Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Heritage Siblings Dinner






Thursday is the day to visit one of my favorite places in the cyber-world, Susan's blog full of luscious tablescapes and decorating ideas!


This week, I'm partying with the best of them, sharing my own tablescape and celebrating America's freedom and our family's heritage! I'd been planning this tablescape since our last siblings dinner in April!


Our quarterly Siblings Dinner was fantastic. Spending time with Doug's brothers and sisters and their spouses is the best!

I was quite pleased with the meal and I fell in love with the tablescape. So much that I'm keeping the table setting until the fourth of July! Our theme for the evening was "Heritage", so the patriotic table was perfect to go along.


The menu:

Sun-dried Tomato Pasta with Roasted Chicken
Linda's Garlic Bread
Garden Fresh Peas
Caesar's Salad
Fruit Platter
Rhubarb Cake

The little party favors/placecards, filled with Hershey's Kisses, were quick and easy to make and were just another little thing to make the table pop! And yes, I used my everyday dishes, plain white Corelleware for this setting. Every home needs a good set of plain white dishes!



Our table talk was the highlight of the night for me. The theme was heritage and all of the questions brought fascinating conversation. We always learn so much about each other!

My sister-in-law shared an intriguing story from her family about her great grandfather, who'd purchased a ticket to travel to America on the Titanic. His sister convinced him to stay longer, so he never boarded the ship. He was listed among those lost at sea, but was safe at home with family. There were many stories to be told and each one was as intriguing as the next.


Heritage Table Talk Questions:

  • Use a list of five words to describe your own heritage.

  • How has your heritage reflected the way that you were raised and the way you are raising your children?

  • What’s the best thing that you do to connect with your heritage?

  • What scents do you remember about your grandparents’ home? Your parent’s home?

  • What was the most important value taught to you by your mother? Father?

  • What family heirloom has been placed in your possession to be passed down to future generations?

  • If you could have one momento of your parents’ or grandparents, what would it be?

  • If you could go back in time, and visit with one ancestor, who would it be?

  • What is one story that’s been passed down through the generations of your family that is told over and over again? Why do you think that one was "the" one?
  • Do you have any family mysteries?

  • What would be your parents (or grandparents) biggest surprise about you today?

  • Describe which physical qualities you share with your parents and grandparents.

  • What talents do you share with your ancestors?

  • What talents of yours would you hope that your posterity would inherit?

  • Tell how you got your name. If you don’t know, share how you chose your childrens’ names.

  • Is there a certain specific place that you have a fond memory with an ancestor? Do you visit it? Have you shared this spot and the memory with others?

  • Is there a song that reminds you of an ancestor?

  • Did your parent have close friends? Was there a friend of your parent that made an impression in your life?

  • What famous person did your parent love/respect/admire? Did that influence you?

  • Do you feel that your parent had any type of prejudices/perceptions that impacted you?

  • What one lesson did your parents teach you without ever saying a word about it?

  • What thing/things did you do that you knew would always make your parents happy?

  • What characteristic do you have that is the most different from that of any siblings or your parents?

  • Share something that you learned about your parent that you never knew/realized as a child?

For us, family is what matters most! So, our evening was a perfect way to escape from the rest of the world and connect with each other.




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16 comments:

Melissa Marie said...

Love those napkins! What a pretty table. And I most definitely would like to try a piece of that Rhubarb Cake! ;)

Kathryn @ Bonafide Southern said...

What a lovely table! It looks so comfortable and homey. Thanks for sharing.

Kammy said...

Cool idea! Love all your questions ! The setting was beautiful !
Hugs ~ Kammy

Bab's Kitchen said...

Very patriotic! I like the napkins and the questions are great icebreakers.

Unknown said...

Great table and great stuff to put on the table!
Have a good rest of the week!
~Really Rainey~

Unknown said...

Such a charming patroitic table! So very welcoming. I particularly loved the napkins, great element! The list is great idea. I'll have to try that sometime!

Thanks so much for sharing!

Tina

Missy Wertz said...

I love your patriotic tablescape. It it beautiful!

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

I love the patriotic theme!!! All of the details are sooo pretty!!! Looks like agreat place to share a good meal and great company!!!

Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy

Brenda Pruitt said...

You're all ready for the holiday! A patriotic and colorful table setting. Very pretty!
Brenda

Unknown said...

I love the muted country feel of the table. The variation of the napkins and it totally feels patriotic. Very pretty!

honeysuckle said...

Family is so very important and it is nice that you regularly get together. I'd like to borrow the list of questions to share with my own family. We must have been on the same thought wave with our posts today as mine is all red, white and blue also. Come visit:)

Mary said...

Very nice!

Kathleen said...

I lve the table...very welcoming..
I have copied those questions..what a great tradition!

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Sophia, The little favors with Kisses in them are just adorable... I salute you on a VERY Patriotic Scape...Perfect for the 4th... xoxo~Kathy@ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Unknown said...

Great table! Conversation at the table is just as important as the atmosphere.... Good idea!

~Liz

Anonymous said...

Beautiful table and great dinner menu! Very interesting questions you posted...And your rhubarb cake has been requested for my husband's birthday on July 2nd. I made it once and he loved it!