Army Navy Lenox and Gold Tablescape

Hello Friends!

Well, my blogging journey continues.  I am so new to this and want to share but I'm afraid this old brain isn't able to assimilate as well as it used to.  This post should go under the tablescape tab, but somehow I can't figure out how to get it there, LOL.

This table setting is done with a LOT of estate sale finds, but also with my Lenox Mansfield china.  The centerpiece for this table is a Humming Bird Cake.  I have seen the recipe all over blogging land and wanted to try one.  It was really very good!

The cake server and matching flatware is from an estate sale.  It is "Ballad" by Community.  I loved the roses on it!

A close up of the pattern.

I'm so new to tablescaping, and forgot to get a candle light shot.  In this picture, I tried adding some crystal eggs from my collection.  The gold candle holders are from an estate sale, as are the little gold votive candles.

The gold rimmed vintage glass bowls are part of a set that belonged to my Mother in Law Lily.  She had so many pretty things.  The gold chargers were found at Tuesday Morning.  Cheap!  I think they were only $1.99 on clearance.  I've had the Army Navy tablecloth for years and years.  When we lived in Brandon, Florida, my neighbor Joy Maurer was a beautiful person who entertained often.  She gave me this Army Navy cloth and influenced me so very much in my early years in Florida.  Her southern home was decorated in Colonial Style.  She exposed me to things I had never known existed.  She's gone now, but I'll never forget her, her beautiful home, and her friendship.  I had no car, (we were a one car family then and hubby took it to work each day) and three little ones...she would drag me out of bed (and my depression), and we would go hunting for things for a dinner party she was having.  My youngest then was Kristin and the two boys, Ronnie and David, were in school.  Joy had a little boy the same age as Kris named Michael.  Michael had Cerebral Palsy and tiny Joy carried him everywhere.  I never realized that she was teaching me things every day about decorating and entertaining, but about life's challenges too.  She gave me a baby shower when I was pregnant with my youngest, Melissa.  Missy was born in 1970, so that was so many years ago.  How I missed Joy when we moved to the Orlando area.

 The gold rimmed stemware came from an estate sale.  I don't know what the pattern is...if anyone knows, please tell me!  The cake stand I've had so long, I don't remember where it came from.

I'm constantly looking for pretty napkins now.  These were a mess when I found them at an estate sale on the south side of Orlando.  The house was HOARDED big time...and the estate sale company owner told me that they filled 2 huge dumpsters before they could even get to the things to sell.  I soaked these napkins in Oxiclean and then ironed them.  They came out so nice!

I thought about some napkin rings that I have that would have looked great, and wish a little bit that I had used them...

I'm new at this, but have noted that most tablescape posts have the obligatory "rim shot".  So...not as good at picture taking as I would aspire to be, and my little Canon A620 Powershot camera is stretched to her limits...but here's my "rim shot", LOL

Another view of the cutout design on these vintage napkins.

Would you like a piece of Hummingbird Cake?  With Vanilla Ice Cream?

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

3 - cup flour 

2 - cup sugar

1 - teaspoon baking soda

1 - teaspoon salt

2 - cup bananas, chopped

1 - cup chopped nuts

1 - teaspoon cinnamon

1-1/2 - cup vegetable oil

3 - eggs, beaten

8 oz - can crushed pineapple

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour bundt pan.

In a large bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add remaining ingredients, including the juice in the crushed pineapples. Stir until mixed. (Hand mix only.) Pour mixture into the bundt pan.

Bake 70 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on cake rack 25-30 minutes. 

This is so sweet, you do not need icing.

I haven't a clue how to link up with anyone.  I love Marty's blog "A Stroll Thru Life" and she has a wonderful Tuesday link party.  Maybe I can figure out how to link up there?

So many things I wish I had done with the tablescape.  Wish I had taken a night time candlelit view.  Next time!

Love and hugs,

Joyce