Lynn,
Your plates and tabel are fantastic. What a wonderful find. What a wonderful idea to make a PDT.

The books are all ours from our collection, and all about presidents past. Should I take them away? I say absolutely NOT!

Napkins look nice the way you placed them. I'm impressed you made them today to go with your table. I think the silver napkins rings would look nice also. I like the silver on the table. It gives a formal look and I like it.

GGG Uncle Abraham is smiling from above for sure.

Punk

Now that's a 'Patriotic Table' and great planning.
Did you use a Matlesse coverlet for the tablecloth?
It looks pretty, and I think the napkins look good just as you have them. They add a nice touch of color to the white and the silver in your placesetting. You got a great deal on those dishes and they are just perfect for this table. I like your pewter pieces (if we lived closer) I'd borrow yours!! lol
I remember you mentioning A.L. was a distant relative...how cool is that.
Another lovely tablesetting Lynn...TFS

jane

Don't change a thing! Its wonderful.

I can't understand, since the 22nd is on a Monday this year, why they went and did President's day so early (today)! Its always aggravated me tho, LOL, when they move certain dates around. Ok, off my soapbox.

I always celebrate the 22nd. (LOL, its DHs birthday).
hugs, Karen

Lynn,
You table just made me forget your Southwest home. You've created the look of an 1840's saltbox in New England!

I am so jealous of your plates, but I really like this whole setting--with Washington and Lincoln--forget the others. These are our premier leaders and I am still distressed that we have this silly "Presidents Day" holiday. We should honor our GREATEST.

The napkins are perfect--everything is understated and it looks historical. Great job!

- Magpie

Hi Magpie,
Since 1971 President's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of Feb. It is still legally known as Washington's Birthday, though the 22nd is offically GW's birthday. Lincoln's is the 12th.
It was nice to take the day off not only for PD and spend it w/ DH who is a city employee but also because it was my birthday :)
Kath

I'm shaking my head here. Wow. It's simply amazing. I LOVE the plates! OMG, you have all the photos.... and that tablecloth is wonderful!!! is it an heirloom?!

I'm re-reading your post and will come back to read everyone else's responses later. I want to give you my unswayed opinion on the books and napkins, per your open questions:
- leave the books! they're *perfect*! I had to search for them... and it made me think of someone in colonial times doing research by candlelight
- I love those napkins! they're a perfect choice and it's great that you were able to make them at the last minute. I think they look terrific just as they are! but I'd also love to see you try to use your silver napkin rings too. Did you try them with napkins rolled and placed horizontally above the plates? it might look like an old dispatch or rolled map. Probably a dumb idea. lol!

This is so creative, lynn...love the place settings...the dishes are wonderful & the president plates make it special! Love that you used framed portraits & the red ck'd napkin is perfect! Old books, perfect! Framed flag, perfect! All ties together so nicely! Another surprise tablescape full of great ideas! TFS! Jeanne S.
Oh yah, my DH is a distant relative to "Billy the kid"...any ideas for that! LOL!

Ah, Lynn, your table is wonderful. Made me want to do one too. Used yours as a template. Hope you don't mind.

Jeanne, instead of framed portraits, use a couple of wanted posters, a horse blanket for a tablecloth, and canteens instead of goblets? (giggle)

Really nice job! I think I have those same beaded chargers! Great job on the napkins!

What a fantastic find those plates were--and so perfect for this table! I like the books, pictures, candle holder--all of it! Napkins look good, add some nice color. How neat that you thought to do this! ;o)

Hmmm, wonder what your "uncle" would think of today's politics????

Luvs

Party, I don't think that napkin idea was a dumb idea at all. Tossing out ideas like that is what makes things really interesting here.

Jeanne, if you're going to do a bank-robbing Cowboy table, don't forget to scatter some dollar bills around,
and invite me. LOL.

hugs, Karen

Lynn,

I especially like the simplicity...to me, makes it very 'rich' looking.

Love those plates!!!

I was gone most of yesterday running errands. I'm glad you all liked my tablescape.
Wanda, yes . . . that's what I was going for ~ Simplicity! I'm glad you noticed that . . . and glad it actually came out that way(LOL)!

Trudy: yes, aren't they great . . . especially for $2 each!

Party, that's not a dumb idea. I actually did roll the napkins originally, using the silver napkin rings and they looked very good that way. I think if I'd had more decs in the middle of my table, they would have looked even better but, rolled and placed above the plates, I thought they called attention to how empty it was up there (LOL!). Love your other ideas, too. I'll bet a pair of antique reading glasses would be great by/on the books. I'll have to keep my eye out for more possibilities for next year.

Jeanne, thanks! I think OA's ideas for a Billy the Kid table are fantastic! I hope you'll do a table like that someday soon. Can I add a few more ideas? Blue spatter-ware tin plates and cups; horseshoes; bandanna napkins, rolled and tied up with a bit of thin, frayed-at-the ends rope; an old, rustic lantern; a battered tin or spatterware coffee pot filled with Black Eyed Susans?

OA: of course I don't mind! I've already seen your table and it's fantastic! What you can come up with on the spur of the moment is amazing, just like your President's Day tale. My favorite, though, is still The Sandcastle Table.

Kath/MMW: hello and welcome to our forum!! Happy Birthday, too!

Cindy: thanks! Are you using the chargers in your latest table? I need to go look in a minute.

Magpie, thanks so much. I agree with you on Washington and Lincoln. . . such great men!
****BTW, have any of you had a chance to see HBO's miniseries, "John Adams"? We originally rented ours through Netflicks, but it's rentable many places and for sale, as well. It is phenomenal, wonderful, beautiful, excellent, breath-taking and will make you incredibly proud of our forefathers . . . I can't (obviously) say enough good things about it. Even the music is fantastic. It's based on David McCullough's book of the same name, and follows our nation's struggle before and throughout the Revolutionary War and past Jefferson's presidency to the Fourth of July when both those great men (Adams and Jefferson) died within hours of each other. Paul Giamatti was incredible as John Adams; Laura Linney played his wife; David Morse played George Washington so well it was amazing. Both men should have won major awards for this piece. Anyhoo, it's really worth seeing, even if you're not a huge Early American buff. I bought it as a gift for the family at Christmas and can't wait to see it all again.

Karen, thanks, I won't change it then. And an early Happy Birthday to your DH. What a great birthday to share!

Luvs, thank you! Yes, I've often wondered that, too. He was an honorable, good man and a brave one,as well. Sometimes I actually have dreams that my DS is elected President someday in the future and the legacy, however distant, continues.

Punk, thanks. Your comments are always so thoughtful and kind. I wasn't sure about the books but am keeping them because you all seem to like them there. The table's still set for at least the rest of this week. As for the napkins, they're the first I've ever attempted, but got inspired to make some from this forum.

Jane: Yes, the tablecloth is really an old Matelasse coverlet . . . you have such a good eye for details! I do wish we lived closer. As it is, will you please plan another table soon, and/or reshow us past tables using your wonderful pewter? Your dining room is my all-time favorite and I always love seeing pics of it.
Lynn

I second your endorsement of the John Adams series. My husband teaches American history at the local community college and I am always miserable watching historical movies with him because he is such a stickler for accuracy. He pipes up right during the movie with a criticism of the characters or the sequence of events or some other liberties the film maker may have taken to move the story along. So of course, it's impossible to really enjoy the film. BUT . . . he kept his mouth shut during the John Adams series and even bought the series. (Costco has a good price.)
Well, it's worth the time. I loved Johna and Abigil so much by the time the series was of over, that I didn't want it to end.

I felt the same way! I ordered the series from Amazon at Christmas. I'll bet Costco has it for a good price too.
Your DH teaches American History? That's DD's passion. She dreams of getting her degree in Early American History and a minor is business administration and working for the National Archives or Williamsburg someday . . . and running one of them after that ;^D
She's already encouraging us to buy property in the D.C. area so that we can retire there someday. Too funny!
But, it's great to see her caring so much about something worthwhile, other than the obvious teenage clothes, hair and boys (LOL!) and we're very supportive and encouraging of her dreams.

** She's already encouraging us to buy property in the D.C. area so that we can retire there someday. Too funny! **

Not that funny! My son married a girl from Arlington and when we went back to meet her parents, they took us around to condos (close to the downtown area so that "when you guys are older you won't have to drive") so that we could come visit them for extended periods of time. Thank goodness my daughter-in-law loved California!

I'm late to this thread but ditto everyone's remarks, it's a lovely refined table - do you use the plates on the wall at other times?

I didn't know you were relate to Abraham Lincoln!!
I am late..we had family for the long holiday weekend..
Great buy on the plates!