Chinese Take-Out

On New Year's Eve, my Ramblin' Man and I 

 treated ourselves to Chinese Take-Out. 

This is one of our favorite treats. 

We like to stay home and get cozy on New Year's Eve, 

and the Mr. simply picked up the order on his way 

home from the office. 

It gave me an excuse to set out my small collection 

of Chinese linens and dishes. 

It all started with this little table cloth a few years ago. 

It was in pristine condition with cross-stitch on 

a stiff flax fabric, pieced together with beautiful stitching. 

I think I paid a whole $3.00 for it! 

From there I started collecting a piece here and there

and stashing it all away. 

Then, over the summer, I found two plates

and a few smaller pieces in this beautiful carp design. 

Finally, I could set a complete table for two! 

I have one really old piece that I acquired in the early 80's

when I had my own antique shop. 

It is this pretty little rice spoon with hand painted dragon

and 14 karat gilding. 

It just sort of kicked around in my collections for many years

before I started finding it some friends. :) 

I am so surprised that it has survived unscathed through all these years

and 4 little children! It was my inspiration to keep going with the collection. 

This little hand painted porcelain box has a pretty Chinese scene....

As does this one. 

I use it to hold the fortune cookies, and the 

oval one holds the fortunes. 

This pretty embroidered cloth was my most recent addition -
 a gift from a dear loved one.

Look at those tiny stitches! 

It is the size of a tea towel - perhaps it was a napkin?

I love how the dragons have 'smoke' coming out of their noses. 

I like their feet, too :) 

I even have a pretty Chinese tunic.....

Don't you love the detail? 

I set up my portable table in the living room, 

so we could get cozy in front of the fire. 

Maggie looks so sweet, doesn't she? 

She turned into a ferocious tiger once the food was set out, though! 

She wanted us to share! 

(Of course we did - sparingly :)

Everything was very cozy as I waited for my Ramblin' Man

to come home. 

The sun set on the last day of 2014, turning Mt. Rainier

a lovely shade of rose. 

I enjoyed these last beautiful rays....

It was a delicious last meal.....

We did some reminiscing of the year that was, 

the trials and the blessings.....

and made some plans for the new. 

And then it was time to read our fortunes....

I know I am blessed because I have you, Dear Friends! 

We made it through another year! 

The good and the bad and the in-between.....

It was all that much better knowing I had 

you to share it with! 

And so as we watched the moon rise above the mountains,

 hand in hand,  

the air was filled with revelry all around, 

echoing through the hills and valleys of our little corner of the world. 

Another year over- 

make way for the new! 

xoxo

Thank you, Dear Friends, for your friendship and support! 

It has been a blessing getting to know all of you through 

this little world of blogland. 

I have laughed and cried, been inspired and motivated, 

loved and learned from you and with you. 

I am looking forward to another year of wonderful friendship

with all of you! 

xoxo

P.S. - Daughter Heather is improving, slowly but surely. 

We are blessed. 

xoxo