Tribute to Dad Tablescape

Happy Father's Day

I wanted to do a table to honor my dad.

He was born in 1914 and passed away 15 years ago. 

Dad grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm.

They didn't have a lot of  money, but someone in the family had fine tastes.

My two aunts inherited tons of beautiful glassware,

more than you would dream a farmer's wife would have had.

I wish I knew if they had inherited it and from whom, or if Grandma

or Grandpa bought it all.

This Depression Glassware belonged to my dad's parents.  I inherited it from my aunt.

Dad LOVED roses!  He had a large rose garden in front

of our house.  Wisconsin winters are really hard on roses, so he often

lost several each year, but would plant more. 

We were never allowed to cut them and bring them in the house.

I don't remember his plants being as prolific as mine are,

so maybe that's why we couldn't cut them.

I love to cut them and bring them in.  If I continue to cut off the

dead and dying ones, just below a grouping of 5 leaves, I can

have them blooming all summer.  Of course, they love the

cooler weather, so they are just glorious now and will be

again in the Fall.

Some of the Depression Glass is etched.

I am shocked how small the sherbet glasses are.

It reminds me of the first time we went out to dinner

to a Howard Johnsons restaurant.  We ordered

ice cream at the end of the meal and it was the

smallest, silliest scoop I had ever seen, probably

a fourth of a cup. 

We were from Wisconsin - you had a cereal bowl full of

ice cream!

Mom and Dad had beaded glassware like the salad plate,

but I had to buy my own.  Mine has a touch of gold on it.

I wish I knew the names of all of my roses, then I could

tell you.  The dark red rose is absolutely outstanding.

I probably only cut 1/4 of the blooms off for this big

arrangement.  I think my favorite are the cream with the

red edges.  They are the prettiest this year we have seen

them.  I do know the name of the pale yellow with pink

edges - it is a Peace rose.  The blooms  are about 8 inches across. 

The cream lace linen under the brown beaded topper belonged

to my parents.  The beaded topper comes from a local store Tai Pan

The cream embossed plates also come from Tai Pan.  The gold ware

was purchased from Best years ago.

This is my favorite picture of my dad and his oldest sister.

He is standing and has on the cutest suit.  His sister never

married.  She is the one I inherited the Depression Ware from.

The frame is from Z Gallerie.

The next photo is of two other pieces I inherited from my dad's family.

The ornate silver berry spoon was always one of my favorites

when I was growing up, so I am glad I received it.

The leaded cut-glass candy dish was one my mom and dad

bought at an auction in Wisconsin.  It is amazingly heavy.  I just

love it.

My uncle (really my dad's cousin) was an auctioneer.  We

spent many weekends at estate auctions.  He would call my dad if

there were wonderful items.  It was like true treasure hunting.

I know it is generally not the man who loves fine things, but it was my

dad that loved them more than my mom.  Almost every year for

Christmas he would buy her some exquisite cut glass bowl.

He had grown up with beautiful glass ware in his home and he wanted

it in his own home.

Thanks Dad for teaching me to love beautiful things.

My roses always remind me of you!

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful dads.

You are creating family traditions.

I will be posting this with Between Naps on the Porch, on Tablescapes Thursday.