On 30/12/2010 10:19 AM, Nancy2 wrote:
>
>> There are other considerations. My wife always sets a nice table. We
>> have several sets of dishes, in various degrees of completeness. We have
>> enough of one set for 8, but if she wants to use my grandmother's Limoge
>> there are only 5 complete settings. Ditto for table napkins. and napkin
>> rings. She likes to have the table set well in advance and would not
>> appreciate having to change everything because someone didn't have the
>> social graces to commit to an invitation ... especially one that she
>> extended to herself.
>>
>
> Mix up the table settings - it's a modern thing to do, and Martha does
> it all the time. If you keep the different patterns fairly equal in
> number, it should be fine.

My sister in law does that. She does not have a complete set of dishes
or glasses. Instead, she has a very eclectic collection of tableware.