Laowai

Lately I’ve been thinking about tables – big dining tables that families gather around. I started thinking about tables a lot when we lived in China and our apartment had a big rectanglular black table. Brian and I ate breakfast together every morning at one end of the table. And during the day I would spread my quilt project out across the table to draw my quilting lines. We have a great little Parsons style table at home now that I will always have a place for in my home, but for some reason that big table in China made me look forward to someday having a large table. I like the idea of a big table that is the center of all the family action. A place to spread out crafty projects. A place to gather and eat. A place that witnesses everyday meals and special occasions. A place to have the conversations of everyday life. A place to make vignettes of flowers from the garden and table linens and special dishes and vases. I hope when we get our next home I can find the perfect table for our family. I’m torn between wanting a beautiful rich wood table and wanting something that can stand up to lots of use over the years without having to worry about spills and scratches and keeping it in perfect condition.

Yesterday I came accross the web site of a photographer who captures the very idea that I had been ruminating on. Take a look at the fascinating photos by Burt Teunissen here.