What do you do for a centerpiece when you decide at the last minute to invite guests to your house?
It was my daughter’s sixteenth birthday party. We were going bowling (her choice not mine) and then to her favorite restaurant for dinner. Then at the last minute she said she REALLY, REALLY wanted everyone to come back to our house for cake and games. So… the first thing was look at the clock, and wonder how I could possibly get the house ready in just a few hours for company. The first thing to do was vacuum. Okay, I asked Mr. CH to do it. The house had not been vacuumed in 4 days, which may not be a big deal, unless you have a collie. I had a ton of other things to do – make beds, get the leaf for the table, pick up the cake, make homemade lemonade…
When I had about ten minutes left, I realized I did not have a centerpiece for my table. (I know the teenagers would not notice, but I had some adults coming, so I had to make some effort.)
I grabbed my scissors and went to work on our camellia bush. There was no way I had time to run to the store for fresh flowers. After cutting several camellias, I put them in an assortment of crystal pieces on my thrift store silver tray.
Did I mention that our daughter’s middle name is Camille?
Many of these crystal pieces were inherited from my MIL.
I barely had it all done when it was time to pick up my daughter from her play rehearsal at school and head to the bowling place. (I still had to change clothes too.)
We were running late, but we DID make it to the bowling place, then to my sixteen-year-old’s favorite restaurant, and finally back to our house for cake, lemonade, coffee and games.
We had lots of fun, but I was glad to sit down finally. When someone noticed the fresh flowers and commented on how lovely they looked, I just smiled and brushed the hair out of my face.
BTW, Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl!!
Happy Birthday to your daughter. The centerpiece is beautiful.
Happy Birthday!!! Good job Mom! I love the name Camile.
Sometimes those last minute parties are the best! Happy birthday to your daughter!
Beautiful! This post reminded me of my mother. She would always cut her camellia blooms and float them in large bowls of water.
I’m a new follower.
Happy Birthday to your daughter, I hope she enjoyed herself. What a beautiful middle name.
I could almost feel the panic when you realised you needed to get the house ready for company at short notice; been there, done that! Why do impromptu guests never turn up when you have just cleaned?
Happy Birthday to you daughter.. ah,,, sixteen how wonderful. What a beautiful table you set..No surprise..you are great at those things.. perfect!
Beautiful crystal,
beautiful roses,
beautiful photos,
beautiful occasion.
What a beautiful centerpiece arrangement….you work well under pressure!!
Precious! Your table is gorgeous! Happy Birthday to your daughter! Sweet Sixteen!
What a darling post! …brush the hair out of my face…LOL! Your centerpiece is truly beautiful. I love how you thought so quickly to pull this together and how appropriate with your daughter’s middle name! Love that too. There would be no fresh flower picking in my neck of the woods, but luckily I have my stash of faux flowers since that is my business! Happy Birthday to your daughter. Such a fun age!
Donna
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Camellias to the rescue! I did the same thing last year with pink camellias for my birthday dinner last year. 😉
They are the perfect touch! Happy Sweet 16 to the Birthday Girl. ~ sarah
Happy Birthday to your daughter and your centerpiece is gorgeous!
be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Lovely. Just lovely.
Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Great idea, it looked beautiful! I would be in a big pickle: our daughetrs B-day is Fe. 8 so not one thing would be blooming here!!! Happy birthday to your sweet daughter! XO, Pinky
Beautiful crystal! Your centerpiece is very lovely. So glad that it all came together for a very special time in your daughter’s life.
BTW, I have a friend whose name is Camilla. 🙂
Anita,
Lovely centerpiece! With the need to make your daughter’s birthday a special celebration, I’d say this is a work of heart…and a work of art! This is one birthday you’ll both long remember!
Fondly,
Pat
What a beautiful centerpiece you made for your daughter. It is just lovely, as is the love that your story radiates. I’ve been thinking of planting camillas in my side yard, and this post convinced me to do it. What could be better than fresh flowers in the winter?
All too pretty. Happy Birthday to your daughter. Keep brushing the hair out of your face, cause you did an awesome job. Love the flowers and the centerpiece. Hope she enjoyed her day.
Beautiful birthday table. Some of the best creations are made at the last minute. Synchronicity was in play with the camilla flowers and your daughter’s name. Just perfect!
Sandy
Beautiful birthday table. Some of the best creations are made at the last minute. Synchronicity was in play with the camilla flowers and your daughter’s name. Just perfect!
Sandy
Beautiful birthday table. Some of the best creations are made at the last minute. Synchronicity was in play with the camilla flowers and your daughter’s name. Just perfect!
Sandy
It is a beautiful center piece. Hope she had a wonderful Birthday.
I’m exhausted reading about it, but girlfriend you got ‘er done! And the flowers in the crystal bowls are really gorgeous. My daughter will soon have her 16th birthday, we’ve talked about having a party here or just give her some $. (I personally hope she ops for the $.) Oh, I’m your newest follower, stop by to see me sometime if you’d like. Hugs ~ Mary
Dear Anita,
That was very clever,, as well as beautiful for a centerpiece. Now I know how i can use those little
Fostoria glasses i inherited also. Thanx!
ANN