THE TRUITT HOUSE EDIT
Come with us as we tell meaningful stories of preservation, restoration and hospitality. Explore Suffolk, Virginia’s rich history and share in our favorite experiences at The Truitt House.
The Storm Before The Party
Winter storms do not reward panic. They reward preparation—and then a willingness to let go.
You can make your lists, stock the pantry, and set things in motion, but once the sky decides, you’re no longer in charge. That isn’t so different from hosting.
You do your best work in advance. You think through the menu, the timing, the details that make people feel cared for. And then you step back. The weather will do what it does. People will arrive as they are. The night will be as good as the spirit you bring to it.
A Proper Table Is Not a Suggestion
Every host who has ever set a proper table knows this moment. The flowers are just so. The cards are written in your best hand. You’ve thought not only about who should sit where, but why — who will draw whom out, who needs a buffer, who will carry the conversation without realizing they’re doing the work. It’s invisible labor, and it’s the whole point.
Which is why nothing lands quite the same way as discovering that someone has quietly decided your careful arrangement was… optional.
Today’s Dear Mom question isn’t really about place cards. It’s about what happens when the structure you built — thoughtfully, generously — is treated as a suggestion. And what a host owes herself in that moment.
When You Want to Include Everyone But Don’t Have Enough Space…
My dining room table seats twelve. I’ve squeezed in fourteen more times than I can count, and it was cozy — the conversation was easy, the candles burned low, and it just felt right, the way it does when everyone’s happy to be there.
The point is, we were around the dining room table. Once you start reaching for the piano bench and the folding chairs, the evening takes on a whole different kind of personality. That’s perfectly fine — if it’s what you want. But if it isn’t, this is where a good host learns the art of making choices.
Dear Mom, How Do I Host - Prime Rib or Piñata? On Knowing When Not to Repeat Yourself
You host the same thing every year.
It’s not fancy. It’s just the dinner people associate with you — the one they ask about in advance. Someone always wants to know if you’re making that dish again, and you always say yes, because that’s what you do.
You don’t look at a recipe. You don’t debate the menu. You pull out the same serving pieces because they’re already right there. You know how long everything takes because you’ve done it enough times to stop thinking about it.
Dear Mom, How Do I Host - The Case for Cake and Why Holiday Traditions Matter
When you host, don’t forget the traditions. Write the recipes down. Make them with your children. Let them see the mess, the substitutions, the quiet confidence that comes from doing something the way it’s always been done — and sometimes, a little differently. Those moments become memories, and those memories travel farther than we ever will.
Dear Mom, How Do I Make It Look Like I Know What I’m Doing with Flowers?
You don’t need a cabinet full of vases to make flowers look beautiful at home. Start with three: one that makes a statement, one for a single potted plant, and one that makes cut flowers easy every time. Here’s how I use them — and how to make your flowers last longer while you’re at it.
Dear Mom, What kind of music should I play - my guest list is a little older than usual?
It started with a question from my daughter: “Dear Mom, what kind of music should I play when my guests are a little older?” That one line sparked a whole series. If you’ve ever wanted your gatherings to feel a little more intentional—but weren’t sure where to begin—this is for you.
Super Fun, Friend-Pleasing, Yes-I’ll-Have-Another Desserts
During our warm Virginia summer season, I try to keep the dinners light—but let’s be honest, I’m still going to want dessert. So I rely on a simple truth: the freezer never lets me down.
Soft Clothes, Full Hearts, and a Charcuterie Board
A cozy Sunday night at The Truitt House turned into the perfect gathering of old friends—with soft clothes, shared stories, and a relaxed charcuterie-style supper.
Westover Spring Luncheon at The Truitt House
A spring send-off with the Westover Garden Club—part potluck, part salad art show, and full of the kind of friendship and fun that makes hosting a joy. It was a beautiful afternoon celebration of a year well spent, all around the table at The Truitt House.