My Birthday Celebration with Mother's Pink Depression Glass

Please join me in silent prayer for the earthquake disaster victims in Haiti?

Our neighbors & dear friends Dr. Vince P & his RN wife, Lee
are there right now on a missionary trip.
They are 60 miles from the epicenter &
were not harmed but knowing them,
they will stay in Haiti to help in any way they can.
Please Lord, watch over them & keep them safe?

On a lighter note, Sunday, my family is coming over for brunch
to celebrate my birthday.
Its a BIGGIE but I'm not telling which one!

I decided to set the table using my Mother's pink depression glass.
I cherish these items beyond words!
I remember
her using them for cake & ice cream
every year for all 8 of her
children's birthday celebrations.

I started out with Laura Ashley placemats
because of the pink roses on them.

I placed my Mikasa "Silk Flowers" china
beneath the Dogwood patterned plates
(also called Apple Blossom &/or Wild Rose)
made by the MacBeth Evans Glass Co. between 1929 & 1932.

The silverware, "Danish Princess" by
Holmes & Edwards, was introduced in 1938.
I am blessed to now have
service for 12 in this delicate pattern,
along with several of the serving pieces.

I don't know the name of the
pattern on the compotes.
It has a trellis look to it.

Can anyone help to identify it?


EDIT: I have learned the compotes are the Normandy pattern,
sometimes called "Bouquet & Lattice".
It was made by the Federal Glass Co., 1933-1940.

I apologize for the blurry photo.
I just can't seem to take close-up shots very well.

I love the scalloped edges on these accessory pieces,
like the round bowl I used for the centerpiece
of fresh roses ($6.99 @Heinens) as well as the oval divided platters
on which I'm serving individual mini cheesecakes.

The open scalloped edges of the two platters &
the bowl used as a centerpiece are of the Old Colony pattern,
sometimes referred to as "Lace Edge" or "Open Lace".

These were made by the Hocking Glass Co. from 1935 to 1938.
These can range from $7 apiece for the divided platters
that I have to upwards of $695 for a frosted vase in this pattern!

A great source for information about Depression Glass
is the book titled Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass
by Cathy & Gene Florence.

I found this sugar skuttle on Ebay & sang
"Happy Birthday to ME!" as I purchased it.

I've been keeping cashew nuts in it instead of sugar
because I have these tiny little tongs that I
love to use for sugar cubes.

That shuttle makes it tooooo easy to just tip
out a handful of nuts every time you walk past!

I've made PINK lemonade to serve in my
beautiful La Rochere bee decanter &
glasses that I was so fortunate to win
from Libby's delightful blog

Twirl & Taste.

Thank you, Libby!
We've enjoyed red wine in them several times already
but this is my first tablescape to show them off.

The French bee on them was originally chosen during the coronation of
Napoleon to appear on his official coat of arms.
The La Rochere glass collection was inspired by an
official travel set belonging to Napoleon in which
the bee pattern was used & is today displayed in a Paris museum.

The salad bowl set, shown above, along with a
pair of matching candlesticks,
below, was a wedding gift to
my parents, 74 years ago.

You can tell its old glass by the color &
you can be sure I wash them VERY CAREFULLY!

Butterfly crackers by Pepperidge Farm
look SO cute resting in my Irish crystal cracker basket.

On this sofa table,
I have set up my Mikasa china
for coffee or tea service.

My mother ALWAYS served this
exact same kind of after dinner
mints in this candy dish, for every
Baptism, Birthday, First Holy Communion,
Confirmation & Graduation
so its tradition that I do the same.

I am going to place lemon slices to go with the
tea in this unusual shaped dish.

This photo allows you to
see up close the hemstitched linen napkins
inside the matching Mikasa napkin rings.

The obligatory chandelier shot.
I'm going to break my neck one of these
days, standing tippy toe on my step stool to
capture these angles!

I wanted to share a neat trick with you
that I use to remove
the core of strawberries.

You use a firm straw, such as one from McDonald's
& position it directly opposite the green stem.

Push gently & the straw will cut
through the strawberry
taking the core & the green stem
out the opposite end.

Voilà!

Don't they look like little ♥'s?

Beautifully hollowed out fruit to serve with
a drizzle of honey sweetened yogurt as a starter course.

I'm pretty sure that the round flat spoon
that I'm using with the yogurt
is called a jam or jelly spoon
but it can do double duty here.

Now I must tell you, it is also tradition
that I have lemon meringue pie for every birthday.

I never wanted cake, even as a child.
I always requested that my Mother
make one of her delicious pies.

My sweet husband has even learned how
to make them for me,
although this year, I think
I'll give him a helping hand!

I confess I purchased this one little tart from Heinen's
grocery store because I loved the way they presented it.
I hope to duplicate individual ones
for each person on Sunday.

Doesn't it just make your mouth water????

One more peek at those gorgeous pink roses!

It's time for another Tablescape Thursday with our gracious hostess,
Susan of Between Naps on the Porch!

Be sure to stop by her beautiful blog to see other participants in the party!
Thank you, Susan for hosting this fun event each week.