Thanks so much everyone. I should point out that there is no lavender or purple in my arrangements, just blue, green, and pink. I know that computers don't show colors as they are sometimes. I know mine is off on the green tones but I haven't figured out how to change it. Karen, I'm named after my GM and altho I never knew her there's a strong connection. I've had cats almost all my life and know they only learn what they want to. Most are quite intelligent but give new meaning to "willful". Mine stay off the furniture (mostly) when I am around but at night they are into everything I'm sure. Syble that white heart was a great YS find and very useful. MM, my little cloche was (of course) a YS find and I'd love a larger one but don't want to pay much. I may have to breakdown and do so tho because I'd love to have one to play with. Jane, heart plates can be used year-round IMO. I often use that one in a vignette with my childhood treasures. I also have a smaller blue one but haven't used it for V this year yet. They also look nice hung on the wall. Jeanne, I love the lid on your button jar. Have you ever thot of using a glass hurricane upside down as a cloche? I've seen that and tried it with mine but haven't taken a pic. Maybe I'll play with that and see what you all think. Magpie, I love yard saling and have found many great "finds". I'm looking forward to them starting again in a couple of months. Party music, the only room in my house that red works in is my kitchen so IKWYM. I think a person could even use all whites or creams with appropriate shapes. OA, I have so much stuff from yard sales I seldom buy things for specific seasons any more. Also I'm running out of storage space and am just plain *cheap*. I'm not sure of the history of the candlesticks - Gran came from England over 100 years ago but she also shopped thrift stores. Lynn, I love amethysts and purple and have a few crystals and other things but have never put them together in a vignette - thanks for the idea!

OK I didn't read this post thoroughly but will chime in. We lived in England for 6 months in a small farming village. The kitchen was huge and gorgeous, cherry cabinets, granite counter tops, stone floors and a giant AGA. (not sure how big - maybe 60" and I looked on line and it cost ~$20,000) Personally I HATED, HATED that AGA. It was a traditional AGA range on the right side with 2 hubs? and 3 ovens that were always on and a gas part on the left side with 4 burners and a oven with temperature control. The right side stayed on except in the summer when we turned it off. I never learned how to cook or bake in it properly - and I love to cook. The ovens were ridicously small. I tried, but grew frustrated. I would use the gas side for my cooking and mainly the right side for heating the room and boiling water for tea. Now this 4 bedroom, 4 bath house selling for $1 million in the middle of North Yorkshire had a built in washer in the kitchen but no dryer! They had a drying rack in front of the AGA that you could lower to put clothes on it and raise it so it's out of the way while you cook. The 1st thing we bought was a dryer but there was no way to vent it so we got a condenser dryer (popular over there) and had to dump out the drip pan after every load. This is a picture of the range WITH THE DRYING RACK above it when I was looking at the house to rent

Update: they've decided against the resort for lots of reasons, some logistic, some esthetic, mostly they just couldn't "see" a wedding there in their respective mind's eyes. That last is probably the most important qualification or lack thereof.....I think DD was looking for a place that would make her say yes, this is a place I would really like to have a wedding, and that would make her want to have one We have backed out of the planning/ viewing / discussion process. We told the couple we would give them X amount of money to do with as they wish and have offered an engagement party here at home in the spring, probably May. I think they will likely just elope in early December. Last night some of our city friends hosted a dinner party in honor of their engagement. It was lovely amd DD and DF enjoyed themselves very much but have strongly discouraged or simply refused all other offers of parties, luncheons or showers. Much to my mother's disappointment!

This has been a really interesting thread! I agree that the most practical solution for your husband would be to just buy him a nice pair of medium gray dress slacks to wear with his navy blazer. Those, worn with a dress shirt and conservative tie would be great, IMO. As a matter of fact , we're heading to a "formal dress" (church ) wedding and then outdoor reception in Austin, TX, in mid-June. DD is a bridesmaid. I will most likely wear a LBD with some statement jewelry of some sort. DH, who always dresses appropriately and elegantly, will wear one of his nicer sports coats and a pair of dress slacks. Probably light or medium gray (lol). I've been told a thousand times over the years that DH looks just like one of those "Marlboro Men" (minus the cigarette). He does, but he also knows how to dress gorgeously for any occasion.