Black Friday

Oh, sure, some folks went shopping . . . but some of us relaxed with good friends and comfort food . . .

There was already a pretty centerpiece ready to be used again . . .

And this time, the table is set in calming neutrals.  Pretty soon, we will be surrounded by Christmas colors!

I love that hour before a party starts, and the table is set . . .

The sun is setting and its rays are streaming through the windows.  It's such a lovely sight!

Won't you join me for an apéritif before the guests arrive?

Featuring:

Dinnerware - Traditions by Williams-Sonoma (my every day dinnerware)
Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Glassware - The Dollar Tree
Wheelbarrow Cellars (used here for red pepper flakes) - Pottery Barn (several years ago)
Linens - Pottery Barn Classic Linen in Flax
Mini Salt & Pepper Shakers - Crate and Barrel eons ago
Tall candlesticks - Marshall Field's (wedding present 30 years ago)
Short candlesticks - The Dollar Tree

Thanksgiving Day 2013

Our celebration was small - just my husband and sons - but lovely, and made to feel very special with their favorite dishes set on a colorful table.

Here's proof that you don't have to spend a fortune to put together a pretty table . . .

 

You've seen before most of the elements that make up this table . . .

 

The one new thing are the dinner plates - Rachel Ray Double Ridge Cobalt Blue, recently acquired at my local supermarket (Jewel/Osco) on a stamps-for-china program!  I'm still trying to complete the set before the program expires!  

 

 

And now, my favorite part:  The flowers!  There's a new supermarket near my office called “Mariano's” that carries beautiful blooms, very fresh and a little out of the ordinary.  Their florist was very accommodating as she put together this lovely centerpiece . . .

 

It was made up of Purple Matsumoto Asters, Terracotta Yarrow, Red-tinted Salidago (that looks almost brown), Craspedia (Billy Balls), Red Hypericum berries and pinecones - so vibrant!

The meal was extravagantly conventional - you can't mess with tradition, but along with the pumpkin pie, we enjoyed a delightful new treat:  Ina Garten's French Chocolate Bark - I'll share the recipe soon!  

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with joy, loving family and friends, good food, and a delightful tablescape.  God bless!

 

Linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Summer's Glory

Start with a glorious sunflower for inspiration . . .
 

 

Gather a bunch for unapologetic delight . . .

Add a rich, blue plate for contrast . . .

Make it a calico plate, smothered with wild flowers . . .

 

Simple burlap bows to tie the napkins . . .  

And the napkins must be yellow, the color of ripe corn . . .

Flatware that evokes unfurling flowers . . .

 

A pretty glass, as blue as the summer sky . . .

 

A wheelbarrow to hold the salt . . . 

The days may be getting shorter . . .

 

But summer is still alive with possibilities . . .
 

 

We may as well enjoy it . . .

Featuring:

Dinner plates - Blue Calico by Burleigh
Water goblet - The Dollar Tree
Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Napkins - Sferra, Mustard color
Placemats - Pottery Barn
White pitcher - Pottery Barn
Wheelbarrow Salt Cellars - Pottery Barn, from several years ago
Burlap ribbon - Joann's

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.  Stop by for some delightful inspiration.

Just a pinch of Irish

That's how much Celtic blood runs in this family . . . on my husband's side . . . maybe . . .

When asked, he always says:  “I'm English, Irish, Dutch, Polish, Italian . . . ” 

And he never deviates from that, with the sentence trailing off at the end . . .

But just because our Irish ancestry is extremely diluted, or possibly, non-existent . . .

. . . it doesn't stop us from celebrating St. Patrick's Day . . .

. . . like good ol' Americans . . .

. . . with a corned beef and cabbage dinner . . .

. . . and a modest nod to the green . . .

. . . a pinch of Irish, if you will . . .  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Details:

Placemats:  Classic Linen, white, from Pottery Barn

Chargers:  Tava, Espresso, from Pottery Barn

Dinner plates:  Mikasa French Countryside

Cabbage Salad Bowls:  Cavolo bowls from Crate and Barrel

Napkins:  Hampton Gardens by Raymond Waites at HomeGoods

Napkin Rings:  Bed Bath and Beyond

Green water goblets:  The Dollar Tree

Wine glasses:  The Dollar Tree

Candle sticks:  The Dollar Tree

Candles:  The Dollar Tree

Flatware:  My everyday flatware from Costco

Shamrock Plant:  Dominick's (our local grocery store)

I'm joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, and Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for her 5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl.  If you have a chance, you should definitely stop by for some tablescaping fun!