Fall Dining Buffet Table

Fall is my favorite time of year and can be so busy.  I took a bloggie break to give attention to things around my home and our huge Halloween blowout at work I'll be sharing for Pink Saturday this week.   I did want to share my dining room side table I gussied up (if that's  a word) for fall.

I have collected pumpkins, gourds and silks for several years and each year I use them in different rooms and in different arrangemnets.  This year I layered a centerpiece of silks,  pumpkins and berries on top of the burlap runner I made last spring.  Don't you just love burlap, it's so easy to use.   I washed mine to make it soft and easier to arrange.

My scarecrow bargain from Hobby Lobby for 80% off  was placed the end of my table and a grouping of votive candles on the other side for some soft lighting.

This is my favorite scarecrow...I bought her almost 20 years ago and she's too pretty to put outside!  I love that she is bendable like a big rag doll.

My dining room table looks rather bare and still needs a centerpiece so I'll need to make something this week.  I love fresh flowers on the table at Thanksgiving with greenery down the center of the table, but I'll need something until then.

My china hutch (which originally belonged to my mother-in-law) houses my favorite fall china.  The china was my mother's and she gave me this beautiful set several years ago.  I use it every Thanksgiving and even though it is very Asian inspired  the colors are 
beautiful for fall. 

The pattern is Momoyama from Kyoto Japan.  My mother purchased a service for 12 while she and my father lived in Okinawa.  I love that there are so many serving and extra pieces which makes this set  perfect for holidays and family gatherings.   

I'll be linking with Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays this week.  Can't wait to see what everyone shares!

   

Fall Tea Table

I know I've said it a lot lately ...but I just LOVE fall!!  The temperature has finally dropped down into the 50's at night and the sky is a beautiful blue hue that makes everything prettier! 

  One of my best friends surprised me with a package and to my delight it was a fall teapot!! 

Thanks Valerie!!

My little kitchen table is a perfect place for a  fall tea for two.  We love spiced chai tea and

it smells  so good!

I had found this pretty wire cloche for only $8 and just fell in love with the design and burgundy color!   Cloches just make me think of  Marty...the "cloche queen".  Marty is the reason I now love cloche's with all the weekly inspiration and ideas she shares!  I'm linking with her

Tabletop Tuesdays

this week.   Thanks Marty for being

such a  gracious hostess!! 

My table started with a yellow tablecloth that I purchased in a thrift store in Pacific Grove, California while on vacation.

The runner was clearance for $2 at Wal-Mart last year and I love the extra long length..I also use it on my large formal dining table as well. 

The pumpkin plates were purchased a few weeks ago at Wal-Mart for $3.00 each.   I layered them on

my favorite ivory Target plates for a fall look.

The scarecrow was on the 80% clearance aisle  at Hobby Lobby last year...I bought  several...after all ..they were almost free!!  I always buy holiday items off season..especially tablecloths..the savings are tremendous.  

The cups and saucers were purchased for 99 cents each at Goodwill.  They only had a set of two so into

my basket they went!

The small ceramic pumpkin was purchased at the Dollar Tree this year.

 I have collected lots of silk leaves and ornamental pumpkins and gourds over the years and accent with them all around my home.  I thought the windowsill needed a little something so I used a swag I made and just added some ornamentals.   

My flowers in the garden are revived with all this cool weather and are blooming again!  I love the view from my little kitchen window.  Someday (when all the kids are out of college) we plan on putting in a large bay window for an even better view of our garden ...a girl can dream but until then I enjoy my garden view.    

Enjoy your week and hope you take

 time to enjoy your favorite  cup of tea!

I'm also linking with

Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
and
Susan's Tablescape Thursdays

Go by and join in all the parties!

Pink Kitchen Commercial

Today for Pink Saturday and Favorite Things, I wanted to share the finished commercial my son is entering in a commercial contest. 

 He wanted to film in a pink vintage kitchen circa 1960's.  My friend and neighbor who is a real estate agent had the perfect vintage home for sale with an original pink kitchen.  I posted several pictures from the shoot a couple weeks ago for Pink Saturday.     Here is his finished work: 

If you would like to vote for his commercial here is the link:

http://www.batterblaster.com/videocontest/

 He is # 9 and would appreciate your vote!  You can vote once per day!  Thank you!

Go visit all the pink posts and have a wonderful and fun Pink Saturday!!

Since my son's film creations are some of my favorite things, I'm also linking with Laurie's A Few of My Favorite Things,
and Chari's Sunday Favorites, so make lots of visits this week to see everyones favs! 

Sweet Autumn Clematis Garden Walk

The start of fall is just a few days away and my favorite season!  Pumpkins, pansies and mums just make me want to stay outdoors all season.   The colors of autumn and falling leaves find their way into our home and make us more cozy.    

Scarecrows go up and my fall garden cleanup begins.  We prune,  remulch flower beds and Mr. Bloomers over seeds our yard with fescue.  I love a green fescue lawn edged with a pansy border- but it's still a little too early  for pansies here in Oklahoma.



Backyard hydrangea and impatient border 



In the meantime,  my Sweet Autumn Clematis vine is in full bloom and covers several fence panels in my backyard.  

I just love this plant!!

It's hard to believe this huge vine started out  3 years ago in a  4" pot with a tiny little start in it!  Talk about getting my money's worth...it's almost twenty feet across now!!

I love the faint sweet fragrance..and the perfusion of blossoms, it's not overpowering but just a nice surprise as you get near my back fence.  

This clematis is a show stopper as a backdrop

to my annual flowers.

I have read that parts of the plant are poisonous so I would be very careful if you have small children or pets.  My dogs don't bother it at all, as it grows up a fence out of their reach.

(View from outside of fence) 

This clematis is propagated by seeds...so I'm going to collect seeds this fall and grow them next year...what a nice garden gift to give someone who loves plants and I would like to have it growing in several other places around my garden! 

My morning glories are blooming as well...I really have to keep them in check or they are very invasive.  I have a couple spots in my garden where I just let them grow.  I think the deep purple is my favorite..but heavenly blue is a nice variety too..and of course they reseed easily! 

My chives are in bloom with pretty dainty white

flowers.

My rose of sharons are full of blooms and

and my climbing rose is still blooming~next year I hope it makes it to the top of the arbor!

Spiders are everywhere...getting ready for Halloween!  This web is fairly large...and so is the spider who tends it!  We have to be careful they can spin a web overnight right in front of our doors!

Orange Trumpet Vine

I am excited to see pumpkins arriving in the produce sections and my favorite pumpkin patch is almost open!  Fall to me is spending time with family, the smell of pumpkin pie and cinnamon,  watching football and sitting in front of a warm fire...yes

/

fall is in the air!


I'm linking with Susan's Outdoor Wednesday, go by and visit, she has a lovely tribute to our MIAs and POWs who served our country! 


I'm also linking with Tootsie for
Flaunt your Flowers Friday, can't wait to see what everyone has in their fall gardens! 

Ladybug Picnic

Summer is nearly gone and everything is being refreshed with recent rainfall and beautiful cool weather.  It's such a great time to spend  tailgating at the football field or picnicking  outdoors.  

  I bought a pretty picnic basket earlier this year and thought it would come in handy for any outdoor events.    The lining was even in our college team colors :  Oklahoma Sooner's

 red and white!!  

The picnic basket was complete with plates, mugs and utensils and purchased at Goodwill for $7.00 in new condition.  The red gingham lining also coordinates with my favorite tablecloth!

I received these adorable lady bug napkins from my friend Linda for a birthday gift.  I've been looking for plates to go with them for a several months.   

While shopping at Ross I was delighted to find these adorable plates!!   I had already purchased  the coordinating bowl at GW
for 99 cents several weeks ago. 
I love it when things come together!!

I set our "picnic table" with my gingham tablecloth.

I used my Pier One charger and  layered a vintage Sheffield "bone white" dinner plate on top.   

Finally the ladybug

plates complete the place setting.

So goodbye to summer days and cute little ladybugs, I'm ready for football, pumpkins and apple cider! 

Picnic Basket: Goodwill
White chargers:  Pier One
Sheffield Bone White Plates: Goodwill
Bug Blocks:  Gift from Deb
Ladybug Napkins: Gift from Linda
Ladybug salad plates: Ross
Ladybug bowl:  Goodwill

I'm linking with
Marty's Tabletop Tuesday
Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Susan's BNOTP Tablescape Thursdays
 Chari's Sunday Favorites
and Summer/Seasonal Sundays