First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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Each year during the first week of November, the Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae host The Theta Flaming Festival. It is a delightful tabletop event that raises money for the groups chosen philanthropy, which is currently CASA, a child advocacy volunteer group that operates within the court system. It is held at one of our city's country club's. This year the entrance is replete with a gorgeous Autumn display.
Couldn't resist looking back once more. Okay, let's go on in, and I'll share some of the delicious eye candy from this year's festival. Comments will be minimal.
Christmas at the Governor's Mansion...our governor is a Theta. I LOVE the design of this tablecloth. The band is pinned to the tablecloth. It is edged with puffy cording; the bow is a separate piece. This was probably my favorite element this year.
Completely yummy!
Looking for some Christmas confections?
The boxwood topiaries are easy and effective, and I'll bet that most of us have a Santa or three around the house. The goblets are Juliska.
The linens are delectable!...
...and I adore this napkin ring!
This table was titled "50th Anniversary"...
Gorgeous, unusual elements for the centerpiece. The candlesticks are magnificent. I think that the goblets are probably Tiffin.
I'm not familiar with the china pattern...it is sophisticated and elegant! Note the bling in the fabric for the tablecloth.
"Theta's Forever" featured...
Lots of black, white, and yellow...and pansies, of course! There is always at least one MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check table each year. I think that it's a very popular design with lots of Theta's.
I'll bet that some of you are already thinking about your St. Patrick's Day tables. This one was called "Luck of the Irish".
I know that this is a Herend pattern; I think that it's called Chinese Bouquet.
The centerpiece was beautiful!
I'll have a few more tables to share in a few weeks. I'm busy putting out all of our Christmas goodies, and I'm guessing that you are, too. Happy Decking the Halls!
Wednesday is the 37th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH". I'm excited to be a charter member. Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!
Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY." Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions"" It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!
Flaming Festival, 2012
First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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Where do you find inspiration when you design a tablescape? Sometimes I find my design catalyst in a particular china pattern, or perhaps a tablecloth. Seasonal flowers can also set the creative juices flowing, but for my Thanksgiving table this year, I didn't start with any of the usual suspects...
When we moved into our home about twenty years ago, I decided that I wanted a matching pair of tall antique celadon and blue jars to flank the fireplace in our living room. I looked high and low, but the few times that I came across just what I wanted, they were always either the wrong size or incredibly expensive...certainly never even close to my desired price range. Even so, I never gave up the search. At long last...several weeks ago, I struck pay dirt at the tail end of a very good estate sale, and these bad boys came home to live at our house. If you peak at the reflection in the mirror, you can see that our mantle currently features Autumn leaves and an assortment of copper pumpkins. Come Friday, the Fall decorations will be replaced with a lighted evergreen garland, and the needlepoint Christmas stockings. The mantle won't be open to receive my new treasures until about the first of next year. I couldn't bear the thought of these lovelies languishing in their boxes all that time...and then I had a thought! I could build my Thanksgiving tablescape design around the jars! And so it began...
Come on in! The Simpich Pilgrims are waiting for you on the center table in the foyer. They want to give you a clue about what waits just around the corner. This old table used to belong to our dear Nana. Taking inspiration from all of you who create such wonderful cloche designs, I filled the lanterns with glittering pumpkins. The fallen bed of leaves is really just a garland that I picked up several years ago on clearance at Michaels. Tip: I keep an assortment of seasonal garlands hanging in the garage. They always prove to be a quick and easy way to create an effective holiday decoration in a matter of minutes. I pick up a few after the holidays, and I use them year after year. Lots of bang for the buck! Okay, let's take a left and head for the dining room...
The table is set for ten guests. Only eight are coming so far, but my family has the blessed knack of calling at the last minute and saying, "Mom, our friend doesn't have any place to celebrate Thanksgiving. He can't afford to go home this year, so is it okay if we bring him/her/them to share our dinner?" My answer is always the same, "Sure!" If we happen to be blessed with even more guests, I have already placed extra leaves in the table, so it will only take moments to add even more place settings. Enough food?...Have you ever had a Thanksgiving dinner without a plethora of left overs?
The centerpiece is really pretty simple. Assorted sizes of the Pottery Barn Mercury Glass Pumpkins meander down the length of the table. I've interspersed three pair of antique Barley Twist candlesticks between the pumpkins and scattered loose leaves that work like a runner for the table. Tip: Did you notice that the pumpkins are elevated on old wooden stands of varying heights? When I walk through estate sales and antique or junk stores, I always keep an eye out for these wooden stands. They usually sell for just a couple of dollars, and they have an abundance of uses. Using stands of different heights creates movement and interest in the centerpiece. Just remember, try to keep your centerpieces at about 12 inches or less in height. That will allow your guests to have an unimpeded view of the guests on the other side of the table.
That's another Michael's garland resting across the arms of the chandelier. The Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin Hemstitched Linen tablecloth was an appropriate choice...We all remember from our childhood art classes that orange is the complimentary color for blue on the color chart...one of those random things that we learned in school that is still useful all these years later. Who knew!
The place settings were kept a bit subtle; I had plenty of high color elsewhere... The stack included...
The Myott Turkey Accent Plate will be removed at the beginning of the dinner and appear later filled with German Chocolate pie for our dessert.
Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be served on the Coalport Athlone Brown dinner plate, an eBay find.
The Maryland China Company Bernadotte Charger anchors the place setting.
Tip: Fact: Not all dinner plates fit properly in all charger plates. Solution: Do you have a pile of those quaint old lace and tatted doilies that your grandmothers used to lovingly place on lamp tables, vanity tables, on the arms of upholstered chairs,...really any and everywhere. I always kept them because they belonged to her, but I never had a purpose for them. Then one day, I realized that they made the perfect buffer between my charger and dinner plates. It prevents the dinner plate from sliding around as my guests are cutting their meat, etc. Now I look for piles of them at estate sales and in antique stores. A 9" doily is just about perfect, and they are always very inexpensive. I think that they're kind of cool. Give them a try.
The light blue hemstitched napkin pulled the celadon color of the jars onto the table. My Waverly Beaded Tassel napkin rings were a give away gift from Cuisine Kathleen. The Argent Sophia Gold flatware picks up the soft golds found in the leaves and mini pomegranate berries strewn down the table.
To complete my place setting...
I chose the Vietri Amber Optical goblet and the Waterford Simply Blue wine. I like the point-counterpoint effect of the contemporary paired with the traditional.
I enjoyed having the time to capture some candlelight shots...
A few final thoughts...As we gather around our Thanksgiving table, I shall remember 1Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." If you have a desire to read about a life spent giving thanks in the direst of circumstances, may I encourage you to read The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I remember a moment in a long ago Bible study when the question was asked, "If everything in your life is a complete disappointment, a total failure...will God's grace still be sufficient for you?" I have to say, "Yes!" I pray that you will have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. I pray that you will have and take an opportunity to reach out to others and be a blessing to them. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." This year I am thoughtful of those who have lost so much because of Hurricane Sandy. They will be on my heart and in my prayers as we gather around our table. May you know the peace and abundant blessings of God's love for you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday is the 36th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH". I'm excited to be a charter member. Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!
Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for TIDBITS, TIPS, & TUTORIALS. Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!
Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY." Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions"" It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!
Thanksgiving Blessings, 2012
Eat Breakfast: If you start your meal feeling famished, you will have a more difficult time listening to your body and controling your eating. Beginning your day with a light breakfast will help you to feel less hungry when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner.
Drink a Glass of Water Prior to Eating: This too, will help to fill your stomach prior to your meal and will therefore help you to avoid eating large amounts of food. Police Your Portions: Take smaller portions of food and try to avoid going back for seconds. Also, Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, former president of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) suggests, “"Don't waste your calories on foods that you can have all year long, Fill your plate with small portions of holiday favorites that only come around once a year so you can enjoy desirable, traditional foods."
Slowly Savor Your Food: Experts say that eating slowly, putting your fork down between bites, and tasting each mouthful is one of the easiest ways to enjoy your meal and feel satisfied with one plate full of food. Choosing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, salads, and other foods with lots of water and fiber add to the feeling of fullness.
Space Out Your Thanksgiving Meal Throughout the Day: One suggestion is to eat Thanksgiving dinner, and then go on a walk as a family prior to eating desert. This will help you to avoid eating numerous large meals throughout the day (Thanksgiving at mid-day, and dinner that evening).
Don’t Sleep It Off: Moving more than usual -- a game of touch football in the front yard or a marathon of shopping on Black Friday -- will help compensate for any little indulgences.
Be Realistic: The holiday season is a time for celebration. With busy schedules and so many wonderful dishes, this is a good time to strive for weight maintenance instead of weight loss. One expert says, “Shift from a mindset of weight loss to weight maintenance. You will be ahead of the game if you can avoid gaining any weight over the holidays."
Focus on Friends and Family: Thanksgiving is not all about the food. Try to focus less on the buffet, and more on the celebration of coming together with friends and family.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-tips-for-a-thinner-thanksgiving?page=2
http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/blturkeydaytips.htm
Avoid Gaining Weight Over Thanksgiving
“No ID? No vote!” These were the words that Fern Leard heard when she tried to vote last Tuesday in Lackawanna County. The voter ID law had been suspended for this election, but it seems someone had neglected to inform her precinct’s poll workers.
Or perhaps they were just confused. Under the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, any first-time voter at a precinct needs to present ID. Fern was indeed a first-time voter at that precinct, but the list of allowed ID’s under HAVA is much more expansive than the ID’s deemed acceptable by the state’s voter ID law, and includes a variety of photo and non-photo IDs.
So Fern had brought her voter registration card, but after presenting it was told she could not vote because it was not photo ID. Her protests fell on deaf ears, as did her request for a provisional ballot, which, under both the PA voter ID law and HAVA, is to be provided to any voter without ID. Instead, she was shown the door.
She wasn’t the only one. On November 6, the Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE hotline phones were ringing off the hook. In the hotline command centers around the state, staffed by the ACLU and several other ally organizations, reports came in from hundreds of individual citizens and poll monitors all over the state that voters were being turned away at the polls or forced to use provisional ballots because they did not have ID. No sooner would the claim be filed and a lawyer dispatched to address it, the phone put down, then it would ring again with a new complaint.
Marcia Hatchett of Delaware County called the hotline when poll workers at her precinct told her ID would be required and her college ID was not sufficient. The first poll worker Marcia encountered made this claim. Then, as if the woman’s left-brain didn’t know what her right-brain was doing, she handed Marcia a flyer that contained a list of acceptable ID’s, and there on the list was “college ID”.
The voter ID law would have in fact accepted a student ID from any state-accredited institute of higher learning as long as it had an expiration date. Marcia’s did. The HAVA for first-time voters at a precinct also include student ID.
But this was irrelevant, as the state voter ID law was not in effect, and Marcia was not a first-time voter at the precinct. She pointed this out to two other poll workers, demanding they allow her access to a voting machine as well as an apology for trying to deny her right to vote. Instead, she was shown the door. “You need to leave,” she was told by a poll worker pointing an accusatory finger at her.
Marcia called the Election Protection hotline, which encouraged her to return and try again. The second time around a poll worker told her she was in the poll book as a first-time voter and would have to show photo ID – a misstatement of the federal law. Marcia reminded them she had voted at this precinct in every recent election, but they refused to allow her in without photo ID. “Do you want to vote?” they repeatedly asked of her, as if her failure to passively comply with their unlawful requirements was what stood between her and the voting booth. Determined to cast a ballot no matter what, she showed her driver’s license, only to be refused admittance because the address did not match the one on her registration – another miscarriage of the law, which only requires a current address on the non-photo ID’s of first-time voters.
Eventually Marcia’s protests wore them down and she was allowed to vote. The same was true of Melissa Hobday Motley, who was only permitted access to a Montgomery County voting machine after she started to video the poll workers who were denying her entrance.
Melissa had been voting at that precinct for 10 years but had recently changed the name on her voter registration to match her official ID in order to comply with the PA voter ID law. The law, if it goes back into effect, will require all voters to have a state photo ID with a name that is closely matches the name on their voter registration. This is a particular issue for women who have changed their names due to marriage or divorce.
Although Melissa had added her husband’s name after her maiden name on her voter registration, the update was not listed in the poll book. Instead, there was a star next to her name and she was being required to show ID, which she had not brought because she knew the voter ID law was suspended. She said she saw stars next to many names.
Anecdotal reports from voter and poll monitors indicate that many people were incorrectly categorized as first-time voters at their polls this year.
“What is the role of the government and elections officials on election day? Isn’t it to facilitate voting – not obstruct it?” asked Fern. After being curtly told “No ID? No vote!” despite showing her voter registration card , it was a fair question. She was with her 17-month old twins, both of whom have health problems; her son was crying loudly. You’d understand if she had other things on her mind. But Fern’s anger about her difficulty voting three days ago was still palpable.
“I went back in there, and when the poll worker asked for ID again I took her picture. She asked `what was that for?’ and I told her `Because I think people should know what voter suppression looks like.’ Another poll worker, or maybe it was the judge of elections, came over at that point and corrected the woman and told her that a voter registration card was valid ID for first-time voters.” Fern was allowed to vote.
“They messed with the wrong person. I’m educated. I know my rights. But I have friends who told me similar stories. Think of all the people who didn’t know their rights and weren’t allowed to vote.”
--Emily Cleath, voter ID organizer, ACLU of Pennsylvania
Not all poll workers got the message that voter ID law wasn't in effect for this election
First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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Our precious Beatrice Emaline was christened on Sunday, November 4th...another soul harvested for the fellowship of saints.
She wore the same christening dress that her mom wore...
Beatrice Emaline was a perfect angel throughout the entire service, held in their small Anglican church. Did you notice her tiny wrist corsage, made of rosebuds and pearls? It was a gift from my dear friend. After the service was completed, a group adjourned to our back porch for a luncheon to honor this special day and the special little lady. The afternoon was glorious...just the right temperatures and not a breath of wind...a rarity out here on the prairie.
Today, not a spot of Fall color was to be found on our five tables for 35 guests. Shades of pink...all things feminine...were gathered to fete our newest family member.
Four of the table centerpieces featured an ivy topiary placed in a baby blue jardiniere from Hobby Lobby. The topiaries were flanked by a small pair of bottles in green or in pink, filled with soft pink Sweetheart Roses, and a pair of aqua glass decanters filled with water for our guests.
I had originally made plans for four tables. Some last minute replies meant that I needed to add another table. Since it was too late to run back to the grocery store for an additional topiary (yes, I found them at the grocery store), I decided to make Beatrice Emaline's table a bit different. Tip: When you're looking for fresh flowers at a good price, remember to check the grocery store and the wholesale stores like Sam's. I'm always amazed at the large selection of beautiful blossoms! I used the Mottahedeh Musee Decoratif tureen as my centerpiece, and I flanked it with a pair of Lenox urns filled with the Sweetheart roses and Hypericum Berries.
Three of the tables were set with Copeland Spode Red Aster, bought on eBay over a period of time. They were perched on the hot pink glass chargers from Gordman's.
I only needed a Reed & Barton Francis I fork at each place setting for the Chicken Tetrazzini, Green Salad, and hot Garlic Bread. The silver belonged to my my mother-in-love. I like that a small touch of her was represented at our luncheon today. Dessert was homemade chocolate chip cookies. All the tables were set with light pink napkins caught in a white napkin ring and the Mikasa French Countryside goblets. Wine was offered during the meal and served in pink wine goblets. Each table was covered with one of an assortment of white tablecloths.
One of the tables was laid with the Royal Doulton Old Chelsea on the Gordman's apple green glass charger...
Beatrice Emaline's table featured the Royal Doulton Lowestoft, one of my favorite patterns. Some day maybe she'll set one of her tables with this pattern. I like the thought of that. I wonder if she'll like pink as much as her mama does?
Wednesday is the 35th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH". I'm excited to be a charter member. Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!
Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for TUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS. Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!
Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAYS." Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
When I think of November, I think about the bounty of the harvest, the crisp Autumn days, and leaves that crunch under foot. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!
You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions"" It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!
Christening Day Luncheon
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