Hello! I’m here today sharing with you a little French country evening! I have prepared a French raspberry tart for us to enjoy (some of us will enjoy it with our eyes, other with our mouths!)
I made the raspberry tart… the recipe will be coming soon.
Want to know a secret to living a glamorous life?
Make the ordinary… extraordinary!
What do I mean by that? So, here for instance, we are having dessert. Yes, I know it is a raspberry tart, but really it could be any dessert!
I am using some sterling forks to eat. Now, you say, that’s nice, but I can’t do that because of… money or *insert excuse* (too busy, it’s too fragile, that’s too fancy for me)…
Well, except you can!
You don’t have to have own whole sterling set of silverware. (Don’t tell the sterling dealer that). Just… buy two forks. You can find them in a pattern you like for a decent price either on Ebay or an antique mall that won’t break the bank. The forks don’t have to be a matching pattern either, honestly!
Pull out your nicer crystal… I know you have at least two nice cups from your wedding!
Dine on some antique plates that are hand painted and beautiful! I pulled these pretty pink and gold ones off of the wall! Just don’t put them in the dishwasher or use a knife on them (otherwise they will scratch or be ruined!).
You say, I don’t have antique plates… well I know for a FACT that you can pick up some pretty hand painted antique plates for a song.
Don’t keep your antiques stored on the wall or your cupboard… use them! We have some friends that are antique dealers that always dine on antique fine china… Why? Because they can, that’s why!
I also picked some roses from the garden. They smelled delightful. You don’t have to have flowers from the store. Just pick some from your garden!
You see… you don’t have to go out and dine to have a glamorous life… just stay at home!
But pulling out and using some of your nicer things “just cause” can make an ordinary day extraordinary and make you feel special.
You will feel like the Queen of your castle… because you are!
So that’s how I spent my French country evening. Enjoying a tart, sipping on some sparkling lemonade, and watching the stars appear over the countryside.
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This is a beautiful setting and all excellent advice. I long ago decided that I don't need a complete service of anything to set a special table for the two of us. '-) Thanks for sharing!
Ah ha, good to know I am not the only one to have figured that out!!
Angelina, you and I are sisters at heart! I love and do the exact same thing.. and all excellent advice! I have been perusing your blog and see that we have so much in common…travel, fashion, and macarons! Hugs, Pam @ Everyday Living
I love reading your blog too!
Lovely setting – I'm ready for dessert
I feel like I'm always ready for dessert!
Lovely table setting and practical advice too.
Thank you for sharing this with us at TOHOT.
Jemma
So lovely!
Your roses are far prettier than any store bought flowers. Very pretty.
I agree it is good to use your pretty dishes, crystal and silver and feel special even if it is just you. We should use our wedding gifts or pretty things not just have them on display.
You do have a beautiful view and that tart looks delicious.
Thank you very much!!
I love your roses. Do you know the name of them? I may have dreamed it but I thought I read the name but didn't write it down somewhere on your blog. Crazy me, it could have been somewhere else. Yours are gorgeous.
The name of these roses are Lady of Shalott by David Austin Roses – here is a link: https://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/showrose.asp?showr=5928 . It is a very lovely rose!
This is such a pretty tablescape, Angelina. I love your peonies. Planting more of those are on my agenda but I can't settle on a color. Right now I have a pale blush pink that turns almost white when the buds open and another variety that is a fuschia pink. The coral colors are very appealing. So many decisions…. I'd have a yard full of peonies if I could.
Olivia
Thanks very much, Olivia! These are actually roses… not peonies! I often find myself fooled, too. These ones in particular are Lady Shalott by David Austin Roses. The reason I love David Austin roses so much is that they look like peonies!! The nicest part about them is that they repeat bloom and do much better here in the hot California valley! Your peonies sound amazing… I would also have a yard of peonies too! I would love to have more peonies but I don't have enough places with enough shade. I don't know how well these roses would grow in Alaska, but I would encourage you to check out https://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/advanced.asp… David Austin roses are from England so they may do okay up where you are at!
You are so right! Too many times I'm just too plain lazy to make it special. I need to break out of that box! Thanks for the encouragement!! 🙂
Yes, you can make the ordinary extraordinary by just doing a few easy things… pull out that nice china!
Great advice! I love that you have set the table fit for a Queen! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Thank you!!