Thanksgiving Dinner Tablesetting

Thanksgiving is just days away, which means we’re breaking out the fine china, washing up our crystal stemware and pressing our linen napkins…

Well, maybe we’re breaking out the Better Homes and Garden’s leaf plates from Walmart (that we bought on clearance!), and tearing leaf printed cotton into squares to make some fun napkins for Fall.  My mom is hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but I have a sneak peek of her dinner table just for you!

The token cornucopia is overflowing on the buffet with leaves, Indian corn and gourds…

While the dining table is set with brown leaf chargers, cream scalloped dinner plates and colorful leaf printed salad plates.

Clear iced tea glasses, corn trays, and fall printed napkins complete the settings.

And in the center of the table, crystal candlesticks with cream tapers flank the Indian corn centerpiece (seen here.)

Now, all we need is a turkey with all the trimmings!

P.S.  I have a secret…

                               …

                                           …

                                                                 …

I am so ready for Christmas!!  I already have some gifts wrapped and ready for the tree!  Now to convince Michael to let me decorate early… ;)   Wish me luck! 

Harvest Decor

Autumn has officially arrived!  A chill is in the air and the leaves have turned and are falling all around.  It’s time I shared my fall decorations with you all.  I skipped right over Halloween at our house this year (with the exception of a black cat on the porch for trick-or-treaters) and went straight into Autumn Elegance.  Here’s a look around the house.

In the kitchen, I spruced up a footed crystal bowl with some gum balls (seed pods from the Gum tree—these things are good for something after all!), acorns, berries, and a candle, for a little fall feeling.

And on the kitchen table, my fun, green pumpkin from Michael’s sits on a white cake stand and is surrounded by mercury glass votives (Thanks, Andi!)  It’s cute and it really looks real… love the discoloration and scuff marks. :)

On in the living room, the little cabinet is snazzied up with a beaded green pumpkin (seems to be the color of choice for my pumpkins this year) in a wooden tray filled with leaves.  I am so happy with my new console cabinet… It’s another great place for me to display seasonal things (including seasonal, color appropriate photos of me and Michael.. hehe)!

 

Fall centerpieces from my sister’s wedding flank the television.

And a little floral arrangement decorates the side table by the couch.

In the dining room, the cornucopia is overflowing with miniature pumpkins and leaves…

while Bandit is hiding behind the Indian corn!

The chandelier is sporting some grapevine, leaves and a few metallic pumpkins.

And the mirror is wearing its fall berry wreath, as usual. :)

Outside on the porch, a few pumpkins and mums and a fall wreath herald the season.

Happy Fall!

14th Annual Halloween Costume Party

Well, Halloween has come and gone, and November is here.  Time for a glimpse into our night of fright over at the Haunted Fort Guthrie…

Guests arrived in the graveyard and came up the porch stairs lighted by lanterns and twinkle lights. 

The front stairway was infested with rats and bats and lighted with trios of votives and pumpkin luminaries.

The main room was for dining, with dinner spread out on the banquet table.

The wrought iron chandelier was decorated with dried hydrangeas and Spanish moss, creating a focal point for the room.

The food table was highlighted by two silver candelabras with blood red tapers.  A black crow perches on the left, surveying his dinner options, which included taco salad, mummy dogs, deviled eggs, cheesy witch’s hat, stuffed potatoes, and grilled shrimp.

On in the middle room, shredded and stained curtains set the scene for guests to have a drink from the silver punch bowl.

Spooky silhouettes adorn the wall above the dessert buffet, which featured blondies, ghost krispie treats, and a haunted house cake.

The haunted house was decorated with Reese’s Pieces roof tiles, candy corn luminaries, and a path of sprinkles; a pretzel fence keeps out onlookers as a monster digs his way out of the graveyard in front of the house.

Yet another bird has taken up residence in the dining room, perched on a black brass bowl of fruit.

A creepy partygoer peered around the doorway where tapers and votives lit a neglected antique desk.

The parlor doors were adorned with a ruined swag curtain and in front a small table was set for guests to dine.      

It won’t be long before nature takes back this manor, black ivy has already made its way into the foundation, and crept along the parlor walls.

Even in its ruined state, the stately home made a perfect spot for a vampire and her friends to party.

Hope you all had a spooky and fun Halloween!