Shopping rules . . .

I dislike clothes shopping, so I follow three basic rules to keep me away from the stores as much as possible:

Rule #1:  When I find an article of clothing that fits me well, I buy it in as many colors as are available (that are flattering to my coloring, of course, you won't find me buying anything orange . . . ). 

Rule #2:  I stick to the classics and avoid fads so very little goes out of style.

Rule #3:  I try to buy good quality stuff, and take excellent care of it to stretch its life.

Today's 60% off sale was a delightful little bonus . . . Oh, wait!  There was a second bonus:  I've gone down a size!  Not bad . . . not bad at all . . .

So, what's your shopping secret . . . ?

Thanksgiving Tablescape

This year, Thanksgiving was an intimate family dinner, with just my husband and two sons.  The youngest one had to dash off to work in the evening, so we dined early.  We prayed and broke bread over our kitchen table . . . 

The new dishes are transferware - Delamere Woodland Brown, by Spode.  Transferware was developed in England in the 18th century.  A pattern is transferred from a copper plate to a special paper, and then onto pottery.  Thousands of beautiful transferware patterns exist, and many are quite rare.

I've had a soft spot for woodland creatures since the first time I watched Bambi.  When I saw this flatware at Between Naps on the Porch, it was love at first sight.  Do we ever really grow up . . . ?

Pheasants . . . geese . . . deer . . . quail . . . hare . . .

Spode designed the flatware as a perfect compliment to the dishes . . .

A few pheasant feathers on the centerpiece to continue the theme . . .

These linen placemats, made by Sferra, were a wonderful discovery.  I loved the curry color and the generous hemstitched border. 

Marlis is entirely responsible for my having fallen in love with these napkins.  Here is the tablescape in her blog where I spotted them for the first time.  She never ceases to be a source of inspiration to me.  It's so nice that decorating rules have eased the restriction of combining checks with floral patterns.

A bird's eyeview of the table . . . I'm thankful for tall sons . . .

I used amber water goblets and my mother's crystal wine glasses.  I like how the diamond edge on the dishes is echoed in the pattern etched on the wine glasses.

Are white roses ever wrong . . . ?

I set the table early, but took more pictures as the light changed in the room . . .

I don't know that a lotus pod belongs in this traditional floral arrangement, but I liked the brown . . .

I am so thankful for our many blessings.  May God continue to watch over us all!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Dinnerware - Spode, Delamere Woodland Brown
Flatware - Woodland by Spode
Amber water goblets - French Countryside by Mikasa
Wine glasses - My mother's crystal (made in Hungary)
Linen Placemats - Made in Italy by Sferra, Curry (color), Horchow
Napkins - Pier1
Mercury Glass Pumpkin - Costco
Wreath - Crate and Barrel - Many, many years ago

A beautiful Autumn day . . .

“Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth . . . ”

—Horace (65-8); Roman lyric poet



Only treats . . . no tricks.

“Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.”  —Judith Olney

Chocolate mini-cupcakes . . .

. . . with caramel frosting and a turtle crunch topping . . .

Pumpkin Pie . . .

No holiday would be complete in my children's eyes unless I made their favorite vanilla custard . . .

It's nice to have choices . . .

The Forbidden and The Fermented, for those of us trying to eat a little healthier . . .

And, of course, candy . . .

“Backward, turn backward,

O Time, in your flight,

Make me a child again

just for tonight!”

—Elizabeth Chase Allen

A Pumpkin Halloween

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern . . .

You are such a funny sight . . .

As you sit there by the window . . .

Looking out at the night.

You were once a sturdy pumpkin growing on a vine . . .

Now you are a Jack-O-Lantern, see the light shine.

Happy Halloween!

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, Photo of the Day at Two Peas in a Bucket and Cuisine Kathleen

Jack-O-Lantern Salad Plates and Mugs - HomeGoods

Black Dinner Plates - The Dollar Tree (Thank you, Patti!)

Flatware - Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings

Salt and Pepper Shakers - Hallmark (last year)

Tablecloth and Napkins - The Vermont Country Store

Napkin Rings - Bed, Bath and Beyond

Pumpkin Centerpiece and Candle Holder - Marshall's

Water Goblets - I've had these forever!

Featuring Patti C.

Patti and I came together for the first time as room mothers for our then 2nd graders - her son, Joey, and my son, John - and in the process, I found a kindred spirit in the art of entertaining.  We were so awesome as room mothers, all modesty aside, that parents began asking, not who their child's teacher was going to be for the coming year, but who the room mothers were going to be.  We gave those kids some wonderful parties and Patti and I had a blast.

Each of us, I think, could be creative and resourceful, but together we were simply dynamite.  Patti brought the fun to the team:  From Santa hats at Christmas, to personalized cakes that read "Happy Birthday, Jesus" (this was Catholic school, so we were able to do that); from an ice cream and candy buffet at the end of the school year- which we did even before ice cream and candy buffets were the in thing, to huge bouncy balls for everyone.  There wasn't a holiday in which she and I didn't put something together that was unique and slightly over the top. 

My own contributions, in light of Patti's exuberance and energy, were rather mild.  I was the funds keeper for a little while, until our money ran out, which happened, oh, I don't know . . . around Halloween, I think.  Oh, I also contributed the idea of putting together a tea party for the kids on Valentine's Day, complete with silver service (one of the parents caught our enthusiasm and volunteered her set). 

This was also the year in which our sons made their first communion, so Patti and I seamlessly continued our newly begun tradition of comparing our plans, and borrowing good ideas from each other.  We have never stopped.

Here is a picture of Patti with her two amazing children, Joe (alas, he's no longer Joey), and Francesca.

So, it wasn't all that unusual when Patti called me last week to brainstorm.  She was giving a Halloween party for 20, taking advantage of the fact that her daughter, Franki, was going to be home from college.

With less that a week to plan and shop, and putting in countless hours after work, these are the tables she somehow managed to put together:

This was the kitchen table, set up for Franki and her friends.  Yes, indeed, this was only the kid's table.

It looks like the first guest has arrived . . .

This was the adult table, or rather, "The Witches Table" . . .

A closeup of the place setting . . .

Treats for all visiting witches and warlocks . . .

Her beautiful collection of orange serving bowls . . .

This one was used for polenta . . . Did I mention that Patti is also a terrific cook?

My favorite . . .

And last, but by no means least . . . dessert.  Pudding shots, cupcakes, cookies, candies of all sorts . . . These treats look delightfully wicked!

So . . . Budget:  Ridiculously low . . . Creativity:  Endless . . . Fun:  Oh, yeah.  This is one for the books.

Here are some of the details:

Zebra Plates:  Anna's Linen

Orange Chargers:  Michael's

Tablecloths:  K-Mart and Target

Black Plates:  Dollar Store

Napkin Rings and Napkins:  Anna's Linen

Thank you, Patti, for letting me feature your deliciously ghoulish table on my blog.  You are such an inspiration to me!



Autumn Beet Salad

This salad is wonderful.  I promise all those non-beet eaters out there you'll love it!

Here are the ingredients: 

• Roasted beet slices
• Red leaf lettuce
• Romaine Lettuce
• White Onion Rings
• Toasted Walnuts
• Soft, creamy goat cheese
• Your favorite vinaigrette

To roast the beets:

Wash the beets and cut off both ends.  Discard the leaves.  Wrap the beets in aluminum foil and place directly on the rack of a 350° F pre-heated oven.  Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let them cool on the sink for 15 minutes.  Remove aluminum foil and rub off the skin under running water.  Slice into rounds.

Try Feta cheese, or Blue cheese to change it up . . . And pecans instead of walnuts . . .

Try it.  You'll like it!