Today's link is to the new blog of my sweet daughter-in-law, Natasha. When not coveting $40,000 bronze birdcages, she's a whiz at pulling together a fabulous celebration, “making do” with some pretty things in her new apartment –which happens to be in Hong Kong!
Natasha's flowers for her first anniversary. |
The Chief and I couldn't commit/didn't have money for a dining room table at first, either.
We ate on little trays for a year, entertaining with stand-up meals, until my mother took pity on us and donated a table (she's always good for a table or any other miscellaneous piece of furniture she happens to stumble upon).
This table we used for about 28 years, and it was not without its quirks. Not really quite large enough for us, it did its best, as its real function is to be a side table that can pull out to do duty for extra guests. Temporarily.
Sorry for the poor quality of this photo. Both my cameras are broken at the moment! I had to take this one with my phone. If I post later this week, you will know that I'm using old photos! |
You can't believe it, can you?
This miniscule little reproduction expands, that top is actually two pieces, one of which flips over, and there are leaves, making it into a real table that seats up to 8. However, the leg in the middle wasn't designed for decades of daily use, and every once in a while it would sort of give out, leaving the middle sagging precariously.
Particularly at those wonderful postprandial moments when the largest guest plunks his elbows down, the better to rest his comfortable chin on — that's when it would start to slide out of position.
One of my kids, usually Suzanne, would respond to my widening eyes by slinking ever so surreptitiously underneath, raising the cobbled-together-with-leaves center with her back, pushing the wayward leg back into place. She's such a good sport — she did that right up into adulthood, if she was around! Otherwise there were many other good sports to fill in, and every once in a while I got down there myself.
Usually the guests would be well enough fed and otherwise oblivious to their surroundings that they wouldn't notice…or maybe they were just too kind to comment on the fact that our furniture was collapsing and we didn't seem to mind.
This is why I'm very happy now to have a sturdy dining table that any number of guests can lean on without danger.
Anyway, I think Natasha made a good choice for a table to serve her dinner on, and everything looks just amazing. Go check it out and leave her a comment!
JaneC says
My mother just bought us a dining table and four chairs last month (we've been married nearly three years, and eating on an Ikea table which is now relegated to the kitchen). We are on our own for more chairs, though! I'm so glad we have a proper dining table to entertain with now.
Nancy says
OUr kitchen table (all solid oak-circular) was purchased for $50.00 at an estate sale. We were so tight on money that $50.00 was a sacrifice with two babies 14 months apart in our second year of marriage. Needless to say, a lot of memories at this table that has traveled to 11 different states with us. Not only has this table been a part of our memory making but it has appreciated…about $250.00+ for similar tables in antique stores. Nancy
mel says
hehe,,,we had a table like this too for years,,,I despaired of ever finding something else big enough for us all, but I lucked on a $25 table at Goodwill! It's wonderfully sturdy. Now I need to replace my sad chairs!
Elizabeth says
I remembered this post from years ago and had to find it. It’s just like something out of Cheaper by the Dozen! So hilarious and a great family memory. I can just picture your wide eyes and the shared feeling among the family of knowing what was about to happen to the table. Ha!
Now I’m off to make your ginger cookies…