The Spring Decor...

Because it's almost summer and I enjoy being totally on top of these sorts of things.

I did my usual Easter decorations.  Which is mostly plastic Easter eggs in mason jars.

Wildly exciting.

The eggs are gone now and I was feeling inspired by Grandmother's precious china and my bible study ladies coming over for brunch.  Our women's bible study program at church is called Soul Sisters.  They do zebra prints, hot pink and a lot of sparkles.  

Not really my thing.

But vintage sweetness, I can do.  

The dining room table.  Poor table, it kinda gets left out.  I used to decorate it a lot but little hands tend to take things like place mats and place settings just right off the edge.  They see it.  They take it.  So it stays...meh.  But OH MY SHABBY CHIC, I love this little centerpiece set up.  That's Grandmother Evans' sheet again.  It's getting a lot of use this spring.

The foyer table.  I decorate this little area for most every season/event/party.  I'm not sure that mirror has spent more than a couple of days at a time without being covered by some form of garland.   

They are pretty cute.  I made a little button garland too but my "cute" daughter thought it was a necklace.  So she wore it to preschool and promptly lost it.  To the shock of no one.  

This took for.ev.ver.  They're the mason jar lids.  You see that, don't you?

They look like little scrappy wreaths.  Right?  Gosh, I hope so. 

Y'all.  I made coffee.  It's the first time I've ever made coffee.  In my own house.  At work, yes, every morning.  Sometimes twice.  But never in my own home.  Other people, namely my mom, do that here but I don't drink coffee.  So be impressed.  And yes, I called Mom for directions.

And for the "Of course" moment of the event, no one drank coffee.  Not a single drop.  But they did drink the citrus water.  It was pretty good.  No idea about the coffee.

I know what you're thinking.  "When, oh when, is she gonna run out of old plastic blinds to make signs out of?"  And the answer is, maybe never.  Because we are covered in nasty, old, plastic blinds.  Thus, "Spring!"

I love having all this "stuff" around for decorating.  

I've been in a clean out mode for several weeks.  Taken several loads of clothes and toys to the consignment shop and what's left (which is a good bit) is getting sold at the neighborhood yard sale this Saturday.  Clothes, toys, books, movies, even extra craft stuff is easy for me to shove on out the door.  Generally, I'm not overly sentimental about "stuff."  

(SIDE NOTE:  Remind me to back that last statement up with the story of my three, yes, three, engagement rings Chris purchased before we walked down the aisle.  And I'm wearing my fourth.  Because I am was crazy and Chris is was super tolerant.)

But when it comes to my kitchen "stuff," well, that's another story.  There are four sets of china.  One from each of my grandmother's and then a casual and formal china of my own.  

Then there's the crystal for which all (at least it used to be "all," but probably more like "some" these days) Southern brides register.  There are crystal tea glasses and water goblets and white wine glasses.  Too many to count crystal vases.  Three crystal pitchers.  A crystal punch bowl (that still makes me swoon when I see it in the cabinet).  

And that might just be the tip of the crystal iceberg.  

Next comes the white china serving pieces.  The cake stands and serving platters.  Those precious things have been strung with heaven only knows how many different colors of ribbons.   

During the mania clean out, I told Chris I look at all that stuff taking up so much space and question if I need to keep it.  But then I remember I LOVE IT ALL and so it stays.  

Not to mention that, despite my rather horrible memory, I can tell you who gave me each of those treasured pieces taking up space in my kitchen cabinets.  Most of the pieces are still stored in their original boxes.  And those boxes still have the cards from the precious women who gave them to me at one of my glorious wedding teas where amazing women loved on me and my mom by using her grandmother's china and her still-makes-her-swoon punch bowl.  

Almost fourteen years later, when I can pull together a brunch with so many beloved pieces, stuff I only use occasionally at best, I know I made the right decision to keep them.  Which means that maybe, just maybe, I might be at least a little sentimental about some things.

Just not engagement rings.

The consistent use of old blinds as decoration, however...that may not be the right decision.