Black and White Halloween Table

Hello sweet friends!

     The inspiration for my Halloween tablescape for 2015 is this very pretty cotton percale tablecloth draped all the way to the floor that my sweet mother just gifted me for my birthday this October 20th.

Since I do have two sets of black and white china I just mixed the two. The teacups don't belong to this set but have a lot of black, along with my pewter silver chargers.

Ok, here it is, see for yourselves.

                                      "HAPPY HOLLOWEEN DEAR FRIENDS!"

My inspiration for my Halloween table for 2015 is this black and white tablecloth my mom gifted me for my last birthday, on October 20th.

My choice for the place setting are my pewter silver chargers, Multiple Choice black and white dinner plates and salad plates and on top are my Halloween salad plates my DD Sofia brought me from Miami two years ago and finally a soup bowl with bat wings... to top it all, a very yaki black soup, lol... 

Love the black and white tablecloth my mom gave me.

Cute black teapot I bought for $3.28 last year.

A close up of the place layers

A witches hat as a centerpiece with little pumpkins and gourds around it...Oh! and a cute little ghost from my granddaughter Cayetana.

 

I didn't light the skull cause it makes a horrible noise and I can't stand it while shooting the pics! 

Silver and white decoration on the buffet.

A very 'mean' looking white pumpkin too.

In the English buffet I'm also displaying my new finds. A Cauldon, England pretty plate with a rose and a pretty platter Myott Son & Co., Shakespeare Land, England. I also found a pretty transfer ware soup plate, not displayed here. 

My transfer ware collection is growing, I'm so happy as I love it!

The teacups and saucers are from another Multiple Choice set of china.

The stems here are two red ones and two black with some 'red-blood wine'...go really well with the black soup.
I don't know if I should try it, though!

Who knows what disgusting tea is inside this black teapot...I rather not see!

OMG! What an ugly hairy black spider crawling on my buffet!!!

Thank you so much for your sweet and kind comments my friends, you always make my day.

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me join their great Halloween parties!

I also want to thank Kathryn from Make it Pretty Monday's great party for featuring my Fall dough bowl and for all your support and kindness.

Thanks Julie for featuring my Fall Harvest Soup at your awesome party, Cooking & Crafting with J & J.


LOVE,
FABBY

I'm partying at:

Tablescape Thursday     http://betweennapsontheporch.net
Home Sweet Home     http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Simple and Sweet Party     http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com
Grace at Home     www.impartinggrace.com
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop     http://katherinescorner.com
Foodie Friday and Everything else     http://designsbygollu.blogspot.com
The Weekend Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson     http://jannolson.blogspot.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     http://astrollthrulife.net
Flaunt it Friday     http://chiconashoestring.blogspot.com

What to do Weekends     www.craftsalamode.com
Friday Favorites     www.mustlovehome.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Friday Linky Party     www.astrollthrulife.netSaturday
Share it One More Time     www.everydayhomeblog.com    
Saturday Sparks     http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com
Chain Linky CLIMB     http://sewcreaftyangel.blogspot.com
Party at a Bouquet of Talent     www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com
Sundays Down Under Linky Party     www.natashainoz.com

Silver Pennies Sunday     www.findingsilverpennies.com
Tea party The blessings of Friendship     http://mythriftstoresddiction.blogspot.com
Halloween Tea Party     http://cottage-wishes.blogspot.com
Amaze Me Monday     www.dwellings-theheartofdyourhome.com
Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
Inspiration Monday Edition 1026     www.oursouthernhomesc.com
Last Minute Halloween Food ideas     www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com
Mix it up Monday     www.flourmewithlove.com
The SCOOP     www.stonegableblog.com
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
Tuesdays with a Twist     www.godsgrowinggarden.com
Wake up Wednesday     http://sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Vintage Inspiration Party     http://knieckoftime.net





























 

A Very Sui-generis Baby Shower

Hello sweet friends!

While starting this very 'Sui-generis baby shower' post, I got such amazing news from our dearest friend Martha from Teacup Tuesday great tea party she hosts each week; that I won her teacup giveaway! 

I am so excited and happy my teacup collection is growing, thanks a ton to sweet Martha. Wow, I am so ecstatic, I can't thank her enough!

I call this post a "Sui generis Baby Shower" because it is, so unusual that some good friends, cousins and Sils of mine got together to make my dear daughter Alexandra, who is in Miami Florida giving birth to her first child, a little girl...and we are going to Miami in a couple of weeks for the birth of our grandgirl. 

They did a wonderful Baby Shower in her honor, so we send her pics and the beautiful gift they all gave her will be delivered to Alexandra by me.

Ok, here are some pics I am proud to share with you.

 

My best friend hosted the Baby Shower at her house, so she fixed three tables for  five ladies each, as all the goodies were served in each table, plus other delicious dishes too.

Here I am in red with my two dear Sils and the blond is hubby's cousin.

There were three tables like this one, each for five ladies.
My friend's beautiful Noritake china in cobalt blue with gold edges. She owns two sets of complete 12 place settings and serving pieces.

My dear mother in the center, flanked by the hostess's 92 year old mom at your left and one of my dearest friends.

Here I am with my best friend and hostess Myriam at the center and my mother's cousin, Cecilia.
They are giving me the gift I should take in their names to my daughter for her baby Maxima Juliette.

A close up of one of the three table settings. Besides the goodies you see here, they also served as an entrée a delicious shrimp crepe, baby cake and more yummy food like small sandwiches and hand pies, etc.

 

Here I am again with hubby's sister standing up next to me.

The hostess and best friend is standing at your right end.

Alejandro's sisters, the eldest and youngest.



 

This is the lovely jewelry I will deliver to Alexandra. Pretty gold hoop earrings with diamond chips and a little pendant to match.

 The other tiny earrings are from our daughter Sofia and her family. They're adorable 'pansy's' two tones of blue, in gold too. This type of earrings are a tradition here for baby girls. I know she will wear them in the USA a lot later than little girls would in Latin America... and even in Madrid where they reside most of the time.

Some of my friends sitting in one of my friend Myriam's two sitting areas at her lovely home.

The Baby Cake all in pink was delicious. Noritake cake plates for serving.

My dear Alexandra having a blood test 'just today' the Dr. required in the USA.
She's at Miami's beautiful "Mercy Hospital" where she will give birth in just three weeks more!
I must add that my two daughters, Sofia and Alexandra are both Americans, as I am; therefore her wish was that her daughter Maxima will be born in USA as well.

The card for Maxima Juliette everyone signed and sent good wishes.

Here I am with some friends. My mom and my best friend's mom at your right, chatting away, lol...

Tomorrow October 20th. is my birthday, so I thought I also share my Mil's heirloom Royal Albert lovely Oct. teacup and saucer, as she was also an Oct. girl.

Thank you so much for your sweet and generous comments, you always make my day.

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will be joining:

Teacup Tuesday     www.marthasfavorites.com
Friends Sharing Tea     http://blog.bernideen.com
Tea Cup Tuesday     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     http://astrollthrulife.net
Tuesday Cuppa Tea     www.antiquesandteacups.info
Create Link Inspire Party     http://nap-timecreations.com
You're Gonna Love it    www.kathewithane.com
The SCOOP     http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com

TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com
Brag About it Link Party     www.vmg206.com
Cooking and Crafting with J & J     http://julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
The (Not just) Homemaking Party     www.hopeineveryseason.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Tuesdays with a Twist     www.godsgrowinggarden.com
The Wednesday Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com
Wow us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.net
Wordless Wednesday     http://ohmyheartsygirl.com
It's a Party     http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
Thursdays Favorite Things Hop     http://bettyscozycorner.blogspot.com
Tablescape Thursday     http://betweenapsontheporch.net
Wildly Original Party      http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
Share Your Style     http://northernnesting.blogspot.com
















 

"Autumn Warmth in our Kitchen"

Hello sweet friends!

       Come into our kitchen, now decorated for Fall, specially cause I embellished my hand carved, wooden dough bowl I love and found for $8 some four years ago and it's quite big too.

I will keep it for the season in the kitchen and will use the fresh produce there and will just store some back in it for easy access.
 
I use lots of fresh veggies for cooking. Right now there's two ceramic pumpkins in it as well.

I love my kitchen, it's such a warm place and I thank God for it and feel very blessed. It's also very organized as I like it to be and I love to cook, mostly just for the two of us and sometimes when mother comes. Of course, I enjoy getting busy here for dinner parties as well. 
 
I think the kitchen is where most families spend their days, that's why it is rightfully called the 'Heart of the Home.'

The green and white dishes were made back at our former 'Ceramica Monte Turi' factory.
Isn't the butter dish with the chicken so cute? My Mother's Day gift green china by the window, with the tea set and teacups for tea in the afternoon.

As I said at the beginning of this post that I am keeping the fresh produce in the dough bowl for cooking daily and will replace them here again for easy access.
The weather here helps them keep well out of the fridge, as it's very crisp and fresh... same goes for the fruit.

I love the view out this window when I wash; specially the beautiful river you can see down there.
Soon it'll start raining so the grass will get greener as well as the woods.

I kept this wooden farm table for our breakfast nook in this kitchen; all the way from our previous farm house.

The flowers in the window sill pots are still blooming. Weather here is nice like a warm crisp Fall, but Winter, as you know it in the USA never comes, lol..

Thank you so much for your sweet and kind comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

I will party here,

Cooking and Crafting with J & J      http://julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Celebrate it Sunday     http://celebrateanddecorate.com
Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
Amaze Me Monday     www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     http://astrollthrulife.net
Tuesdays with a Twist     http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com
Fabulous Fall Link Party     http://myjourneyback-
yourjourneyback.blogspot.com

Brag About it Linky Party     www.vmg206.com
Tastytuesdays     www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
Wow us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.com
Creative Mondays Blog Hop     www.clairejustineoxox.com
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME     http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com
The SCOOP     www.worthingcourtblog.com
Mix it up Monday     www.flourmewithlove.com
Tea Cup Tuesday Pink Oct.     http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea     http://blog.bernideens.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea     www.antiquesandteacups.info
Tea Cup Tuesday     www.marthasfavorites.com
A Return to Loveliness     www.adelightsomelife.com
Wake up Wednesday     www.godsgrowinggarde.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
Vintage Inspiration Party     http://knickoftime.net
Share Your Style     www.thevintagenestblog.com
Tablescape Thursday     http://betweennapsontheporch.net
Cup of Morning Joe    http://thecottagemarket.com

Friday Features Linky Party     http://ohmyheartsygirl.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Simple Saturday Blog Hop     www.sunnysimplelife.com
SATURDAY SHOW OFF     http://malevikrsentradgard.blogspot.com
Sundays Down Under Link Party     www.natashainoz.com
Bouquet of Talent     www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com

















         

   

FABBY: Harvest Stew Soup for Cold Weather

Hello sweet friends!

I had pinned this great "Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage Soup"... perfect for the soup season and I've been wanting to make it for lunch and I finally did today.
So here are some pics and the soup came out yummy. My hubby loved it and he is very particular with food; lets just say he's got a very 'fine palate,' lol..

Here I'm sharing a very easy "Pineapple pie" for dessert too. Recipe in the bottom if you wish. I bet you will make this all the time, it's fabulous!

At the end of the pics I copied the soup recipe for you, except I added pumpkin cubes too.

I will be making it again for my mom next week, now that we've tried it.




The soup I just made for lunch today is 'Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage,' I copied from my Pinterest Recipe board.
 
Look at the end of this post for the recipe.

Look how great it looks and tastes too!

I used my everyday china which comes in four different colors, here I used the two in orange.
It's a mix and match in orange as here, blue, yellow and green.

We had it with a delicious Apple cider.

The centerpiece is arranged with white gourds and pinecones on a beautiful fruit bowl Mr. Living gifted me for a birthday many years ago.

 It's German-Waterford cut crystal; I do remember it was expensive; so I just shot up and let him get it for me, lol..

"Quick and Easy Pineapple Pie"

1 can of crushed pineapple
1/2 of Duncan Hynes yellow cake mix
1/3 cup of cold butter

Instructions:

Pour the can of pineapple with the liquid in a blender and blend for a 'second,' just to crush the pineapple squares and pour it on a glass pie plate. Take out half of the Duncan Hynes cake mix and evenly spread on top of the pineapple and finally put pieces of the cold butter all over the top.
Bake at 350F. for 40 minutes, or until it's golden brown on top.
Serve cold with ice-cream, if you wish.
 
Very easy peasy, you'll always want to make it!
 

"Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage Soup"
 

Ingredients:

• Canola or olive oil
• 1 (12 ounce) package of beef smoked sausage, sliced into circles
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Pinch salt
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 2 medium-large carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 medium-large parsnips, peeled and diced (I used pumpkin instead, as we don't like parsnips)
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 6 baby yellow potatoes, cubed (skin on)
• ½ pound (8 ounces) diced butternut squash
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup chopped kale
• 1 tablepsoons chopped parsley

Preparation:

-Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat, and drizzle in about 2 tablespoons of oil; one hot, add in the sliced sausage in a single layer, and allow it caramelize and brown on that first side (a few minutes), then stir and allow it to further caramelize for about another 2 minutes.
-Add in the onion, and stir to combine; saute together with sausage for about 3-4 minutes, until lightly golden; add in the Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, and pinch of salt, plus the garlic, and stir to combine.
-Next, add in the carrots, parsnips, celery, potatoes, and butternut squash, and stir to combine with the sausage and onion mixture; next, add in the chicken stock, and bring to the boil.
-Reduce the heat to medium-low, and allow the stew to simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes (it can bubble, but don’t have it simmering too, too vigorously).
-Turn off the heat, and check to see if any additional salt/pepper is needed; add in the kale and the chopped parsley, and stir to combine, allowing the kale to wilt into the soup for a few minutes before serving; serve with good quality bread.



Thank you so much for your sweet and kind comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely hostesses for having me at their great parties.

                                                      LOVE,
                                                      FABBY

I will party here:

Make it Pretty Monday     www.thededicatedhouse.com
Inspire Me Tuesday     www.astrollthrulife.net
Tuesdays with a Twist     http://back2basicshealth.blogspot.com
Fabulous Fall Linky Party    http://myjouneyback-yourjourneyback.blogspot.com
Brag About it Linky Party     www.vmg206.com
Tastytuesdays 106     www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk
You're Gonna Love it     www.kathewithane.com
The SCOOP     http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com
Wow us Wednesday     www.savvysouthernstyle.com
Wake up Wednesday party     www.godsgrowinggarden.com

Vintage Inspiration Party     http://knickoftime.net
Share Your Style     http://northernnesting.blogspot.com
The (Not just) Homemaking Party     www.hopeineveryseason.com
Home and Garden Thursday     www.adelightsomelife.com
It's a Party     http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday     http://jannolson.blogspot.com
Wildly Original     http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
Grace at Home     www.impartinggrace.com
Foodie Friday and Everything else     http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com
PINK Saturday     http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Weekend Link up     www.bigfamilyfrugal.com
Bouquet of Talent Party     www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com
Sunday Down Under Party     www.natashainoz.com