Sage and Pink Tablescape & Pecan Crusted Pork Tenderloin

I was going to post this yesterday but I had a problem.  Sleep deprivation.  I did not sleep one wink the night before and all day yesterday I had the worst time trying to stay awake.  I think I might have fallen asleep sitting at my computer a couple of times.  I have this habit of keeping about 10 or more internet pages opened at once.  Seriously.  It drives everyone in my house bonkers, especially Shawn,  when they want to get on the computer and they have to close a bunch of stuff out.  I tell them I am multitasking.  I was so tired all day yesterday that I couldn't remember what I was doing half the time or I'd realize I was typing something meant for a post into an email.  I couldn't even single task, so I decided to call it quits for the day.

Now that I've had a good night's sleep I am ready to share my scape.

I pulled these plates out the other day to set the table with.  I love the sage green color.  It works with so many colors.   Originally I was going to pair them with blue, and most likely will do that at some point but with the lovely weather and it being Spring and all I suddenly decided on pink.

Sometimes, if not most times, when I put a table together I just start with the plates and then build around them.  I have always liked this pattern, Avondale.  I usually have pieces in blue, red/pink and green in my shop.   It is by J & G Meakin.

  I've been wanting to use the burlap again since I used it last Fall.  I pulled it out, spread it over the table and then added a dressier curtain in an sage/olive jacquard that I scrunched up in the center, in place of a runner.  I hardly ever use a 'real' tablecloth but choose instead blankets, throws, drapes, fabric, clothing...yes clothing, etc. 

Over that I laid out a pink lace vest that had been Kalyn's and then set a floral arrangement in the center.

The pink lace shows just enough.

We love candlelight so I added some sage green taper candles to the arrangement and filled used some pink thumbprint cordials for tealights.   They look very peach colored in every picture I took though.  I really need to learn to be a better picture taker!

I got this little lamb for $3 on clearance at Steinmart and wish now that I'd bought the two that were left.  Isn't it cute? I could start a collection of sheep.  I shouldn't have said that.  I'm thinking about how cute several would look grouped together beneath my sheep painting.  Stop it Nancy.

Some of my favorite glasses are thumbprint...we have some that we use as every day and I use my Cranberry flash occasion.  These work  so well with pink and red alike.  The cut glass goblets came from Tuesday Morning.  They were on clearance for about $3 a piece.

I love to mix things that are formal with the informal, casual with the dressy...so I chose these handled willow chargers to add a little bit of an earthy, casual look.

I think the napkins turned out nice.  I have a set of six of these vintage, rectangular shaped placemats/doilies that I wrapped around pink damask napkins and then sort of fan folded to really show off the lace.  I tied them with a pretty sage ribbon.  If you all like this, I can do a little post on how I folded them...it was very easy.

Ultimately they wound up placed at an angle above each setting.

 I played around with the centerpiece at one point and swapped out the flowers for the grapevine balls.  This is more casual but I liked it also.  What do you think?

For dinner, we made one of our favorite meals.  It is a heart healthy dish called Pecan Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Vinaigrette.   I serve it with Spinach salad (the same vinaigrette that goes over the pork makes a delicious salad dressing), rice pilaf and croissants with a honey butter glaze.  This time I used the thin cut, boneless pork chops and it was every bit as good as the tenderloin I've always used in the past.  I'm sure it would be good on chicken as well.  Ashton requests this quite often;  it's one of her all time favorites.   

And she helped prepare it as well.  It's sort of a non official rule here with the kids that "we'll make what you want but you help prepare it".  They never complain and it's a good way for them to learn how to cook and a good way to for me to spend time with them individually.  

If you want the recipe for this you can find it HERE.  It is the first recipe and first tablescape I'd ever posted.

Each time we have it we are all left asking one another why we don't have it more often.  I really don't know why.  It's easy to make, it's super good, and it's good for you! 

Joining:

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Between Naps on the Porch

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