Are you a lover of great design, beautiful gardens, and delicious food served with great hospitality? All of that defines James Farmer!
Are you familiar with James Farmer? His books have graced my kitchen and decorated my tables and mantel for years. As I open each book, echoes of hospitality, celebration, exquisite design, beautiful gardens, great food and creating memories flood the pages.
If you are a southern girl, that Georgia designer, gardener and writer is known to you. His books are sold at some of my favorite gift shops.
He is best friends with Debbie Roker, Al’s wife, who is from his home town. Their conversations during visits are like many of ours with updates about characters from their mutual home town.
He worked alongside Jenna Bush Hagar at Southern Living. In turn, she wrote the forward for one of his cookbooks. Conversations about hospitality in the White House and a grandmother and mother who welcomed all were the impetus for such.
His sense of cherishing family, humor, and beautiful things are front and center with his speaking engagements…which is what brought me to this post today.
Do you remember the Paducah Garden Club event that I shared with you last summer?
An outdoor garden event that showcased local gardens.
Beautiful place settings…formal and not so formal gardens included.
Then there was a Flower Show this summer that I shared among the pages here.
Once again, beautiful tablescapes….
to a welcoming floral design that was stunning…
Beautiful garden arrangements were everywhere.
That club decided to bring James Farmer to Paducah for a speaking engagement.
There were my favorite vendors set up with flowers, garden decorations, and spring bulbs.
Frenchtown Station shared some of her amazing garden pieces.
If you are ever in Paducah, you need to visit.
We have the most amazing local artisan, J. and D.’s, who was there with simply exquisite hand made ceramic pieces for sale.
Yes! That flower pot and arrangement is hand created.
Be still my heart.
Then there were the foxgloves he created. Oh. My. Goodness.
Tulip Lane and Flower and Furbish also had beautiful things to sell.
Oh, the flowers! Aren’t they gorgeous?
And of course, there were books authored by James Farmer for sale.
And he would autograph them after his speaking with all of us.
There was catching up with dozens of friends…those who introduced me to new friends…and those whom I hadn’t seen in years.
Returning to normalcy and gathering together was so good for my heart.
But the best part of this event?
Hearing James Farmer speak.
His humor.
The hilarious small town stories.
From hello, yal, to cherished southern antics, my heart connected.
With an art of hospitality, he invited you in from that podium in a way that those without that gift simply can’t do.
He drew you in with laughter.
Familiarism.
Celebrating all that is important. From cherished family dinnerware to favorite family dishes, he made you grateful and thankful for those who had left impressions in your life.
A perfect season for thankfulness and getting back to focusing on what’s important with feet under my table.
His descriptions of living were so applicable and recognizable to my heart.
A bit of faith with a lot of humor brought pure joy.
An appreciation for his mama and grandmama and all family members warmed my heart.
Descriptions of those people who he watched and emulated were so delightful.
And of course, for those gardeners in the audience, there were reminders of how to prepare your garden for spring’s beauty which were wonderful.
If you EVER have an opportunity to hear him speak…Please go! You will be so glad you did.
Because gathering with feet under your table is important.
Celebrating life as often as you can is so very valuable.
Embracing all that you were created to be and not be “molded” into someone you are not is vital.
Creating moments with beauty and love is so needed today.
If you are curating your Christmas gift lists for you or others, please add his authored works to your lists for those who find these values important.
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Don’t forget what’s important, friends. Life is fleeting and time too short to miss moments gathered.
With Love from the Table,
