The Wearin' O' The Green...

Top of the Mornin', wee ones and not-so-wee ones! Tis time for the wearin’ o’ the green, and I decided to dress my table accordingly for Tablescape Thursday which just so happens to be St. Patrick’s Day. So, Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you! And even though I appear to be crawling at the end of the line, I'm also going to join Cuisine Kathleen for her annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl which began yesterday...



For this special ocassion, I wanted to set a table with many of the things I had on hand, one of which happens to be these creamy white dinner plates made by Mikasa…



The pattern has a lot of visual interest with its decorative border full of berries and grapes on lattice…



And the plate is one that really enjoys light play on its surface…



For the tablecloth, I was delighted to find this festive green and white print on the reverse side of a quilt I purchased for the punchy turquoise pattern on the opposite side (quilts are like dishes, you can never have enough!)…



I thought the green and white (really off-white) color and pattern of the quilt was a nice foil for this creamy china…



Next, I added some dark bamboo-handled flatware that looks a bit like a shillelagh (perfect, I think, for an Irish table). Additionally, the flatware matches the bit of brown in the print of the tablecloth…



Then I tied some green plaid ribbon on the napkins...



And added a sprig of greenery for fun (just make sure it holds up well as this likes to be in water!)...



They were good for a few shots and quickly wilted (so I removed them for the remainder of the shoot)...



Next I chose these bright green goblets from Spain for a pop of color…



And these glasses in the straw sleeves to echo the color of the flatware...



I think they make a good team...



I tried a woven charger in the same shade of brown but ruled it out because it detracted from the freshness of the plates against the green and white backdrop and wasn't necessary...



I used these little brass watering cans at each place...



And added some cute little croquet mallets I found at an antique shop to the centerpiece...



For an enjoyable afternoon on the lawn, amidst the mossy stones of emerald green, of course...



I decided for the centerpiece, I would make a tree which I anchored in our twig-covered ice bucket...



And added a little door for the wee ones...



No tree in Ireland is complete without one!



And of course, every self-respecting leprechaun needs a sterling silver rake, you know...



The trick is to get him to use it! ;-)



Speaking of leprechauns, I brought the boys back from last year...



Here they are on the server, preparing for their entrance to the main table...



And it appears that one has his wee, twinkly eye on those "cakes" on the stacked cake plates (the top green toile cake plate courtesy of my friend Bunny of The Paris House Designs!)...



Dealing with leprechauns is a tricky, TRICKY business as I soon found out when I noticed that something was not quite the same with the tablescape...



Can you tell?



Yes, the garden stones were being used as croquet balls!



And as if that weren't enough, when I brought the leprechauns to the table...



They really started to misbehave...



In desperation, I began to plead, "Don't get any fancy ideas about the watering cans!"



"Take your eyes off those shillelaghs...oops, I mean forks!"



"Look out there, me boyo, you're about to be steppin' on me spoon!"



I should have known better as it set off the tap...



Tap...



Tapping of...



Little...



Green...



Feet...



And soon they were leapin' about...



On me plates!



Twirlin'...



And swirlin'...



Shufflin'...



And rufflin'...



Dippin'...



And Trippin'...



Over...



And over again...



Till I thought I'd lose me mind...



Then, just as quickly, they hopped off, and nary a scratch could be found!



Then with a smile...



And a nod...



And a wink...



Or two...



The sneaky...



Green...



Wee ones...



Went "POOF!"...



And disappeared!



And even though I looked high...



And low...



They simply were not to be found!



What they left in their wake, though, was a green glow...



And in the spirit of the Emerald Isle, I heard them whisper softly, "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"



And a Happy Saint Patrick's Day to YOU, too! :-)

I'd like to dedicate this post to my ancestor Brian Boru who died on Good Friday in an attempt to keep Ireland unified and to defend his homeland against the invading Vikings. More on the history and legend of Brian HERE



Or HERE.



Then, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely hostesses for sponsoring these two fun blog events. Please join Susan and her friends HERE for Tablescape Thursday!



And then be sure to join Kathleen and her friends HERE for The St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl which began on the 15th!



Please remember our friends in Japan and in New Zealand in your prayers, and please remember that the Salvation Army is taking donations that will directly aid people in both nations. Go HERE for more information. I love their motto: "We combat natural disasters with acts of God!"

Thank you so much for visiting me, and I look forward to visiting you soon! :-)

Warmly,

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

P.S. I am so far behind, but I have every intention of catching up! I am supervising painters (among other workmen) and have limited internet access (as I'm back and forth), but I plan to visit you SOON (and by YOU, I mean everyone who has posted over the last month and a half... EVERY SINGLE ONE)! :-)




WHERE TO FIND IT:

White Plates: Mikasa, English Countryside

Leprechaun Plates and Mugs: Marshall's (last year), though I saw some at Home Goods this year

Green Goblets made in Spain: Marshall's

Glasses with Wicker Sleeves: Home Goods

Flatware: Ross (but I found more at Home Goods recently)

Quilt: Home Goods

Watering Cans and Croquet Mallots: Southern Crossing Antique Mall (Florida)

Toile Cake Plate: The Paris House Designs Blog (see my sidebar... I won this from Bunny, but she has them for sale and was featured in "Country Living")

Lacy Cake Plates: Marshall's (purchased two summers ago)

Ribbon: Purchased last year at Michael's (I think)!