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Monday, May 19, 2008

Dining Out

Trying to stay in touch while the boys are in college, the parents on my son’s Catholic HS Varsity soccer team went to dinner this weekend…14 in all. Now when you sit at a table of 14, location is the issue. Are you in the middle? At the end? The sad part about the end of the table is, as adoring as the company is nearby you, you will not see and/or talk to the other people who came!

I came up with a solution. Every 25 minutes we would pick up our plates, utensils and wine glasses and switch 2 plates to the left…this way, by the end of the evening we would actually get to talk to everyone! Three hours and many laughs later, we actually rotated fully around the table! Nearby patrons probably thought we were crazy (“OK, time to switch, everyone move!”) but it worked so well for us and made for a great time. One parent remarked it was kind of like speed dating!



On another dining note, the three eggs have hatched in our bird’s nest in our front flower bed…here’s a peek of one looking for Mom to bring breakfast… are these three worried about being in the middle? the end? GUess they are if they want to eat! Hee-hee!

The blue ribbon intertwined in the nest was the bird’s design, not added by us! Isn’t it just gorgeous?? We have so enjoyed watching these little ones come into the world! It makes us think of the frailty of life!

35 comments:

Alison Gibbs said...

What a great idea to switch places.
Great photos of the birds.
Alison

Dana and Daisy said...

Excellent idea for the dinner party. It also would provide a great way to break a conversation pattern that is boring or otherwise unpleasant! Not that you'd have boring guests at your dinner party! lol

Deb said...

Your idea for the dinner party was fabulous :-} And that precious little nest with the blue string entertwined. What fantastic photos you managed to take.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

That is such a fun idea! I bet you got a few looks but I bet they also say under their breath.....we have to try that sometime! :-) Rosie

Gina said...

Oooh what precious little babies..how wonderful to see one hatching!
Love your rotating dinner :O) Gx

Unknown said...

What sweet baby birds! We have barn swallows that return to our barn every year. We are waiting for the babies to hatch right now..

Annie

Adrienne said...

I love the idea of switching places at a big table. I've always felt that someone - often me! - was pretty much left out of the conversation when seated at the end. The little birds are sweet. Thanks for sharing them with us. ~Adrienne~

Mary said...

Thank you for a peek at something absolutely amazing. I had been in awe of the color ... now this whole ribbon thing (color coordinated, of course) has me in awe even more.

Wow.

Rue said...

Hi Tara :)

It sounds like you had a blast at dinner LOL Those baby birds are adorable!!

Have a great day,
rue :)

Tracy said...

Terrific idea, Tara! I have to remember this one! And so glad of the baby robins' update...the are so precious! Happy week to you ((HUGS))

kari and kijsa said...

Great idea...we will try that for our next dinner party...love the tiny baby birds!

Hope you have a great week!

smiles, kari & kijsa

joyh82 said...

What a great ideal...we will have to try that at our next staff christmas dinner.

Nantucket Mermaid said...

Thanks for your visit to my blog...My son just graduated last year from RISD....Phew!Looks like fun in NYC and I love the play by play robin's nest shots!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a great way to get to talk to everyone! How fun.

Those birds are so sweet and I love the beach cottage chic decor Mrs Bird incorporated in her nest with the blue ribbon!
Penny

Life on the Edge said...

What incredible pictures of the baby birds! Those look like they should go in a magazine. Just too precious!

Love the idea for rotating around the table so you could talk to everyone!

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Tara!
There's nothing sweeter to watch than baby birds with their mommy! Your's are adorable! I love how she's decorated her nest, fabulous use of color!!
Great dining idea when you want to visit with everyone!
Hugs, Sherry

Shannon (Faith and Chocolate) said...

Hi Tara! What a brilliant idea! I spent Friday night at the kids end of the table in a similar situation...The kids were great, we had a ton of laughs... but I really like the idea of talking to the adults a little more too. ;)
The little nest has guest now! Yay! How sweet is that?? Thank you for sharing your little wonder-filled world out east!
Have a wonderful day!
Shannon

Debra from Bungalow said...

Hi ! I'm new to your blog. I have a daughter named Tara...such a pretty name!

Great idea rotating around the table but I bet people thought you were all crazy. At least you got to talk to everyone.

Love that bird nest, that mama bird is quite the decorator.
Hugs, DebraK

CIELO said...

Good morning Tara! What a great idea to switch places, but I wonder what people thought :)

Love those photos of the birdies; so sweet....

Have a great day

Cielo

Anonymous said...

What a splendid idea; a musical dinner. Love the birdies and the fact they've decorated with blue ribbon. You have an awesome blog. I'm having my first ever giveaway, pop over and sign up. xoxo

annechovie said...

Very smart idea to rotate at the dinner table, Tara! I will have to keep that in mind.

Rhondi said...

Oh Tara. what fabulous phots of the robin hatching. And the blue ribbon is so perfect. Sign that robin up for his/her own design show! You are lucky to be be see them so close up.
Rhondi

Jill -Forever and Ever House said...

Love the idea!!

Cottage Contessa said...

The dinner rotation was a brilliant idea Tara! We often host family dinners or luncheons at our house for around 30 people, and this would be a great idea! I can just see all my family doing this too, oh how they would laugh! Loving the on going story of the little birds and watching the tale unfold....amazing! Hugs for you dear friend!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Just A Girl said...

Hi Tara,
It sounds like you had a great dinner and an even greater idea for musical plates. What a riot that must have been to be watching.

Your baby Robins are so sweet. I used to have lovebirds and the mommy let me lift the lid on her box to watch everything going on inside. She always fed them according to their hatching order and then once they were done she'd roll them onto their little full tummys for a nap. I was always amazed at what a great mother she was and how her little schedule worked so beautifully.

Hey, were's your music?

Anonymous said...

Awww...I wish I had a little nest to watch. :)
Hugs ~
Alexandra

Sandi McBride said...

I swear that dining room looks like it's on the Titanic, Tara...beautiful shot...and the baby bird pics...lovely
Sandi

Donna said...

Hi Tara,
What a great idea for the dinner crowd!
The little birdies are adorable and what great photos you took! It will be fun watching them grow and leave the nest.
Hugs,
Donna

Magnolia Street Style said...

What a great idea for the dinner. I will have to remember that one. Even momma bird wants her nest to look nice. So chic

Connie

Tina Leavy said...

what a fun dinner idea..glad it worked out well for everyone.
the birds and nest are so cute.
so fun to watch them.I've been watching a pair of nearly grown euraian collared doves and their mom outside my kitchen window this week..every morning they come to the drake elm and either cuddle together up under the tree or set on the branch. It was fun to watch them get some "dove milk" from the mother dove the other day..very interesting.

pve design said...

Years ago, I was involved in the Junior League and we would have "progressive dinner parties" which would move from home to home. Always fun to move around
and see stunning homes!
Love the musical chairs idea and also those baby birdies are the cutest, and of course the Momma would decorate to show you a thing or two!

Kathi said...

What a funtional way to have fun! Great idea Tara! Kathi ps Oh how cute the little birds are.

bluemuf said...

Tara, that was a fantastic idea doing the switch around the table. And, your little birds are so sweet. Love the decor of the nest.

Karen

Siobhan said...

oh Tara, you are so lucky to see these beautiful little guys come into the world! What a sweet nest, their mum has great taste in decorating :)

Siobhan xo

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

What a stylish little birdie!