When table cloths are a joy!

Hello, happy beginning of the weekend! Yes, it's Friday, and I've just come upstairs to do this blog entry. Downstairs Hugo is keeping an eye on the tennis match between Andy Murray and Andy Roddick. I just needed a break, because I'm feeling exhausted from all the tension of the match. Well, I wanted high drama, and now I've got it, I'm feeling like I'm not quite strong enough to handle it! When I last saw the scores, Roddick was leading by two sets to one, and there had just been an excruciatingly close tie break. Phew! Being a spectator is hard work! It will be a miracle if Murray wins, to be honest I've lost hope of that....................
Anyway, some of you reading this won't be into the tennis, so what I've just been saying will be irrelevant to you, so apologies for that!
And anyway, I was going to show you table cloths from the open garden I showed you yesterday, wasn't I?

As we walked into the entrance to the garden, we saw tables covered in cloths, looking inviting, beckoning us to sit down and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake. So we did just that! Good thing we did too, because not long after we'd finished our tea and cake, it started to pour with rain.

Hugo's calling me! We've got to go and visit Hugo's sister, Tamsin, and give her daughter Cassie, her Birthday present. Won't be long. Hope we don't miss much of the match!

Hello again! We're back! I've got a bit of a fixed grin on my face, because while we were visiting Tam, and all the family, and joining in the general merriment, Murray lost to Roddick. Poor Andy Murray, he must be feeling devastated. I'm a bit devastated, and now I've lost interest in seeing the rest of the matches at Wimbledon! This is what it must be like when people watch a football match, or any match, and the team they support loses.  I think I must be coming down from an adrenaline rush! I truly never appreciated the ups and downs of supporting a team. I've never been into watching sport, so supporting Murray, and getting involved, was all new to me. Although I'm feeling flat as a pancake, I'm glad I had that experience, as I like to try everything once. I don't know if my constitution will take another battering like that! I can't quite believe I got so caught up in it....................... sometimes I surprise myself!

Well, I've just given myself a good talking to, and told myself to buck up! So, moving on in a brisk, British stiff upper lip fashion, lets get back to table cloths.

Yes! let's get back to the beautiful table cloths!!!

Just look at the colours, and the embroidery, isn't it a joy? I made a bee-line for the table with this cloth on, as I thought it was the prettiest, and luckily noone was sitting at it. All hand embroidered, all beautifully embroidered.

I liked this one too, and managed to take a photo before some people came and sat at this table. I'm not sure what the blue flowers are meant to be, but they're very pretty don't you think?

So pretty too!

There was another table, it had a pretty cloth on it too, but some people were sitting at it, and I judged it might be a bit much to disturb them while having their tea and cake. That probably demonstrates just how sacred I consider the whole peaceful afternoon tea ritual is, doesn't it? Because I can be brazen about taking photos sometimes!

I'm feeling completely recovered form the tennis match disappointment, after seeing these table cloths again! The power of beautiful things hey?

When we went to visit Tamsin and the family earlier, we arrived with two dogs.
We departed with four doggies! We're looking after Tamsin and Nick's and the family's two Jack Russells for the weekend, they're going away. So it's going to be a little chaotic over the next couple of days no doubt, especially as Douglas gets very jealous. A teensy weensy bit like having four furry, four-legged children. Hopefully I won't have any dramatic stories to relate to you on Monday. So, have a good weekend, and think of us walking four dogs at the same time! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Kate Bruning]

How happy are you with your new camera... your photos are beautiful and I love the table cloth. Those blue flowers may be morning glory vine or something along those lines. I was just thinking the other day I should be photographing Jonno's grandmother's embroidered table cloths. They are amazing. It makes me wonder though, what would tattoos be like if only womens' instituie (or c.w.a. in the southern hemisphere) were allowed to give them.

[Hen]

You definitely picked the best tablecloth! Good luck with the four legged furry friends. Typing this from our guest house, the marvels of wi-fi!
Hen x

[lucy@theantidote]

What beautiful tablecloths, imagine the patience someone had taken to embroider those, especially those pretty sprigs on your second photo.
Enjoy your weekend with your little fur babies and their cousins x

[Kim]

What beautiful table cloths, I just wish I had the patience to do something like that.

[Kate MacDonald]

Ooo gorgeous table clothes. I LOVE embroidered or gingham clothes. Sooo summery. (We're in bits here re Andy!)
CKx
Thanks for the info re address have jsut corrected it!

[Moe (Seaweed, Roses & Wool) x]

Such Gorgeous table cloths, isin't it great to see that the people who owned the house went to so much bother? Lovely to see that they use the beautiful cloths instead of just keeping them up for good wear, beautiful pics as always Vanessa, Shame about the tennis!
Moe xx

[Laura]

The tablecloths are so pretty - and so is the china. (Is it Blue Willow?)

What fun to have a couple of extra dogs for the weekend!

[Bertie Meadows]

Oh I love pretty tablecloths and they were real beauties.
I watched the tennis match with my mum, we felt so drained afterwards that we had to open a bottle of wine to recover. Have a great weekend,
Bertie x

[Maggie]

The blue flowers are meant to be bell flowers I think.. I only know because they look like something I just made... a tea cosy for the swap, and it has knitted bell flowers on it, and they look the same.
These tablecloths are so lovely... they reminded me so much of my late mother who did exquisite embroidery, and we always had lots of tablecloths that she had made. Sadly only one table runner remains, but I treasure it.

[Bobo Bun]

Fabulous Vanessa. The cloths were so beautiful to look at. My collection is growing as they only get used once as the Bun's always spill something. Good excuse to buy more and more.

I've posted a Knitty Giveaway on my blog. Thought it might appeal to you.

Lisa x

[driftwood]

oh how gorgeous to have real table cloths and so pretty xoxo

I found the tennis just so tense, and in a truly selfish way am somewhat relieved as I know I can't watch the final tomorrow which I wouldn't have been able to bare if Murray had made it......

[emma]

Hi Vanessa

Very nice photos with your new camera. Also really liked the trip to Greece!

Love Emma xxxxx

[knittingoutloud]

Gorgeous embroidery! Here in Maine we have many second hand and antique shops with nice linens, but I've never seen anything like that table cloth.

[Julie]

those tablecloths are gorgeous. And the cakes looked pretty yummy too. Hope you had a good weekend and Douglas didn't suffer too much from the green eyed monster!