CONGRATULATIONS!!

AND NOW, THE WINNER OF THE CELEBRATING SUMMER GIVEAWAY BY MIKASA IS.....drum roll please ....CAROLINA JEWEL!!  Thanks to everyone who entered, please come back soon and visit with me, I had so much fun reading all your lovely posts.   Sorry I didn't take a picture of the random number generator, but this was completely honest!!

Carolina Jewel, please email me so that we can send you your choice of Garden Harvest or Modern Butterfly!!

Tuesday, the 31st, is the day!!  Have you entered the beginning of summer Mikasa giveaway yet?  If not, you still have time!!  The drawing will be held Tuesday, the 31st!!  Go here for details!

There are some blogs where I am still unable to leave a comment.  Is it the word verification?  It keeps asking me over and over to sign in, gives me a new word to verify, but never posts my comment.  Anyone else having this issue?  If anyone is having this issue with my blog, please email me and let me know.  You can find my email address on my profile.  Have a wonderful Memorial Day tomorrow!! 

A Memorial Day Tribute

If you haven't entered my Mikasa giveaway, you still have time!  Go here to enter!  I will be randomly choosing a winner on May 31st!!

There have been many movies based on the Vietnam War.  A lot of us were touched by this and other wars in a personal way, and so it is with the movie We Were Soldiers.  This movie was based on the first major engagement of the Vietnam War, documented in the book We Were Soldiers Once...and Young by Lieutenant Gen. (Ret.) Hal Moore and reporter Joe Galloway.  It depicts the Battle of la Drang, in which 450 U.S. soldiers from the U.S. 7th Air Cavalry were dropped in the la Drang Valley to attack enemy North Vietnamese and are surrounded by 2000 enemy soldiers in what would become the worst battle of the Vietnam War.  Mel Gibson stars as Lt. Hal Moore and Chris Klein stars as John Lance "Jack" Geoghegan, a young infantry lieutenant who was killed during the battle while tending to a wounded fellow soldier, Willie Godboldt.  Jack Geoghegan, age 24 at the time of his death, was the only son of John & Camille D. Geoghegan.  He married Barbara Weathers on June 13, 1964 and his daughter, Camille Ann (Cammie), was born the following June, 1965.   Tragically, Cammie was only five months old at the time of her father's death.  Cammie is my next door neighbor and a dear friend.

Barbara, Jack, and Cammie Geoghegan, 1965

Lt. Geoghegan and Lt. Moore, portrayed by Chris Klein and Mel Gibson, talk and pray together before their deployment to Vietnam.  Geoghegan (Klein) wears a baby bracelet with the name of his daughter, Camille, on it.

Cammie and her Dad.

We Were Soldiers is a tribute to the loving fathers, brothers, and sons who sacrificed their lives that day and reflects their loyalty, valor, and love for one another while under fire.  I was invited by Cammie to view the premier of the movie in our hometown.  It was a very emotional experience for me, and it's hard to explain the feelings of loss I felt for my friend.  Fortunately, her mother, Barbara, went on to remarry John Johns, a devoted stepfather who honored Jack's memory.  Johns was also a military man, and became a Brigadier General in 1975.  I have had the pleasure of getting to know Cammie's mother, stepfather, and her sister and brother.  They are an amazing, loving family.

Barbara, with Cammie's two girls--Stephanie and Julie.

Cammie's mother is portrayed by Keri Russell.

Cammie, with her husband, Ray Olson, their two girls--Julie and Stephanie, and their dog, Reesie.

A beautiful oil painting of Cammie's paternal grandmother hangs in her dining room.  I can see the family resemblance.

Also in Cammie's dining room, a curio cabinet holds precious photos and memorabilia.  Her dad's picture is on the center right.

Her lovely dining room has a mirrored wall that makes the room so classy, and I love her gorgeous chandelier.

Another view...

So I just would like to say Thank You to all those who have served, are serving, and the families that have given their loved ones to protect our country and freedoms.

Feel free to sing along!  'And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you,

and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land!

God bless the

USA!!'

My own father served in World War II, as Chief Petty Officer in the navy.  Although he didn't speak much about his experience, I know that he was loyal to his country, and would have made the navy his career, if my mother would have agreed.  She did not want to leave her family, so he left the navy and they were married.

To read more about Cammie's dad, click here and read her mother's personal story.

A few years back, Cammie journeyed to Vietnam with other sons and daughters who had lost loved ones.  Read about their journey here.

Don't forget, you still have time to enter the giveaway to win a set of beautiful Mikasa dishes!!

If you haven't seen the movie We Were Soldiers, take some time to watch it.  You'll be glad you did.  Make sure you have tissues nearby!  :)  Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate your kind comments!!





A Setting for Celebrating Summer!!

Guess what?  I am excited to share with you a fabulous giveaway from Mikasa to celebrate the first day of summer!  Mikasa is offering one of A Perfect Setting's readers the opportunity to win a 4-place setting dinnerware set of either Garden Harvest

or Modern Butterfly!

Both patterns are perfect for a special summer evening or for a casual al fresco dinner!  Garden Harvest is a popular pattern with its colorful, cheery fruits and leaves.  Modern Butterfly is a contemporary, vibrant pattern that has the beauty of a spring garden.

Ok, here's the rules:  First, become a follower of A Perfect Setting; Second, go to the Mikasa Facebook page and leave a comment letting us know which design best fits your table decor for summer;

Next, come back to A Perfect Setting, leave me a comment to let me know you have visited Mikasa's facebook page and that you are a follower!!  I will randomly choose a winner on the first day of summer, May 31st!!

A Perfect Setting is not an employee of nor an affiliate of Lifetime Brands.  Views and opinions expressed here are mine and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Lifetime Brands.

Yippee!!  Summer's almost here!!

How about a summer morning lounging with a cup of tea?

We are set up in the blue toile guest room!

The window seat is a great place to sit and relax while enjoying the view of the outdoors.

 Johann Haviland's Blue Garland china is set on a silver tray.

A vintage silver spoon...

a beautiful teapot...

all waiting for you!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!

An Outside Romantic Setting

May is a special month for me, as it is Mother's Day, and also my anniversary month.  This year, I had another special day in May, as my daughter graduated from college (see post below).  Because of that, I didn't get my Mother's Day tribute up, but as soon as I have more time, I will do that.  Better late than never! 

With all these special days, I have to remind myself to live in the present, and hope that the special moments I attempt to create with my family will be remembered!

I have a quiet little place in my side yard where I sat up my table for today.  Of course, I waited to get shots with the candles lit, but as happens frequently, my camera batteries decided to die precisely at that time.  So all the shots are in daylight--maybe you can try to imagine what it would be like at dusk with candlelight flickering!

A nice spot for dining, near the waterfall, with a view of the yard.

I wish the peonies would last all summer!

Mostly vintage items on this table, except the silverplate chargers, which were purchased at a thrift store.

The colors in the china aren't quite this bold, they are a bit softer. 

Linen napkins held with vintage napkin rings.

The chargers hold a yellow depression glass plate.  It's hard to see the pattern in this picture, but it is beautiful.

Not sure of the pattern of the Limoge china.  Silverplate is Repousse.  Salt cellars are also Limoges.

Plates stacked, colors are truer in this photo.

Stems are Westmoreland Hobnail.  Sherbets are Fostoria Navarre.

Bowl in chair is Meissen.

One more...

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to celebrate all the special moments this May, however big or small they might be, with the ones you love!  As always, I appreciate your kind comments, as I strive for A Perfect Setting!