Thank you for all of warm anniversary wishes! We had a relaxing day. Originally we'd planned to go on a day trip, but we both battled some stomach bugs leading up to Monday, so we opted to stay close to home. We agreed after our wedding that we weren't going to exchange anniversary gifts; we'd go for a splurge of a dinner each year instead. Imagine my surprise, then, when I awoke last Monday to find a set of twelve vintage glasses and twelve vintage dinner plates on the dining room table. We're renovating the kitchen this summer, and I had mentioned to Neal that I'd like to find some adorable plates to match our 40's theme.
It gets even better. The plates are from the Trumpet Vine, the little restaurant where we had our wedding breakfast. Unfortunately, the restaurant is going out of business, but fortunately, we've been able to pick up some nice things for the dining room and kitchen. Neal selected these plates for their looks at first. Then the owner told him that she'd bought them for our wedding breakfast. How sweet is that? I now have the plates used on my wedding day!
They got their first outing yesterday for what may be the last Sunday lunch until the renovation is complete. I was tickled to see how nice they looked with my Gram's linens and the antique silver we received as a wedding gift.
I declared this year the "Year of the Kitchen". My intention is to build my cooking skills, and I made a valiant effort with yesterday's lunch. Neal grilled a melange of seafood, while I prepared a spinach and strawberry salad, white bean salad, spinach quiche (I subbed ricotta for the cream cheese and used a different pastry recipe), and lemon almond poppy seed cake with strawbs and fresh whip. Add a hunk of brie and fresh bread just before dessert and icy cold lemonade, and I call it a festive lunch!
I've grown to depend on the Smitten Kitchen for good vegetarian recipes. This leads me to the contest part of my post. Aren't you glad you kept reading as a babbled about china and lunch?
Today, my friends, is my two-year Ravelry anniversary. Just as the Smitten Kitchen elevates my culinary experiments, Ravelry has for my fiber arts. To celebrate the great joy that I have in Ravelry, I want to share some beautiful lace yarn. Leave a comment with the url of a blog that you've grown to depend on–for recipes, crafts, book reviews, laughs–whatever–and a little explanation of why you like it. I'll close the comments on Friday at noon and randomly select a winner for this skein of Wooly Wonka lace yarn. If you're not a knitter, then we'll negotiate another prize! Post about the contest with a link on your blog and get another chance to win–just let me know in the comments, okay?
Thanks for playing, and lest you think I've forgotten: Happy Memorial Day, and my sincerest thank you to our soldiers and veterans.
Congratulations on both your wedding anni and Rav Anni! I love the vintage plates your DH gave you!
If you have time stop by my blog, knittingwithsandrasingh.sandrasingh.com I’m giving away a hank of Malabrigo Sock yarn for my 4 Year Anniversary of my website.
Gotta love all these contests!
Congratulations.
If you like vegetarian cooking, you must read 101cookbooks.com
I’ve never gone wrong with one of her recipes or recommendations!
Well, goodness! Sounds like there’s lots to celebrate! Congratulations!
I absolutely love reading Pleasantview Schoolhouse for the beauty in everyday chores and objects.
Congrats on both anniversarys……The yarn is gorgeous………Amy
I check http://www.foodgawker.com and http://www.craftgawker.com everyday.
I am so happy that you are using vintage linens and plates. It’s a shame so much get thrown away.
I’m addicted to Fiber Farm Blog and to
I enjoy Smitten Kitchen.
Congrats on your wedding aniv. Nice score on the plates.
I’d have the say that crochetme.com is my favorite link right now. But as always, other people’s blogs are where it’s at. Love the dishes. They look really cute!
I love that he brought you the plates from your wedding breakfast. What a lovely and thoughtful man. I’m over looking the no gifts promise he made, btw. ;^)
http://www.goodeatsblog.com/
I like this one for the gluten-free and vegetarian recipes. I love seeing how a recipe can be done in different ways to suit different people. Not that I cook. *L*
xo
I really rely on Notalwaysright.com for my funny spot in the day. I also rely on my ravelry friends’ activity rss to get new ideas without spending much time looking.
Congratulations on both anniversaries 🙂
The table looks so pretty and the story behind everything makes it even more special.
I go to knittinghelp.com a lot to watch videos on how to knit certain stitches. Congratulations on both of your anniversaries and the gift of the 12 dinner plates and glasses.
Knittingdancer on Raverly.
Congratulations! Beautiful dishes, and a beautiful relationship!
(don’t enter me – I just wanted to share)
Congrats on BOTH anniversaries (and I wish I hadn’t sold my Charm plates as I would have sent them to you to use – great 40-50s plates)! Personally, I enjoy the aesthetics and tips on How About Orange (http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/) so that gets my vote any day of the week.
Happy anniversary! I’ve grown to depend on http://techknitting.blogspot.com/ for clear instructions and ways to improve my knitting.
Lovely way to be gifted your “wedding china”! Down to earth charm, beautifully photographed southwestern style recipes at http://nanetteblanchard.blogspot.com/, who also has a great knitting blog. Yum and yum.
I like gardenweb.com. It has answers to all my plant questions and more.
Congrats on your anniversaries! I am mmetzbower on ravelry. Isn’t it a great web site? Anyhow, one of my other favorite web sites is http://techknitting.blogspot.com/ as it provides that expert knitting support that I need so often.
Congratulations :0)
My other fav website for information and inspiration is craftster.org
There is so much to see on there and tons of how tos for all the crafts you could think of.
Congratulations on both your anniversaries.
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/ is a site I visit often. Not only is the universe beautiful, viewing it can help keep my problems in perspective and perhaps take my ego down a peg or two when needed.
I’ve posted to my blog.
There are so many things I don’t know, but I do know that when I have to find out about something, I can usually find at least the first step among the hundreds of links at http://www.refdesk.com/ Happy Anniversay! and Happy Anniversary!