Faux Thanksgiving

This tablescape began because I decided I wanted to use a different tablecloth this year for Thanksgiving.  I only host Thanksgiving every other year.  This year is my year for the entire family to come to the house for the holiday. Last year, everyone went to their respective in-laws. So, there will be 11 adults (my  hubby and me, four daughters and four sons-in-law and my cousin who always joins in the fun and is indispensable for her chocolate silk pie and making the turkey gravy just before dinner starts!). There will also be 8 grandchildren this year (since baby Gianna Rose made her appearance 7 months ago!)  Anyway, I decided I wanted to "change things up a bit" and went searching for a brown and orange plaid tablecloth to go with my Friendly Village Johnson Bros.  plates.   You can see last year's table here.

Have you discovered that once it gets into November there is VERY LITTLE around that resembles fall?  Red and green dominate the stores.  I checked around and finally found the plaid cloth I wanted in Macy's.  Except, when I got it home I discovered only the EDGE was plaid and the main part of the cloth covering the table was actually solid burgundy in color!  So......I opened up the table with its four leaves and decided a "dry run" was needed to see if my dishes and this new cloth would be compatible.  So, you will be looking at the dress rehearsal for my Thanksgiving Day table.

HERE'S THE TABLE:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with my new tablecloth, with a bit of trepidation because it looked so dark and my previous tablecloths have been cream or gold. Sorry I isn't pressed it yet; afterfall, this is a practice run!

My dish stack starts with a silver charger.  This is actually quite a switch for me. I usually use my brown wicker patterned chargers with my Thanksgiving dishes, but they just seemed too dark against the burgundy; I tried my gold chargers, too, but they added another color and it was confusing.  The silver chargers especially fit because I knew I'd be using my late mother-in-law's silverplate flatware for the first time and the silver chargers would tie this together.

Next came my treasured Friendly Village plates. I was pleasantly surprised that the accent color on the plates was not as red as I first thought and actually reflected the burgundy color of my new tablecloth! This new look may just work!!

My salad plate was the next addition.  The colors are not as bright as they are in person, but I hope you can see that this combination just might be successful!

I've always loved the square shape of these salad plates: Johnson Bros. was doing this long before the square-shaped plate became so popular!

To top off the stack I placed the napkins that match the tablecloth.  At first I had chosen cream-colored napkins when I thought the whole cloth was plaid, but when I realized the cloth had a solid-colored center, I went back to the store and got the matching plaid napkins. The look was much better.  I used my horn-o' plenty napkin rings that have been part of my Thanksgiving decorations for many years!

The place setting is completed with my Friendly Village goblets;  a placecard holder made from a pinecone and a faux fall leaf that will eventually hold the name of the guest (I got this idea from another blog; I'm sorry to say I can't remember which one, but in my comment I mentioned to the blogger that I would be "borrowing" her idea and was very grateful.  If anyone knows where the idea came from, please let me know so I can acknowledge this creative person).  The most honored item on this year's Thanksgiving table is the silverplate flatware that belonged to my mother-in-law who passed away last year and left a huge gaping hole in the fabric of our family. The pattern is from the 1847 Rogers Bros. Silverplate Collection, and the pattern name is Heritage. I wish it had photographed better.  I hope you can appreciate the delicate pattern!  I absolutely LOVE it and am proud to have it as a part of our family gatherings.

The centerpiece is placed on two placemats that I purchased at the same time as the tablecloth.  I topped these placemats with my ceramic leaf bowl my hubby purchased for me at the Knott's Berry Farm's gift shop! I filled it with faux gourds, pinecones and leaves.  I nestled it on a faux wreath from Michael's.  Alongside the bowl are Pilgrim candlesticks that I've had for so long, I can't remember where I got them!  I also added two votive candle holders for some extra sparkle.

The accent pieces on the table include two of the serving bowls from the Friendly Village Collection and the ever-present cut glass celery dish from my Grandmother.  This dish is on the family table at every holiday!!

So, some fall leaf scatter on the table, and I do believe the table is complete! I will probably remove the centerpiece (except for the candles) so that the "feast" can be placed on the table, but I am so happy I have a new look for my Thanksgiving table.  It wasn't what I was looking for, but it has turned out to be a happy surprise at how well my new tablecloth and napkins complement my favorite Johnson Bros. dishes!  I'm glad I did a practice run and didn't just return the tablecloth after opening it up!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, dear Readers, and thank you for viewing my trial run.  Now I just have to press the tablecloth and wash the dishes and glasses since they've been in storage!

I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net
and Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com
Thank you, ladies, for giving us a place to share our special tables!

If you'd like to become a follower, please go to the top of my blog, fill in your email address where indicated, and hit "Submit".

I love your comments.  Your encouragement is always appreciated!     Thanks, Rosie
                           

In Honor of the Bundt Pan!

Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen issued a challenge to celebrate National Bundt Day on Nov. 15th.  Who knew such a day existed?

I approached this challenge with some anxiety.  I am NOT a baker.  But, I do like to participate in Kathleen's challenges, so I looked around the kitchen, saw some VERY ripe bananas and checked out Google to see if a recipe for Banana Bundt Cake existed.  The first one I found looked perfect: I had almost all the ingredients (just needed some sour cream) and the instructions weren't difficult.

This is my Bundt Pan.  It replaced one I had had for many, many years and I especially like it because it is silicone coated, and NOTHING sticks to it!  I've actually only used it once before, so I'm glad it will be getting some use!

Fast forward to now when the cake is in the oven and I'm looking around my kitchen remembering why I don't bake:  there are bowls and utensils everywhere and batter  is splattered on everything! (I also can't find the cap for the vanilla! I hope it's not in the cake!!)  I don't have a standing mixer, so I used my hand mixer and batter would spit out whenever I added an ingredient.  Also, there is too much Math involved in baking! Fractions were never my strong suit and doubling or halving quantities throws me into a sweat!  And, bottom line, there is no margin for error.  With a pot roast, I can add water or serve extra ketchup if the recipe has issues, but in baking, the components will either blend together and create something scrumptious, or all of my efforts will have been for naught!  I'll be back in 25 minutes...........

Well, it does smell good around here.  I've set a table for a breakfast tea.  The menu will consist of Banana Bundt Cake, assorted teas, and orange juice.  I will offer coffee, but that will be served directly from the coffee pot.

Here'e My Table:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with the reverse side of a placemat I bought last year at Pier One.

My dessert plate as well as the serving pieces for this table were actually my first set of everyday dishes after I got married.  The pattern is Cafe Classico and it was made by Nancy Calhoun.  These dishes were purchased at the Pottery Shack, a wonderful store in Laguna Beach, CA. It has since closed, but I have found plates in this pattern on Replacements. com.  I have since changed my everyday dishes to Polish Pottery, but these dishes are still a favorite of mine. I love the colors and cheery pattern of flowers!

My place setting is a simple one since this is a very simple meal.  The setting is completed with new napkins I found at HomeGoods (and just knew I'd find a use for them!)  and white porcelain napkin rings I found while antiquing.  I thought the rose design would go well with the runner I used for the centerpiece.  The flatware is my go-to set from Mikasa, called Regent Bead.  The mug is from the Cafe Classico collection.  The juice glasses were found at a swapmeet; I love the ladybug accent with the green leaves!

The centerpiece starts with a Tea Towel I found while visiting the Lincoln Library in Springfield, IL. (If you have the opportunity to visit this landmark, please do.  It is interesting and inspiring!)  I LOVE the design on this towel and especially enjoy one of Lincoln's quotes which is printed on it.  It says, "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."  A fitting thought for all of us who can use a sense of optimism at times.  A pitcher for orange juice and a teapot from the Cafe Classico collection sit alongside the honoree at this table:  my HOMEMADE Banana Bundt Cake!

Accent pieces on the table consist of a cake knife and server from HomeGoods and the sugar and creamer from the Cafe Classico collection.

The recipe came from http://rasamalaysia.com/banana-bundt-cake-recipe.  I followed it exactly, except I did add 1/2 C. of chopped walnuts and 1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate morsels.

I have to say, this cake is moist and delicious. I sprinkled the top with Confectioner's Sugar and felt it was more than sweet enough.  All in all, this challenge was fun to complete.  It put me out of my comfort zone because I didn't use a cake mix, but  I do feel I succeeded!! (And the kitchen got a really good cleaning when I was done!!!)  I'm so glad I had a chance to use my former everyday dishes. I had forgotten how much I like them.  Happy National Bundt Day........

I'll be linking up to Kathleen's National Bundt Day Challenge at www.cuisinekathleen.com,
                               Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net and
                                Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com
Be sure and visit these sites to enjoy all the creativity and lovely tables; especially as the holidays approach!!

I love to read your comments.  They really do make this hobby so much fun.

If you'd like to become a follower, just go to the top of my blog, fill in you email address where indicated, and it "Submit"!  Thanks......

Another Type of Halloween Witch!

The inspiration for this table came the day I opened a package from FedEx and discovered these darling witch glasses that I received from Jenna at the Painted Apron.  I was so excited when I learned I had won four of her adorable witch glasses in one of her giveaways!! What a thrill!! Many thanks, Jenna, for your creativity and generosity!!

As I started to think about this year's Halloween tablescape, I knew that I wanted to highlight the joy and whimsy of the witches on these glasses, so I decided the table would reflect the fun nature of a happy Halloween witch:  one that doesn't scare and reach out with crooked fingers, or toss back her head with a wicked laugh; but a Halloween witch who is more prone to dressing in brightly-colored tights, zipping around on a broom which occasionally gets left behind after a journey of fun, and one whose hat flies off while zooming around in glee!

Here's my Halloween Table:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with the Halloween tablecloth I bought at HomeGoods last year.  I absolutely love the color combination of white, black and orange.  Do any of you use this color combination on your table for occasions other than Halloween? It's so striking.  This cloth happens to have a fine silver thread through it as well.

Next, I have my spider web placemat from the Dollar Tree store.  I HATE spiders and try to keep them out of my Halloween decor, but these placemats are my one concession for the holiday.

My dish stack starts with a black dinner plate labeled Zanzibar from the Home Collection at J. C. Penney's.  I like the pebbled border on this plate.

On top of this I've added my orange dinner plate labeled Stoneware Dinner Plate from the Home Design Collection at Rite Aid! (a surprise find at a local pharmacy!)

My stack is completed with a napkin from Pier One that reminds me of candy corn!  I used a napkin ring from Bed, Bath and Beyond and tried to shape the napkin into the figure of a witch by adding a witch hat pick from Dollar Tree, and tying the napkin with Halloween ribbon.  I also took apart a garland of witches' hats from Michael's and added a hat to each place setting.

The place setting is completed with orange flatware from Walmart, and the place of honor at the place setting is the glassware from Jenna at the Painted Apron.

For the centerpiece, I started with a candy dish from Tuesday Morning that is perched on  black mesh netting.  I love the witches' shoes that are acting like a pedestal.  Filled with Halloween candy, you'll notice the witch's broom that has landed on the cauldron of candy!  The votive candle holders are from Pier One.

As accents for the table, I placed two Halloween plates I bought from J.C. Penney's many years ago. They are usually in my wall plate hanger for this time of year.

So, my Halloween table is complete! I hope I achieved my desire to place the accent on a different type of Halloween witch. I'm looking forward to seeing the smiling faces of all the trick-or-treaters that will be showing up on Halloween. And, maybe there will be a few with brightly colored tights, a large pointed hat and a whimsical smile that mirror the figures on my new Halloween glasses!! Enjoy your Halloween celebration!!

I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at  www.betweennapsontheporch.net
     and Christine's Table It! at www.rustic-refined.com.  Thank you, ladies, for all your efforts to keep  
     these parties going!

I love to hear your comments.  They are always encouraging! Many thanks!!

If you'd like to become a subscriber, just go to the top of my blog, fill in your email address where indicated, and hit "Submit"! Thank you...

A Purple Fall? Really?!

I approached this fall table with trepidation.  I had bought new salad plates for a fall table, but when Kathleen from Cuisine Kathleen issued a challenge for a fall table with the rules being: NO orange, lots of purple, plus a requirement that it had to "scream fall", I was in a real quandry. So, I started to plan my table.  I knew I could create a centerpiece without too much trouble, and I did have some purple items in my tablescaping stash, but I REALLY wanted to use my new salad plates that had been patiently waiting in my dish closet for recognition.  So, this is what I came up with:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with a tablecloth I had gotten at Anna's Linens.  I had been wanting to use this colorful cloth for a while and this seemed like the perfect time.  I always associate fall with "apple pickin' time" and with the colorful apples on this cloth, it was part of my plan to have my table "scream fall"! Luckily, the apples are red, the pears yellow and the grapes purple!

Next came my purple straw placemat I found on sale at HomeGoods.  I love these round placemats that are so popular now; they act like chargers in a plate stack and really help delineate the beginning layer of the stack.

My purple dinner plates from Anna's Linens were an obvious choice for the next layer.

The next addition to my table could eliminate me from the challenge, but I just couldn't help it.  These salad plates from Hobby Lobby jumped into my shopping basket in the middle of summer!  I'm hoping the "touch" of orange gets covered by the napkins, or maybe looks more gold than orange in the photos (wish I knew if photoshop could change the color of something!) Anyway, I have been waiting to use these colorful plates (they are marked Fall Table, 2013; now I know why they were on sale this July!) for a while, and as far as tablescapes go, they don't really have a long shelf life, since these colors won't work in many other seasons!  I also thought the colorful pattern would work well with the tablecloth and add more of a "country feeling" to the table.

To top the stack I chose a green napkin from Pier One and napkin rings from Bed, Bath and Beyond. I then decided to add a band of burlap ribbon around the napkin and a faux fall leaf to make the place setting reflect fall a bit more.

I completed the place setting with my Treble Clef flatware from World Market (it matches the napkin rings well).  I also added my purple wine glasses from Hobby Lobby.

The centerpiece is grounded with an antique wooden shoe polish box I found while antiquing two weeks ago on a road trip through Ventura. It is resting on some straw from Michaels.  I placed the matching napkin from the new tablecloth on the bottom of the box and added the following to the display: faux purple flowers, faux grapes, a white ceramic pumpkin  and a grapevine wreath all found at Dollar Tree. The wooden thread spools were found while antiquing in Santa Cruz. I then added random faux fall leaves, hoping to make it look like they just landed on the table from a passing fall breeze!  I placed an eggplant in the front for some added interest, and added purple!  Flanking the box are two purple votive candle lanterns I recently found at Target!

For accents I added two pieces.  One is a wooden box I found at Michaels (for the "Apple Challenge" last year!) that I filled with a mango and apples to coordinate with my tablecloth and the fall season of apple pickin'!  The other accent piece is a flat pottery piece made by a very dear friend (actually my roommate from college: we live 3,000 miles apart, but are as close as ever after 49 years of knowing each other! Thank you, June!)  This piece holds a place of honor in my home, and I'm glad I got to share it with you on this table. My hubby just purchased the wooden spoons from our adventure to the William-Sonoma store this past weekend!

So here is my purple fall table.  I don't know if it "screams fall", but perhaps it whispers it to you.  I had fun completing this challenge and giving a unique look to a fall tablescape.

I'll be linking up to Christine's Table It!  on Monday at www.rustic-refined.com
                               Kathleen's Let's Dish! on Wed. at www.cuisinekathleen.com    and
                               Susan's Tablescape Thursday  at www.betweennapsontheporch.net

Many thanks, ladies, for continuing to host these wonderfully fun parties!! Be sure to take a look at all the creativity going on at these sites!!

If you'd like to follow my blog, go to the top, fill in your email address where indicated and hit       "submit"! Thank you.

Many thanks for your comments.  Your encouragement is always appreciated.    Rosie

Revisiting A Fall Table

I have been trying to get a Fall Table together for weeks, but as they say, "Sometimes life just gets in the way!".  I thought I'd bring back a table from last year because I don't like to stay out of the loop too long. So, please enjoy my table from last year!

Just click here.

Happy October!!!



I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net.
Thank you, Susan, for hosting!

Rosie