Hippity Hoppity, Easter Came!

Last I wrote I was trying to decide how I wanted to set my table.

Well, I didn't do much different then years past.

I had good intentions. I had a plan. Unfortunately I have this problem of putting things in a shopping cart then forgetting to check out. When I realized I had done it yet again, it was too late to order those beautiful plates I had seen at Pier 1. So I headed down to our Pier 1 to see what they had available.

My new additions this year included these cute little Bunny Salt and Pepper Shakers and the Alabaster Salad Plates.

When I pulled out my pale yellow tablecloth of more then 10 years, it surely showed it's age. Getting a new one become a goal. Even when time is against me I still watch the budget. I know what I paid for the original, on clearance way back then, and really wanted to stay within the same price if at all possible. However prices have changed in those 10+ years.

JCPenney had a 60x84 for $42. Unfortunately our local store didn't have the color I needed. Gold yes, pale yellow, or as they called it, straw, nope, notta, and once again only online, which won't arrive in time without expedited shipping.

Next store across the way from JCPenney was Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Online I had seen this beautiful cutwork table cloth and thought it would work. My hope was to find it local. With a strike out at JCPenney, maybe, just maybe I would get lucky. 

Nope, I couldn't find it! 

I could have asked, but why bother when I would just be told it's not available in the store, but could order it online. 

Really! I needed it for Sunday. At $34.99 plus $20.99 for online ordering with expedited shipping would break the bank, or at least my budget. Sure, shipping to the store is FREE, but that doesn't work when it won't be there till after Easter.

When I ogt home I checked out LinenTablecloth.com, my favorite go to site for party linens. There I found the light yellow I was looking for and in a 84 inch square (I have future plans for it to be used on my 72inch round table) for $7.69 plus $10.29 for next day. Half the price even with expedited shipping, WIN!!!!

While I waited for the tablecloth I played around with my layout. Since this year there was just going to be the 4 us, I could get more creative.

I have folded these cute little bunnies since 2010. Not every year did I fold them, but they were on my table more times then not. This year I found where one blogger, Moco-Choco, had found a different way of folding and finishing them off by adding a bow.

If only I had found her blog before, I just might have changed my colors too. Isn't this just beautiful! I will save this for next year when we have, I mean my adults children, have their children for Easter. Plus it gives me time to pick up some of the stuff on clearance. Like those beautiful green plates! As for the table cloth, well I bought a light green, or sage color last year from LinenTablecoth.com for Christmas that will work perfect. The runner I can make out of some bolt fabric, just cut and hem.

I found the original bloggers site in hopes of finding out where she got her plates. Well, you will have to use the translator app in order to read it. My chances of finding her exact plates just got really slim. However, I did find something similar to them here.  At least I have a year to find them. 

GREAT!!! Just what I need, another set of dishes! Oh, the loves of my life!

Okay, back to the present.

Pulling out all my Easter stuff to see what I will or will not be using. At one point I had just about all of it on my table. Here are my bunnies with their their new bows. 

Since I had already ironed and made my bunnies the way I have always done before, I just flipped them around and tied a bow on. Being I was done store hopping like a bunny, I just used what ribbon was in my craft basket. I should have said what was left. It appears I need to restock my ribbon basket. It's getting a bit thin. My options were not plentiful.

Once my tablecloth arrived on Friday, I was ready to finish with my table. The 84inch square was a bit long on one side, but with some packing tape I made it work. You see, I don't use a conventional table like you'd find in the furniture stores. I found this teak table at the patio stores end of season sale for 70% off. It measures 48x72 without the leaf and can sit up to 8 people. I can squeeze 10 at it if necessary. When the leaf is brought up, it measures 48x96 and I have had 14 people sitting at the table so far. I bet I could squeeze two more if I had too.  

I really should have put it in the dryer for a bit to get the folds out. Whatever was I thinking! 

By the time diner was served, I didn't even notice the fold lines.

Before we even sat down to eat, there had to be an Easter Egg Hunt!

It was such a nice, quiet day. Bella enjoyed egg hunting with the "Grand" and even took a dip in the pool. Usually Easter is the "Grand" opening of the pool, and though it was ready for splashing, there wasn't time to enjoy it. We had a real nice Easter lunch instead of a dinner so our daughter would have time before she had to leave to head up "The Mountain" for the "pick up".

I will bet money that come Grandma Wednesday, there will be "Grand's" in the pool!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter as well.

Time To Set A Table

With Easter approaching and it being Tablescape Thursday, once again I turn to my favorite blog for ideas. Of course Google will also show me other great tables, but for now, I LOVE some that were posted today.

This is the one she posted.

I have an egg table runner similar to hers only it isn't beaded. I would have thought it was expensive and from a specialty store but it wasn't. She noted it was from Kohl's. I love how she made it work with her bunny plates. In fact I always love her tables and could only dream my would ever look that good.

I've been building off mine runner for a few years now. Most years I try to add something new, but when I couldn't I just did something new with what I have. The pictures aren't in order. I tried way too long to rearrange them so they were, and finally gave up. The first picture on the left is from 2014. The next is 2016. Then 2015, and 2013. The bottom photo is from 2010, and I believe that was the year that I found the runner.

So, what will I do this year. I have no clue! Which is why I thought if I started now, checking out other tables, I would be inspired.

When I clicked on her link for the plates she used, I saw these below in that area where they show you other items you might be interested in. It's the one of those things that can distract me, lickity split. But I thought, if I can buy some new salad plates this year, I think I might consider these from Pier 1.

I can just imagine them on top of a pastel dinner plate.

Then as I clicked through some of the other tablescapes, I found this one and boy did a light bulb go off!

I have always loved to add Spring flowers to my table especially since I don't have a large collection of bunnies. At least not yet! However, I think I need to add more flowers like this. 

This table was from Celebrate and Decorate by Chloe Crabtree. Boy would I love to find some bunnies like hers, but since I can't I can however add more flowers this year, and then with those plates above, it might just work. 

Time to bring up the Easter boxes and get to work!

After the Fair that is!

Yep, It's April!

Like most American's this weekend, okay maybe not most but a darn good share of them, it not only started with some funny April Fool's jokes, it was also Opening Day in baseball.

For us Opening Day was Saturday for this "Grand".

For the next 6 weeks we'll be attending most of his games, and rooting him on while capturing his first official year in the Babe Ruth Little League. Like his older brother, he LOVES baseball.

After the game we headed out of town and "Up The Mountain" as we call it when we are headed to the San Diego area. I LOVE the mountain we have to go over. For years we kept saying we will have to check this out, or that out, and lately that is just what we have been doing. Instead of going up and over by the way of the interstate, we took the scenic route again. Yep, this was I think our 4th time taking this route, but it was our first time being there at the right time when there was so much blooming.

Once we reached the top, the views were just remarkable!

Along the way there was so much color!

 

I LOVE my hubby for taking me on these adventures. At one point he joked, "I need a sign on the back that say's, "Photographer on Board, Frequent Stops!" He has even gotten in the habit of stopping or turning around because he saw something he would like me to capture. I haven't been disappointed yet.

 

 This is the desert. There is nothing out here. Nothing.

I disagree. 

There is plenty out there. 

Plenty of color. 

Plenty of trails to explore.

Plenty of views from beginning to end.

Plenty of history telling a story.

Plenty of artist capturing and sharing the beauty of the desert.

It might have been the longest way to get to San Diego, but it sure was the most beautiful route. We didn't actually go all the way down into San Diego, we stopped and stayed in a town called Alpine. It has been our drop-off/pick-up location since 2005. Our sole reason for going up was to pick up these two "Grand's" the next morning.

Before they got there, we spent the morning at Alpine Garden and Gift's. We've been here before. A few years ago, before I found Green Valley Christmas Tree's we bought a Christmas Tree from here. She has a lot to look at and this weekend is a Vintage Market.

We won't be going back up though, it's Fair Week here.

The goats have been taken down and are settled in their pens.

Tonight was the Destruction Derby, and we all had a blast cheering on our favorite cars!

Tomorrow will be a full day of showing the goats.

Oh, one more thing. I didn't ribbon on any of my photos and only 6 of the 10 were on display. Can't wait till pick-up day so I can read the back of any comments made. I could tell the difference between mine and the winners and see where I can improve. For my first time I am so thrilled 6 made it on display after the judging.

Not bad.