Blue and White and Silver

It's not a tabletop but a chest top -- the Asian Chest in the dining room which holds the crystal, the silver trays, and assorted serving pieces. It is filled to the brim with "things"!

And on top -- three special blue and white bowls (in which we place our wine corks), a silver entree cover and part of our collection of silver napkin rings.

The blue and white bowls are not used but rather are for decoration (unless you count wine cork storage as usage). And unfortunately, the silver entree cover is not either. Mostly, at dinner parties, our entrees come to the table plated.

But the napkin rings are -- the collection started by Husband Jim when he found two at a garage sale here in our town on the prairie. Many are reminders of trips -- an easy piece to bring home -- small and nonbreakable and can go in the checked luggage. A few are gifts from friends who know how much we enjoy the napkin rings.

We use our napkins like they did a century ago -- over and over again -- not a clean one for ach meal. And because of the napkin rings, we know which is which!!! (Of course, when we have company, there is a freshly ironed and laundered napkin for each guest -- but they are always in a silver ring).

The picture behind the bowls is a Japanese Woodblock print -- a tryptic -- dating from early in the 19th century. Brought home by Husband Jim when he had an annual tour in Tokyo.

It's Tuesday and that means that we need to go to visit Marti at A Stroll Thru Life to see other tabletops this Thursday.