The Gazebo House: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

End of January Blues

Shortly after my husband started his family practice office, his cousin, Eddie joined him once he completed his medical school training.
Eddie later changed to orthopedics & had a very successful career in that field.
He & his wife, Terry, often vacationed together with us in FL & we golfed together almost weekly here in Ohio when the weather was nice.

They had 2 daughters, one of which is the very talented artist Diane Arthurs, the designer of many cards & posters along with this line of dishes from Pfaltzgraff.

She named the line "Evergreen Ernie" & I like to think it was after my husband Ernie!

I first saw these dishes on my friend Mary's blog, "Home is Where the Boat Is".
Thanks Mary for showing them & for the 20% off code to help offset the purchase price.

Each salad plate has a different scene with the snowmen holding various garlands & wreaths. The coordinating dinner plates have snowflakes around their rims, which also echo the mugs.

I was tickled pink to discover these little snowmen on sleds,

(which I've had for YEARS), matched the teal blue colors perfectly!

I used them as holders for tucked napkins between the sled runners.

I found them at the Dollar Store a long time ago & I'm so very glad I kept them.

I've heard it a million times....

"Mother, you never throw anything away!"

...and this is exactly why!!!

Aren't the snowmen's expressions just precious?
They resemble my Ern, always smiling & making people laugh with his jokes.

Oneida's "Americana" silverware along with snow white quilted placemats completed the table setting.
There are nice deep soup bowls that go with the set & I KNOW I took photos of them later in the day, but I can't find the pictures of them now. Duh? Mentalpause Moment!

I have many snowmen blues on my bakers rack this month along with the newly released reproduction Ball jars in the same turquoise color.
I have several of the original colored ones but didn't dig them out yet & now January is almost over. It will be time to put up the RED Valentine's Day items next!

Thanks to Mary, I also have the sugar & creamer as well as the S&P shakers that go with the set!

We've not had much snow here in Ohio, (♥♥♥ thanks to El Nino ♥♥♥) so I added some free standing lace snowflakes to the kitchen table light fixture.

I first made them for Sandy Hook & used them in a tablescape HERE.

They are done entirely in the embroidery hoop & are specially designed to hold together once you wash away the stabilizer.

Diane's dad, Eddie & my Ernie have both passed away now.
I'm hoping to have both Diane & her Mother over for lunch, using these dishes, soon.

Next week, it will be a full year since my sweetheart went to Heaven.

I miss him terribly every day still & always will.

His smile would light up a room & everyone loved my Ernie!

Rest in Peace, Darling...I'll see you again in about 20 or 30 years, God willing.