March 15, 2024

DESIGNING A TABLESCAPE FOR SPRING and EASTER

My Spring/Easter tablescape this year
is what I would classify at Vintage Boho.....



selecting an earthy color palette, with a mix of
patterns and textures and a few statement accessories.



My inspiration piece was a pattern of dinnerware
that I felt I could use throughout the seasons....
from Spring, to Summer and all the way into Fall.
When someone asks, "what thought springs to mind,
when someone says the words "spring season?"
I immediately think of FLORALS....
Forsythia, Tulips, and Daffodils.....
When asked about thoughts for Autumn 
in regards to FLORALS...
I immediately think of Sunflowers and Mums.....
This particular pattern was a reflection of it all....
with the added bonus of a tiny, yet magical sprig of acorns!


I can totally feel the warmth mixed with the beautiful wood grains
and I try to select decor items for the formal dining, which will pair well with foods..
you know, something that will beckon family to the dinner table!
These rose gold highball glasses had me at Hello.......
these would be perfect to pair with my pink depression glass which
I try to use every Easter.....



I bought this little collection years ago at our
well known Trade Days in Canton, Texas,
except for the scalloped condiment dish which belonged to Grandmother.


This is the dinnerware I have chosen.....
florals that can be representative of spring florals,
along with a tiny SPRIG of acorns which can transcend into to the fall season...genius!


Now, for the accent piece....a cloth napkin...
this is how I design my tablescape....
I create mood boards to decide on the color scheme. textures and patterns!



 And don't forget the centerpiece...perhaps a vintage vessel..
these would have enough character to stand on their own
to create a cozy look..
these are the types of vessels I like using for a centerpiece...
stoneware pitchers
old glass jugs
whimsical pots
wooden dough bowls
and
heirloom glass vases


THE BUNNIES





I anticipate the Easter dinner celebration..
a tradition as far back as I can remember...
Honey Apricot Glazed Ham
with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes,
Roasted Carrots, Asparagus Casserole
and
A dreamy Lemon Cake with
Limoncello Frosting

I have always loved the season and celebration of Easter...
may it be a blessed day for us all.....



March 9, 2024

BLUE AND WHITE FAVORITES along with WHITE LILY CRUMB CAKE

Good Morning Kindred Spirits and lovers of the spring season...
welcome back into Estelle's kitchen!



EASTER and Spring are the very first occasions to begin
decorating for the new year and it feels soooo good, doesn't it?
This year, I decided to pull out my limited collection of blue and white
French Country pieces to pull together a casual look on the farmhouse table.....



I have had these two main pieces, the soup tureen and the coffee carafe
for a good many years and absolutely love them.....
I remember spying this darling little mug at Hobby Lobby
one year and thought it was a perfect addition to this set.....



It's all a casual feel for Easter breakfast....
I used a bread basket and placed a two bundles of faux tulips in them....



I splurged on new dinnerware plates for the formal dining room
and decided to utilize these beautiful paper plates for the kitchen..



This sweet little mug was featured a few years ago.....



Makes a perfect utensil holder for dining....



If you are looking for a lovely crumb cake to serve 
with your Easter morning breakfast,
then you may want to try this mix from White Lily....
the family loved this!


This would be lovely to serve with fresh fruit
and hot buttered grits.....

I hope you enjoyed this bit of inspiration for
your Easter gathering.....



 

March 4, 2024

THE PERFECT BUTTERMILK BISCUIT

 

HAPPY SPRING KINDRED SPIRITS....
I hope the sun is shining today and gardens
are beginning to bloom where you live...
Estelle's is in the kitchen today, baking the best biscuits
you ever tasted...perfection I tell you.....
and you only need three ingredients....



You know the secret to a delicious light, fluffy, tender biscuit?
Cold butter, shaved or grated, buttermilk and tender mixing.....



2 cups self-rising flour
1 stick of cold butter, shaved or grated
1 cup cold buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Mix cold butter, into the self rising flour...
gently combine....
make a well in the center of the flour, pour in the buttermilk...
mix gently until you have a soft dough...
turn out onto a floured surface and gently powder and pat the dough
until you are ready to cut with a biscuit cutter....
place biscuits into a cast iron skillet, with sides touching...
they like to be all cozy and well acquainted in the skillet...
Bake for about 15 minutes..brush tops with melted butter when done....



This is a no fail recipe...
tender and soft on the inside with a slightly crisp bottom.....



Remember, knead gently about five times...
just as if you were powdering a baby's tush.....


Yep...butter those babies and top with your favorite jam....
see y'all next time.....







March 1, 2024

SPRING INSPIRATION ..LET'S TAKE IT OUTSIDE

 I absolutely love Spring.....
I am so fortunate to live in the great state of TEXAS,
where we do not trudge through long, cold winters,
like we experienced while living in MAINE....
We can welcome the sweetness of Spring in late March
and April...and our souls feel new again.
The line between outside and inside is wonderfully blurred..
and we want the "garden feel" throughout our home.
I put together a few items on my bucket list for 2024 and maybe
this will bring you a few ideas for your home too....

I am embracing the soft colors of mint and peachy pink in
the bedrooms....
It's the time to freshen up the whole house with a thorough cleaning,
taking one room and space at a time......



I love to plan the gardens...
I have a checklist written for new garden tools and waterproof shoes..
don't you always look forward to that first trip to the local nursery?



I plan for a list of hearty annuals and perennials for the patio pots....
I do so love Lantana, Marigolds, Zinnia's, Morning Glory's and Four O'Clock's.....



Garden accents make a huge difference for touches of interest.....
fountains, hanging baskets and cafe lights are some favorites.....


I love hosting a dinner on the patio and will
incorporate fresh linens and beautiful glassware....



All eyes will be on you as the hostess, so why not
invest a beautiful garden dress for entertaining......


Perhaps you have a space in the garden to plan
for a stone walkway....how charming this private garden
space feels.....



Now, this idea is perfection....turning a storage shed into your
own private glamping pad....


Now who wouldn't enjoy a romantic dinner for two
outdoors....I'll  bet the one you love would choose
an evening at home rather than dining out....
It's great to try something new and enjoy the freshness of the season.....


February 28, 2024

CLOSING OUT FEBRUARY 2024 AND PREPARING FOR THE SPRING SEASON

Good Morning all you lovely friends....
welcome back to Estelle's..I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit....
February was a pretty good month for us.....
It's a sweet time when the family can get together these days.....

 

These two pretty ladies have the best time when they get together....
sister-in-laws that appreciate and love each other and
they are two of the sweetest people on earth....




We had a fabulous night over in Fort Worth...
starting with a cold evening at The Drover
enjoying cocktails and people watching
all the gorgeous guys and dolls in their Stetson's and Boots....



And...it was a busy, busy night...we had the best time....



It has become our tradition to have dinner at Risky's BBQ...
delicious food and great service....
gosh, we have been doing this for the past thirty years....



We had family game night by playing an old favorite...CLUE....



This proved to be a lot of fun for everyone....
we had several rounds of guessing whodunit!!!!

And, now I believe Spring weather has arrived here in Texas....



The children have been clearing land out at
Miss Elizabeth's ranch for months....
last weekend, they worked this area with a Bush Hog....



This is backbreaking work let me tell you.....



This is where our granddaughter wants to have her wedding
in October and I know it's going to be gorgeous....


We were so excited to see these two visitors in the pool one morning....



I am ready to prepare the outdoors for the upcoming seasons....
one of my favorite times of the year.....



Oh y'all...this is just a marvelous iced tea.....
One packet of Crystal Light Peach Mango tea
mixed with cold Ginger Ale.....delightful



A touch of Easter and the home decor is beginning to change a bit...


I so hope things are good at your home.....
enjoy that morning cup of coffee, keep good thoughts and
be grateful for another day...hugs and blessings to you all.....