“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Shenandoah Valley has been a bit frosty lately. But if you have a good book, warm coverlet and a fragrant stew brewing on the stove, you know that winter is not blue! January can be a letdown after the bustling holiday season, but we have suggestions for winter entertaining that will brighten your home and your spirits. Read on.
- Start a new collection. We love Blue Willow China because it is timeless. You can use it in any season. It looks great with red and green at Christmas; chautreuse and yellow are a dazzling compliment for Easter; and, the blue oriental images displayed on the plaates are the whole show for July 4th! Invest in white china to pair with it (hint: the Norfolk Collection at the Dollar Tree will do just fine).
- Shop thrift stores. It’s very hard to date or determine the maker of much of older Blue Willow china; there are over 400 documented makers in Great Britain and 500 worldwide. English manufacturer Spode was an early maker, and in the early 1900s Buffalo Pottery was the first cited producer in America. This means that there should be a wide variety of Blue Willow offered in second hand shops.
- Accent with flowers and candles. The grocery store is not just for food anymore. You can buy flowers and candles to make any get together special. Baby’s Breath, long tossed in as a filler, makes a beautiful winter arrangement all its own. It is economical and simple. Pair this dainty white flower with white tapers and votives and let the evening magic begin.
- Simple food. One of the greatest things about this time of the year is that simple food is in vogue. Serve a light salad, bowl of soup and crusty bread and you have the makings of an enchanted evening.
The Feltner Group is a full-service real estate team that specializes in providing a concierge-level of service for all clients. Your home is the set where life’s big and small moments are staged. We can help find a house worthy of your memories.
Great post.