Oh, what a precious box that the GKs made! Your roses are also so beautiful--my hubby is not a flower person at all. Your mantle, tree and chandy are all so festive looking. I think you table looks inviting. I wish I had some red glasses or stemware.

I have been adding to my dishes in the past couple of months. I got the table bug here and have been on the hunt. I have a large set of everyday dishes in an offwhite with a dark blue ring around the lip area. (don't know if that is what it is called)

I read a lot here about mixing and matching plates instead of sets. So, I have been haunting the area thrift stores, GW and SA and even a few estate sales. I picked up some assorted plates in neutral colors at these places. I am picky and have spent a lot of time looking for what I wanted. I am buying 4 of each thing that I find and like. I have found some solid white dinner plates, black octagon plates that I got the dinner and salad ones, packaged together for not much $$, white with black swirls salad plates, some animal print looking salad plates, a few blue cobalt glass, clear glass salad plates, green dinner plates, some green salad plates that will blend with them, 4 gold DPs, and my favorite is 4 ivory plates with a pink edge and pink roses and the matching soup bowls. I found 5 pink salad plates that will work with them at TJ Maxx over the weekend. I also have picked up some snowman dishes and Christmas ones in the after Christmas deep discount sales. I haven't paid much for any of these and now have quite an assortment. I also picked up 4 new terracotta colored salad plates and 4 new white square salad plates at Target recently for $2 a set. They were regularly around $15 a set. Now, I have to concentrate on glasses.

First Off - What a treasure that Valentine Box is from your Grandkids, it's darling. Did they write their names and date on the bottom of it? I always tell my GKids..I need to have their names and the date on anything they make....So years from now, I'll remember how old they were at the time.
I can't believe those cookies. They are fabulous! I thought you bought them. What a nice treat for your DH, and your roses are lovely. Your dinner sounded real yummy. I've never had crab cakes..but I think I'm going to give them a try. I hear so many people rave over them. I love stuffed mushrooms though... and serving the mousse in stemmed glasses..very clever.
I love ALL your Valentine Decor. You did a lovely job on your table, the Chandy and your mantel is very pretty. I like how you decorated your Winter tree for the occasion.
It's amazing how addicting 'Dish Collecting' can be. I've always collected certain ones - Blue & White and White Ironstone..or nice Cake Plates...NOW, I look at all nice plates that I see..and have to have them...Glad I'm not alone..and that you and so many others here, have joined 'The Club' !!
jane

Nana, your valentine's pics are terrific. Your table looks lovely with your lace cloth, red chargers, red stemware and REAL roses no less--you lucky woman! ;o)

The mantel looks wonderful as does your chandy, and that was so sweet the GS's made you that box. Bet they were so proud when they gave it to you!

I also see your pretty silver tea set in the background. Those always have seemed romantic to me too.

And I'll bet hubby loved those pretty cookies, you did a great job decorating them.

Thanks for sharing your pics with us.

Luvs

Nana, I really enjoyed looking at all your pics, thanks so much for posting! Your table certainly does NOT look "cockeyed", it is really nice. I really like how you layered the white tablecloth over the red and the pattern that is created. Your idea for choc mousse in the stemware sounds great! Your mantel is really pretty and how nice to display the terrific box your grandsons made. And those cookies! No wonder you had to hide them from your DH - they look delicious!

DD

I can't think of much to add that hasn't been said already, but I can sure agree with every word. Photobucket didn't let me open your photos to see them bigger, darn it. Your mantle especially is one I wanted to click on.
That is a unique little lighted tree, I like it and would be fun to decorate for different holidays I think. And what a sweet DH to say go buy MORE dishes. Be careful or some of the gals here might try to kidnap him. LOL

You did a wonderful job on everything, ncnana!
{{gwi:77274}}

I'm loving your mantle . . . it's so pretty and festive! How sweet of your son to take his kids for the HD craft day. I know that their boxes have to be so special to you and their mom. BTW, those cookies you made are so darn cute and delicious looking!
Lynn

Oh WOW Anna, you really went all out!! Everything looks gorgeous and my mouth is watering looking at your cookies! LOL

Now you better take your DH up on his offer. ;o)

Thank you all for your kind remarks. I alsways decorate for Valentine's and try to set the table nicely, but I've never done anything approaching what you all do.

You all would be horrified to see the steak platter that I put on the table LOL. I deliberately left it out of the picture. It's from our very early years, it wasn't pretty to begin with and the years haven't been kind to it. We think it has magical power to make the steak tender and tasty, so it will stay with us, (and out of the pictures). -- Gail

Too funny about the steak platter,Gail. Hey, if it makes the steaks yummy, I'd keep it too! I just baked some chicken in a very old beat up metal pan today and was thinking--"gosh, this thing looks awful, I should replace it." Then I thought "Oh, what the heck, it still works just fine, I'd rather buy pretty dishes!" LOL

Luvs

Too funny . . . I think we all do that!