My mother-in-law, Evelyn, had a magic mid-century coffee table! — June 30, 2022
My mother-in-law, Evelyn, had a magic mid-century coffee table! You don’t believe me? Let me tell you why I thought so.
Every time I visited her, all the plants she had on her coffee table mesmerized me. She was not a tidy woman by any means. The table was covered with newspapers, coupons, mail, and even her favorite opera scores, but the plants stood out amid the chaos.
The mid-century coffee table had a wooden base and a marble top. There was something fascinating about that table… I fell in love with that piece of furniture the minute I laid eyes on it. It was partly because of the circles on the inside of the base, the beautiful veins on the marble, and the family history, but most of all it was because all her plants kept thriving, even though she took minimal care of them.
How did those plants continue to grow tall and beautiful? She rarely watered them, and when she did, it was often too much, causing the water to run down onto the marble coffee table and the carpet. By the way, she just used poor quality dirt to pot them—very thin clay-like dirt. One would think that would be enough to suffocate the roots!
Despite it all, she loved her plants. I think she loved them more than the coffee table… Those plants filled her home with life and joy.
I was lucky enough to inherit Evelyn’s coffee table. The beautiful piece of furniture with all its history was now mine—what an honor!
Fast forward to now. The coffee table is in my living room. It is so beautiful! Sometimes I just stop and stare at it. So many good memories, so much of Evelyn and her plants in it.
So, why do I think my mother-in-law’s coffee table is magical? Simply because any plant placed on it thrives and blooms with very little care.
I have always loved plants and flowers. I am very good at taking care of my plants and do so weekly. I have a special love for orchids, but in the past, I could never keep them for long—they just did not survive in my care. I tried many methods I learned through the years, including moving them around the house, hoping to find the perfect place where my orchids would be happy. No such luck—eventually, they all died…
There was one place I had not yet tried—Evelyn’s coffee table. I was reluctant to use it for plants because I liked the minimalist decor I had on it, and I just did not want to make it look cluttered.
One day, I gave in and placed my orchids on the coffee table. I took care of the plants week after week, adding a few ice cubes here and there. Sometimes I would forget to water them, or I would just water them too much, just like my mother-in-law did.
To my surprise, my orchids stopped dying and bloomed! I was so excited to see that I finally had orchids thriving in my home. And there it was. The magic coffee table saved my plants!
My orchids are now in full bloom, and every time I look at my mother-in-law’s coffee table, I smile, and I remember her with such love and affection. She was like a second mother to me, and I loved her much. By placing my plants on her coffee table, I have honored and memorialized Evelyn.
Evelyn’s coffee table magic continues to make my plants bloom, and I am so happy. My sweet mother-in-law left me a special and magical gift that I will cherish for years to come.
Thank you, Evelyn, you will always bloom with my plants and in my heart!
Note: My sister-in-law just told me that Evelyn designed the coffee table herself! I had no idea about this until today. She truly designed a beautiful piece of furniture!
Evelyn
❤️
My Orchids and Evelyn's Magic Coffee Table
(Click on the pictures to view larger)
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Home Sweet Home: June Home Favorites!
01.
Elevated dog and cat bowls
Recently, my kitty suffered a back injury. She is doing much better, thanks to our veterinarian of more than twenty years, Dr. Bender at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital.
One of his recommendations was to acquire an elevated food bowl to make it more comfortable for my kitty to eat. I came across these elevated bowls, and they are perfect! I also needed extra bowls, so I found some that fit perfectly with this stand.
02.
Garden beds and rail planter
My husband and I have planted a vegetable garden for many years. We decided we needed new raised beds. We found the perfect ones! These raised beds are very easy to put together and look beautiful in our backyard.
We also wanted to have an extra herb garden, one that we could quickly get to for cooking. Here is a great idea–a pocket rail planter. We love this planter! It is hanging over the railing near our front door. We can easily access it when we need some herbs!
Here is a photo of our raised beds:
03.
Sourdough starter jar
I have been making sourdough bread quite often lately! I was storing my starter in a jar that was too small–it almost always grew so much that it spilled over. So, I found a perfect large jar. Now the starter has enough space to grow without spilling all over my counters! My sourdough jars:
04.
Computer eyeglasses
I have tried many different blue light filter eyeglasses and was not happy with any, until I found these! I can’t believe the difference. No more eye strain, no more dryness, and no more headaches. Also, they are very lightweight, and they look great! I like these glasses so much I purchased a pair for my husband–he loves them, too!
05.
Bunny knobs
I love bunnies! I know, I know, but one can never have too many bunnies, right?
I purchased a new console for my living room and decided to change the knobs. I found these cute bunny knobs–they make the console look sweet!
My console with the bunny knobs:
06.
Half round patio umbrella
I have a small front porch where I have a cafe-style table and chairs. One of my favorite things to do is to watch the sunset from my front porch. But the sun can be very strong. I found a half round umbrella! What a perfect solution, and it is so good-looking, too! I added a Rain Chain, which is mesmerizing to look at when it’s raining and even when it’s not. I could not find the one I have anymore, but I found a similar one here!
07.
Flamingo table lamp
My cute new table lamp is a flamingo, and it has a feathered shade–I am in love! I added a smart LED bulb, so I can change colors and control it by using Amazon Alexa. It makes me smile, and it is a great conversation piece.
Smart LED bulb
My cute flamingo lamp:
Designing a Good Life:
I am so thankful that you follow my blog and for your support of my journey! Have a beautiful day, and remember to create a Good Life! Much love, Mané
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