A Spring Table Setting

Do you ever wonder why you like the things that you like?

I sometimes wonder where my love for old things has come from. Why nothing makes me happier on a spring table setting than vintage hankies.

And beautiful tulips.

I had lunch at a beautiful tea room the other day with a friend. She is the type of friend who asks you really hard questions and makes you think about yourself. Like - what are you best at? Why do you love to decorate?

And I realize that so much of what I do in decorating, as I have said so many times before, is because it has sentimental attachment. That I like things with a story behind them. I like a history.

It makes me think about when I was growing up and the time at my grandparents' home.

Time there was free of stress and responsibilities. It was a classic home filled with crystal doorknobs on solid wood doors, carved banisters, blue square tiled bathrooms, and a bread drawer in the kitchen.

We had Wednesday spaghetti nights and Sunday family dinners. And there was a backyard just big enough for a sprinkler.

But then, they made the decision to move to the warmth of Florida.

And when my Grandfather passed away, my Grandmother quickly wanted to return home to be around family. And so, out of necessity, most things were sold quickly and only a small amount of things were saved to be shared among the family. I am not aware of anything that had really monetary value, but priceless sentimental value.

And so, I seek out gems of history, like old toolboxes, pretty hankies, mason jars with clever sayings and vintage silverware. I seek them, and I use them because I find them pretty and interesting and unique.

But I am beginning to realize that it is also because a part of me is trying to create a history for my own children. For my children to remember this home in the same type of great detail that I can recall of my grandparents' home.

I want them to remember the crystal doorknobs placed throughout our home and desks built out of solid wood doors (coming soon!).

I want them to remember carved banisters and bright yellow bathrooms.

And I really want them to remember the bread drawer in the kitchen.

And I want them to remember this home, or any home we live in, as a place of security and love. I want it to be a place where they learned about responsibilities and loving each other well.

We are lucky enough to have a pool, but I want us to always still break out the sprinkler on hot days.

We may not have Wednesday spaghetti night, but we do a lot of “Taco Tuesdays” and from time to time, there is a big Sunday dinner thrown in there.

And sometime we will eat it on paper plates at the island because that is just life sometimes, and that is okay.

But sometimes, we will place springtime tulips and pretty eggs in a basket. And we will use vintage silverware and wipe our hands and mouths on pretty hankies.

I wish each of you a springtime table filled with whomever and whatever it is you love most.

Thanks so much for reading.

P.S. And if you want more spring and Easter table setting ideas, make sure to stop back next week when I will be sharing another tablescape along with a whole bunch of other amazing bloggers.