Year of the Fire Horse — A Table Setting

Tonight, in the middle of winter, comes the first new moon, signaling the beginning of a new lunar year whose zodiac sign is the Fire Horse. The lunar year cycle repeats every twelve years, with each year represented by its animal sign. Unlike a regular horse year, 2026 is a year of the Fire Horse, which only occurs every 60 years. Combining the Fire element with the Horse's energy is thought to bring transformative change and creativity.

 

In that spirit I've set a table to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse! 

 

Fittingly, I began with a ceramic Tang Dynasty-style horse statue

Celebrate with Friends and Flowers on Valentine's Day

For this Valentine's Day I decided to embrace the color red for the table, with generous doses of white and silver — and a dash of sparkle!

 

My daughter suggested friendship as the Valentine theme, so I set the table for Julia and three of her friends who've been together varying amounts of time: Vera, Allison, and Kathy.   

 

      

Please join me on a Valentine's Tablescape Blog Hop

Enchanting Shamrock Decor and Daffodils Create a Charming March Table

March is a strange month, don't you agree? Part winter, part spring, with a flurry of changing weather patterns that can literally leave you catching your breath. And it's got 31 days to get through!

 

But luckily for me, the middle of March brings a fun holiday to observe — St. Patrick's Day, a day to celebrate my Irish heritage!

 

   

I've set a table around shamrocks, the quintessential symbol for the holiday. Shamrocks are depicted on the small plates and are scattered with abandon across the placemats.

Dreaming of Gardens

I knew it was going to be a lovely day. The morning sun was shining through the shutters and the forecast called for climbing temps. After feeding the pups and a quick breakfast for myself, I hurriedly finished the things I had planned for today and settled by the window with a pot of tea.

 

And that got me dreaming of gardens! And all the flowers I'd like to plant in mine.

 

Sweet Treats and Hot Chocolate — A Buffet for Valentine's Day

I confess I have a soft spot for hot chocolate, preferably made with milk with a bit of whipping cream if available. Marshmallows on top are a plus. All through January I've had a hot chocolate station set up on the corner of the kitchen island with a choice of either milk chocolate or mint chocolate.

Knowing my winter fixation, my sweet MIL gave me a huge basket of chocolate drink fixings and snacks for Christmas! I've happily added the basket to my island setup.

 

Between our recent snow and ice storms — spurred on by a week of ultra low temps for Georgia — we invited her to join us last Sunday for a Valentine's sweet treats and hot chocolate buffet! 

A Snowy Wonderland Tablesetting

Snow fell across the foothills and mountains of north Georgia last week, more than any year since 2018. Kids in our neighborhood celebrated with snow ball fights and snowmen. All of which inspired me to set a snowy wonderland table!

   

The view from our front door as flakes settled quietly on the lawn and in the garden.

Festive Reindeer for an Effortless Table on New Year's Day

For the last few years, New Year's Eve has become a romantic evening savored by just the two of us. After a quiet dinner, we spend the evening at home, watching a movie and cuddling with the furry ones who are looking forward to special treats. Then we celebrate at midnight with good champagne!

Since moving to Georgia I've come to look forward to welcoming the New Year on January 1st in Southern style! It always involves an over-flowing table for the mid-day meal to be shared with family and friends. There's a number of specific foods to eat on New Year's Day to bring good luck, prosperity and fortune. While I haven't taken to all the traditional new year's day foods served here, I do enjoy this way of starting the year with optimism and camaraderie.

   

Pretty Table Settings for Savoring Tea

Rain-soaked days are perfect for taking some time for myself and relaxing with a cup — or two! — of tea. Rather than just pour some into a mug and flop on a couch, I like to set a delightful tea on a pretty table. Alone with my thoughts, perhaps some soft music . . .

Celtic Heritage Table Style

Early spring is arriving with clumps of daffodils blooming in my garden! March is just around the corner, bringing with it one of my favorite reasons to set a table  — St. Patrick's Day.

     

The Year of the Dragon

In the midst of the dark days of winter comes the first new moon. This year it will occur on February 10, which begins the next lunar year. Millions of people around the world follow the lunar calendar, In many cultures, each year is also associated with an animal from the zodiac. This year it will be the dragon — believed to be an auspicious and extraordinary creature, symbolizing power, nobility, honor, luck and success. To channel a bit of all that I set a table to enjoy a celebration of our own!

  

Chocolate and Snowmen

Brrrrr!! Winter has arrived with a vengeance! Here in North Georgia it's 15℉ with the wind chill bringing it down to 4℉. And forecast to be colder tomorrow. (I know a lot of you are experiencing much colder temps and many inches of snow, but we don't usually get truly wintry weather in the northern metro 'burbs.)

 

Our two black labs can't get enough of the outdoors!

 

So . . . what to do? Set up a hot cocoa station of course!

Set a Transitional Table for Christmas through January

How do you set a transitional table that can be enjoyed both during the Christmas holidays and throughout the month of January? I started with traditional red with a large dose of green. I used table linens in a rich green in a shade between forest and pine. They have woven holly leaves in a slightly different tone with a sheen to the weave.

Lucky Enough to be Irish

The saying goes "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough!"  

 

So I must be lucky enough, having a large portion of Irish DNA in me! And I love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by singing Irish folk songs (never mind they're off-key), shouting Slainté while raising my glass, and decorating my house with green and gold and a sprinkling of Celtic patterns.

I thought you'd like to see a few of the tables I've styled to get some inspiration for your own celebrations March 17. Just click on the title of each post to see all the details! In several posts I included bonus photos that I took on vacation in Ireland.

I started with a beautiful scarf that I bought in Dublin at Trinity College as a table runner for Celtic Patterns for the Table. I love the repeating Celtic patterns in a yellowish green on an emerald background.  

The Delights of Afternoon Tea Served on a Tray

There's nothing quite like enjoying tea served on a tray. And nothing quite like the delight that comes from pampering yourself with the fragrant aroma of hot tea, sweet treats and fresh flowers. Especially on gray winter days! 

 

 
So today I'm sharing with you an afternoon tea tray I set for myself!

A Table Setting in Blue and Yellow

Inspiration for tablescapes can come from all kinds of sources! Today I was inspired by a rather unlikely one — the morning news.

 

 

I've set a table in blue and yellow,

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!

  

A Little Romance for Valentine's Day

In these strangest of times, I'm looking forward to a little romance for Valentine's Day! I've eagerly set a table for two that whispers 'love'.

 

“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain”   ~ William Shakespeare

Lovingly prepared foods, effervescent champagne, chocolate mousse for dessert. Feeling cozy in the midst of winter. A bit of poetry to set the mood. Romance is in the air!

A Calendar of Tables

Here’s to the New Year and a farewell to the Old! In the spirit of the holiday, I'm resolving to celebrate the little things in life that bring comfort and joy, or add beauty and warmth. Like a wonderfully set table that welcomes friends and family and adds a certain something to great food and wine.

 

So on a quiet New Year's Day weekend, I thought I’d take a look back at some tables I styled this year! (Click on the titles to see the full posts.)  

   

Casually Festive Holiday Table

Hello and welcome! I've set a holiday table for you that is casual, but that doesn't mean there won't be festive touches! 

  

Christmas Dining — The New Traditional

Tables set with beautiful china, sparkling crystal and gleaming metals are right at home for Christmas dinner! Today I want to share a Christmas table done in a New Traditional style — classic and timeless, mixed with modern clean lines. 

I love all types of design, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern to global contemporary, with a liberal dose of Sheraton traditional thrown in! New Traditional gives me freedom to mix finishes and periods, with a personal feel that adds excitement.