Sneak Peek

I've been up in the newly re-organized attic getting my Christmas decorations and putting away the fall bins.  I was stressing because the ONLY things I couldn't find were my favorite Christmas Mud Pie dishes!  Silly me I didn't put them there!  I found them safely in another part of the house and I had even labeled them so nicely.  So much for my memory!

When I found them I was so excited I had to stop right then and play with   my dishes!!  This is a preview of my next tablescape.

Now I can relax and go grocery shopping...but I'm definitely going to make a list since I can't seem to remember things!   

Hope you all find  your 

Christmas decorations!!

I'm linking with

Kathleen's Let Dish

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday

Plaid Tidings

We are going to my home state of Florida this year  for Christmas and  I really wanted to get a jump on  Christmas decorations so we could enjoy them before we leave.    

Saturday I went into the attic (recently organized with the help of my son) to get  the dining room tree and managed to get it up and decorated.    I think this is the earliest I've had a tree up.  What a joy it was to go into the attic and find the exact things I was looking for!  My resolution now that I'm retired is to be way more organized!   

I removed my Thanksgiving tablecloth and decided rather than coming up with a completely new  tablescape I would use some of the same basic elements from that table for a Christmas table.

Collecting has been fun over the years and now that I have many seasonal dishes and tablecloths it is easy to just change a few things for a whole new look.

I started with a red tablecloth and 

 used the same lantern, candlesticks,

greenery, topiaries and brass chargers that were on my Thanksgiving table. 

I removed the turkey and replaced him with a sweet little bird to go along with my cardinal dishes.

I switched out the candles for Santas that I found at a thrift store for 50 cents!  I just added a Christmas candle ring where the amber ones had been.

I needed something to replace the oranges and I found a pine cone garland in my stash.

I added a few plaid ribbons to the topiaries for extra color.

The dishes were found at an antique store and were less than $10 for all four.  They are from Cracker Barrel and I love red cardinals and holly.

The brass chargers were from an estate sale and the twig chargers from one of my favorite stores..Pier One.  

The plaid placemats were on sale as well for 50% off and the tablecloth came from a thrift store.  I really didn't spend  a lot on this table since almost everything was on sale or second hand!

I'm linking with 

Metamorphosis Monday

Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays

Kathleen's Let Dish

Tablescape Thursdays

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one of my
 favorite holidays!

Growing up I remember Thanksgiving 

was one of the times Mom would use  the "real china" and it made our 
meal seem even more special!


She eventually amassed an extensive china and dish collection from her travels and living overseas and loved entertaining her church group and family.   She has given me many pieces to enjoy and it makes her happy to know her things are still being used. 

The crystal on my table 
she purchased while in Japan.  
I too love setting a pretty table and I'm on the lookout for beautiful tablecloths and items I can add to my collection.
   I always buy off season for the biggest savings.

I purchased this tablecloth on sale and just fell in love with the fabric.  The orange pops of color made me think of Thanksgiving although it is a little untraditional and that's why I chose to use it this year.  I didn't want to repeat the same style table I did last year. 

I thought the table just needed solid color dishes so they wouldn't compete with the tablecloth.   I layered a white dinner plate over a brass charger and finished with an orange fall leaf plate. 

The leaf plates are great for salad or bread and are very versatile.  They were Wal-Mart specials 
a few seasons ago. 

The chargers were from an estate sale and were brand new in a box.  $ 3.oo for 4 chargers and I purchased two boxes.

The lantern I've had for years and the turkey tureen was a bargain find at a thrift store for $1.98!!

Beautiful copper dripless candles were the perfect color and I purchased these in Sonoma on a recent trip.  I used my grandma's white milk glass candleholders and covered them with some greenery and napkin rings for a little sparkle.  

Oranges are the perfect compliment to the tablecloth.  How easy is that
 for a centerpiece?  
I love topiaries and added them 
to the table for some height. 

Simple solid color beige linen napkins were folded and placed under the plate 
for a more casual feel.
I then used my mother-in-law's sterling to complete the table.

I set the table the night before Thanksgiving and love the soft candlelight!

Hope your day is full of fun, family, food and thankfulness!

Linking with:  

Tablescape Thursdays   
and 
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

Surprise Thanksgiving Flowers

My friends and family know that I adore and love flowers in my garden and home.  I am always thrilled to receive a bouquet from the grocery store or  florist especially when unexpected!

My husband's employer had an  appreciation dinner party for their employees and clients on the 50th floor of the Devon Tower, our newest skyscraper in Oklahoma City and it was a beautiful evening.  The views are amazing from that vantage point. 
The architecture and finishes of the building are high end, state of the art  and Oklahoma City has a building
 to be proud of !

The Devon Tower and Chesapeake Arena in the foreground.  We are proud to have the Oklahoma Thunder who play at the arena!   


The Devon Tower lobby and exterior are already decked out for Christmas and the enormous ornaments make a
 bold statement.  



Rotunda

If  you visit Oklahoma City during the holidays you might want to add a trip to the Devon Tower and the Myriad Gardens across the street.  The Christmas light display is beautiful!

The centerpieces for the tables were  dramatic.  (Excuse the clarity of the photos..taken with a phone camera)

We all admired how beautiful the arrangements were and the selection of  flowers.  Tulips, roses, purple hydrangeas, bells of ireland, tiger lilies, spider mums and orchids were combined for a striking bouquet and not the usual fall combinations.    




At the end of  a beautiful evening several of the ladies were offered an arrangement and I was more than happy to receive one to enjoy in my home!

Now I don't need to shop for a Thanksgiving centerpiece as this is gracing my dining room and is quite  stunning!  I love my surprise Thanksgiving flowers!


I am thankful for so much this year!
Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm linking with:

Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays  
Tootsie's Flaunt your Flowers

Sunflower Tea Table

I've been traveling the past couple months and haven't put together a tablescape in some time.    I love yellow and was inspired by our recent trip to Napa and Sonoma with the warm colors of the sun to create a fun table.  Sunflowers and lavender were in bloom and we enjoyed the beautiful fall colors of the grapevines.  

 Sunflowers just make me smile!

I purchased these placemats and napkins earlier in the year in a wonderful shop in Carmel.  I love the black and white floral pattern that reverses to black gingham.   I have used these for my Valentine's table paired with red tablecloth and napkins.  

 I thought they would look great 
with yellow too.  

My favorite sunflower plates are
 from Pier One.  I use them often.
I started with  a simple white basket-weaved bordered dinner plate.  

 The Debbie Mumm large coffee/teapot was given to my by a sweet friend.  She knows I love sunflowers and found it at a garage sale.

The napkin rings were purchased in Solvang, California and when I saw them I knew they would compliment my dishes perfectly. 

The yellow tablecloth and napkins are from a thrift store in Pacific Grove.   They were brand new and the thrift store proceeds go to help the local animal shelter.    So it was a win-win!

The little 'Fleur' vase  was purchased in a great antique shop in Fredericksburg, Texas.  I filled it with fresh sunflowers for my little breakfast table.  

We are enjoying the last warm weekend here in Oklahoma City.  A front is moving through and will bring storms and rain.  Meanwhile the sun is shining in my kitchen!

I'm linking with 

The Tablescaper
Marty's Table Top Tuesdays
Kathleen's Let's Dish and
Susan's Tablescape Thursdays

Fall Garden Walk

Leaves are turning and falling just as fast!

I'm wishing for another few weeks of fall before it freezes.  I went out in the garden and snapped a few pictures just in case my flowers freeze this weekend. 

(Insert sad face)

Our pin oaks are in their fall glory and I enjoy watching them change color everyday!

My red leaf begonias are still thriving.

 Our red geraniums are blooming again and 
I'll pull them out for overwintering soon.

The wooded greenbelt behind our home provides for great fall views and wildlife watching.  We have deer, fox, owls and redhawks that visit along with the more common opossums, skunks and raccons. 

  I'm enjoying each fall day and walking through the garden before those cold winter days arrive.   Here in Oklahoma our weather can change so quickly.   Today it's 70 degrees outside and a glorious day!  

Hope you enjoy your fall landscape!
I'm linking with Tootsie's Fertilizer Fridays!
Go by and visit!