Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Candlelight and Puccini

Sunday was our wedding anniversary. We were married August 21, 1971. Forty years ago! We had a quite but memorial evening at home reminiscing and enjoying a great meal together.



I set the table with our wedding china, crystal and silver and decided to use several silver trays that were wedding gifts as chargers. Then I remembered my husband's parents had given us a beautiful silver vase on our 25th wedding anniversary that I used as a vase for the centerpiece.



 I had the hardest time trying to photograph the engraving because the chargers reflected even the plate.


 Then the leaves of the roses were reflected.



If you look closely you can see the initial "M"with the year 1996 underneath and 1971 above. Does anyone know how to photograph a shiny object?  It  also reflected me like a mirror.








I snapped a quick picture of our food: grilled salmon with dill, fresh brussel sprouts and angel hair pasta before our drinks were poured then put the camera away. After all the evening was about us. Listening to Puccini playing in the background we clinked our glasses and I said Je t'aime as a toast.  It was a lovely evening.




I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday and My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.


Natasha, from 5minutes just for me expressed in her blog this week some of the feelings I experienced this week after buying and arranging the fresh flowers I used in this post. Read her blog here and enjoy the research she did about how the presence of flowers trigger happy emotions.

26 comments:

  1. Bonnie -- Congratulations to you and your husband. What a lovely celebration. Love the silver vase. I don't know how to photograph anything shiny...Love the silver chargers too and the big fish silver. I hope you have many more Anniversaries. Joni

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  2. This is absolutely beautiful!

    Happy Anniversary, Bonnie!

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  3. Congratulations! Beautful setting.

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  4. Happy Anniversary Bonnie! I love your table for two and your fish plates~ your meal looks delicious! Our anniversary was the 18th! I've given UP trying to take photos with the lights on or at night and have NO tips on photographing reflective or shiny surfaces :-)

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  5. Congratulations on your 40th wedding anniversary. Your tablescape looks so romantic and elegant! Thank you for dropping by L'Heure Bleue At Home.

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  6. An exquisite table for the two of you.. Congrats on your 40th!! Your table is lovely and I love love your wedding china.. It's all wonderful. xo marlis

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  7. Beautiful table! Beautiful wedding china and silver pieces! I'm not sure what the trick would be on photographing with the shine, but sometimes I take things outdoors in daylight and it makes it easier. Congratulations on 40 years of marriage!

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  8. Happy anniversary to you and your hubby, Bonnie! You have set a beautiful table...so full of wonderful memories for you, too! I love the idea of the trays as chargers...gorgeous! And your meal looks yummy! Congratulations!...hugs..Debbie
    PS...So glad you enjoyed the Paris posts! It was fun going back through each day. It sounds as though you had a wonderful trip, too!

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  9. Happy Anniversary! You created a beautiful tablescape for your memorable evening. I had to smile when you were asking about photographing shiny objects. I think that every time I shoot a tablescape in our dining room, at some point you can see at least a small portion of my pink terry robe in the mirror when I'm taking early morning pics. I haven't figured it out either. Oh well. Cherry Kay

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  10. Forty years? Congratulations! That is wonderful on so many levels!!! I am so happy for you both, and I wish you 40 more! This is such an elegantly appointed table. You obviously put a lot of love and care into it. The fact that you used your wedding china and the 25th anniversary gift to create it makes it all the more special. When these young women of today opt out of registering for formal china and silver, I just shudder. They have no idea how much they will regret that decision when their 40th rolls around. I tip my hat to you, Bonnie. Gorgeous table for a wonderful occasion! Have a great week!

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  11. Happy Anniversary to you both! What an inspirational couple you are! 40 years is definitely something worth celebrating. Your table looked so beautiful and silverware was shining like a mirror! I think your pictures are stunning and the reflections add a personal touch.

    Thank you so very much for your sweet shout out about my Flower post. I'm so happy to read that you found it interesting and that it reflected your ideas too. Your roses are exquisite and I bet they will make you smile for a very long time!

    Best wishes and congratulations again.
    Natasha.
    xo

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  12. Happy Anniversary! Your table is gorgeous.. I adore silver and yours is a treasure.
    hugs ~lynne~

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  13. Bonnie, congratulations on your 40th wedding anniversary! What a beautiful way to celebrate. Everything is perfection. I agree, it is so hard to photograph shiny objects, but the reflections in yours were beautiful too. Your flowers are exquisite and they do bring such joy don't they. I especially loved the presentation of your fish in the fish dish. May you have many more wonderful years.

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  14. What a beautiful Anniversary table. Your table is set beautifully with your wedding china and silver. Wishing you many happy anniversaries to come.

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  15. Very elegant...happy anniversary!

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  16. Happy Anniversary!

    Beautiful table

    Karin Åžen Cankan
    karinsfairytale.blogspot.com

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  17. Hi lovely lady.
    Your Tablescape for two is Gorgeous !!!
    Happy Anniversary~~~ I hope you have a great week with yours.
    XXOO Diane

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  18. Congratulations on your anniversary. Your silver is beautiful! I wish I had some secrets to share to get great photos of reflective surfaces but I have a tough time too. I keep trying though because silver is so pretty and I always want to share it. Your photots turned out great BTW.

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  19. Bonnie, your table is beautiful. I love all the old silverplate and wedding china..your table is an inspiration to me..some good ideas...thank you.

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  20. Absolutelly beautiful table and such wonderful food! Your wedding china is gorgeous and so is all your silver plated beauties. Happy Anniversary and have a good and safe weekend. FABBY

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  21. Thank you sweet lady for your visit and lovely comment. I am your newest follower, too. Hugs.
    FABBY

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  22. Happy anniversary! Your tablescape is gorgeous!

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  23. Hi Bonnie, Many congratulations to you and your husband, 40 years is not to be sniffed at! I love your romantic, sparkeley table, and your lovely roses. Sometimes it's even nicer to have a special night in than to go out. Many thanks for your visit, glad I made you laugh with the funny photos. Many thanks for the birthday wishes, love Linda x

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  24. I love Puccini, Bonnie, and I love your china, silver, and crystal! The roses are perfect for the romantic anniversary evening you've described. Happy anniversary! The dinner you prepared looks divinely delicious!

    Hope you have an enjoyable Labor Day!

    Bill

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  25. A belated congratulations to you.....although I honestly thought that I'd left you a comment here on this before....but I think I read it and tried to leave a comment & blogger was/or my computer was being funny.....

    So, congratulations (again?)!!!!! What an exquisite table/dinner & such divine music for such a celebration.

    It is a true blessing from God to have a great marriage of many years!!!!!!

    ALSO: Even if you don't win the giveaway on Susan's (and thanks so much for putting it on your blog) I already have something for you from Italy.

    You have been a true friend via blog world and I know you will be in real life, too!

    I look forward to fellowshipping with you very soon!!!
    \
    MANY blessings to you and CONGRATULATIONS,
    Lana

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