Sunday, November 11, 2012

Aching for Acorns a Thanksgiving's Tradition

A IS FOR ACORNS  
B IS FOR BIRD 
C IS FOR CANDLE AND CREAMER 
D IS FOR DISHES 
S IS FOR SQUIRRELS 
T IS FOR THANKS FOR THE BEGINNING OF 
THE TRADITION OF A THANKGIVING TABLE.
 

 THANKSGIVING WITH THE PREPARATION OF FOOD
BUT THE BEST PART IS SETTING THE TABLE
Think of the abundance of different ways to prepare a Thanksgiving feast from North to South and from East to West.
My first thought was the abundance of different nuts in the fall with one of the most common is the acorns falling from an oak tree. The squirrel has the job of planning ahead for the winter by placing nuts in storage.
These giant acorns in the centerpiece are too large for the squirrels in my yard but they capture the sense of the abundance of food we share at Thanksgiving.
 
 We can share the harvest on Thanksgiving Day. 
 
P is for Pilgrims and Pumpkins
The Pilgrims were blessed with the friendship of the American Indians.They shared this friendship with a feast we now celebrate as Thanksgiving.
 
 C is for Corn 
 which was planted by the American Indians and they shared their knowledge of this wonderful source of food with the Pilgrims.
 
 P is for Place Setting
and the first is the placemat of striped fall hues and golden swirls of leaves and acorns;
 
 then the place plate with fall foliage embossed on its rim; 
 
the rusts, oranges, and brown hues of leaves and fallen acorns;  
 

a dinner plate with a gray wooden style rim,

 the bird on an oak tree with colorful autumn leaves of crimson, gold and orange plus the acorns clinging to the branch, 
 
   the salad with the same lovely autumn leaves;
 
 an embroidered gold leaf on the red wine
 and gold checked napkin
 plus the brown hues flatware;  
 


 presents a totally completed table setting for you!
 
 T is for Teapot
and a hot tasty pot of  "Sweet Harvest Pumpkin" by Celestial Seasonings or "Pumpkin Spice" by Bigelow for a cool fall day.  One of these will be choosen
 on Thanksgiving Day!
 Bird on the
 
 Branches!
 
 Squirrels and leaves,
 
 acorns and pinecones,

 warmth of the candles,
 
 eating the turkey,

 happy times,

 a Thanksgiving with tea in a pretty fall teapot,
 
 cream in a creamer,

 brown sugar in a sugar bowl,

 all kinds of  plenty 

 and squirrels,
 
 autumnally decorated fabrics and raking the leaves,

 brings a ring of leaves and acorns for jumping into the pile,

 a knife to cut up the turkey,

 will the food BEE prepared on time for the feast,
 
 the juicy cold apple cider,

 and a mug of spicy tea,

 will leave us with thoughts of Thanks for such a wonderful Day,

 a moist delicious turkey,
 
with a pecan pie for dessert
and an acorn place card to write our name on, 

 the wind can blow the leaves
 
 and cause the acorns to fall!
 We will all be safe
in the knowledge of
GOD
and
HIS BOUNTY! 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

MASQUERADE

HALLOWEEN HOORAY

Trick or Treaters are gracing the table ready for a fun party!
The center of the table is decorated for the 31st of  October! 

Jackie-o is dressed in sophisticated attire of  her 60's style costume including the mini dress, striped stockings and purple go-go boots.
She has a black party mask so she can keep her identity a secret!
Her jack-o-lantern bag is perfect for collecting Halloween candy and cookies!
Jack-o is so dapper in his stylish purple vest and striped tie straight out of the 60's style book.
He dons his black bat wings and covers his identity with the bat wing mask.
Known for lovin' to party he will carry off the amazing loot in his purple cat bag!
Don't fear Jack-O-Lantern is here to guard the candy with his fierce grin. Just touch his nose and he will play his  monster music and wave his pointed hat!
 
Wrapping Jack and Jackie is a sheer table runner decorated with more laughing and toothy Jack-o-lanterns.
 The table covering is printed with the silhouettes of  witches and cats. Who prance and dance in front of the haunted houses and a yellow moon!
Layer upon layer of happy Halloween decor, the first represents the bright yellow moon!
The second is the jack-o-lantern grinning back at you.
 The third is the blood red square dinner plate!
 The fourth is the witches silhouettes dancing in the light of the moon on one of the salad plates!
The complete place setting with the Halloween hues to start the party.
 Accessorizing each place is a golden napkin and an orange knot napkin ring.
Libations are a must, please use your jack-o-lantern straw to sip the ghoulish punch  from your black silhouette glass. Your golden yellow footed stemware will contain a witch's brew.  These delicious nonalcoholic drink recipes are from Kraft.com.  
To light the table when the sun's rays set on this spooky night is the happy and scary faces of many jacks.  Your own votive candle holder is by your side.
 Keeping you in treats is this high stepping jack-o-lantern waiting to be wound!
As the witches begin their dance and the darkness descends, the orange candle will glow while standing on the tall glass holder, also lighted from the inside, as we party the night away!
 
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
JACK-O AND JACKIE-O
WILL
TRICK OR TREAT
YOU
SO ENJOY THIS SPOOKTACULAR BALL!!!
 

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Tea Time Ladies

 Royal Doulton Collection 

The beginning of my collecting was on a trip to the Bahamas and Bermuda, it was when I was my first collage Spring break.  
 
 While I was in Bermuda, I saw a very pretty lady figurine, but I was unable to purchase her. When I got to the Bahamas I found another lady called Spring Morn and she became my very first figurine in my collection.  
 
 I really liked the ruffles and her pink coat. She holds her bonnet so the wind does not lift it out to sea. 
 
 While on a trip through East Texas with my beloved husband, we found the long lost but not forgotten figurine from Bermuda. This lady was named Easter Day. My husband said lets get her now or we may never find her again. So now my first found love of Royal Doulton Ladies joined my collection with the encouragement of my true love.
The  details like the flowers and umbrella on theses Ladies is a result of  the special Royal Doulton's procedures of painting. Generally each Lady is painted by hand by a male or female artist, but the face is always painted by a man. Doulton had found the women ended up painting their own face on each Lady.  
 
On our first trip to England we were luckly to tour the Royal Doulton factory in Stoke on Trent. We watched in amazement as the figurines grew into a true Lady with the Doulton stamp applied after rigid standards were met.
 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Autumn's Sunflowers

SUNFLOWERS SO SUNNY 
 Here we are already in the lovely beginnings of fall. It was so fortunate to find the wooden green basket with the sunflower decorations for it is wonderful for the centerpiece. I purchased the green milk bottle vases for the sunflowers before finding the basket and luckly they fit.


SCARECROWS SO NOT SCARY
I was shopping for fall accessories when I spotted these scarescrows with sunflowers on their clothing.


BOY WITH BASKET
The detail on their back of the tiny woven basket caused me to pause and think what could I place there that is small and light weight enough, I'm still looking. His holding the pitch fork reminds me of that certain painting!



GIRL WITH  GRIN 
What I love is the happiness on her face as if they are out strolling to enjoy the fall weather!
YELLOW SUNSHINE  
The sunshine certainly is brighting the yellow and green in the glass candle holders.  

 SUNFLOWERS
The beginning of the linens is the celadon linen tablecloth, then the darker green ribbed runner.  A Style Happy sunflower place mat anchors each setting.
I like the detail of the Style Happy linens for I also used them in the Sea shell post.

PRETTY PLATE
GTB ceramics created the Sunflower plates and the rim's antiqued edging adds interest to the design. The yellow flatware adds to the sunny feel.
SIGNATURE
 The artist signature I was unable to decifer and if you know this artist I would appreciate the information! The sunflowers are lovely and the 06 date is recent.

FLOWER BOWL 
The bowl is from Harvest Spice and has the sunflower shape to accompany the theme.

 
True FRIENDS are light bright SUNFLOWERS
that never fade away,
even over distance and time
 
Marie Williams Johnston 

WELCOME FRIENDS
 The napkin, napkin ring and sign are from three different stores.  The sign was a great addition for I love the thought of sunflowers with friendly faces.
 ICED TEA or LEMONADE
LIQUID GOLD
Franco glassware has so many styles preduced in Italy.  When I find this company I love to chose their different styles. Since the glassware and ceramics are both from Italy they seem agradable!

ANTICIPATING APPETIZERS
Love the carrier for the sunflower plates and had to show the tied yellow ribbon package.
I was contemplating an appetizer, maybe a wrapped sausage roll for a fall taste. 
 

 
Space for the SUNFLOWER,
bright with the yellow glow,
To court the SKY.
 
Caroline Gilman, To The Ursulines
 
 
 

 
And the SUNFLOWER by in
AUTUMN beauty stood.
 
William Cullen Bryant 
 
Bring me the SUNFLOWER crazed
with the love of LIGHT 
 
Eugenie Montale 

 
SHARE THE SUN
 
 SUNFLOWERS
 

When I envision a table, the theme can be used for fall is of colored leaves, pumpkins, mums, sunflowers or other inspirations.  Finding the sunflower ceramics was just the beginning for I love hunting for the other accessories to embellish the tablescape.  As the hot days fade to the cooler autumn breezes I will pick up the golden yellow goblet with sweet iced tea and toast the coming of fall.  This has been a fun table to set and brings a smile to my face!
 HAPPY FALL YA'LL