Comments on: How Often Do You Set the Table? http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table Teaching the Beautiful and Simple Afternoon Tea Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:32:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Nora http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1998 Nora Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:44:13 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1998 Just found your site. I am looking for new ideas for a tea party. I have enjoyed giving these intimate small parties with my friends for years. We have always "set" the table for a feast no matter what we are serving. This is a gift you give yourself and your children. When children grow up it is very important for them to know how and why something in being used at the table. Cloth tablecloth, placemat and napkins (clean of course) are always used. Decorations or candles to suit the time of year. Think ST Patrick or Easter. Use what you already have. A well set table will begin to groom your children. They will appreciate it later when they visit friends homes or have friends over. For those that want to start serving their families with a real meal with real plates, glasses, etc. Take small steps. Just found your site. I am looking for new ideas for a tea party. I have enjoyed giving these intimate small parties with my friends for years.
We have always “set” the table for a feast no matter what we are serving. This is a gift you give yourself and your children. When children grow up it is very important for them to know how and why something in being used at the table. Cloth tablecloth, placemat and napkins (clean of course) are always used. Decorations or candles to suit the time of year. Think ST Patrick or Easter. Use what you already have.
A well set table will begin to groom your children. They will appreciate it later when they visit friends homes or have friends over. For those that want to start serving their families with a real meal with real plates, glasses, etc. Take small steps.

]]> By: Linda http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1993 Linda Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:36:26 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1993 I never, ever set the table properly! :P It's because of a youth trauma I have, *lol* My parents are italian, so VERY much into the whole 'this is supposed to be like that' thing.. my mum always made a big fuss about setting the table properly, even if we had sandwiches for dinner! So when I got married and moved out, I was finally set free of the evil table setting habit.. whoohoo.. Now, that said.. we don't eat with a plate on our lap in front of the TV either.. I do set the table with napkins (paper!) silverware (only the pieces we need though.. no fork & knife when we're having soup!) and plates which are already assembled.. I guess the only thing I really leave out is the tablecloth.. I hate tablecloths.. brr..! I never, ever set the table properly! :P

It’s because of a youth trauma I have, *lol* My parents are italian, so VERY much into the whole ‘this is supposed to be like that’ thing.. my mum always made a big fuss about setting the table properly, even if we had sandwiches for dinner!

So when I got married and moved out, I was finally set free of the evil table setting habit.. whoohoo..

Now, that said.. we don’t eat with a plate on our lap in front of the TV either.. I do set the table with napkins (paper!) silverware (only the pieces we need though.. no fork & knife when we’re having soup!) and plates which are already assembled.. I guess the only thing I really leave out is the tablecloth.. I hate tablecloths.. brr..!

]]> By: Nicole http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1989 Nicole Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:13:39 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1989 Thanks for the encouragement! This weekend I made a point of cleaning up the clutter in the kitchen and I was able to have tea with a friend this afternoon and dinner with my husband with beautiful flowers (from him) adorning the table--no mail, junk, etc. in sight. It feels great to have a clear area to set a table. Now I need a table cloth to fit my table--it's a round table with a leaf extension, so it's not quite oval. Anyone have suggestions for how to cover it? Thanks for the encouragement! This weekend I made a point of cleaning up the clutter in the kitchen and I was able to have tea with a friend this afternoon and dinner with my husband with beautiful flowers (from him) adorning the table–no mail, junk, etc. in sight. It feels great to have a clear area to set a table. Now I need a table cloth to fit my table–it’s a round table with a leaf extension, so it’s not quite oval. Anyone have suggestions for how to cover it?

]]> By: Mrs. Fussypants http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1969 Mrs. Fussypants Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:45:49 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1969 This is exactly the post I need to read. With four young sons & one on the way I need to civilize them! LOL! Thank you so much for joining in. It means so much to me. Love, Fussy This is exactly the post I need to read. With four young sons & one on the way I need to civilize them! LOL!

Thank you so much for joining in. It means so much to me.

Love, Fussy

]]> By: Regina http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1967 Regina Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:15:36 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1967 Thanks for the post! This was just the kick in the pants I needed to finally get my clutter off the table. We eat on half of the table, and the other half has turned into a catch-all for stuff like mail, you name it. I feel so much better having my table cleared for eating only! I need to go get unscented candles as well, I love having candles lit at the table. Although, like Teapriestess we also have a toddler who loves to blow out candles, so this will be a new challenge! Thanks for the post! This was just the kick in the pants I needed to finally get my clutter off the table. We eat on half of the table, and the other half has turned into a catch-all for stuff like mail, you name it. I feel so much better having my table cleared for eating only! I need to go get unscented candles as well, I love having candles lit at the table. Although, like Teapriestess we also have a toddler who loves to blow out candles, so this will be a new challenge!

]]> By: Karen (Simply A Musing Blog) http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1962 Karen (Simply A Musing Blog) Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:43:17 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1962 Honestly, this is one area I need to improve in. I keep telling myself that my excuse of "We need two more chairs for the table" so we can all five sit at it (we currently have 4 chairs) is good enough reason to split up at the bar and the table or whereever else we might land...horror of horrors - the living room. Thanks for the beautiful reminders. Honestly, this is one area I need to improve in. I keep telling myself that my excuse of “We need two more chairs for the table” so we can all five sit at it (we currently have 4 chairs) is good enough reason to split up at the bar and the table or whereever else we might land…horror of horrors - the living room. Thanks for the beautiful reminders.

]]> By: Jenn http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1960 Jenn Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:03:57 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1960 We set the table for pretty much every supper. My five-year old daughter loves to help and I'm teaching her about which side the knife/fork goes on and about turning the cutting edge in towards the plate. That's one thing that irritates me. The cutting edge facing out. I've thought about getting into cloth napkins but haven't yet. I think family meals are so important, it's too bad that has fallen by the wayside for so many. I like this post. I'm going to go and read about setting the table for tea! We set the table for pretty much every supper. My five-year old daughter loves to help and I’m teaching her about which side the knife/fork goes on and about turning the cutting edge in towards the plate. That’s one thing that irritates me. The cutting edge facing out. I’ve thought about getting into cloth napkins but haven’t yet. I think family meals are so important, it’s too bad that has fallen by the wayside for so many.
I like this post. I’m going to go and read about setting the table for tea!

]]> By: Tamra http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1957 Tamra Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:43:56 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1957 We recently began setting the table a bit nicer for supper, because my oldest daughter has really taken an interest in it. She'll do the tablecloth and candles thing. Everyone loves it so much. We use paper plates to cut down on dishwashing, but use pretty serving dishes OR do the restaurant style thing you mentioned. I love that! Thanks for the ideas! We recently began setting the table a bit nicer for supper, because my oldest daughter has really taken an interest in it. She’ll do the tablecloth and candles thing. Everyone loves it so much. We use paper plates to cut down on dishwashing, but use pretty serving dishes OR do the restaurant style thing you mentioned. I love that!
Thanks for the ideas!

]]> By: jill http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1955 jill Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:15:26 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1955 if i make a big meal i try and set the table up really nicely. my mom made me some tablecloths for Christmas this year, so now that the table is covered, its less likely to gather a bunch of 'junk' or at least more likely to get cleaned off if it does. most days of the week, i try and get the hubby to sit at the dinner table. if we're having a pizza or if he's had a hard day, i let it slide. one good tip is to put out a salad or say a cup of applesauce for kids for a palate 'prepper' at the table before dinner. over the last year or so we've gotten much better about saying a prayer, i would go ahead and wait until after this little precourse and when you set the main plates pray. its kind of odd, but at least if someone is starving they will have settled down enough for the prayer before the main meal. and hey, they'll get a fruit serving for the day... umm.. let's see, usually i set it according to what is needed. for instance if we have something to be buttered, i'll put out a knife, but usually only one as there are 2 of us. we can easily share a knife. for environmental purposes we have ditched styro/paper plates for 99.9999 to infinity of meals. we still have some in the cabinet but we dont really use them ever. if we have a veggie (oops i forget) then i dish them up into pretty bowls sometimes. i cant wait for a real house to where i can get my china out. i havent used it yet. my mom has some from japan that dad sent her while he was overseas. she left it in the attic for over 20 years and finally decided that she'd use it for special occasions. it's so delicate. ours is more.. robust less frail. she's very careful with it, as she should be. i think that with ours, once i have a place to keep it that we'll use it a lot. its only things and things can get broken and replaced... two tips for those out there confused. eat from the outside in with silverware (salad fork is on outside and is smaller than regular fork as you eat salad first), and forks go on the left, everything else on the right. makes it easy enough to remember. fork and left have four letters. if i make a big meal i try and set the table up really nicely. my mom made me some tablecloths for Christmas this year, so now that the table is covered, its less likely to gather a bunch of ‘junk’ or at least more likely to get cleaned off if it does. most days of the week, i try and get the hubby to sit at the dinner table. if we’re having a pizza or if he’s had a hard day, i let it slide. one good tip is to put out a salad or say a cup of applesauce for kids for a palate ‘prepper’ at the table before dinner. over the last year or so we’ve gotten much better about saying a prayer, i would go ahead and wait until after this little precourse and when you set the main plates pray. its kind of odd, but at least if someone is starving they will have settled down enough for the prayer before the main meal. and hey, they’ll get a fruit serving for the day… umm.. let’s see, usually i set it according to what is needed. for instance if we have something to be buttered, i’ll put out a knife, but usually only one as there are 2 of us. we can easily share a knife. for environmental purposes we have ditched styro/paper plates for 99.9999 to infinity of meals. we still have some in the cabinet but we dont really use them ever. if we have a veggie (oops i forget) then i dish them up into pretty bowls sometimes. i cant wait for a real house to where i can get my china out. i havent used it yet. my mom has some from japan that dad sent her while he was overseas. she left it in the attic for over 20 years and finally decided that she’d use it for special occasions. it’s so delicate. ours is more.. robust less frail. she’s very careful with it, as she should be. i think that with ours, once i have a place to keep it that we’ll use it a lot. its only things and things can get broken and replaced… two tips for those out there confused. eat from the outside in with silverware (salad fork is on outside and is smaller than regular fork as you eat salad first), and forks go on the left, everything else on the right. makes it easy enough to remember. fork and left have four letters.

]]> By: JHS http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1934 JHS Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:08:28 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/how-often-do-you-set-the-table#comment-1934 Good morning: Thanks for contributing this post to this week’s Carnival of Family life, hosted at <a href="http://healthplansplus.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Health Plans Plus</a>! Here's my response: I refuse to answer on the ground that my response will incriminate me. :-) Be sure to stop by the Carnival tomorrow and check out the other wonderful entries! JHS, Esq. <a href="http://www.jhsiess.com" rel="nofollow">Colloquium </a> Good morning:

Thanks for contributing this post to this week’s Carnival of Family life, hosted at Health Plans Plus!

Here’s my response: I refuse to answer on the ground that my response will incriminate me. :-)

Be sure to stop by the Carnival tomorrow and check out the other wonderful entries!

JHS, Esq.
Colloquium

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