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

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.

Thanks for stopping by The Gazebo House today!

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are &

you'll come back to visit again soon.

I have TONS of quilting projects to share next.

You're always welcome!