Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Entertaining



We had our one and only Christmas dinner/entertaining last night. Our one and only pull out the china and silver, "time to be festive". From now on it will be casual, easy, and low on the formal scale.

What are you doing this year? Anything different?

26 comments:

DJan said...

I always let someone else pull out the china, since I don't have any. Only one party to go to so far, and it's next week.

Nancy said...

DJan - Well ours was given to us by my husband's parents and it only gets used about twice a year. Have fun next week - is it the hikers group?

Hilary said...

Looks like a lovely setting. I own nothing formal. :/

California Girl said...

Merry Christmas early. It's tough when you're not all together at the same time. I'm going to have my first experience without one son this year and the closer it gets, the more I miss him.

karen said...

Beautiful table...perfectly festive! It adds a certain feel to the event that lets everyone know their special when the china plates come out of the cabinet. Hope you had a wonderful time.

Rob-bear said...

Beautifully formal, indeed, Nancy. Gorgeous.

Nothing different this year. Us, son (and family), and daughter. Three houses. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Three events. Mix and match. Celebration made simple. Not even a Turkey this year.

Teresa said...

beautiful table! we're not going anywhere or doing anything for Christmas. even if we were to be invited somewhere, unless they have a wheelchair ramp we would have to decline.

it does make things a bit lonely to know that everyone we know is going places or hosting things and we're not but i'm pretty used to being a homebody. i just don't always like it.

Von said...

Buffet for Godson and family on Christmas Eve, several invitations refused for 25th and a quiet day at home with my sister with whom I've never shared a Christmas and my other family.We'll relax, enjoy and make merry.Happy Christmas!

Unknown said...

I love getting it out and setting the table formally--hate washing everything by hand...however I have so much china inherited and collected over the years that I really like to use it.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

We're all coming for Xmas dinner to your place, Nancy. Gorgeous table.

Brian Miller said...

we like to keep it casual...and our first christmas dinner is next saturday...at my parents house..

Natalie said...

We do the formal thing at ours, his and my dad's. Mum's is Boxing day and it is invariably feral.

I adore doing the china thing. Yours looks lovely, BTW.x

luksky said...

Beautiful table!! You gave me an idea. I inherited my mother's china when she passed. It just sits in the china cabinet without ever being noticed. I have had such a wonderful year this year I think I'll pull it out for our small Christmas affair this year. :-)

ds said...

Oh, lovely intimate table! We always "do the formal" Christmas night for both our families--a varying number. This year, I think 16.

Gemel said...

Having someone else do it all for me :)

Unknown said...

What's different with me is more traveling to do: my son's wedding is this coming weekend and the following week, I'm off to visit the grands for Christmas week. Happy holidays Nancy!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Lovely table! I sold my china last year!!! It was from my first marriage and none of my girls wanted it, so ..... space constraints. I do have some Christmas stonewear that I drag out and I love to set the scene for a good meal. Today will be a cookie baking marathon and New Year's Eve I will have 3 couples here for the evening. Good friends to welcome the new year.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Trying to do something. Thinking of changing it up a bit. Making it simpler. Just for this year.

Your table setting looks lovely. I do set up the table for Christmas Eve.

Amanda Summer said...

we had a dinner party last night as well, and i used my mom's waterford crystal goblets and put those gold toned chargers under the plates and gold candles in silver candlesticks, the whole nine yards -- i love it when the dinner table looks so pretty and sparkly for the holidays!!

yours looks just lovely -- i bet your party was great!!

Meeko Fabulous said...

Gorgeous table! We don't do anything formal really. We usually have Christmas eve with our extended family and Christmas day with our families. :)

CrazyCris said...

I'm doing something completely different this year: a summer Christmas!!! I'm going to join my sister down in New Zealand for the holidays and we're having a Christmas bash on the night of the 24th (during which I'll probably be a walking zombie afer 40h of travelling, not to mention jetlagged!) and probably spend the 25th on the beach! :o)

I can't wait to get to summer! I've had my fun in the snow, I'm ready to get in some liquide water! :p

Grandmother Mary said...

At my daughter's in Terinidad, we have traditional Christmas music called Parang which is usng by a small group that goes from house to house in the village. Very fun and very festive!

gypsywoman said...

beautiful room/table setting, nancy - and really very very odd - when i first saw your image, i was sure i was looking at a photo of the formal dining room of my daughter heather's - in any event, xmas day dinner will be at my little place - but it will be mid-afternoon so that everybody can do or go wherever they need or want before and/or after - nothing formal or traditional, rather a smorgasbord buffet of hot and cold makings for finger sandwiches and lots of desserts [starting with my own chocolate pecan pie and secret ingredient holiday fudge]! ya'll be sure and stop by for a bite!!! ;)

susan said...

It does look like a lovely table and I'm sure you had a wonderful and 'civilized' dinner :-)

It's been a long time since we did one of those and here we are in another new place knowing nobody but the presents and cards are gone so we will relax and enjoy the day.

Marguerite said...

Beautiful table scape! I love to have a formal dinner party with only 6 to 8 guests, once a season. It kinda puts everyone on their best behavior. lol My cousin is cooking Christmas dinner this year and I'm having a casual Christmas Eve buffet. Cheers!

The Good Cook said...

nancy,
Everything is different this year. But we are making it through - one day at a time. I'm grateful for the Christmas's past. And of course Christmas's future. Not so sure about Christmas present.