Updating My Dining Room

Before I continue with the tour of Connie's Vermont home....

there're some things I want to share with the class....

Yesterday was my Dad's 98th birthday!!!!!

Sooooo.....

tonight I am having my family over to my house for a home cooked meal of take out Chinese!!!!!

My Dad is very fond of Chinese food.

I try to avoid it as it is very fattening!!!!!

But,

it's for his big day, so he gets what he wants.

The man could stand to gain some weight.

I should be so lucky.

To honor this great occasion, I went to my fancy linen store to look for new place mats.

You betcha!!!!

HOME GOODS!!!!!

I was sooooo excited about what I bought, that I took pictures to show you guys.

I found place mats, but the piece de resistance was a table cloth.

It looks like grain sack!!!!!

I mean....

wowzer!!!!!

It goes great with my cabbage leaf plates, 

also from Home Goods...

My flat ware was from Target.

Too bad I'm boycotting them.....

This is my one year anniversary of my boycott.

I don't think they miss me, but I miss them, 

but I'm sticking to my guns.

ANYWAY.....

back to my table cloth.

I love the way the stripes relate 

to my awning stripe fabric from Brunschwig & Fils.

The whole table looks festive and fresh, just like my Dad!

I bought two of these table clothes, 'cuz you know they're going to get destroyed.

I also bought place mats.

I was going to use them because I like the way I've painted the top of the table.

Here's a shot of my new place mats,

try to contain yourselves....

They are very large, so some members of my family....

(you know who you are....)

won't put their wine glasses on the bare table and leave stains.

They're plastic, so are practical.

They look like baskets!

Sooooo.....

here I went and bought these really practical place mats.....

and what do I do?????

I'm back to using a table cloth.

Which I'll have to wash, 

and fold up,

because I am certainly not going to iron the damn thing.

soooooo.....

happy birthday to my dad.

May he like what I'm having for dinner.

On that note,

Latah, Gatah