Country Living And Conversation

Every year, the first weekend of June is dedicated to the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck. Tickets go on sale early on in the year and I always opt for the Early Bird tickets so I can head in at 8:30 in the morning rather than with the 10:00 general admission tickets. Going early means beating the crowds, the heat, and getting a first look at what the vendors have to sell. Hitting the ground early is how I roll, being that I am a morning person and all.

It seems the Country Living Fair and farmhouse style go together hand in hand. Lots of galvanized things to be had, along with farmhouse signs, succulents and rusted metal; cherished by those that are hard-core “Fixer Upper” followers. But for me, I tend to gravitate more to the conversational pieces, the eclectic, with some vintage tableware mixed in, and lucky for me, there were a few booths that had some beautiful things that caught my eye.

Tucked in the corner in one booth was this rooster vase.  As you know, I’m a bit partial to roosters clearly based on my logo, I’m not sure how old this one is, or even if it’s vintage, but if anything, this thing is unique.  I was drawn to the greens and browns and pictured these flowers arranged from the tail. A perfect centerpiece for a beautiful table setting.

The next building over and a few booths down, I came across these transferware plates.  A green design I have been looking for, for ages, and a completely serendipitous pairing with the rooster.  Done and done.  Two finds that are certainly far from galvanized, yet rather refined.  They say that green is calming color, and it sure does make for a perfect spring / summer table setting.

Mixing stripes with pattern and texture is always my rule of thumb when setting a tablescape. The stripes from the fabric blends well with the pattern from the plates while the rooster adds texture.  And, conversation. And, hopefully a smile to my guest’s face for lunch.