Leafy Fall Tablescape

OK, so like the other day last week (Monday to be exact) before all my world went into a tailspin, I was sitting in the kitchen on my counter stool trying to catch up on my emails on my laptop.  However, I kept gazing dreamily outside.  For those of you who email me, I do appreciate it, please know I am not ignoring you I am just such a dreamer at times.

I was sitting there looking at how beautiful everything looked outside.  I was also remembering how one of my old friends had commented she could not wait to see a fall tablescape done outside from me.  I knew that soon the beautiful fall foliage and the remaining leaves that were clinging to the trees would soon be gone.  I also realized it was a now or never moment.   So, like all good bloggers do I scurried about and created one more setting, this ones for you my sweet outdoorsy friend, I hope you enjoy!  I also hope all the rest of you bloggers over at Tablescape Thursday enjoy this setting too.

The leaves are falling and I haven't even picked up the rake once yet!  I am getting so mellow!

I've set a table for two, wish you were here!

I put out my newest Lenox dinner plates to start with.

Next, I added my green wheat plates for a very festive touch.

Then, I added my black and white toile plates.   Look how the scenes shows the man and lady gathering wheat on here too.  How appropriate for this time of year!

I really like this color combination together, don't you?

I also brought out the good silver!

Would you care for a glass of wine with your tea?

I love looking out in my yard this time of year, I hope you are enjoying it too?

My old black shawl makes a wonderful table throw.

I am really glad I did this and captured such warm Autumn colors.

Thanks for the encouragement to set this table, it was so fun thinking of what I would do if you were here.

Now I really should get back to those emails!   Speaking of emails, let me tell you about one of those emails I opened last week.  Would you believe the nice folks over at CSN Stores sent me a fantastic opportunity to do a review on one of their products.  I am going to have quite a decision on my hands, as there are literally thousands of items to choose from.  You may want to even check out all the wonderful products over at CSN Stores for your holiday shopping.  You won't be dissappointed.  Also, be sure to stay in touch and see what I choose to review so you can hear all about it too!

Thanks for visiting with me today!  Be sure and let me know if you were here. 

Happy Holidays!

Mary

Tabletop Santas

Hi Yall!  Since it's Tabletop Tuesday I thought I'd show a few of my Santa's.  Yes indeedy, I am one of those crazy Santa collectors.  I have actually given away some of my Santa's after moving into this house where there was less rooms to display them all.  I like having them scattered about and not all clustered together.  Since this house does not have a formal living room it was too much.   Not to worry though, I still have waaay too many!  I'm just showing you a few today that I have set up in the den. 

I am still knee deep in decorating for Christmas after taking a much needed break after Friday's tree and mantle decorating.  It literally took me all morning long Saturday to clean up before I could even begin to think of how to proceed with the rest of my decorating.  I was feeling quite overwhelmed from the clutter and all the recent events of the holidays and my sons accident, so I took a break from it all.

My son is continually doing quite well and actually drove himself to school today.  Yikes!  I know you have to let them get back in the saddle, so to speak, but I really did not want too. 

Here he is last night after going back to school yesterday.  His injured leg is his left leg so he can drive and we even practice drove with him on Sunday, well actually the Mr. did, but point is he's ready even though I'm not.  It's a good thing it's the holidays so I have other things to think of, and we can all keep moving forward.  God's perfect timing! 

On my coffee table I kept the candle in the tray but changed out a few things.  Not sure I am totally liking this look but it does fit the candy decor.  I have had this trio of ceramic gingerbread men for years.  They usually live in the kitchen at Christmas but have made their way into the den this year.

I only did a simple bow tied here but may redo this, I'm not really digging it.

Love this little star jar?  It's ceramic too, but sooo sweet looking!

This corner is kind of a mess, but I like it!

I really like the way this Santa looks next to my carriage cage.   I think they go together well, don't you?  Look there to the right and you'll see my paper whites are finally starting to shoot up.  I cannot wait for them to bloom!

Isn't he wonderful?

On top of my stand I moved the lamp from the other side of the room where the Christmas tree is now and added this Hunting Santa.

He came complete with his own hunting dog too.

On one of the end tables beside my sofa I added my Woodland Santa.

He came with the reindeer too.  These are two of my very favorite Santa's.

Oh, and these are two more of my very favorite Santa's!  I mean, Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

They are such a whimsical pair, just look at those details.  I always put them in this rocker because I don't have stands and they will not stand up on their own.

I just adore how old and wrinkly they are!  I just love em!

Well, I'd better stop playing on this computer and try to get some more accomplished around here today.

Thanks for visiting!  Be sure and stop by the party link above for more holiday visions and interesting vignettes.

Have a great Day!

Mary

Christmas is Coming!

Thank you all for your kind words about my son's accident.  You are right, it was every parents worst nightmare, but praise God all are well and on the mend!   Last night the two girls that were with him in the car, came over to visit my son awhile. In typical teenage girl fashion there was lot's of giggling and laughing, music to my ears!

On the other hand, I have been a very busy Santa's helper this weekend.  For Metamorphosis Monday and Seasonal Sunday, I want to show you how our den has transformed into a colorful Christmas Candy Land.  I'll just focus on the tree and mantle for this post.

Here's a wide shot of our den all trimmed out for Christmas this year.

My tree is all trimmed out this year too!  I added some of my new candy decor along with years and years of collected favorites and handmade pieces from my children and myself.

I just love the tulle ribbon I purchased this year from Hobby Lobby.

I still have yards and yards of this ribbon.  I love how soft it looks on the tree.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

These elves are my newest addition that were hidden in the bag two posts back.  I just love elves!  There is something so magically delightful about an elf.  I have several old elves from years ago, I could do a post on elves alone.  I am happy to see that elves have started to make a comeback over the last few years.  There are some really wonderful elves I have seen at Michael's this year.  I will have to wait for a 50% off sale on those.  I like how these elves add something magical to our old stockings.

The elves in the middle are not orange that's just more of my fancy camera work.  They are really a very bright red with lime green.  They are sitting on my sons stockings.   Yes, I did cross stitch these stockings for each of my sons.   I still have the pattern too.  I made each one their first year of life.  I don't know how I found the time to do it now, but I surely did then.  I remember it was so important to get them done in time.  I keep thinking I want to add a cuff on the top with their names embroidered but then it would cover up the names I cross stitched.  It sure would look a lot better though.

Here's a close up of my candy mantle.

This photo shows a few other things I already had that I made years ago.  To the left is a piece of hard candy that I made from styrofoam, glitter paint and plastic wrap.  In the center of the ribbon are some old red Christmas balls that were loosing some of their red paint. So, one year I decided to jazz them up.  Would you believe I sat down and painstakingly glued sequins all over these old balls?  Well I sure did, and I'm so glad I did!   I just love those sequined covered balls ever year I pull them back out.

My tree is topped with three beautiful copper stars.  They have started to age and turned slightly green now too.  I bought these three stars separately at a little shop in Charleston while visiting my SIL one year.  They are hand made and were sold separately.  I used copper wire to attach them together and they sit on a wooden stick we notched out to hold them.  There is a larger one in the middle and two smaller ones on each side.  I love having a star on top of the tree.  Because of the trio on my star, it reminds me personally of the father, son and holy ghost.  I added berries, green curly thingies and bows all around it this year too.

Oops!  I almost forgot to show it all lit up!

Can you tell what type of lights I use?

That's right!  I just have to have colored lights in my den. 

You should really see this tree in the evening.  Love it!

Well there you have it!  That's the beginning of Christmas at our house.  I still have 3 more trees to go.  Whew!  Don't worry only one more large tree though.

What about you?  Are you getting into the Christmas spirit yet?  I sure hope so, it will be here before you know it, so why not enjoy it as long as possible.  I plan too!

Thanks for visiting today!  Have a great Sunday and Monday!  LOL!

Mary

Counting my Blessings!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed precious time with your families.    We had quite an unusual Thanksgiving this year, but I have never been more thankful in my life.

We had my family over as planned, minus a few, and my son who lives in Charleston.  He didn't make it home because he is a young chef in school and working in one of Charlestons best restaurants.  I knew that was coming!  We had a very nice early evening dinner after delivering dinner to my in laws earlier in the day.  The cancer has progressed making it very difficult for my FIL to get out, since we are the closest of all the children it was an honor to be able to take it to them.  Only we weren't expecting to be delivering this meal with our youngest son on crutches.

Unfortunately our youngest son was involved in a very terrible automobile accident on Tuesday afternoon.  Four teenagers were involved in both cars.  It was an absolute miracle that all four teens are okay!  The wreck was only a few miles from our home.  Fortunately, I was home and able to get there right away.  Seeing your child pulled out of a car that has to be pried open by the fire department, strapped and braced onto gurneys and put into an ambulance along with two others is just plain terrifying!  I am so blessed to be able to say, all three teens were released from the hospital late Tuesday night with minor injures, praise God!  My son who took the brunt of the hit, had several cuts and scrapes from all the glass, bruising and a fractured fibula in his lower leg, thus the crutches.  It is a small fracture and should heal quickly according to the orthopedic surgeon we went to on Wednesday.  He is doing quite well, though yesterday wore him out a bit too much. 

Today I am skipping black Friday shopping and staying home to enjoy my wonderful family and put up the Christmas decor.  I can hardly wait to get started!  I have so much to be thankful for right here at home!  I wanted to share a little of last years decorations with you.  I hope to make some improvements this year but we shall see.  Please overlook the quality of these photos as they were definitely before blogging days.

This was our den last year.  Quite a few things have changed in here this year.

Here's my mantle from last year.  I told you I usually just do berries, I'm rethinking that this year.

Last years tree in the den, hopefully it will look quite different this year.

The dining room is going look quite different this year too, but I do love the way this room looked last year.

I always do a gold and silver and white tree in the dining room.  That will not change this year, but I have a few new things to add to this.

Last years front door.  This is going to be a challenge this year, I haven't even begun to think of what to do here other then a new wreath.

But...this is one thing that I hope will stay the same!  I just love it!

Hope you are enjoying the start of the holidays too!  I surely am!  There is no better way to enter into the holiday season then with a thankful heart.

God Bless!

Mary