Tuesday 30 January 2024

Gracing the table

 

Gracing the table


On Sunday we had lunch in the dining room. This was unusual, not least because we don’t normally have lunch. Generally, we have late breakfast and early supper.

Anyway, we used the dining room because there were six of us to seat. There was a spirited discussion between Charlie (8 years old) and Barry (somewhat more than 8 years old), about elements, the metaverse, the periodic table, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, the possibility or probability of the discovery of new elements on far-flung planets among other things. To say that Charlie is interested in physics, chemistry, biology and maths would be to understate his enthusiasm. He also likes teasing his little brother Jack (5). Robert monitored that tendency!

Jack perked up when he misheard that Barry had a nuclear bomb and was desperate to see it, then disappointed that there was nothing to see. Otherwise, he was happy to chatter, which he does all day, from the moment he gets up until he goes to bed. School has not diminished his non-stop vocal observation of the world and his sharp ears pick up everything, particularly anything to which he should not be privy, although sometimes he misunderstands. Don’t we all?

I look at other people’s dining tables and marvel at the order and attractiveness of them. My table is always covered in dishes and bowls, plates, glasses, serving spoons and condiments. There never seems to be enough room, even if we extend the table to its fullest.


 I did manage to find room for the beautiful flowers Bethan gave me. I’m no flower arranger but actually I like them altogether in one vase, a burst of colour. Unlike George Bernard Shaw I enjoy seeing cut flowers in the house and very often it means that they have the chance to shine when otherwise they might be overlooked or trampled. Life continues in the bulbs underground.

I also set out my rather whimsical salt and pepper shakers. They’re not to everyone’s taste, but I like them, and Barry doesn’t really have a choice!

It was a very enjoyable day. The dogs and cats were exhausted last night – any change to their routine disturbs their equilibrium.

31 comments:

  1. What fun to have such a lively bunch around the dinner table. I love your salt and pepper shakers. Sadly we don't use the dining room table as much as we used to and these days it seems to be a place to collect stuff rather than to have us all sit down and eat.

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    1. Every room in our house is a dumping ground, so getting the dining room ready for eating in is a major exercise!

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  2. My table is the same as yours. Never polished, always busy, chaotic, but full of chatter and laughter.

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    1. It's inevitable with a large family, isn't it? I still cater as though we are a family of six!

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  3. Very beautiful flowers and love the quirky salt and pepper pots
    Alison in Wales x

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  4. I love the salt and pepper pots and think Charlie and Jack will both go far!
    Cheers, Gail.

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    1. Some would say, 'the further the better'! I jest, of course.

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  5. The roses look so good I thought they were fake.
    Charlie sounds formidable. I was known as 'big ears' when I was young. My listening skills were part of my sex education. What does the word pregnant mean?
    The whimsical salt and pepper shakers are cool.

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    1. 'I thought they were fake' made me laugh.
      Charlie takes some keeping up with, I must say, but he's a nice child, too.

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  6. Such beautiful flowers and quirky salt and pepper shakers. Your lunch sounds quite lively.

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    1. It was fun and entertaining. At times it was like a Q and A at a science museum!

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  7. Hi Janice - looks wonderful and sounds a delightful family lunch. Love the S & P shakers - fun ... while yes the flowers all together really do pop out. Cheers Hilary

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  8. Your salt and pepper pots are beautiful, it's always good to have family lunches, little voices, telling you everything they have learnt. I don't have cut flowers anymore, when I added up the cost, I was surprised how much I was spending and knowing most come form abroad. I rarely cut flowers from the garden, preferring to see them where they were planted.

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    1. I usually cut the flowers that have been trampled, provided they haven't been smashed beyond recognition.

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  9. We have a linen tablecloth, candles and a tall vase of flowers only one meal a week (Friday nights) with no disturbance from mobile phones, tv, music or anything else. Your gorgeous flowers look perfect for a formal meal.

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    1. Ah, Friday Night Dinner! Have you seen that series? My son-in-law wrote it.

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  10. A wonderful blaze of flower colours on the table. Such a boost at this time of year. Love the salt and pepper shakers. Family lunch is lovely and great that there is such interaction and enquiring minds at the same time. Long may it continue.

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    1. Children keep us on our toes, don't they, one way or another?

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  11. I love those salt and pepper shakers, they're so quirky. xx

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  12. The more color in the winter the better.

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  13. Charlie sounds like an amazing 8 year old. It beats the heck out of dinosaurs.

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  14. We hardly ever use our dining room anymore, unless we have company. Blame it on Bess, who claimed the Lloyd Loom style dining room chairs when she first came to live with us.
    Those flowers are gorgeous, and how cute are those whimsical salt and pepper shakers! xxx

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    1. We eat from trays on our laps, I'm sorry to say, unless we have company. Cats do like to take over! x x x

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  15. The salt and pepper shakers are charming, the flowers gorgeous, and Charlie and Jack delightful. We tend to follow your meal plan of a late breakfast and early supper, with no lunch. Or perhaps that's a late lunch and no supper?

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    1. Three meals a day is a thing of the past, probably for the best:-)

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  16. Lunch and your day sounds like fun family time.
    I do like your salt and pepper pots and those flowers are beautiful, such wonderful colours.

    All the best Jan

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  17. It was a very pleasant day, thank you.

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