Daisy Maisy Sister Sue

My sister retired, and moved to La Quinta, California, resolved to start this phase of her life with the freshest of outlooks, including all NEW dishes!  I can't imagine such a thing, so of course I took her 1974 Noritake Daisy china (officially called Donegal),  Can't you picture her digging these groovy dishes with daisies encircling each piece, much as she loved her equally groovy high school boyfriend, and now husband of 36 years.  Our beloved Grannie Annie called my sister, "Daisy Maisy" so when she used daisies in her wedding, and choose this china, it also paid homage to our past.  And what's not to love about another ridiculous set of china? 

So here is my ode to sisterhood, daisies, and "Summer Loving" (effort to include vintage songs....)

The white daisies, gray shadows, and platinum trim encircle each piece, so sweet, so seventies.  Thinking John Denver, "Sunshine on my Shoulder."

Vintage damask napkins, stiffly starched with a butterfly napkin ring, and my wedding Reed & Barton Renaissance silver. Is it "Just My Imagination" or does that butterfly look like it belongs in this garden?  I know, ridiculous, but groovy.

Vintage champagne bucket with daisies, tall white candles for additional height and sparkle. Knowing that I was going to do this table soon, I purchased faux daisies at Jo-Ann's, then added real greenery from the yard.  Daisies are so hard to keep fresh.  Very not cool to have anything fake in the seventies, but as Bob Dylan said, "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

 Love these champagne flutes from Amazon. They look vintage, but they are not.  See link to purchase Crystal Cut Luster, 4 flutes for $25.

 Love that Sue had the vegetable dish, and chop plate.

So, now dear Donegal #2179 "I Gotcha" and we will always be "Evergreen."

I'm joining Susan at her wonderful porch party, Tablescape Thursday.  Join me there!

Leave me a comment, and have a Daisy Mazy sunny week!
~CJ

July 4th Red, White, & Blue Thai

City of Calabasas hosts a spectacular fireworks show, utilizing my high school's upper baseball fields, so they graciously invite me and even provide VIP parking.  We invited a couple of great friends to join us for the show, with dinner beforehand on our deck.  Our garden, previously blogged about here, was bursting with lettuce that needed picking, and our quails are laying 20+ eggs per day, so I was delighted to come across a Thai recipe, "Quail egg salad with steamed shrimp."  The inspiration grew from there.

Always love an opportunity to use my Johnson Bros Asiatic Pheasant plates and bowls, shown here in a Ode to my mom, great schoolteacher in Fun with Dick and Jane

 July 4th needed a red, white, and blue theme, of course, so added set of red plates, and picked up celebratory flowers from market.  Tablecloth, a Tahitian wrap around skirt called a pareo, purchased in numerous colors five years ago on a glorious vacation to Tahiti. 

 Found a Johnson Brothers, Liberty Blue, ironstone plate at local Goodwill, that I used for serving appetizers Rob made, deviled quail eggs.  We have too many!

Plates for croissants, red Signature and Queens floral blue found at Marshalls for $2 each. Love a bargain.

 Heavy damask napkin found at a local estate sale. Love the weight and vintage finish of these.

Garden bursting with lettuce needing to be harvested provided the base for this Thai salad.

 Healthy Thai recipe book featured Golden baskets, simple appetizer made with spring roll sheets that are made into little baskets that can be made the day before, then filled with variety of fillings. These used ground chicken, corn, carrots, peas, red peppers, cilantro and ginger.  Yum!  Little bursts like fireworks.

 Shells before filled.

 Golden Baskets on Willow platter, gift from mom.

Hope your 4th of July celebration was filled with fireworks, fun, and friends. We are blessed to live in the United States, free to celebrate any way we choose!  So I can Thai if I want to!

Plates and bowls: Johnson Bros Asiatic Pheasant, Rose Bowl Flea Market
Bread plates: Queens from Marshalls and Signature red, Home Goods
Goblets: Cobalt blue, Dollar Store
Pitcher: Willow, made in England, gift from mom
Flatware: Home Goods
Tablecloth: Tahitian wrap around pareo, Bora Bora purchase


This week I'm linking to these parties!  Join in the fun!


Tablescape Thursday


I love to read your comments, and then visit your blog for more inspiration.  Can't wait to see what you're doing this summer because I'm finally on my first day of vacation.  Yippee!  Happy blogging, friends!


~CJ