This week’s metamorphosis for Metamorphosis Monday was so much fun.
Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch. Click on pic to see all the great things going on in blogland this week.
We are still getting ready for Thanksgiving. This weekend, we did a bit with the dining table.
The dining table
The dining table without leaves is 68 inches long and 43 inches wide and seats six comfortably.
Dining table with leaves.
Add three leaves to the table and it is just 2 inches short of 10 feet! Now it will seat 12 comfortably, but since my nephew and his wife can’t make it, we will just have 10 people. If they had made it and my dear step-sister and her family had come, we would have been up to 16 people.
Next, I added the beautiful vintage linen tablecloth, hoping some of the wrinkles would have a chance to fall out between now and Thanksgiving.
Wrinkles!
Okay, that is just too many wrinkles (funny, I think that when I look in the mirror sometimes as well). So, this is a really long and wide tablecloth and I’m going to have to be pretty creative in order to iron it.
My mother loves ironing. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit that gene. I don’t hate it, but it is not something I would ever say I really enjoy! No matter how much I clean, Mama can always find what I missed. I don’t know how, but somehow some things just elude me. How did I miss that dust bunny in the far corner behind the couch?
Anyway, I digress.
Ironing ideas!
I ended up putting the ironing board at the end of the dining table and then “feeding” the tablecloth on to the the table as I ironed. Is that clever or what? Okay, it was really my husbands idea, but, I was so proud of myself, I got it ironed without taking it to the cleaners!
Beautiful!
Now, I have a clean slate and the little bit of wrinkle that is left will surely fall out by Thanksgiving, don’t you think?
I’ll have to admit, while ironing the cloth, I did enjoy looking at the beautiful details of the design.
Beautiful details
Can you see the detail in the stitching? Just gorgeous!
While we were at it, we moved the dining table off the rug and got a good vacuum on it before replacing it and putting in the leaves.
One more step towards Thanksgiving. Somehow, those decorations that looked fine on the 68 inch table seem a little less substantial on the 118 inch table.
A "little" decoration
Oh, well, there is still plenty of time to fix that and I can’t wait to get at it!
Happy Monday everyone and have a wonderful week!
Today’s Lagniappe: Spanish Pork and Rice
As I’ve mentioned before, my husband is not a big fan of chicken, so here is a twist on chicken and rice with a Spanish flair.
1 c. uncovered regular rice
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
4 (1 inch thick) pork chops
3 c. chopped tomatoes
1 green pepper, diced
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. water
Saute’ rice in a large skillet in oil over medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes or until brown, stirring constantly. Remove rice and set aside. Add pork chops to skillet and brown on both sides. Combine rice, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, salt and pepper, spoon over pork chops, add water, cover and simmer 50 to 55 minutes or until pork chops are tender. 4 servings.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Lovely tablecloth
we are still in search of the perfect one for our table!
Love the tablecloth and LUV the technique of ironing. This is something that has always stumped me in the past. Now I can do it Southern Life style and it will be easier. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh–thanks for giving that idea for ironing a long tablecloth!! Great idea!! Thank your hubby!
Oooo, I envy that nice long table, I have a glass one where we have to squeeze in.
I love the table cloth. It’s very elegant!
Beautiful table cloth and table girl…how clever to use the ironing board that way…thanks for the tip…Hugs and smiles Gl?ria
That was a great idea! Very clever.
Love the creative mind for ironing. I usually mist the edges a few days before and the creases just fall out.
The cloth is lovely, such details!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Enjoy
Leann
That is the coolest (or hottest) idea to iron a cloth. It is a beautiful cloth. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
great way to iron! Yay for hubs!
gail
Leaving a wrinkle or two in a linen tablecloth reminded me of a lady that used to work for me years ago. When when she cleaned my silver stuff she always ended up with some “black” still showing so (as she said) people would know that it was real. I’m impressed with your table. Love you
Beautiful tablecloth! And great idea to iron right next to the table!
You don’t want too many table decorations anyway, I always go overboard and then by the time the table is ‘set’ there’s no room for the food! I end up having to find a place to stash the decorations last minute to provide room for the ‘guest of honor’ (turkey platter!).
I used to have a big, oak table with self-storing leaves! It was wonderful, except that I had to be careful of the wood all the time. Now I have a very long marble dining table and I love that I can put down hot plates with no worries of burn marks! It’s been a God-send! I never liked the look of marble and granite, too cold, but I’ve changed my tune! It is now my favorite!
Great post! I love seeing how others get ready for their holiday entertaining, and how they decorate. You have a lovely home!
All the best,
Eileen
Love your tablecloth – that was a great idea to iron as you go -those long cloths seem to be hard to manage.
What a beautiful tablecloth!
Please stop by and see my $15 craft closet makeover.
I have an old tablecloth like that from my Grandmother, but it was light blue stichting. It’s so pretty and I can’t wait to have a big family event to be able to use it. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and have lots of people at your table.
Good thinking to start decorating early on! I would be so scared someone would make a stain on that beautiful tablecloth. I am crossing my fingers for you it will still look so great when Thanksgiving has arrived.
And good thinking of your hubbie for the ironing idea. Would that work with my bedlinens too LOL
Hi Christi!
Your table is already looking beautiful. That vintage tablecloth is lovely! Great idea on how to iron it!
have a wonderful day!
Love the table…..Your blog is wonderful.
I have had so little time to do any blog reading and I have missed it…stop by my Christmas blog and leave a comment. The giveaway is a great Christmas CD to add to your collection.
http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com
Hi Christi, I am an ironer and I love the idea of putting the ironing board at the table. So smart- why didn’t I think of this years ago?
Good for you, getting a jump start on Thanksgiving Prep! By the time Thanksgiving rollls around you will be ready, calm and things will be in order. Don’t you love that, I do!
You are my kind of gal!
Yvonne
Wow, what a table. I love your beautiful tablecloth. How in the world did you get it ironed?
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
What a gorgeous tablecloth! Great job on the ironing. Your so lucky to have a table that can fit so many people!
Beautiful..reminds me of one my mom had..now I think I will be digging it out for the holidays..
What a brilliant idea! And yes, the details on this cloth are exquisite. This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this great idea for a perfect solution to iron such a long cloth.
Oh you guys are brilliant. Such a simple solution to such an annoying job. I ‘greatly dislike’ ironing.
Linen should always have a few little wrinkles in it. Keeps it looking so natural. Just like us.
What a beautiful tablecloth. It is just lovely. I can’t wait to see your finished table.
I don’t love ironing either..which is pretty funny since I have a collection of vintage tablecloths. That table is going to set up beautifully. I love when we start with a lovely cloth…it is just so civilized.
Susan
I think I would be looking on free cycle or craigs list for a steamer. It is wonderful having a table that can extend so far out and that you have such a lovely table cloth to cover it.
Cheri
Your tablecloth is just beautiful! And how clever of your husband to suggest feeding the tablecloth from the ironing board to the table. Great idea and I will be sure to remember that. Happy almost over Sunday and have a great week.