Romantic Dinner for Two

This weekend is the 23rd anniversary of the day
my husband & I met.
(blind date set up by his son & my girlfriend)

I decided to serve my sweetheart a special meal
just for the two of us to celebrate.
I'm using a side table that sits in a little alcove near the stairs....very cozy & romantic.

I like the beautiful wood to show so I'm not using placemats.

Two beautiful long stemmed YELLOW roses
from my garden make up my centerpiece.

Sadly, these will probably be the last two blooms of the season.

I am using a crystal vase that was a wedding present
and my Waterford clock
(a gift for serving as President of New Clevelanders)
sits nearby to remind us of
how fleeting time is & how we need to
cherish every minute that we have together.

The vintage silver bowl in the background will hold buttered parsley potatoes.

The tiered silver stand with the swirls will hold
homemade cookies to go with dessert.

I'm serving his favorite meal of prime rib, so the little salt cellars
will be holding horseradish instead of their original intended use.

This Shannon lead crystal basket will be for the rolls.
It is usually in my guest bath, holding paper hand towels
but I thought it could do double duty on this table.

It is too heavy to use at my dining room table,
where it would need to be passed
so this works nicely for just two people where both can reach it.

Here is how it looks with a pretty crocheted edge handkerchief as a liner.

The crystal I'm using for this dinner is Bohemia from Czechoslovakia.
The name of the pattern is "Claudia" & I've had it a loooong time....well over 25 to 30 yrs.


We are having Asti Spumante to start our celebration,
thus the tall champagne flutes on the table
along with the water & wine stemware.
I ♥ Asti♥!

I also included the little cordial or aperitif glasses,
since we enjoy a sip of chilled
Bailey's Irish Cream®
at the end of a special meal.
These little glasses are just the right size!

A few close up views of my Arte Italica Vetro Gold sherbet dishes &
Lenox china in the Eternal pattern.
The salad plate is also by Lenox & is called "Presentation".
I like to use it for birthdays & celebrations,
as it reminds me of packages
wrapped with ribbons & bows.



I love how the bow & loops match the gold pattern on the goblets
that I'm using for the first course.
That happened purely by accident
since they were purchased years apart.
Serendipity!

The napkins, also by Lenox, came with the gold loop pattern
imprinted across the bottom.
I embroidered the dove and the word "Peace"
with my sewing machine.


I have a set of only 4 of these, so I don't use them often.
It seems like we either have just 2 at the table or 6 to 8!

I'm having a "Pay-It-Forward" give-away
after winning four lovely plates at Marty's blog
A Stroll Thru Life.

The give-away will also mark
my second full month of blogging. :)
I just have to sign up for Mr. Linky &
figure out how to make my button clickable.
For some reason, its not opening to my home page.
*Sigh* So much to learn about blogging!

I will machine embroider your choice of
initial or monogram on
a hemstitched linen hand towel
for 3 different winners
so keep watching!

I added a tassel
in lieu of napkin rings.

At the last minute, I tucked in a little photo of us
standing at the water's edge in Cape Cod.
Remembering the fun times!




The silver candy dish holds Jordan almonds....
a very traditional wedding treat that
seems to be disappearing with each photograph.
I wonder who is doing the nibbling?

I couldn't wait to show you what I'll be using to
serve coffee after dinner!!
My newest thrift find is a vintage coffee butler.
I've wanted one ever since I saw Mid-Atlantic Martha's here.

The sun created that unusual reflection on the wall.
I think it looks like steam...what a neat effect!

Thank you for letting me share my special plans with you & the other members who participate in Tablescape Thursday
at Susan's beautiful blog,
Between Naps on the Porch.

Be sure to visit her site to see what everyone else has created this week.
I love to hear your opinions,
so won't you please leave a comment?