Panoply 2023: It's a Wrap!

It's time to collage all my blog posts for 2023 as a final step before closing the book, figuratively and literally, on 2023. This blog is primarily my personal journal, and my final step each year is to have all my yearly posts bound in a yearbook style format using Blog2Print (no affiliation, I just love the product and service). 

I only blogged 18 posts (counting this one) in 2023. As I share my current passions in life, it is my hope that there is entertainment and inspiration within these posts for you, my readers. My blog is non-revenue producing by choice.

Shhh...the Garden is Sleeping, Or is It?

This time of year is typically when most landscape gardens are cleaned up and, in many areas, put to bed for winter. Not so fast, Mother Nature says!

A Christmas Home Tablescape

Welcome, readers! Today I'm inviting you to join me in celebrating table design for the Christmas season. In decorating my home, tablescaping has become an integral part of my decor, and my Christmas tablescape was the first thing I did in preparing my home for the holidays. Simply stated, it's "A Christmas Home Tablescape".

Tales of the Traveling Tote #37 and Giveaway

Hello, friends! Welcome to the 37th installment of the Traveling Totes - a quarterly post - where a group of MacKenzie-Childs, Courtly Check tote-loving ladies gather together and share our recent whereabouts. All our posts are linked within each of our posts so you may visit us all, and virtually travel with us. To see all my previous posts, you can click here.

The magic of the holiday season is best seen through the eyes of a child, don't you agree? More on that later, as we go through activities since we last updated on September 1.

Harvest of Thanks Tablescape

Welcome to Panoply! Today I am sharing my tablescape designed for Thanksgiving, and whether you're a new or longtime reader, I'm so glad you stopped by. This is a time of a Harvest of Thanks.

There's a Little Witch in All of Us

Hello, my little pretties! Today I've set a special table for us. My little party's just beginning. Come inside, let's play....

You can park your broom ride outside if you wish.

Panoply Booth Spaces and Antiquing Lately

Good morning! In just another week or so I can officially say Happy Fall, Y'all! The autumnal equinox will arrive on September 23rd in my time zone here in the Northern Hemisphere. Today I'm sharing Panoply's latest antique mall booth spaces with you. 

By the time you finish reading this post you'll understand why it's been such a crazy past few weeks for me. Grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy a little armchair browsing / shopping!

Tales of the Traveling Tote #36 and Giveaway

Welcome to September and another installment of the Traveling Totes! 

I am one of a group of gals who, each calendar quarter, share experiences of where we've been and how we've used our MacKenzie-Childs totes. It also includes a token giveaway from us to you, so be sure to see further in this post for that opportunity. Be sure to also read through and see my fellow tote travelers' posts, with links provided to take you directly to each. If you want to visit my personal log of tales, you can begin here.

Welcome Fall: Mottahedeh Chelsea Bird Tablescape

Welcome to my blog, Panoply. I'm so glad you're here! Ready to welcome fall, y'all? Please join me today, as I host a group of table styling enthusiasts to bring you eighteen unique perspectives on fall tablescaping, with direct links readily available for you further in this post.

My fall table inspiration came to me last November, when Amy Montgomery Home (AMH) posted a snapshot of her 2022 Thanksgiving table using Mottahedeh Chelsea Bird china. This pattern is so versatile, it could be used in any season, just by varying the surrounding elements. The AMH fall look was so inspiring, I made it my mission to find some of the vintage elements she put into service. 

July Garden Update and Just Bee-cause Tablescape

Happy July, friends! Today I want to share an update of my garden since my last post with May progress. But first, I also have a sweet little tablescape to share, just bee-cause I've been inspired. My post is heavy with photos, much like the summer air with humidity, so enjoy your air conditioning and the photo journal which follows.

Up, Up and Away With Summer Dining

Hey there! Summer is just one week away and today I'm sharing a summer tablescape with you that I've set in our dining room: Up, Up and Away with Summer Dining! It's just part of a summer tablescape blog hop I'm hosting for readers. See further in my post for direct links for lots more inspiration on tap, with a great list of stylists also sharing their summer tablescapes today.

Tales of the Traveling Tote #35 and Giveaway

Hello, and welcome to the Tales of the Traveling Tote quarterly update! This is a recurring themed post, all about a group of gals who fell in love with and connected via a particular MacKenzie-Childs tote several years ago. 

Garden Update: May Progress

About three and a half weeks ago I was excited to have gotten all the lily-of-the-valley dug out of my north garden landscape bed, and contoured a new grass line. It's been a very busy month of May for me in my landscape garden, and I'd love for you to stroll virtually through my recent changes.

May Day! Mayday!

Good May morning, everyone! Today I am going to share my first 2023 update of my landscape garden. This is our second spring in this home. We moved here in October 2021, and my biggest undertakings have been in overhauling the landscaping.

If I never see another lily-of-the-valley it will be too soon. An invasive, poisonous flower which was originally planted in my shade-loving side garden beneath a [now gone] pin oak tree, this 'pretty' little flower has given me much grief over the past two weeks while digging it out. Like my mother always said, pretty is as pretty does. It wasn't pretty. Once they started invading my newly planted grass, it just wasn't pretty.

Preppy Pink & Green Spring / Easter Tablescape

Happy spring, and welcome to Panoply! Today I'm sharing a Preppy Pink & Green Spring / Easter tablescape with you. Whether your region is still waiting for the weather to shows signs of the new season, or you're more than a month of enjoying it already, I hope you'll be inspired.

Irish Town and Country Tablescape

Dia dhuit ar maidin!* (That's Good Morning in Irish Gaelic). Welcome to my blog, Panoply. Today I have a tablescape for you, in honor of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. I've tried to capture the essence of both "Irish Town and Country" with this tablescape. I hope you enjoy it, as it is not so typical of the symbolism we Americans normally think of with this holiday.

Tales of the Traveling Tote #34 and Giveaway

Hello and Happy March, readers! If you're a new reader, I'm happy you've found my blog - Panoply! 

Today marks the 34th installment of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. These are quarterly recaps of places traveled by a group of us who don the MacKenzie-Childs totes proudly. We love sharing our experiences with each other, and you. Sometimes it's just local travel, other times it's places geographically distant from where we live. If you want to visit my personal log of tales, you can begin here, but it all started even earlier, here. 

Valentine Tablescape for 'Just You and Me'

Hello, readers, and welcome to Panoply! Today I have a Valentine's Day tablescape to share with you. I am one who tries to be sensitive to those who do not celebrate this occasion, but this year I have special reason to share my personal enthusiasm for the day. Please join me at the table, as I explain a Valentine Tablescape for 'Just You and Me'.