Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cookbooks and Casual Dining

 

As I become  more and more addicted to thrift shops my eye turns to so many items that people give up.

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My eye is always looking for white dishes to add to my growing collection.  What FUN it is to come across really pretty pieces for such a little amount of money.  Along with my lifelong love for dishes  ~~  cookbooks seem to come in at a close second.  Do you ever look in the book section at your favorite thrifting places?  Garage sales are really, really good for this sort of find too.

  I know, I know…you are saying, “why purchase cookbooks when every recipe we want is on the computer?”  Yes, I often search the computer for recipes, but I also climb into my cozy bed each night, often with a cookbook and reading glasses.  I’m one of those people who reads cookbooks.

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I love a good bargain on Junior Women’s League cookbooks!  These excellent books from so many towns can be found for a couple of dollars.   New, they would sell for from between $20 and $30.

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While we are in the kitchen, go ahead and pull up a bar stool.  Mr. Brown Socks and I enjoy many casual meals here in the kitchen as we are Empty Nesters.  Our grandsons often sit up here too.

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Today I have set up a tablescape of sorts at the bar.  My dish of the week is by Hartstone.  I have twelve of the red check dinner plates.  This was a line my friend and I sold when we had a little store in our town.

 

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My collection includes a variety of salad plates

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The deep red glasses came from a grocery store when we lived in Enid, Oklahoma back in the early 80’s.  I still love them.

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Oh, did I tell you what I served for dinner?

No?

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We had hamburgers and bagged salad… No cookbook needed   :-}

 

Let’s go over now to visit Susan and see what’s happening at Between Naps on the Porch.

Tablescape Thursday

 

Really?  I didn’t tell you our menu??? 

 

Thanks for your visit,   

Donna

 

48 comments:

Michelle said...

I love Junior League and local cookbooks as well. It looks like you have found a new "hobby" or should it be dish addiction (wonder who led you down this path...hmmm? LOL). Love the table/bar scape. No matter where you set it, that would make a nice start for any dinner...cookbook or not.

Blondie's Journal said...

Until I started blogging, I thought I was the only one who read cookbooks! Be careful about collecting them also...I have more than 100 and my shelves are sagging, literally! I love the Jr. League and Community cookbooks, too. They have so many great regional recipes!

Love your tablescape, both the dinner and salad plates are so cute and I love your place mats. Very nice!

Hope you are having a good week!

XO,
Jane

Tricia said...

Great post, Donna! I have that Thymes Remembered cookbook -- from when we lived in Tallahassee. So fun to see a copy in your collection! Your red checked plates are so cute, and I'll bet they're versatile, too. Love the little veggie salad plates!

Paula@SweetPea said...

I adore Junior League cookbooks. I should start looking for them when I'm thrifting.

Your table setting is so pretty. If I ever run across glasses like yours, I'm buying them!!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Great post Donna, Mr. P's cousin has quite the collection of cookbooks. I didn't realize people collected cookbooks until I'd seen her extensive and impressive collection. hugs ~lynne~

Nana's Nuggets said...

Hi! donna, your table is so pretty, and yes can I go shop with you? ha-ha! I love cook books, and I love those little thrift shops! So, heres to our "fun" together! have a great Day:)

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I love cookbooks also, so much fun to browse and get a new idea for dinner. Love your red check plates and the salad plates are fabulous with the onions. Great tablescape. Hugs, Marty

Cathy said...

Looks great Donna! I love to read cookbooks.

Peggy said...

Oh I love your red checked plates and the red handled silverware!
Is your bookend a set of crossed spoons? How clever is that.

Allyson Pecilunas said...

I love cookbooks too. Your tablescape is so pretty! I need to play with dishes more I want to start collecting more just so I can play :)

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I love... to read cookbooks too!!!

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I love... to read cookbooks too!!!

The Charm of Home said...

I love to scan the cookbooks at the thrift stores. I also like your cute tablescape. Very nice for hamburgers and a salad.:)
Sherry

Debbiedoos said...

Black red and white...I love the combinations, it looks fantastic! And who doesn't like a bargoon? I love it!

Theresa said...

OH I love cookbooks! I look up recipes on-line BUT I like to hold a book in my hands:) The checked plates are precious! It is a wonderful meal to have hamburgers... can't get much better than that! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your sweet comment! BIG HUGS!

Marlis said...

I too love my cookbooks. and find them just as interesting as a juicy novel. Your checked plates are quite lovely. as are the lovely salads. It's all so perfect together..

Anonymous said...

I was thinking of you the other day and wondered if you were blogging again. How nice to hear from you. I absolutely love cookbooks and I frequent thrift shops and buy them for less than $2 usually. I love to find an old handwritten note or a recipe clipped from an old magazine tucked between the pages.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I love cookbooks too -- love to spend an hour or two browsing. What great checked plates and how charming with your salad plates!

Judi said...

Hi there
I love thrifting also but my place is small and I've had to refrain from going there very often...there are just so many neat things and as you say for great prices.

I LOVE cookbooks too...and I look for them wherever I go. I've picked up some while thrifting also even if I like to go online and google recipes...still I gather my books around me and enjoy reading them...Marc and I both do. We love to experiment with food and trying new things...

*s*....thats cute you didn't even need a recipe for your dinner...

Love your dishes and your bar was set up so nicely...sweet.

have a great rest of the evening
Judi

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! Oh, I do that too - read cookbooks! Love your little bar setting and those dishes are so pretty!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

bj said...

OOO, I am lovin' your cute blog.
And, I, too, read cookbooks like a novel.
Cooking, eating and dishes seems to be my main blogging topics..and speaking of dishes...I am totally in love with your red checked plates. Just love them. Wonder if they are still being made?
Thanks so much for coming by...and I am your newest follower. :))

Honey at 2805 said...

I love cooksbooks, white ironstone and transfer ware dishes. Plus I just stole your receipe. Please don't have me arrested. I'll be your friend and follower.

Thanks for your visit and hope you will drop back by.

Mary said...

This is a very pretty table scape! I would like to invite you to link this up to my new link party, Masterpiece Monday, at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week. Take care, Mary :O)

Doris said...

Hello, thanks for stopping by my blog! It's always so neat to see a new name when I check for comments.

I enjoy thrift shops too. I miss the one where I used to work. So many wonderful items in my home were purchased there for a song =)

Your tablescape is beautiful! I also love pulling things together to make a pretty table.

Love your blog and am adding it to my list. Hope to viit with you again soon!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

I am so with you on the cookbooks, just this week I was looking through cookbooks to figure out a menu for a luncheon I am having on Sunday. I would much rather look though a cookbook than the computer any day!

Carol

Miss Char said...

Donna, what a pretty setting for you and Mr. Brown Socks, so cheerful. I just picked up six small rooster plates at SA for a mutual friend...I think we all have the same deep dish desire my friend.

And cookbooks....don't get me started.

Entertaining Women said...

Enid in the 80's...Air Force? Neat small-town America. I love your red check dinner plates...a perfect springboard and anchor for so many design options. The salad plates are delightful! Thank you for sharing your charming design and for stopping by my post. Cherry Kay

★Carol★ said...

I used to collect old church cookbooks, until I realized that I hate to cook! I like your tablesetting, especially those checked plates and the lovely red glasses. I bet your hamburgers tasted even better when you're sitting at such a pretty table!
Happy REDnesday!
Carol

Tammy at Tammy Loves Dishes said...

I love reading cookbooks, too. I have gotten some of my favorite dishes from the Junior League cookbooks in my collection.

Your table setting is great. I especially love the red-checked plates and mugs.

Tammy

Red Couch Recipes said...

My thrift store in our small town is very sad. I see all the finds that people get and I get green, with envy! Just the other day, I did look for cookbooks -- nothing. Having got that out of my system, I want to say that I love those red checked plates and that cozy little set up you empty nesters, lovers, have. Joni

Sarah said...

Donna, thanks for stopping by HFTS. I came right over when you said you had posted checks as well. ;-)
I'm loving these red check plates. I've not seen these before, but you can be certain that I'll be looking to see if I can find a set of these.
I've added myself to follow along and will put you on my blog roll. I look forward to seeing more. ~ Sarah

Kathleen said...

I have sworn off the cookbooks, love them, but just too many! The dish collection keeps growing, cause I can't get those on the net. :)
Love your counter scape, such pretty dishes and glasses! You can mix those checks with so many things.
Our thrift stores out here in SOuthampton aren't very thrifty!
Sometimes they ask pretty close to new!

Marigene said...

Love your barscape...I am another that reads cookbooks like other people read novels!

xinex said...

I buy a lot of cookbooks ad then I forgt to use them. Your tablescape is so simple and yet so lovely...Christine

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

HI there! I think I am your newest follower now! I, too, am/was a floral designer. I retired but still do jobs for friends and referrals. I also decorate peoples homes at Christmas. I love your checked plates and also the salad plates. DINNER sounded per4fect to me!!!! XO, Pinky

Jacqueline said...

Wow, those red checked plates are just so amazing. I adore them and that color is just wow!

We must be kindred spirits. I have sooo many cookbooks. I was reading them as a teenager when I would babysit for people, I checked them out from the library when I was in college, I still have tons that I haven't ever made anything out of but just love to read them like a novel. Nice to meet another cookbookologist!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Donna, you are a girl after my own heart! I love cookbooks, but I never cook. ;-) And I love cute dishes, and those on your counter are adorable!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Donna...

My friend, I was just tickled pink to find your sweet note today! How are you doing? It has been a little while since we have visited...I do hope that my note finds you well!

Well my dear, you set the prettiest "informal" table or should I say bar? Hehe! I would love to join you for a yummy hamburger and salad! Love your place settings! Ohhh...the red checked plates are awesome and the vegetable salad plates look gorgeous with the red checks! Sooo pretty! Thank you for sharing your lovely tablesape with us!

So happy that you stopped by and took a peek at my table today. I always enjoy your visits and sweet notes! Thank you, Donna!

Warmest winter wishes,
Chari

PS...ohhh yes, I love thrifting too! Sometimes I can't imagine why or how people give up some of these wonderful items! Their loss...our gain, I guess! Hehe!

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Donna Sweetie...
What a beautiful post today. I have so enjoyed reading it.

I too love to hit the book section when I start through the doors of my favorite thrift stores. I have found many with recipes that found their way to our table more than once. I too love that we find them for a couple of dollars.

I love your red glasses sweetie, and I have to ask, what store in Enid, Oklahoma? I lived there most of my life and my family all still live there. In fact, I graduated from Enid High School. Can't wait to hear about your time there.

Thank you for stopping by sweet friend. I hope you will come again. I have signed up to follow. I can't wait to see what you share next. Stop by any time and I would love to have you as a follower as well.

A beautiful share sweetie. Country hugs, Sherry

Chubby Chieque said...

Hi Donna,

I guess, this is my first time to visit you, however, I am in love with your blog, ASAP I browse it.

So much inspirations. Never ending and I droooool with all your collections. FAB, indeed.

Have a blessed w/end.
/chie

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I have a dear friend that lives in Enid and has for years....Love your dishes! You have quite a collection of cookbooks!!

Alycia Nichols said...

I really like that container with the rooster on top! Goes well with the placemat, too!!!

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Would you believe I just bought a Bay Leaves cookbook just like yours a couple of days ago?!? Love your tablescape, especially those ruby red glasses. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog!!!
Sherry

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

I LOVE IT Donna!!! I'm a casual freak, it's SO HARD to do anything formal when you've raised 3boys to men AND our line of work is construction! I too read cookbooks in bed, "I LOVE to do that"!!! I could NEVER own just one cookbook either AND do you take notes in yours? Your setting today is gorgeous, I particularly LOVE the addition of the gray. It made the setting POP! LOVED IT!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I see we have SO MANY things in common OTHER than our name, hehe!
Hugs to you,
Donna

Lyndsay said...

Thank you for the sweet comment on my blog! You set such a nice table even for hamburgers!!

Cheryl said...

The onion salad plates are so cute and I really like your rooster cannister. Where did you purchase him?

lvroftiques said...

Donna I'm with you my friend. Nothing will ever replace a real live cookbook in the hand! Or any other type of book either for that matter. I love reading them far more than I love cooking! And the burgers and bagged salad totally cracked me up! I'm also constantly surprised at what people give up? I'm glad they do it though so I can get my little hands on it! *winks* Vanna

Paperlicious Girl said...

I have just started to get into thrift shops and I have found the neatest most unique things! Love your plates! I'm from Tulsa, so not too far from Enid! Thanks so much for entering the giveaway for my etsy shop RosiePosieDesigns on April's blog!!!