A Bit of the Irish Tablescape for a Thrifty Thursday

Welcome one, welcome all to Thrifty Thursday here in Bloggeritaville.
It's also Tablescape Thursday so it has to be a party! Tablescape Thursday is hosted by the ever gracious and lovely Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

If you are participating in Thrifty Thursday, be sure to grab yourself a Thrifty Thursday button and let's get started! For those that don't know, Thrifty Thursday is a show and tell of sorts. It is time for you to showcase your thrifty find. It can be an old find or a new one. It might be something that you found at a thrift store, a consignment store, flea market, garage/yard sale, antique store. It's it was a thrifty find, then it meets the requirements. I am not picky, It can be a great pair of boots & a killer vintage dress, jewelry, home decor, even fishing lures. It is your thrifty find. Tell me about it. Where did you find it? What is it? What do you plan to do with it or how do you plan to use it in your home? Do you want to sell it? Thrifty Thursday's are about the thrill of the hunt...and the treasure you found. So....do show and tell!

Today is a special day ...my Thrifty Tablescape was celebrated on St. Patricks Day. A tea service and snack for one.

My tablescape is on honor of Miss Peg, who is Big Daddy's grandmother. Miss Peg is a delightful lady. She was always the life of the party. She found a reason to celebrate everyday. Today, her celebrations are forgotten, as she is a victim of the mentally crippling disease, Alzheimer's. We are lucky though, in the fact that Peg still remembers us. And she remembers many stories of her past (though she cannot tell you what happened five minutes ago). She has had a fascinating life and shared many of her stories, all of which I have documented to preserve for her great grandchildren and future generations. Like me, Miss Peg was big into family, preservation, traditions. And so, this post is a complete reflection of her.

(Pictured L to R are my husband, "Big Daddy", Miss Peg, and my husband's twin brother, "The Artist". Circa 1975 taken at Bonita Beach, where Peg and her husband retired to after living in CT)

Peg is a proud Irish woman. She traveled to Ireland before the death of her husband and was able to trace her roots. It was a memorable time for her. While on her visit, she purchased some pieces of Belleek China, that she has passed onto me.

The pieces are so fragile, that I was quick to photograph them and put them promptly away. Miss Peg is a big lover of tea, just as I am. I was honored that she would pass these onto me.

The small bowl, immediately makes me think of a story that Peg told me about when she was a child, she and her siblings would come home from school and be hungry for a snack. Her mother would serve them Irish Soda Bread. Peg would want her "toast", as she called it, in a bowl with some milk poured over it. She said, "It was the most delicious snack you could imagine". Peg gave me her hand written recipe for the Irish Soda Bread. I have it framed in my kitchen.

On my tablescape, an antique pair of dainty lace gloves and a Celtic cross, a nod to Miss Peg's heritage.

My tablecloth, is another find at my friend Diva's mother's home (a two hundred year old home, story here). A certain antique. I love the spring colors in it.

My centerpiece is a thrift store find. It was $3.88...a small terrarium. Some of the glass panels are missing, but I don't care. Inside the glass is a bird's nest (more on that in a moment). A pair of metal "love"birds sit beside the cage. I cannot recall where I bought the, perhaps Old Time Pottery, but they were cheap! Less than 5 bucks for the pair.

The birds nest is an authentic hummingbird nest. It is so tiny! It was found this winter in alow bearing tree. Look at the little piece of Easter grass (left) that the little bird used to construct it's nest.

Of course, the egg is not real...and is enormous in comparison with the nest. Actually there would be 2-3 very tiny eggs in that tiny nest! Can you imagine?

So, a bit of a rambling thrifty post and tablescape. But it is one that was important to me that I do, for Miss Peg. Thank you for dropping by my blog for Thrifty Thursday and to those that popped in from Susan's Tablescape Thursday. I love new friends! Join me for next week's Thrifty Thursday!
Be sure to link and comment as well! Thanks Y'all!

http://ann-jamesaskeltonyahoocom.blogspot.com/

http://lisaferncreek.blogspot.com/

http://myjoyfulhome.blogspot.com/2009/03/thrifty-thursday.html

http://ttelroc.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-shall-i-be.html

http://lisaferncreek.blogspot.com/2009/03/thrifty-thursday_18.html

http://kimsdomesticbliss.blogspot.com/

http://www.blogger.com/profile/13745704679188149211
Mr. LINKY: