Welcome to "The Art of Gracious Living"

This is my first post on our new

 “The Art of Gracious Living” forum. I am looking forward to our sharing ideas about holiday traditions, celebrations and bringing civility and graciousness back into our daily lives.

Perhaps, like me, you feel the world has gotten a little coarse, a little too rushed and way too anxious. Maybe you would like to reflect on what our mothers, grandmothers and great aunts did to create sanctuaries for their families despite the challenges of the world outside.
When I was a child, I was always eager to help my mother set the table for a holiday meal, birthday or any other occasion. I loved taking out the Limoges china, only used for these special gatherings, and arranging each place setting with the crystal wine goblet, water goblet and the silver plate flatware, polished to a high sheen. I arranged two to three different forks, placed on a carefully folded linen napkin and the knife and teaspoon carefully around each plate. The gravy ladle, butter knives, flowers, candles, sparkling crystal condiment dishes and salt and pepper shakers, gravy boat, covered vegetable dishes to keep those mashed potatoes and creamed, pearl onions warm. The olives even had their own special fork!

With a gleaming setting like this, you couldn’t help but dress up a bit and remember to place your white crisp linen napkin on your lap before the first bite! Children, including me when I was small, were always on their best behavior, careful not to drop food on the brilliant white tablecloth and asking for dishes to be passed rather than using the “boarding house reach.”

I love this time of year at my shop, because our customers are as interested as I am in setting a beautiful table. Cut glass pitchers, wine glasses and water goblets; silver platters and vintage linens are purchased almost daily to take a star turn during a holiday gathering. I know these elegant vintage treasures will be cherished for years and meals to come.

I don’t think holidays should be all about the menu, do you? Please tell me your stories of holiday table settings. Do you have a special item that you lovingly take out for special occasions? What are your fondest memories of family dinners? Help us celebrate the holidays with your comments and photos that tell the story of how you express The Art of Gracious Living.

I hope that you, no matter your age or experience, will share in this conversation.

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