Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
actually have a dining room table

We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

In article .com>, "cathyxyz" > wrote:
>Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
>actually have a dining room table

I can see mine too -- though the clear horizontal surface is now down
to plate size.

What passes for breakfast -- standing at the bench near the sink.

Lunch -- usually off the premises.

Dinner -- usually at that plate-sized surface. (Which is the only
reason it's still clear.

>We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
>Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
>Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...

Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

Phred wrote:
> In article .com>, "cathyxyz" > wrote:
> >Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> >actually have a dining room table
>
> I can see mine too -- though the clear horizontal surface is now down
> to plate size.
>
> What passes for breakfast -- standing at the bench near the sink.
>
> Lunch -- usually off the premises.
>
> Dinner -- usually at that plate-sized surface. (Which is the only
> reason it's still clear.

Glad we're not the only "guilty ones" heh heh

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Phred wrote:
>> In article .com>,
>> "cathyxyz" > wrote:
>> >Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
>> >actually have a dining room table
>>
>> I can see mine too -- though the clear horizontal surface is now down
>> to plate size.
>>
>> What passes for breakfast -- standing at the bench near the sink.
>>
>> Lunch -- usually off the premises.
>>
>> Dinner -- usually at that plate-sized surface. (Which is the only
>> reason it's still clear.
>
> Glad we're not the only "guilty ones" heh heh
>
> Cheers
> Cathy(xyz)
>============

Yep - same here... these days the dining table is left alone to look pretty
or is covered in fabric that is waiting to be cut and sewn... <sigh>

Breakfast and lunch are both eaten at work. Breakfast usually constists of
a banana and/or a squeeze tube or two of yogurt. Lunch is leftovers
(steak - enough to eat twice, last week. Woo-hoo!!) or a PB & J sandwich...
Dinner is eaten in front of the TV.

--
Syssi

In article >,
(Phred) wrote:

> In article .com>,
> "cathyxyz" > wrote:
> >Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> >actually have a dining room table
>
> I can see mine too -- though the clear horizontal surface is now down
> to plate size.
>
> What passes for breakfast -- standing at the bench near the sink.
>
> Lunch -- usually off the premises.
>
> Dinner -- usually at that plate-sized surface. (Which is the only
> reason it's still clear.
>
> >We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> >Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> >Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> Cheers, Phred.


<lol> I try to keep at least 1/2 of the table clear, I often eat lunch
with dad out there and once per week I have to do shipping for ebay
sales and need the surface area... I clean it off completely to change
the table cloth from time to time, and for holidays.

Most meals (for both me and dad) are eaten in front of our comptuers. <G>
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

In article >,
OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:

> <lol> I try to keep at least 1/2 of the table clear,

Me, too. The bottom half.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 2-19-2006, Yummy! and church review. :-)

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> Cheers
> Cathy(xyz)
>

We don't have a dining room; just a kitchen that connects to the living
room. So, my answer would be no. (Shoots, we don't even have a table!)

kili

kilikini wrote:

>
> We don't have a dining room; just a kitchen that connects to the living
> room. So, my answer would be no. (Shoots, we don't even have a table!)

<eg> not even a tiny one for your beer?

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> kilikini wrote:
>
> >
> > We don't have a dining room; just a kitchen that connects to the living
> > room. So, my answer would be no. (Shoots, we don't even have a table!)
>
> <eg> not even a tiny one for your beer?
>

Nope! I hold mine on my lap and TFM® has the computer desk.

kili

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> kilikini wrote:
>
> >
> > We don't have a dining room; just a kitchen that connects to the living
> > room. So, my answer would be no. (Shoots, we don't even have a table!)
>
> <eg> not even a tiny one for your beer?
>

He, he, funny you should ask! Our neighbor put a tiny end table out at the
end of his driveway on Sunday, freebie, and I took it! I'm so stoked! A
table for my beer! :~D

kili

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...


We eat every meal in the dining room on a big wooden table of my choice
bought over 30 years ago and used for every meal in all 5 houses we've
owned; hauled around by Bekins from Coast to Coast. Sometimes no leaves
have been used, but right now all leaves are attached. Sometimes I use
tablecloths, over the years I've bought them for every size the table
becomes, and sometimes we eat on bare wood, just depends. We've only had
bar stools around a kitchen counter once, but we never ate at the counter.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall wrote:

> We eat every meal in the dining room on a big wooden table of my choice
> bought over 30 years ago and used for every meal in all 5 houses we've
> owned; hauled around by Bekins from Coast to Coast. Sometimes no leaves
> have been used, but right now all leaves are attached. Sometimes I use
> tablecloths, over the years I've bought them for every size the table
> becomes, and sometimes we eat on bare wood, just depends. We've only had
> bar stools around a kitchen counter once, but we never ate at the counter.

I shoulda known that you are a "civilized" person, Dee Sounds like
it has great sentimental value as well... Nice to hear it.

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

On 26 Feb 2006 04:40:47 -0800, "cathyxyz" >
wrote:

>Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
>actually have a dining room table
>
>We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
>Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
>Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...

We don't have a dining room table - or a dining room for that matter.
Our "dining room" is our kitchen. And yes, we eat at a properly laid
table (it's the children's chore to set it) every day. Good food and
good conversation, can't live without that.

Nathalie in Switzerland

Our dining room is useless. We use it maybe 4 times per year.
That's why we want to knock out the wall and incorporate the dining
room into a giant eat-in kitchen.

"cathyxyz" > wrote in
oups.com:

> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>

It's the only table we have, so yes <g>. Mind you, sometimes I have to
clear enough room for us to eat because of that law of collection on flat
surfaces, or if I'm doing a jigsaw, or using it for working on a project.

We have seats at our kitchen counter, where I might have breakfast or a
quick lunch, and occasionally I'm guilty of eating from my lap while
reading or watching a movie, but otherwise it's the dining room table. Our
living area is very open plan, though, with a large archway between lounge
and dining, and only the kitchen bench separating kitchen from dining room.

--
Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

"cathyxyz" > wrote

> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...

When I was a kid, you only ate at the dining room table
on holidays. Otherwise no food, in any form or fashion,
left the kitchen, and we all ate at the kitchen table. Now,
I have a little wood tray table I use, once in a while we eat
in the kitchen at the table like big people. When you don't have
children, the rules can go out the window. I'd be strict about
eating at the table if I did have them.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:

> When I was a kid, you only ate at the dining room table
> on holidays. Otherwise no food, in any form or fashion,
> left the kitchen, and we all ate at the kitchen table. Now,
> I have a little wood tray table I use, once in a while we eat
> in the kitchen at the table like big people. When you don't have
> children, the rules can go out the window. I'd be strict about
> eating at the table if I did have them.

Now I feel even more "guilty"... we have a toddler and we still don't
eat at the dining room table... but the funny thing is - I just
realised - when we eat on the veranda/porch (which is often in summer)
we do eat at the table. Maybe our kiddo will get the idea eventually...


Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

"cathyxyz" > wrote

> Nancy Young wrote:

>> in the kitchen at the table like big people. When you don't have
>> children, the rules can go out the window. I'd be strict about
>> eating at the table if I did have them.
>
> Now I feel even more "guilty"... we have a toddler and we still don't
> eat at the dining room table... but the funny thing is - I just
> realised - when we eat on the veranda/porch (which is often in summer)
> we do eat at the table. Maybe our kiddo will get the idea eventually...
>

(laugh!) Guilt making was not meant by me ... but, yeah, I do think
families with children should eat together if possible. Who says it
has to be at a table?

nancy

On 26 Feb 2006 06:51:36 -0800, cathyxyz wrote:

> - when we eat on the veranda/porch (which is often in summer)
> we do eat at the table. Maybe our kiddo will get the idea eventually...

If the weather at my house was conducive to outdoor dining and I had a
deck off my kitchen - I'd be eating outside until it was so cold, I
couldn't. A table is a table, setting it nicely and having whole
family meals around it makes for good childhood memories. My kids are
grown now and they will testify to that.
--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

sf wrote:
> On 26 Feb 2006 06:51:36 -0800, cathyxyz wrote:
>
>> - when we eat on the veranda/porch (which is often in summer)
>> we do eat at the table. Maybe our kiddo will get the idea
>> eventually...
>
> If the weather at my house was conducive to outdoor dining and I had a
> deck off my kitchen - I'd be eating outside until it was so cold, I
> couldn't. A table is a table, setting it nicely and having whole
> family meals around it makes for good childhood memories. My kids are
> grown now and they will testify to that.

I have a spacious patio but it's off the living room, not the kitchen. When
I grill I have to traipse plates of uncooked food from the kitchen past the
dining room through the living room to the patio, and back again. If I had
my druthers I'd have a patio right off the kitchen and I'd eat out there,
weather permitting. And I'd like a chiminea or one of those outdoor
screened round fireplaces so I could enjoy it at least until it was *really*
cold.

Jill

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> If the weather at my house was conducive to outdoor dining and I had a
> deck off my kitchen - I'd be eating outside until it was so cold, I
> couldn't. A table is a table, setting it nicely and having whole
> family meals around it makes for good childhood memories. My kids are
> grown now and they will testify to that.

We try to eat outdoors often, which can be difficult in our region.
Once spring weather arrives, we do picnic lunches or more dressed up at
the table outside, and in the summer we often eat dinner outside as
well. We host an Easter feast for our church each year, and we set up
four long tables outside for everyone to sit, if the weather is good
enough, and serve from the dining room table and bar inside.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/

Nancy Young wrote:
>
> "cathyxyz" > wrote
>
> > Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> > actually have a dining room table
> >
> > We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> > Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> > Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> When I was a kid, you only ate at the dining room table
> on holidays. Otherwise no food, in any form or fashion,
> left the kitchen, and we all ate at the kitchen table. Now,
> I have a little wood tray table I use, once in a while we eat
> in the kitchen at the table like big people. When you don't have
> children, the rules can go out the window. I'd be strict about
> eating at the table if I did have them.
>
> nancy

Yup, when our kids were home, we always ate at the kitchen table,
properly set. Now there is just dh and I and we eat in front of the
tv. We don't have a dining room......Sharon

"biig" > wrote in message ...
>
>
> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>> "cathyxyz" > wrote
>>
>> > Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
>> > actually have a dining room table
>> >
>> > We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
>> > Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
>> > Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>>
>> When I was a kid, you only ate at the dining room table
>> on holidays. Otherwise no food, in any form or fashion,
>> left the kitchen, and we all ate at the kitchen table. Now,
>> I have a little wood tray table I use, once in a while we eat
>> in the kitchen at the table like big people. When you don't have
>> children, the rules can go out the window. I'd be strict about
>> eating at the table if I did have them.
>>
>> nancy
>
> Yup, when our kids were home, we always ate at the kitchen table,
> properly set. Now there is just dh and I and we eat in front of the
> tv. We don't have a dining room......Sharon

Our dining room has been converted to a music room. It's full of instruments
and stands and the table is covered with scores. When we want to use it
there is a major project to get it cleaned out. But that's only for formal
dinners a few times a year. 99% of the time we eat in the sunroom.


--
Peter Aitken

"Nancy Young" > writes:

>When I was a kid, you only ate at the dining room table
>on holidays. Otherwise no food, in any form or fashion,
>left the kitchen, and we all ate at the kitchen table. Now,
>I have a little wood tray table I use, once in a while we eat
>in the kitchen at the table like big people.

We had the same difference between the dining room and kitchen when I
was a kid. Our house was old -- 1850s or something -- with a separate
room for the dining room. Most houses nowadays have a large kitchen
area with room for a table or an attached semi-dining-room kind of
thing.
My parent's dining room set was definitely for special occasions. A
huge Victorian monstrosity that was over 100 years old.
I would rather eat at the kitchen table instead of in front of the tv,
but when I'm the only one home, I don't bother sitting at the table. So
I guess it gets used once a day during the week, and if I make dinner on
weekends (which I haven't lately), and that's it.

Stacia

cathyxyz wrote:
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> Cheers
> Cathy(xyz)

Alas, I purchased a "kitchen nook" set (which was supposed to go in my
dining room since I don't have an eat-in kitchen). It looks like this:

http://www.onewayfurniture.com/oakkitnookse.html

I loved the look but the purchase was a mistake. It was delivered in
cartons and requires two people to hold the pieces during assembly. I don't
have two people LOL So it's still in the cartons. I eat on a tray in front
of the television.

When I was growing up we always ate in the dining room. Later when we moved
to a house with an eat-in kitchen, we ate at the kitchen table. The dining
room was reserved for holiday dinners.

Jill

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...

Not every day. We do try to eat there as a family (down to 3 from 5) at
least 2 or 3 times a week. Since son works at 6 p.m. several times a week
and hubby has 2 Scout/Cub meetings each week, we try to eat there on the
nights we are all off. Otherwise hubby and I usually eat in front of the
TV.

Dining room table is a cheap teak veneer Scandinavian model we bought at
Sears back in 1976. It has survived 8 moves and 3 periods (7 years total)
in storage while we were on isolated postings. I love it because it has
leaves at both ends, leaves that slide under the solid top. It easily seats
6 without the leaves and 10 with.

I inherited my MIL's dining room set and use the buffet/hutch & chairs with
my own table (who cares if it matches). I had to be too careful with her
drop leaf table (the finish clouds if you breathe on it) so I use it -- with
the leaves down -- as a sofa table.

Gabby

cathyxyz wrote:
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> Cheers
> Cathy(xyz)

We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the kitchen
(don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have music on but
not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30 minutes of
socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family activity. No
gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we all had to be at
the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good manners, and have a
chance to talk about our days together.

On Friday nights, we having dinner (delivered pizza) in front of the TV
and watch movies. That's the only time she's permitted to eat in the
living room.

On some occasions (ie, when Patrick has to work til 10) I feed my
daughter early, at the kitchen table, and I sit with her while she
eats, or putter around the kitchen packing lunches, putting away
dishes, etc. Then he and I eat later on, in the sitting area of our
bedroom, in front of the TV. That's his thing.

Breakfast for the kiddo is usually on a stool at the kitchen counter.

Jude wrote:

> We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
> daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the kitchen
> (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have music on but
> not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30 minutes of
> socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family activity. No
> gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we all had to be at
> the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good manners, and have a
> chance to talk about our days together.

This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!! That is the death to
conversation. I worry that kids nowadays aren't getting very much of
this family dinner time and what they're losing down the road?
Goomba

Goomba38 wrote:
> Jude wrote:
>
> > We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
> > daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the kitchen
> > (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have music on but
> > not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30 minutes of
> > socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family activity. No
> > gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we all had to be at
> > the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good manners, and have a
> > chance to talk about our days together.
>
> This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!! That is the death to
> conversation. I worry that kids nowadays aren't getting very much of
> this family dinner time and what they're losing down the road?
> Goomba

I agree completely. I think there are some far-reaching social
implications when your children eat dinner in front of the TV every
night, whether it's in the kitchen or the living rooms. It would make
an interesting sociological study. I'm sure it affects kids abilities
for small talk as well as family bonding, etc.

One more clause - Mom made it firm and fast that we WOULD manage dinner
together. Sometimes dinnertime had to be flexed for drama club
rehearsal, lacrosse practive, art class, or choir (there were 3 of us
kids) but we all knew that dinner would be worked around our
committments, so we darn well better make it home in time.

People now seem to use soccer practice, gymnastics,etc, as an excuse to
feed their kids fast-food crap during the week. Somehow we managed to
get to our activites and still e at dinner at home, real food even!

"Jude" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Goomba38 wrote:
>
> I agree completely. I think there are some far-reaching social
> implications when your children eat dinner in front of the TV every
> night, whether it's in the kitchen or the living rooms. It would make
> an interesting sociological study. I'm sure it affects kids abilities
> for small talk as well as family bonding, etc.

We almost always eat in front of the TV. All of us as a family though, with
a little conversation as well. Although I find too much conversation, and my
daughter won't finish her meal because it's cold.

We only have a very small house, with a small kitchen witha little dining
area next to it with a small table in it. The table seems to get things on
it all the time. In winter the lounge room's the one with the heater. So
it's often just more practical to eat at the lounge room, and often it's
just in time to see bits of the news, and maybe discuss it.

Jen

Goomba38 wrote:
> Jude wrote:
>
>> We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
>> daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the
>> kitchen (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have
>> music on but not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30
>> minutes of socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family
>> activity. No gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we
>> all had to be at the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good
>> manners, and have a chance to talk about our days together.
>
> This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!! That is the death to
> conversation. I worry that kids nowadays aren't getting very much of
> this family dinner time and what they're losing down the road?
> Goomba

Absolutely! NO TV. We didn't have one anywhere near the table, be it in the
kitchen or the formal dining room. Now, however, without children in the
house, my parents eat at the kitchen table and there is most definitely a
television. I guess after almost 57 years they just don't have that much to
talk about

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> Goomba38 wrote:
>> Jude wrote:
>>
>>> We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
>>> daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the
>>> kitchen (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have
>>> music on but not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30
>>> minutes of socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family
>>> activity. No gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we
>>> all had to be at the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good
>>> manners, and have a chance to talk about our days together.
>>
>> This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!! That is the death to
>> conversation. I worry that kids nowadays aren't getting very much of
>> this family dinner time and what they're losing down the road?
>> Goomba
>
> Absolutely! NO TV. We didn't have one anywhere near the table, be it in
> the
> kitchen or the formal dining room. Now, however, without children in the
> house, my parents eat at the kitchen table and there is most definitely a
> television. I guess after almost 57 years they just don't have that much
> to
> talk about
>
> Jill

Jumping to old-marrieds rescue! DH and I have so much to talk about we have
to interrupt each other to get a word-in. When he goes to CT without me,
the cell phone is on fire!
Maybe your parents are just getting another topic from the news!
Luckily we mostly agree on events on the news, but we still sing to the
choir.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Goomba38 wrote:
>>> Jude wrote:
>>>
>>>> We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
>>>> daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the
>>>> kitchen (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have
>>>> music on but not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30
>>>> minutes of socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family
>>>> activity. No gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we
>>>> all had to be at the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good
>>>> manners, and have a chance to talk about our days together.
>>>
>>> This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!! That is the death to
>>> conversation. I worry that kids nowadays aren't getting very much of
>>> this family dinner time and what they're losing down the road?
>>> Goomba
>>
>> Absolutely! NO TV. We didn't have one anywhere near the table, be
>> it in the
>> kitchen or the formal dining room. Now, however, without children
>> in the house, my parents eat at the kitchen table and there is most
>> definitely a television. I guess after almost 57 years they just
>> don't have that much to
>> talk about
>>
>> Jill
>
> Jumping to old-marrieds rescue! DH and I have so much to talk about
> we have to interrupt each other to get a word-in. When he goes to CT
> without me, the cell phone is on fire!
> Maybe your parents are just getting another topic from the news!
> Luckily we mostly agree on events on the news, but we still sing to
> the choir.
> Dee Dee

Oh, I'm not saying they don't speak. But my parents don't go anywhere and
they definitely don't have cell phones. They won't even get an answering
machine for their land line; if we can't reach them we can't reach them,
which is sometimes frustrating.

My dad is addicted to television. He's got to have it on even if he's just
sitting reading a book. That kinda drives my mom crazy, especially since he
only watches the History Channel and the news.

Jill

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 11:20:54 -0500, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>Jude wrote:
>
>> We have dinner together as a family - me, my BF, and our 9 year old
>> daughter - most nights. House rule is that dinnertime is in the kitchen
>> (don't have a dining room) at the table. Sometimes we have music on but
>> not too loud - I was raised on the belief that 30 minutes of
>> socializing at the dinner table was an importtant family activity. No
>> gulping down your food in 3 bites and getting up; we all had to be at
>> the table for half an hour, eat slowly with good manners, and have a
>> chance to talk about our days together.
>
>This is how I was raised also. And NO TV on!!!

Me, too, though my parents sometimes played the radio (Paul Harvey and
old radio shows -- Armed Forces radio, overseas). I *hate* *hate*
*hate* having the TV on while I eat, so I've banished the TV to a room
where we never eat.

serene

In article >,
serene > wrote:

> Me, too, though my parents sometimes played the radio (Paul Harvey and
> old radio shows -- Armed Forces radio, overseas). I *hate* *hate*
> *hate* having the TV on while I eat, so I've banished the TV to a room
> where we never eat.

My mom has the television on ALL THE TIME. It makes me crazy. It's
just the background noise at her house. It's also on, regardless of the
programming and age of the people around it. I've turned it off when my
kids were there and she had vastly inappropriate stuff on, or taken them
out of the house or room. She doesn't understand why it would bother us
for our kids under seven to see bloody violence, graphic sex, hear
vulgar language, etc.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/

On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 09:33:04 -0800, Ranee Mueller
> wrote:

>In article >,
> serene > wrote:
>
>> Me, too, though my parents sometimes played the radio (Paul Harvey and
>> old radio shows -- Armed Forces radio, overseas). I *hate* *hate*
>> *hate* having the TV on while I eat, so I've banished the TV to a room
>> where we never eat.
>
> My mom has the television on ALL THE TIME. It makes me crazy.

When I met my partners, they were the same way. I am happy to say
they were happy to change that habit to avoid driving me insane. They
say they like things fine the way they are, and James has said that he
feels like his life has gotten better because we go for walks
(f'rinstance) instead of zoning out in front of the TV.

> It's
>just the background noise at her house. It's also on, regardless of the
>programming and age of the people around it. I've turned it off when my
>kids were there and she had vastly inappropriate stuff on, or taken them
>out of the house or room. She doesn't understand why it would bother us
>for our kids under seven to see bloody violence, graphic sex, hear
>vulgar language, etc.

Yeesh.

serene

"cathyxyz" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>

Not every day, but often. Used to be every day when the kids were home, but
now we may even have a light dinner in the family room watching the news.
We use the dining room table more than the kitchen table though.

cathyxyz wrote:
> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
> actually have a dining room table
>
> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>
> Cheers
> Cathy(xyz)

The only time we eat at the formal dining table is when we have guests.
I would like that to change but I am outnumbered and resistance is
futile. DS eats in his high chair, I usually eat standing up while
managing him, and DH eats in his office (working), in the kitchen next
to us, or in the bedroom watching a movie (we have sort of a theater
set-up). We are pretty non-conventional types when it comes to
formality.

-L.

"-L." > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> cathyxyz wrote:
>> Sorry - all the talk about using good tableware reminded me that we
>> actually have a dining room table
>>
>> We usually eat in the "family" room. I can remember as a kid that my
>> Mom used to lay the table properly for *every* meal. She still does.
>> Only time we use ours now is for HIgh Days and Holidays...
>>
>> Cheers
>> Cathy(xyz)
>
> The only time we eat at the formal dining table is when we have guests.
> I would like that to change but I am outnumbered and resistance is
> futile. DS eats in his high chair, I usually eat standing up while
> managing him, and DH eats in his office (working), in the kitchen next
> to us, or in the bedroom watching a movie (we have sort of a theater
> set-up). We are pretty non-conventional types when it comes to
> formality.
>
> -L.
A dining room may often look formal, but it doesn't have to be, except in
one's head. If one thinks of a dining room with the standard set up and
everything laid out perfect, then it will be formal usually in your mind,
too. My dining room has a buffet that always has fruit or veggies on it,
a large desk (with all is usual clutter), two tansu's, one very colorful
and one a deep dark red, a warm friendly oriental carpet, loads of
paintings on every space on the walls, a nice view, and my large table
dining room table that always has on it jars of honey, some trays of
condiments, etc. One might say it is a formal dining room, and it looked
that way when we first moved into this house, but our messy way of living
has turned the room into a room to be in that is quite pleasurable.
By all means if anyone has a dining room that is being used for company,
turn your kids loose in the room and let them re-decorate!
Square footage is a horrible thing to waste.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall wrote:
> A dining room may often look formal, but it doesn't have to be, except in
> one's head. If one thinks of a dining room with the standard set up and
> everything laid out perfect, then it will be formal usually in your mind,
> too.

Our dining room is weird in that it holds only the dining table and
chairs. Here's pics (photos 6 and 7):

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/usenetlyn/my_photos

There isn't a lot of room to do anything but sit at the table. I do
use the table to do other things, like wrap packages, though.

-L.