Strawberries Are Ripe For Picking - June Table

From a very early age, I loved to watch my mother set the table and was happy when she asked me to help. When I became the caretaker of my own table, I knew I had found a passion. When I roam through stores such as TJ Max, Marshalls, Home Goods and some local consignment shops, such as Home Again, my focus is usually the housewares. The floating candles I used in the glass insert of a small silver vegetable dish that once belonged to my Uncle Cyril and Aunt Christine , came from the "reduced for quick sale" at TJ Max. They cost $2.00 and I knew when I saw them that they would come in handy some day. The strawberry dishes came from Wegmans.
Our home is filled with such treasures and I alway say why save them.
I see things as asking to be used and enjoyed. And so I started working them into my table settings. After a time, it came to me that what I really
like about the things used to set tables was the memories they evoke and the warmth they create whenI am planning dinner for family and friends, as
well as how nice they look.
So slowly my passion has been taken to a deeper level when I decided that a book about the importance of dinners and table setting would be my goal.
This blog is my way of laying the ground work for my goal and hopefully for you, the readers, to share your thoughts. I am certain that each of you has a thing, a person, a moment or two  that still give a warm feeling while reflecting on time spent around the table. I would like to read your comments.
Please enjoy my Table of the Month,

                                                 JUNE

I love the time of the year when my house
gets an addition. When the doors open and summer furniture transforms yards into  new dining room.
During the month of June a few farmers in our area,turn their fields into strawberry patches and for a small fee anyone can go and pick an many strawberries as their baskets will hold.
I love to make strawberry jelly and cold soups.
So while everything is boiling and simmering my thoughts turned to" a favorite set of 20" strawberry dishes that I could not pass up one day at Wegmans.
Many years later, they are still gracing my table both indoors and out. Notice below how  they capture the graceful swing of the leaves through  filtered sunlight.

I found this napkin ring  when we were cleaning out my husband's grandparents home. I hate to see such beautiful things go unused so out it came. I love how in shines against a white  table runner and keeps the napkin in place. Save everything. you never know when you  will find a use for it.

The silverware, though often used for only formal occassions, add a touch of festivity  when used outside for lunch.