Our friend Lela had a dinner party this weekend, and deputized the kids to completely deal with the table setting. The kids (ages 4,7,9) picked the flowers, put them in the vases, and set everything up all on their own. They were so proud, and I realized how much we can err in our interference […]

Our friend Becky had us over for Sunday breakfast last week, and we loved the way her dining table looked, with her new blue and white striped tablecloth from Ikea. You can also get a bright blue tablecloth by taking an old solid colored cloth or sheet, and dying it indigo.

For the past 10 years or so I have been giving my husband antique sterling napkin rings for Christmas. They are mostly mismatched and many have engravings. We try to imagine the histories of the owners from the inscriptions–“Nettie 1925″ or “Christmas 1861.” During the holidays, I ask my family members to remember their own […]