Our Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving at our house is typically a casual affair with just a touch of formality.  How can it not be somewhat formal?  Giving thanks for all of God's blessings just like our forefathers did many years ago is just so rich with tradition.  It is a day that commands thoughtfulness and appreciation!

I am very happy to have finished setting the table and preparing the dining room this early.  Now I have plenty of time to finish planning and preparing the meal.   I'm posting this early because I'm sure to be too busy next week and since I always get so much inspiration from all of your tablescapes I hope to return the favor.  As in, if there's anything you see here you might want to use, you still have time!  LOL!

I used my gold damask tablecloth layered with a checked black and beige fabric for the runner.

As I said, it's casual at our house and I am so thrilled to be able to use our newest casual dinnerware.  The Franciscan Ivy is sure to be our annual Thanksgiving china service now since it holds so many fond memories for both my husband and me.

I started with the Ivy dinner plates

Then switched out to my newest Lenox salad plates, although these will actually be our dessert plates for this meal.  I am sure we will want lots of plate space for sweets.  I don't serve salad at Thanksgiving anyway.

Then on the very top I used the ivy bread plates.

I decided to use both brown and green embroidered napkins for this tablescape.

I also mixed crystal with glass drinkware, a bit of casual with formality remember?

Stainless from my wedding.

I  printed out these fabulous place markers from one of our blogging friends at The Graphics Fairy.  Just pop on over to her site and copy off some for yourself.

This is how they print out.  She showed how she used these as napkin rings also.  Very neat idea!

I have serving pieces ready on the main table as well as my side tables.

A little touch of silver here and there.

I used my cloche for the centerpiece again.  Are you getting tired of seeing it yet?  I am!

Don't worry I will put away the cloche for Christmas, I promise.  But come on, the pilgrims are just too cute aren't they?

On the marble side table I have set up additional serving pieces.

What would Thanksgiving be without a gravy boat?

A casserole dish.

And a basket for dinner rolls!

On the sideboard, bit's of holiday decor will mix with desserts.

I just found this at a local store, Carolina Pottery, the other day, I just love it!

Can you imagine a pumpkin pie here?  Yum!  I can hardly wait!

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, are you ready yet?

 Please be sure and visit Tablescape Thursday for many more beautiful tablescapes and I am almost positive there will be a lot more Thanksgiving inspiration to see as well.

Thanks for visiting today!

Mary

Outside my Window

Monday I couldn't help but enjoy the wonder and beauty of the season outside.  This year it seems the colors are much more vibrant and beautiful then previously.  I know this probably isn't true, and that it is more likely the fact that I am here at home to enjoy these radiant colors outside my window.

Today for Outdoor Wednesday I want to share what I am seeing outside my windows this year.

Take a look at those colors outside the french doors from my den.

Beyond the screened porch the trees are just radiant!

It's such a warm cozy feeling to see this outside.

From the kitchen doors...

Our backyard is a riot of color.

The large window from my bedroom overlooks the backyard too.

The side windows in our bedroom overlook the side yard and it is beautiful too!

Looking out the dining room window I spy a beautiful golden treat.

From the front porch I was able to capture this beauty.

After seeing that beautiful yellow tree in the front I just had to come out on the deck in the back yard.

I am just in love with the mix of colors everywhere.

Oh what a beautiful sight!

Have you noticed how incredible the colors are this year?  I am very thankful for so many visions of warmth and vibrancy.  It's like God has decided to do some decorating outside for Thanksgiving too.  Hehe! 

I hope you enjoyed peeking out my windows today too.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

Mary

Acorn Transformation

Do you remember all the acorns I found?  Sure you do!  Let me show you again!

  I really do appreciate all the kind comments and suggestions on how to decorate with them.  For Metamorphosis Monday I want to show you a truly spectacular and informative transformation.

I had several suggestions to put them in a clear container with a candle.  I already had the raffia tied on this container and I thought it looked quite festive for thanksgiving.

I know what you what you are thinking right now.  Well, that's nice Mary, but truly spectacular and informative?  You probably think I'm stretching it just a bit don't you?  Well, look again! 

Did you see that?  No, well let me put it into better focus for you.

Look closely, yep, there's your truly spectacular metamorphosis ladies.  Disgusting worms have come out of my acorns into the bottom of my candle jar.  My husband called them maggots.  Not a very pleasant site when you are sitting there at the breakfast table eating your cereal and see this.

Of course I had to google this and see what was going on and here's what I found.

Many nut weevils feed on acorns. Adult females chew holes in immature nuts with their long slender snouts so they have a place to lay eggs. The larvae hatch and feed for several weeks inside the acorns. Eventually, the acorns drop. The weevil larvae move out soon after the nuts are on the ground. They burrow into the soil where they eventually pupate. These weevils are present every year, but their numbers vary

(Info in red, quoted from this source, click the link HERE)

The larger acorns I put here in these bowls.

Anyone care to come over here and see what's on the bottom of these bowls?  Eeuuw!

Yuck!  Looks like these acorns are going back outside for a bit longer to complete their Metamorphosis.  Now I just need to figure out where to contain them so the squirrels won't get them.

OMG!

(And do I really want those things in my grass?)

Thanks for stopping by today, be sure and let me know if you were here!

Mary

Carolina Craftsman Classic Show

Good Afternoon!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.  I certainly have been!  Yesterday, I feel like I have officially kicked off the holiday shopping season.  Every year we have two Craftsman Classic Shows here in town at the fairgrounds, one in Spring and one for Christmas.  I always enjoy attending this event for gifts and mega inspiration!  It was a lot of fun to attend with one of my BFF's, and certainly helped us both get in the mood for the season. 

I'm linking this post with The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.  Be sure and visit the previous link for more wonderful posts about the joys of the season.

I confess I totally forgot about my camera until halfway through the market, so I hope you forgive the fact that I don't have lots of photos to show you.   I think you will enjoy what I do have to show you anyway.

Random people shopping whom I accidentally flashed!  Ooops! Don't worry, I did apologize to this poor lady with the baby after I saw the flash go off on my camera in her eyes.  I didn't realize I had it on!  Geez!   Anywho, there were lots of booths and a variety of goods.  This year there were more jewelry booths then usual, a bit of a let down but pretty none the less.

We were hoping for more of these types of booths, with more Christmas decor, not too many though.

However, we kept plodding along and squeezing through the crowds and were quite rewarded when we found this booth.

This dear lady was selling the best thing we have seen in some time.  It is a beautiful beaded multi-functional barrette.  We stopped to watch her demo, then looked at the barrettes and fell in love.

There are different sizes for different hair thickness.

She was so incredibly sweet to offer up french twists demos on your own hair too.  Then, when you looked in the mirror and saw the beautiful barrette in you hair it was stunning!  She is showing a small one here, she used on on the side of her hair.  What sold me on these, other then how beautiful they were, is the fact that unlike a claw they lay flat on the back of your head.  I am thinking these will be much easier to drive around in.

They come complete with front and back page instructions on how to use it, thank goodness!  It shows many variations of styles you can do with these as well.  If you are interested in these you can order through her website at flexi8.com.

They were priced at the show $15.00 for one or two for $25.00, and there were some that had a little more extra bling that were $20.00 each.   When they are in your hair they sparkle like nothing I have ever seen before and feel very light weight.

Normally I would not consider spending this much for a barrette but after the summer we have had it was a no brainer.  I wear my hair up quite a bit when it's hot here in the south.  This is finally a way to pull your hair up in style and not have that big old ugly claw sticking out.  I have used large barrettes before quite often but end up breaking them.  The way this is made, doesn't look like it's going to fall apart easily. 

I bought the medium size.  I have long and fairly thick hair.  She said most people do not need the large clip that it's for really thick hair.  Since I can order them online I decided to start with these first.  I got a silver beaded one because I love how shiny and versatile this will look with most outfits.  I also bought a multi-colored beaded one to add just a bit more jazz when I'm feeling a little more sassy.  They were all so pretty it took us forever to decide which ones we wanted, but, atleast we weren't the only ones.  LOL!

I took a picture of this booth because I thought it was the coolest idea!  Look at that!  Those lamps are made out of boxes!  How cute is that?

Then for a special someone in my life I purchased something from this booth.  These are real butterfly necklaces that have been coated with a heavy resin coating. 

There were also necklaces,earrings and bracelets using whole butterflies or butterfly pieces mounted in between thin sheets of glass.  Just gorgeous!

In addition to that, he had quite a few sun catchers as well!

He also has a wonderful website where you can order too.  It is studio9ten.com.  Be sure and check it out if you are looking for something a bit more custom to give this year.

Well, that's all the photos I took ladies!

Hope you enjoyed what I did have to show you, thanks for dropping in!

Have a beautiful Sunday afternoon!

Mary