Happy January, dear friends! It is my birthday month and I thought I’d share some of the carrot cake picked up last week to have on the day. Also, as we drove back from visiting our daughter just after Christmas, we stopped by an HEB grocery store in Austin, Texas. I brought home some living herbs and two small bouquets of soft pink hydrangeas…
The hydrangeas were soooo pretty when I first bought them. I carefully set their cut ends down into the bag of ice and water I had cooling the previous night’s dinner for the ride home…
But, they all wilted! I recut the ends, smashed them like I’ve heard to do, and plunked them into fresh water in hopes of reviving them. Only the one came back, but it is just so pretty, even if only one bloom. 🙂
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Come to a January birthday tea!
The light pouring in our western windows right after school a couple of days ago was just heavenly! It was perfect for setting the table and grabbing a few photographs for you. What remains of the carrot cake birthday cake I picked up late last week is shared with you here.
I wish you were here to help me eat it! It is really tasty with chopped walnuts mixed into the cake and patted into the frosted sides. I’ve gained six pounds since the holiday season began…
Ugh!
Now to work it all off again. ;)’
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What was my inspiration?
This tea table began with finding some old favorite Shabby Chic napkins in my linen closet to grace our table. I used one napkin underneath our hydrangea centerpiece, then grabbed the other three for each placesetting. Now that my mother-in-law lives here, we get together once a week or so for dinner. While Mr. Ethereal was hanging her new t.v. on the wall at her house, Gini played a little of the “Happy Birthday” song on her keyboard for me. Then, before we went out for dinner, we each ate a piece of the carrot cake. (My idea!)
After getting the dessert plates, teacups and saucers, napkins and silverware all placed, I realized the centerpiece still looked rather bare. So, I went searching the cabinets for beautiful pieces to add to our birthday tea table.
Old Country Roses birdie s/p shakers chirped a happy song, while the addition of a sweet rose-strewn sugar bowl (and later a teapot) were just the additions needed to pull our table together!
Pulling out a few of my favorite white background pieces of china, plus a few rose-strewn china pieces with delicate soft pink roses in their transferware (okay, and some stronger pinks in there, too!), makes for a lovely January birthday fête…
Our original birthday tea table went from boring to brilliant with just a few simple changes. Love how it looks now!
And an extra piece of carrot cake and a cup of tea afterwards were a bright finish to the day.
(So much for beginning that January diet, lol! XD)
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Here’s to a great 2024!
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Happy Birthday Barb! Your Tea Table looks so pretty… love the mix of shabby chic touches of roses and the hydrangeas…. I hope you don’t mind if I help myself to a slice of that cake, lol! Enjoy your birthday month with all the joys of your heart. God bless you!
Hi Christie! I’m sorry!! I read your message a week ago or so and I guess I was reading it on my phone at school and didn’t reply… Yes, you are welcome to some cake! There was plenty. ;)’ Thank you for the birthday wishes! <3
Happy Birthday Barbara! I’d love to celebrate with you. Your table looks lovely. I’m crossing my fingers we get an HEB around us soon. I know they’ve purchased the corner at 2499 and Swisher. Woohoo! Hope your birthday is fabulous. pinned
Hi Cindy, wouldn’t that be AWESOME to get an HEB up here! I just love the flowers they get in… I did have a nice birthday, thank you!
Your beautiful hydrangea, the glorious birthday cake (it’s so elegant!) and a lovely table. Who wouldn’t have a fabulous time here, sipping tea, eating a decadent dessert and being with friends. It’s lovely, Barb!
Hi Jeanne! Thank you!! I had a lovely birthday with my hubby and mother-in-law. Didn’t do much but did enjoy setting this table. 🙂 Wish everyone lived close-by! It’d be fun to have you and all of our blogger friends over for a party. <3
Happy Birthday month to you! Yesterday I had lunch with a group of HS girlfriends, two of whom have Jan birthdays. At the end of the month it’s my oldest sister’s, Mr. P.’s, and my girlfriend bestie!
Rita, since I am seriously late getting back to you, I hope you are having fun at your hubby’s, your best girlfriend’s and your older sister’s birthdays!!! I didn’t do much for mine, but having this special cake and setting a birthday table was fun. Happy end of the month, can you believe it?!!