A Little Change Is Good

Welcome to Through My Red Door!

Our internet has been out for a week and I’m always surprised at how I feel disconnected from the rest of the world when it happens.  We lose it often, so I shouldn’t be, but it shows  how dependent we’ve become on it to keep informed.  Sadly, TV and newspapers aren’t enough anymore!  I’m actually lost without Google!  I’m also a bit behind in the technology world, partly because my mind doesn’t work that way;  I don’t have all the newest and latest gadgets!  And maybe partly because I’m leary of losing the way we’ve always done things.  Kids don’t know what a typewriter is anymore and they barely know what phone books or maps are.  Soon they won’t know what a newspaper is!  Am I showing my age?  I guess I’m resisting change a little as much as I know it’s always been this way and always will be!

Anyway, because we had no internet last week, I was unable to make a post, or visit anyone elses’.  I’m chomping at the bit to go back through them all.

This week’s post is is somewhat of what last week’s was supposed to be but with a few changes!
 


I had done two similar tablescapes, so decided to combine them into one post.



The first one started out simple and reminded me how I had started skimping on the tablesettings at dinnertime.   With raising 3 children comes many activities that entail running them to school, soccer, baseball, basketball practices and games, dance classes, CCD, doctors, dentists, play dates…well you all know what I’m talking about. It’s not news to anyone!



So even though I never resorted to paper plates, we just used what was needed. We managed to have sit down family dinners where we talked about our days most every night of the week and thought that’s what counted; and I still think that.



But as I was setting these tables, I thought back at how I learned the art of setting a table when I was growing up; a bit more formal than the habit I have fallen into and what my kids have learned to do. We always used a table cloth, where now I almost only use placemats.  We always set at least one fork, a knife and a spoon, whether we needed them or not.
 


I began skipping the knives and spoons if we didn’t need to cut anything or weren’t having soup or dessert.  As I was growing up, we always had salad bowls and glasses on the table.  I started leaving them off in the interest of the time it took to load that much more into the dishwasher. I substituted plastic for real glasses, found I was having to replace broken ones too often.

 

Centerpieces,  candles,



real glasses; not plastic or soda bottles,



teaspoons, knives, salad plates or bowls,



cloth napkins, especially cloth napkins,



were used only for company.



But now I think it’s time, for when we  have a family meal,   as rare as it’s becoming, with everyone once again going in different directions,



to inject a bit of fun,



elegance,



eye catching warmth,



and an inviting atmosphere to the everyday table where we can still sit for a family dinner and talk about our days and lives.  It won’t be long before my three  children have their own families and activities.  Hopefully they’ll remember the dinner table fondly, not only for the food and conversations, but also the beauty their ol’ mom tried to bring to it.



I think they’re enjoying it as much as I am!



Did you notice where the changes were made?

I am so anxious to get back to visiting all of your beautiful blogs!  I’ve felt like I’ve missed so much and have a lot of catching up to do.

Thanks for visiting!  Come back again soon!  I’m linking to Tablescape Thursday.  Be sure to stop in to see Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for many more beautiful and inviting table settings!
            
           

I'm also linking to Centerpiece Wednesday at Style Sisters.