Outdoor Vintage Style Dining

Spring is here (tomorrow) and I must admit, I have a horrible case of cabin fever.  Having shoveled the last of the snow off of my deck yesterday, I took a deep breath of the still cold air and perused my backyard.  It's more of a forest actually as the yard indeed flows into the forest.  Deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks and even a bear or two have roamed the yard.

I see huge areas of dead grass on the south side of the yard and mounds of snow on the north side. I say a silent prayer for sun to flood the yard and melt the remaining snow.  It's been a long, cold, winter and I'm tired of it.  I want to put on my tennies and walk down the country dirt road in front of my house without freezing from the stinging wind or slipping and sliding.  "Please March, leave like a lamb now!" I say aloud.

Well, at least I'm on my deck and even though my back hurts from the shoveling, I feel content.....and I start to plan an outdoor evening with the family.

Barbecue, is the first idea that pops into my head, but I crave romance and flowers, pretty china, and table clothes.  I want to emasculate the outdoor family dining experience that has become the norm of the modern person.  Remembering old black and white prints, nostalgic movies, and stories from elders, I recall through them, that before camping & plastic became all the rage in the 1940's - 50's, people used there indoor stuff outside.

Why must we eat off of plastic or paper plates, wipe our mouths off on cardboard towels, while chewing on a hunk of something smothered in barbecue sauce?  I have beautiful things, sideboards, table clothes, candelabras, china; why can't I recreate a meal from elegant times past?

Why is it that when we do bring our good stuff outside, it is only for a little girls birthday party or a big girls wedding?

I want to dress up and play, just because I'm happy Spring is here!

I want to do this for my family. They deserve beauty and so do I.  No, I will not make them wear dresses or ties (unless they want to)....and maybe we will still eat something with barbecue sauce, but darn it, I'm bringing out the china!  There will be no paper plates & cups at this meal!

Welcome back old fashioned eating with the Fam & dear friends.....loving the idea!

......now if only March would cooperate.

Vintage Smoking Jackets, Never Out of Style~

Ever wonder what's up with smoking jackets?  Why do men wear them?  When did it all began?
I did a little research and according to Wikipedia "A smoking jacket is an over garment designed to be worn while smoking tobacco, in the form of pipes and cigars."

It first began, as far back as the 17th century when men were seen in paintings wearing long satin or silk robes covering their attire.  These robes later were shortened into the mid-thigh length we have come to expect to see Hugh Hefner wearing.

Interesting.  And when did the modern day definition begin?  Both Wikipedia and duchessclothier.com agree, back in the 1850s, the Gentlemen's Magazine of London defined the smoking jacket as a "kind of short robe de chambre, of velvet, cashmere, plush, merino or printed flannel, lined with bright colours, ornamented with brandenbourgs, olives or large buttons."  

Apparently, men took their smoking very seriously, heading into a smoking parlor after dinner and donning a smoking jacket over their clothes.  Why?  Because they did not want their clothes to smell of smoke, get clothes dirty with ash or worry about nasty cigarette hole burns.  I would venture to say that weekly baths, no washing machines and wives with bundles of socks to darn, also had something to do with the use of the jacket.  Real gentlemen also donned smoking caps and slippers, in an effort to keep the smell of the smoke completely off of themselves.....think Ebenezer Scrooge.

Smoking became all the rage.  The Crimean War assured an abundance of Turkish Tobacco flowing through England and smoking's popularity spiked in the mid 1800's.

Also it was popular to dress specifically for an occasion; if a person road a horse, they wore certain clothes, dinner was another choice and apparently smoking was also such an instance.

Enter the early 20th century and the smoking jacket took on a casual home entertaining attire choice.  If a jacket was too dressed up and a sweater too dressed down, the popular and excepted smoking jacket was the stylish choice.

Oscar Wilde in his favorite smoking jacket.

The 1950's re-established the popularity of the smoking jacket with actors such as Dean Martin and Fred Astaire seen handsomely smiling at the camera, wearing same.  Fred Astaire was actually buried in his favorite smoking jacket!

Fred Astaire

Every man now wanted an affordable smoking jacket to emulate his favorite movie star.

The smoking jacket continues in its popularity today and has also evolved  into a choice for women's couture.

Viva la smoking jacket!

A Different Sort of Tea Party

I am in the mood for a tea party.  Funny, but I'm not the kind of gal that attends tea parties, but the thought of sipping a stiff Earl Grey tea out of a pretty cup has struck my fancy today.

And to complement that tea, I would make a lady finger, fruit and brandy truffle.  Yummy!

My recipe is so easy for this truffle, a child can make it.  Use 2 pkgs lady fingers, blend up 2 pkgs instant vanilla pudding, have available blackberry brandy, and fresh or canned fruit.

Stack the bottom and sides of a clear bowl with lady fingers.  Add a layer of vanilla pudding, fruit and a sprinkle of brandy. Add another round of lady fingers than repeat the layers until the top of the bowl is reached.  The top should end with pudding and decorative fruit. (And one more sprinkle of brandy, if you are brave!)  It's easy, beautiful, and my friends LOVE it!

Instantly, I know why I'm dreaming of treats, I've been low carbing it for the past week.  There will be no tea and crumpets for me today.

Unsatisfied after drinking a mug of tea (not a pretty tea cup at all), my imagination takes over.  I decide to look for ways to upcycle teacups.

I love this idea; teacups as drawer jewelry sorters.  I have a couple on top of my dresser too!

What other ways can I upcycle pretty teacups?

A pin cushion!

Now I am getting the hang of this.

A teacup herb garden

I am enjoying this search for perfect teacup reincarnation.

This isn't an upcycle idea, but what fun to display all the pretty teacups.

Now this is clever:

Teacup Dessert Stand

One more teacup upcycle brings me to the birds.

I definitely feel satisfied and I've had my own manner of low carb tea party, delightful.  Now what shall I dream up for dinner.......hmmm.

Winter Scavenger Hunt

The winter has taken a reprieve as the temperature reads a balmy 41 degrees. There is much to be said for a warm snap. As I put on my coat and galoshes, I venture out for a winter scavenger hunt to see what I can find. I take pleasure in bringing bits of nature inside my home. It welcomes in the elemental spirit of the season. First I look to the trees for treasure.

Nests are perfect for cradling shells, stones, and feathers once brought inside.

Here are a few abandoned nests ready to be filled with treasures.

Abandoned Wasps nest is lovely on a shelf alone or placed within a nest. I carefully make sure the wasps nest is empty and the same with my nest jewels. As I place them in my burlap sack I look around tree trunks to see what else might be available.

I spy oyster mushrooms and although I know I can cook these up, right now I just cut off a piece to display inside.

Pieces of fresh fallen branches (no wood rot when they've just fallen) bring a forest feel to my home with twinkling lights attached and hung from the ceiling.

A small sapling that cannot be saved, makes a reappearance as a few rustic hangers. This one, I choose to hang a vintage apron on, and affix to a wall, as a work of art.

This little nest I adorn with shells, wasp nest and a half of a robins egg found underneath the melting snow. As I breath in the fresh air and return to my house, I am delighted with natures gifts. I say a thank you aloud to my outdoor friends for their creativity. By bringing some of the outdoor life in, I feel a closer love and connection to my country surroundings.

Chalkboard Paint.....Oh The Things You Can Paint!

Any person in my family can tell you, I fancy chalkboard paint. It started when I was shopping for the perfect sized chalkboard for my coffeehouse. When I could not find one, I measured out the right size on plywood, bought chalkboard paint and a brush. Two coats later, I was finished. After that, nothing was spared getting a circle of chalkboard paint. The key is, is to not paint an enter THING chalkboard, just a circle or square on something is enough.

A coffee table is the perfect place to experiment with chalkboard paint!

Sand the top a little, then add 2 -3 coats of any chalkboard paint found at home building or paint supply store.

Let dry a couple of hours and you are ready to jot down phone numbers, entertain any child, or draw a chessboard for checkers or chess.  Tic tac toe anyone? 

What to do with those ugly, glided, heavy picture frames?

Why not spray the frame with a color of you choice and paint the glass with chalkboard paint.

You don't have to paint something, then hang something, when you paint chalkboard right on the wall.

Dollar store trays are easily painted and infuse a creative touch to your parties.  You will not want to toss these upcycled platters.  Also, why not chalkboard paint those tarnished silver platters received years back as wedding gifts.  They are in a cupboard somewhere awaiting a repurposed life.

I have a few of these lying around in gold, red, & silver from the holidays.  They feel too fancy for the rest of the year.  Painted with chalkboard paint (just the inside circle; painting the entire plate makes it too drab!), chargers take on a new life as menus or place settings.