Greetings — The Birds of Winter

Winter came — for a short week at least! A real winter, with cold, crisp days and blustery nights. A week that required actual winter coats. Unfortunately, it didn't last, and we reverted to what passes for winter here: windy, rainy days in the 40's. 

The saving grace is that winter comes with a large number of birds, the ones who reside here year-round and those that over-winter from colder climates. And they've been coming inside to perch on my dining room table since the new year began!

  

Today I've set the table for a weekend brunch, starting with a beautiful cut-work tablecloth, embroidered with scrolling stems and flowers, that Greg gave me.

The place setting consists of a luncheon-sized plate on a scalloped charger that reflects the gold trim on the china.  There is a bowl for fruit and a cup and saucer for coffee or tea. Vintage glassware etched in a simple vining pattern will hold iced tea. For no southern table is without it! Sweet for Greg and his family, unsweet for me. (I know, I know, I'm in the South now but I still haven't gotten used to it!)

Cute raffia birds perch among the greenery and berries.

    

I've used faux greenery for the centerpiece, since the boughs outside are too wet to use, then added a few pine cones. Faux greenery has the advantage of lasting all month long.

  

   

  

The black lanterns used on my cozy, bright and classic holiday table have remained since the holidays. 

Greg also gave me these gorgeous napkin holders with long-tailed birds that resemble cardinals. Cardinals live here throughout the year and have continually nested in our tall holly hedge.

 

The 9 1/2" luncheon sized plates in this pattern are referred to as 'accent plates'. Holly, pine and berries festooned with red ribbons on their rim are like the other types of plates in the pattern, but these plates feature a single bird in the center. I'm not sure how many designs were produced, but I have eight different ones. In addition to the ones on this table, I have a cedar waxwing and a downy woodpecker.

Cardinal and Black Capped Chickadee

House Finch and White-breasted Nuthatch

Eastern Bluebird and American Goldfinch

I was lucky to find the plates, bowls, cups and saucers together at an antique mall several years ago. The sugar and creamer set was a bargain on eBay. I particularly like their graceful shape.

 

    

Joining the other birds on the table are silver salt and pepper shakers.

The colorful table is a nice counterpoint to the gray days and long nights of winter!

  

   

The red accents are especially cheerful!

 You might enjoy seeing the dinnerware used in a different setting in A Snowy Winter Tablescape. 

   

  

The birds of winter have carried me through the long month of January!

Table details

China | Lenox 'Winter Greetings'

Iced tea glasses | Tiffin-Franciscan 'Margo'

Flatware | Oneida 'Juilliard'

Lanterns | Crate & Barrel 'Petaluma'