Wednesday, September 29, 2010

please pass the peas


I was amazed to see a "tablescape" at Grey Towers. Apparently the governor's wife,
 Mrs. Pinchot was quite the entertainer, and creative at that. She designed an outdoor dining room. 


Or better described as a "dining pool." Can you picture the kids in the family, 
in their jammies, supposedly in bed for the night ... 


... peeking down out their windows at a dinner party in this setting?


The places were set around the pool. The lady of the house changed the color of 
the water to whatever suited her fancy and the dinner menu.


I'm picturing the whole thing. The dinner conversation. The laughter.
And supposedly themed discussions sometimes announced ahead of time. 

"Please pass the peas?"  Yes, the beautiful food was placed on balsa
wood platters and floated like boats from guest to guest.

Go to Between Naps on the Porch if you'd like to see more lovely tablescapes!

25 comments:

  1. Wow....this place is unbelievable...first the curves and now the dining pool. It is had to conceive how opulent a lifestyle these folk lived. The info you are giving us is so interesting. Please continue with the stories and the photos.

    Genie

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  3. Oh that is so very pretty!She must have lived a fairy tale!
    Smiles, Dottie

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  4. Now that's something you don't see every day! Very pretty!

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  5. Oh yes, very pretty!

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  6. You have to admit...it's an original and creative idea!

    XO,
    Janie

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  7. love it, and you can clean up at the same time!

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  8. Wow, what cool images that brings! I also see floating candles and glass orbs...Happy Day!
    Sherry

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  9. What a true wonder. Wow.. I love your spin on the serving boats too. Thanks for dropping in and leaving your sweet words.

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  10. Themed conversations! I wonder what the themes were, certainly not who they liked on DWTS! :)
    Looks like a lovely place.

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  11. That is definitely thinking outside the box! What an interesting place. I would have loved to have dined there. Of course, I would probably tilt the food boat and spill it all into whatever color the water was! Very interesting post. laurie

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  12. Absolutely enchanting. I would have liked to have been invited to a party there. What fun to change the color of the pool.

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  13. Great post with a great story!! Changing the colour of the water, what next!! Jackie in Surrey, UK

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  14. I do appreciate attention to detail when I'm invited to dinner! I wonder if I could get my (sort of) retired husband to build a "serving" pool. I'm already visualizing dishes and colors. = )

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  15. How beautiful. Just a wonderful setting. I, too, wonder what a themed conversation would be today!!

    Carol

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  16. I can't believe that is so close to where we spend our home assignments and we have never been there. It must be one of the area's best kept secrets!
    And, yes, I did get a new camera.

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  17. Wow! this place is a secret wonder in your area.

    I can imagine if I am the lady of the house.

    §;-)

    Happy TS Day!

    Greetings from a chilly Stockholmer,
    /chie

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  18. Extravagant... that's the word that comes to mind. Wow. It seems like a fairy tale life.

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  19. I'm afraid I would fall in.

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  20. What an unusual idea for dining. The biggest "finger bowl" ever!

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  21. What a beautiful spot! And it must have been some diner to have a fingerbowl that large!!!
    Great post.
    And I had to laugh about your comment... that is soooo ME! It's good to know that I am not the only one!
    Yvonne

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  22. I've never seen or heard of this delightful spot before your post. Sets my tablescaping mind a spinning. Thank you for sharing your exploration with us. Cherry Kay

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  23. I've never seen or heard of this delightful spot before your post. Sets my tablescaping mind a spinning. Thank you for sharing your exploration with us. Cherry Kay

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  24. What some people will think up! This is quite a take on the idea of the Lazy Susan - but you wouldn't want a guest to reach too far........

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  25. Very unique method of passing the peas....though I can't help wondering if any dishes may have capsized along the way...

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I enjoy the conversations that come with comments!

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