorable bun basket that unties and flattens out. I can't wait to talk France we we get together! THIS IS the ULTIMATE "Francais et Chic" look today! Love it! Did I say, I love it? ;) Ciao ~CC Catherine (Went to Classy Flea today down in Marietta...OMGoodness, loved it)

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  6. Hi Debbie...

    Girlfriend, this pretty blue and yellow dinnerware is my favorite!!! I love the mixing of patterns...that's so french! I love your pretty toile placemats and napkins too! It's all so very pretty! Umm...yummy potato soup...looks scrumptious!!!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  7. lOVE IT. lOVE THE TOILE. MISHELLE

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  8. Debbie this is gorgeous. I just love the blue and yellow and all of your special little touches! And baked potato soup, I'm calling the airlines right now lol! Miss Isabella did a wonderful job on such short notice. But I must tell her to keep her dainty little paws off of the cheese, I don't want her to have to visit me for a tummy ache! hugs, Kathy

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  9. Debbie - this is my favorite table scape yet! I L.O.V.E. the Frenchness!! The dishes are all beautiful. The food looks delicious too.

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  10. Beautiful tablescape! I love your plates, soup bowls, blue toile, and I especially love your Quimper pieces. I have admired Quimper since I was in high school. I have a few platters in that pattern, but that is it.

    Miss Isabella is to be commended for her fine job as co-host for the evening.

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  11. Debbie, I feel like I took a trip to France. Everything is beautiful including little Miss Isabella.
    Kathleen

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  12. C'est super! La table est magnifique et je ne peux pas croire que tu l'as fait après la longue journée hier. Moi, je suis crevée et toi....bravo, mon amie. Linda

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  13. I love Tuesday mornings! It is great fun to scroll down through your post as you describe the table you've set, one image at a time. Your tablescapes are always so complete. There is a "journey" we seem to take as you tell us how you have come to have the lovely things on your table. Love learning how the French do things! Wonderful work.(if you can call it work)...

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  14. Chintz and toile, blue and yellow- Great combination! Absolutely beautiful! :D Jewel

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  15. Beautiful!! You outdid yourself this time;) Love It! French;)

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  16. I love, love, love the blue and the yellow. Your table is absolutly beautiful. Thank you Miss Isabella for co-hosting.

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  17. Debbie, it looks so yummy! Oh, and the food looks good too! LOL

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  18. Gorgeous table, Debbie! I have two toile placemats, in red and white, I received from my Santa Swap partner. I need to put together a table using them. Mine are red and white. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  19. Oh Debbie, every week I think this is my favorite. I love that we get insights into the french way of life also. I LOVE that gorgeous soup tureen and the Quimper ware. I have seen pieces before and had no idea what it was and I have such an appreciation for it now. Your blue and yellow colors are so pretty and your chintz dishes are just beautiful. Now potato soup and salad with wonderful french bread will always be a great meal to me. Miss Isabella did a fabulous job, and tell Miss Kitty that I look forward to seeing her next week. Thanks Debby, great tablescape and mini tour. Hugs, Marty

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  20. LOL I love the kitty picture at the end! She looks like she enjoyed it very much!

    This setting is gorgeous and your write up was so enjoyable to read. My favorite is your "have to buy two" reasoning. You think like I do! I may have to make soup tonight after reading this, it looks great.
    ~Michelle

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  21. Debbie, you have outdone yourself! I love all the blue and yellow, and your pieces of Quimperware. The soup, salad, bread and cheese all look yummy! And what a cute little co-hostess you have.

    Tammy518

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  22. Chintz and Toile... two of my favorites... and you have put them together is such a awe-inspiring way! Just beautiful...

    But, it is also the telling of the story that adds so much to the post, and you Miss Debbie, do that so well... I love that Spode!

    Blessings. Dixie

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  23. Could you hear the thud as I fell off my chair?

    Oh my...all my favorites on one table...blue/white, chintz, blue/yellow, toile

    OH MY....

    I love it all!

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  24. GM Debbie girl I just drooled on my keyboard over this table...I just love chintz and toile and I see your place mates even match your drapes..I love the way you presented this today..its all just beautiful..the food, music just everything..BRAVO!! girl just well done..hugs and smiles Gloria

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  25. Debbie, how adorable! And Isabella is such a perfect hostess (don't tell Baby Kitty I said that!). I just love everything about that table, and you Quimper! Be still my heart! And the other plates... chintz and Lenox are adorble together. You did good, girl! Love the toile placemats and napkins, too. But you've done somethng... I'm STARVING! Please invite me to dinner and feed me! ;-)

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  26. Oops! Make that Spode! And I forgot to say how I covet that Blue Willow soup tureen!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  27. You set a lovely table that goes so well with your page border! Did you plan that too? I'm trying not to covet your chintz ware!

    Kathy b

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  28. What time do we eat?You are serving all my favs,especially the bleu cheese.Awesome setting Deb....Ann

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  29. Hi Deb,where do I begin?The combination of the plates are wonderful,mixed with the toile,lovely.the color scheme is perfection and the description of how the French partake of their meal always thought provoking.I just discovered I must have some French tastebuds because this would be considered a perfect meal for my taste pallete.I was wondering do they serve fruit with their cheeses?What combinations do they use.I always have a cheese platter when I am serving guest and I love new and interesting ways to serve it.I think I just gave you another posting Idea!!! Hugs to you, and GREAT JOB Kathysue

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  30. As usual, your table is perfect and the stand-in hostess is, too. I love that last pic, she looks like she is talking. :-) I am soooo in love with your tureen. Oh my!!! Your dinner looks divine, and the bread made my mouth water. I miss the good French baguettes we bought at market, don't you? Just not quite the same here. Maybe when Baby Kitty gets back from her contract negotiations, her and Isabella and Baby Lily can get together for tea. Baby Lily likes her tea served with extra cream. ;-) Have a great day dear friend, Barb

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  31. What a great table Debbie...you got this down! ;o)

    Love the little punches of yellow to the table & your assistant is soo cute.

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  32. I love the blue and yellow, actually I love your entire table. The combinations you used work so well together. An absolute beautiful table. Thanks, Maryrose

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  33. You really outdid yourself! Everything is just gorgeous!! The blues and yellows are one of my favorite color combos. Awesome job!! Kristen

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  34. Hey Baby Kitty, Miss Isabella is giving you a run for the money!

    Love this one Debbie! I've always admired the chintz pattern & have a covered vegetable in red chintz. ♥

    Diane

    ps think I'm having soup tonight!

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  35. Oh, that beautiful table. I love all your plates and glasses and silverware. And I just love roquefort cheese too. Thank goodness it is not expensive here so I eat it very often. LOve cheddar too and of course Gouda cheese. Yumm

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  36. Oh my goodness Isabella you did great as hostess! You are so pretty too!

    This is so warm and welcoming.
    Love the vibrant colors and toile print. It's all so pretty!
    Gorgeous TT post. :)

    The food looks fabulous my friend.
    I will be knocking on your door at six o'clock sharp to sit at this lovely table.
    Hope that's a good time. LOL!

    ~Warmly, Melissa :)

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  37. Forgot to tell you that the placemats and tureen are my favs! :)

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  38. Oh Debbie...WOW....I love it...from the music to the dishware and that beautiful feline guest with the most precious face! CHEERS! Michele

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  39. These are 2 of my absolute favorite things...
    chintz & toile...this tablescape is so well done Debbie...and the food looks mighty good too! Give my regards to Isabella ;-) Bo

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  40. Chintz and Toile, boy I love it all!! The blue Willow soup tureen is gorgeous!!! And, the soup looks so yummy. Those toile napkins go so well with the setting. Debbie, everything looks so good.

    Oh yes, I do not want to leave out Isabella, she is quite precious!

    Have a great day.

    Nicole~

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  41. Since Isabella is in charge of Public Relations, it's not surprising that she did such a splendid job.

    Loved everything about this post including the menu. Nothing better on a cool or cold (depending on where you are located) Winter day than soup. All I think I would need would be some Normandy butter to spread on that wonderful bread, and I would be all set.

    BTW, I cooked some more fresh collards Sunday using the Old Bay, and they are wonderful. Thanks for the tip. I think I may broil some pork chops and have the collards and sweet potatoes on the side.

    I love the beautiful soup tureen and that the potato soup gets top billing in your centerpiece. DH doesn't care for soup too much, but will eat it occasionally. When I was working I would make a pot of potato soup on the weekend and carry it to work all week for lunch.

    I don't know how you can improve on perfection. Can't wait till you participate in TT again, to find out.

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  42. Hi Glenda...Thanks so much for stopping by! I've been out all day the last three days and I'm waaay behind on my visits! Ohhh...you are so right about Normandy butter! The closest thing I have found here is Land o Lakes unsalted butter. I'm glad you like the collards with Old Bay. It just gives them a little extra zing for me! You are so sweet with your remarks! It is getting easier and becoming fun for me. After that first one, I thought I'd never do one again! Yes, Isabella is my little star! If cats could be super models, she would be one! I think she's the prettiest cat I've ever had and I found her in Lowe's parking lot...all alone. I hope you are having a good week. They say rain is coming!Yaaah! We need all we can get. Thanks for stopping by, my friend! Hugs...Debbie

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  43. Beautiful table - love the chintz! But, what caught my eye was the baguette cut in those inch long chunks - I ate so many while in Paris last May. Thanks for the memory!!! Sally

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  44. Oohhhh, I love this! I am normally not a blue person but this is wonderful. The toile, the dishes, all yummy!
    Linda

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  45. Debbie, Your china is so beautiful. I love all of the yellow and blue. I like how you put the napkins in the glasses. I have never thought of doing that. Everything on your table is just lovely. I really like your kitty too :>)

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  46. Debbie, I love the blue and yellow combo and I know it matches your dining room very well. Love your dishes and the toile napkins and placemats. That tureen is gorgeous. So lucky for you to find those quimperware at a local store. Another great job....you're like a pro!...Christine

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  47. Oh Debbie, surprise, surprise, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this tablescape. I love EVERYTHING on the table! Absolutely perfect! Oh to have Quimper salt & pepper shakers, AND Quimper pitchers! I have two of those dinner plates (that's all they had when I found a sale on them). This tablescape is my favorite! I'm going to go back and soak it all up again. laurie

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  48. This is one of the most beautiful tablescapes I've seen! I love the toile placemats, the napkins, the beautiful china, and the bread holder. Miss Isabella is so cute...love that you've added them to your displays. Seriously, I LOVE this tablescape!

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  49. My goodness! This is beautiful Debbie! I love every single dish and those gorgeous placemats! You have just made me feel a little more refined and French..lol!
    I would love your potato soup recipe...looks wonderful...and I think the co-host likes it too! :-) L~

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  50. Chintz and Toile! Great names for sweet kitties that just have to get in the picture! : )

    Your table is lovely. That soup tureen is to die for!!

    ~Liz

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  51. Debbie,
    You have created a tablescape after my own heart! Love everything about it! That soup looks and sounds delish, too! Blue and yellow, toile, chintz, blue and white, french country--my favorites. Thanks for sharing!

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  52. oo-la-la! Oh, you make me miss Europe!
    Your table was wonderful! Love the colors!

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  53. Your table is beautiful. I love the soup tureen. I need that for my Blue Willow collection!

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  54. C'etais formidable et la musique etais parfaite!! .......and it mixed really well with Madame French's Marvin Gay "Let's Get it On" which I left on by accident LOL!


    Cheers
    Bre
    http://chantillygrace.blogspot.com/

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  55. I do believe I pass by your french country house on the way to my little french cottage...yours is the one with the blue shutters, right? Mine is the one with the yellow shutters and the flower boxes...you know the one? I didn't realize we lived so close...I'll be right over for this wonderful spread!
    Everything is beautiful...as usual! Love those dishes and the color scheme!
    Have a happy week!
    ;-D

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  56. I am like the kitty, licking my lips for the food is so wonderful! I want to come! The blue willow soup is wonderful! I have a set of blue willow, no tureens! Love the chintz dishes! I love the napkin in the glass and adore the placemats! I am going into my 20 yards of blue toile fabric, that I am saving for a bedroom makeover! It looks so lovely on your table! I know I am missing something! lol I got to go back and look again! I am so excited! I just love the yellow with the blue! You out did yourself!

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  57. How wonderful! So French! Just love it! I am a weaver and I have an overshot pattern weave in blue and white, that is madejust like your bread basket! I had forgotten all about it! I love the Albany Spode! Oh my goodness, you have me wanting yellow dishes! I found my Wedding China pieces, that did not get broken the day before we got married. I had them out and my daughter, came and wanted to know where the plates came from, she was in love and tried to go home with them. lol Now I wish I had bought a set over in Virginia when I was there! I decided it was not my taste! Now I was wrong, since I have seen all the lovely China used outdoors! For my Wedding would be a great set for Spring and outdoors! I think yellow dishes would look great with it! lol

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  58. Your blog backdrop...the music...ah the atmosphere... !!!
    All as mere accents to your divine table...!

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  59. WELL...I am in aw here! You can never show me too many plates. I have many myself..but none so lovely as yours. It's the Blue Willow soup tureen that made me catch my breath. I want one so badly. My daughter lives in Lawrenceville Georgia. I am in southern California..and hoping to fly back in the Spring. What a find your soup tureen was! It was a pleasure and an honor having you visit my blog. Thank you so much for coming.

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  60. I love your blue and yellow plates almost as much as your blue and white plates. Your tablescape is beautiful! Thanks so much for coming to visit my blog and becoming a follower. I feel like I'm finally finding a home in the "blogging" world! I love your blog so much!!! I love checking out your new posts!
    Hugs!!!

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  61. Debbie...yep, those are beets that are cut into hearts. I actually found the photo on the internet. I don't know if I would have been so creative to do that myself!

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  62. Debbie, my gosh, you and Miss Isabella have outdone yourselves with this glorious tablescape! I love every single thing about it, and am in awe of your tablescaping skills...now I'm REALLY intimidated about joining in on tablescape day!

    Your yellow and blue Spode plates and bowls are some of the prettiest versions of yellow/blue I've ever seen...so elegant, yet fun at the same time. Your Quimper is a beautiful companion design to go along with it, and it really adds to the French ambience. :-) Of course, your mom's flatware is so gorgeous, I would be looking for any excuse to get it out and on the table! And I love how even the Roquefort cheese goes with the color scheme...you are just good, Debbie! :-)

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  63. Oh my goodnes, Debbie. I am trying so hard not to be jealous of your dishes. You have set the most gorgeous table. And the accessories! Wow! I love that soup tureen and glasses...and on and on. I adore your sweet kitty!

    I don't have much blue in my house (or dishes) but now that I am blogging and seeing it more, I have my eye out for some! ;)

    Donna

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  64. I LOVE it Debbie!! EVERYTHING!! I want to come for dinner!! Vanna

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie