WOW! Have I told you guys lately how much I appreciate you?! I asked for your help yesterday and you responded...you are positively AWESOME! THANK-YOU, to EVERYONE who stopped by HomeGoods Facebook page and voted for the 4th of July tablescape I entered in their Happy Host Contest!
I am soooo appreciative of all the sweet comments you've left there and so very appreciative of the time you took to stop by and vote. I found myself getting misty eyed today realizing how fortunate I am to have met so many, many wonderful, dear souls via blogging and RMS.
If you didn't get a chance to vote yesterday and you would still like to do so, just click on the 4th of July mosaic posted over at the top of my sidebar. That will take you directly to the page where you just click on "LIKE" beneath the picture, to cast your vote for my 4th of July tablescape. I think you may need to become a "Fan" of Homegoods to cast your vote, but I'm not positive about that. If you do, HERE is the link for Homegoods Facebook page where you can "fan" them. Thank-you again for your support...you guys are the best!
A Tablescaping Story
Once upon a time, long, long ago, a young, happy couple graduated from college...HE from lawschool, SHE from undergraduate. A few days later, they celebrated their 1 year wedding anniversary and as summer came to a close, the starry-eyed coupled loaded up a U-haul, and along with their sweet, furry kitty in tow, headed off to far-away land...alllll alone. HE was going into the the Army Reserves, but before he could do so, HE had to complete Officer Basic Training at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland.
Upon arriving, with little time to look for an apartment before classes began, HE and SHE rented the only place they could find in the city of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The apartment was only a block away from the scenic Chesapeake Bay on a street with a name that reminded them of New Orleans...Bourbon Street.
It was a tiny, one-room space, with a very tiny bathroom, in the attic of an old, old home...a home that turned out to be owned by a mean, wicked old witch. The witch charged the young, naive couple a huge ransom to rent the un-airconditioned, attic room, containing one very small window. Fortunately, for the couple and their sweet kitty, it was September and the hot weather would soon be gone.
The tiny little room had just enough space for a small bed and a little chest-of-drawers tucked under one eve...
And a make-do kitchen consisting of a hotplate, toaster oven and small refrigerator under the other eve.
Each time the young couple returned home and opened the door to the long, narrow stairway leading to their tiny attic room, they were greeted by their sweet, furry kitty.
Each day, HE went off to learn to be a warrior for his country and SHE stayed home in the tiny, attic apartment, dreaming of when he would return. One day SHE thought she really should find something to do to pass the 4 months before they could return back home. She taught herself to macrame and crochet. She signed up to take a class in "Dip-and-Drape." Dip and Drape turned out to be a very, very messy class because it involved "dipping" fabric into a soupy, starchy, mixture...and "drapping" it, where it would then dry into a shape.
For Halloween, SHE made a dip and drape witch. (visible in first pic) Then for Christmas, SHE made Christmas Carolers. While SHE took classes some evenings, HE took a calligraphy class and a class learning to make stained glass. HE wrote beautiful calligraphy on HER caroler's hymn books, and HE made lovely stained glass birds to give as Christmas gifts to friends and family when the young couple would return home.
Finally, the day came when the couple could return home. They packed up their U-Haul, said good-bye to their tiny attic apartment and to the mean, wicked witch who kept their whole deposit, a small fortune to the young couple just starting out. The young couple learned about more than just macrame, dip & drape and stained glass. They learned that there are those who will take advantage of naive, young couples...even at Christmas. But they also learned that they could survive far away from friends and family, and that even mean, wicked old witches could not dampen their Christmas spirit.
Now 30 years later, the carolers find their place in a simple tablescape...
They carry many memories...
Are you surrounded by memories this Christmas...
As you bring out the special treasures from years past?
Tonight, I am thankful for you!
Each time you visit here...
You create wonderful memories....
Memories I will carry...
In my heart...
For many years to come.
I truly hope this Christmas....
Finds your heart filled with many, many happy memories.
And I pray you are surrounded...
By friends and family who love you.
This is the season of love...
And hope...
And Joy!
Merry Christmas, Dear Friends!
Looking forward to seeing your beautiful tablescapes!
Dinner Plate: Lenox, Butler's Pantry, Gourmet
Salad Plate: Marshalls
Flatware: Big Lots
Napkins: Pier 1
Napkin Rings: Ross
Glassware: Marshalls (I think) not sure of maker
Santa & Mrs. Santa, Salt & Pepper: Publix Grocery Store
Snowflake luminaries: Colonial Candle, Click HERE
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren't sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click HERE for detailed instructions.
Please copy and paste the Tablescape Thursday logo button to your computer. Then you can upload it to your side bar and use it in your tablescape post so your visitors will know you are participating.
Please link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted for this Tablescape Thursday.
Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.
The following blogs have beautiful tablescapes awaiting your visit:
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