The Old Abbey

... headquarters helped to set the table as Sam and Simmy gave their first dinner party of the new year. Oldest construction son had told Simmy to ask for something really expensive at Christmastime.
So... with hesitant shyness... unsure of what qualified for really expensive... Simmy asked for some glasses by Villeroy and Boch. Now, there is a company steeped in history.
"With the acquisition of the former Benedictine abbey in 1809, Jean-François Boch laid the foundation stone for progressive ceramic production in the region. Since 1842, the Old Abbey has been the main headquarters of the international group."  This quote taken from the following website...
http://www.villeroy-boch.com/en/afr/home/the-company/discover-villeroy-boch/place-of-interest.html
As she set the table, the Kerios roses were a lovely, vibrant, fresh, real (real flowers are my favorite), addition to all the German offerings.
Even the wine, brought by the guests, was of German origin... Simmy loved Riesling so it was definitely a well received gift.
Deep appreciation for the work of many hands can come from a simple investigation of the origins of... crystal, roses, and wine.
Kerio is said to be the rose of Kenya but the strong German accent in this little youtube video is a bit of a surprise... http://www.batianflowers.com/
... so, the evening was a very German dinner party... all around...

... but the key to a good time is the conversation.