Christmas Eve Tablescape, 2013

 I ♥♥♥ the hushed calm that comes over the world 

as night falls on Christmas Eve.

My daughter & her husband, 

along with their three children will
join us for dinner

after the children's Mass is over.

This year, we don't have any other family members coming, 

so everyone will sit at the dining room table.  

Won't the Littlest Angel feel extra special, 

no longer relegated to the 

"children's table"?! 

My table looks similar to last year but is still a little different.

Bright RED chargers set off my

Lenox "Holiday" patterned china...

don't you think they should have spelled that "HOLLYday"??

I'm mixing in some Lenox "Eternal" & "Winterberry" items 

just so it doesn't look so *matchy-matchy*  

Each place setting has a gold 

swirly-scrolled box 

with chocolate candy inside.  

(Frango Mints, made in Chicago)

My son in law was born there & 

did his undergraduate degree
at Northwestern University.  

They had the same mints on the tables 

at their wedding 19 years ago, this same week!

I am ever so grateful to my little sister, 

for giving me our Mom's

 vintage ruby-red based crystal stems! 

I was able to find a few more pieces 

to add to the collection, 

so now I've got 

water, wine/champagne & sherberts to use.

You can see a wee bit of the gold threads 

in the cutwork tablecloth beneath in the photos.  

I had to repair a teeny-tiny scorch mark

 that a spark made when I was blowing out a candle.  

I hand stitched a scroll motif
over the scorched area

with gold metallic thread &

 you can't even tell where it was.

Whew!! 

When I originally set the table, 

I put out some Waterford stems 

to go along with the vintage crystal.

Hubby walked by & said 

"What's up with all the glasses???" 

He talked me into moving them

to the bar area, to use

 for wine upon arrival,

but I'd already taken many of these photos.

 The centerpiece French horn with white silk poinsettias 

will get supplemented with fresh white roses

later today, so they will stay looking nice
as long as possible.

My favorite heavy lead crystal

Ralph Lauren candlesticks are 

surrounded with matching candle rings.

 The side table is set with several Fitz & Floyd pieces, 

ready for coffee or tea and dessert.
I made the "Courthouse Steps"
tablerunner last year.

(Free Pattern is HERE) 

Santa & his sleigh 

(two of them, actually) 

stand guard over the goodies!

I hope to be able to copy the white roses arrangement

 that I had professionally made for 

my tennis luncheon last year.  

Go here to see it: 
 White Rose Arrangements in Sleigh

I bought myself an early Christmas gift of 

salad tongs to match my Lenox dishes.  

I will use them for many months, 

as the holly & heart shaped berries 

will work beautifully all winter in Ohio.

(You'll probably see them again on Valentines Day!)

 Just a few more close-up shots so you can see the 

pretty etching on the bowls of the stemware.

Thanks Ruth E. for sending these to me!!!   

I just love them!

 I considered using some bigger red goblets that I have & 

then decided against them, 
but I wanted to include this photo of one, 
because you can see the reflection of 

the great room's arched window on it.

I don't know why I'm always so intrigued

 by surprise reflections, but I just am.

 I'm intending to put the ice cream filled sherberts on these pretty Christmas plates, along with some cookies for dessert.  

We'll be having Peppermint Stick ice cream,

 with its cute little red & green flecks of candy in it.

I made TONS of cookies...Chocolate Crinkles, 

shortbread with Ghiradelli chocolate drops,

Christmas Tree spritz cookies & 

Toffee Snickerdoodles along with the 

standard cut-out sugar cookies.

Below is one of several cute containers 

I found to use as a gift container.

A bakers dozen of round cookies fits inside perfectly!

Aren't they cute?

I wish I could give each one to each of you!

Thanks so much for visiting The Gazebo House today.

May you have a very

 Blessed Merry Christmas!!

I'm linking to Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" party,

Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for "Tablescape Thursday"

The Tablescaper for "Seasonal Sundays"

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her party "Inspire Me"