Thanksgiving Blessings, 2016

It's Thanksgiving at our house, and there's been a lot going on for weeks...

Even Beatrice Emaline was working on her own tablescape. She told me that she had gathered berries for her centerpiece. I had to get busy if I was going to keep pace! I set a table for 12 in the dining room. This may be photo intensive, so enter at your own risk. Come on in...

There were a number of inspirations for this year's tablescape.

My main inspiration was Sweet Mister. I wanted to honor him with my design as much as possible...

I give thanks to God for giving me such a strong anchor in my life with Sweet Mister, so I wanted to anchor my design with the tablecloth and napkins that my love bought for me in a beautiful linen shop in Sorrento, Italy...part of our 48 years of memories.

Sweet Mister is an avid and accomplished bird hunter, so...

...in his honor, this year's Thanksgiving design featured...

...the Anton Wingen, Jr. carved stag horn handled flatware which flanked the very affordable and manly Pier I hammered copper charger. I began collecting the flatware for him last Christmas. A year later, the collection is almost complete. Tip: This delightful charger demanded a crocheted doily to act as an anchor underneath the dinner plate. Minus the doily, the plate could be rotated on the charger much like a lazy susan....not an experience that I wanted for my guests. This sometimes happens when we mix and match plates for our tablescapes. When I shop an estate sale or antique shop, I always take a minute to check for the grandma's old crochet doilies in about a 9" round. They are a great solution for this problem and frankly they are kind of fun.

I chose the masculine Spode Delamere brown and white dinner plate for him, too. You probably already know that the Delamere is the same pattern as the Woodland Spode, minus the wild game scene in the center of the plate. I like that the plate is more versatile without the wildlife design. I managed to capture the beautiful charm of the Woodland pattern with...

...the Woodland Spode accent/salad plate. There are number of different bird designs.

To complete the place setting, I chose the Vietri optic acid green goblet and the Tiffin Elyse wine goblet. Did you know that the lovely old Tiffin patterns were made by the Franciscan company? I didn't.

I hope that it's not boastful to say that when Sweet Mister took his place at the head of the table, he had a great big smile on his face!

I have to admit that I'm a major fan of a full table...you know, "more is more". I find that I really like a bountiful look for my centerpiece, and what better moment for a bountiful centerpiece than the Thanksgiving table?

There's nothing prissy and feminine about the Copeland Spode Gadroon white tureen, plus I really like it. It was the perfect selection for today's design.

The copper mercury glass trees will make at least one more appearance when I decorate my tables for holiday entertaining. I found them just last week at one my favorite local florist shops. I've had the quartet of red mercury glass hurricanes for almost two years, but this is the first time I've used them. I found them in a small florist shop that was next door to the physical therapy clinic where I spent many months rehabilitating after my two knee replacement surgeries. As I remember, it had been a particularly rough day of rehab, and I decided that I deserved a treat as I was slowly making my way to my car and saw one of the hurricanes in the shop window. I knew immediately that if the florist had enough, they were coming home with me. She actually had to dismantle the finished piece in the window to complete the sale. She was happy to do it. The lovely fall leaves are Hobby Lobby garlands...but you already knew that!

The pumpkins are left over party favors from one of my earlier Chi Omega reunion luncheons.

Ready to party. We served our Thanksgiving feast about 2:00, which allowed KC and David to sit and enjoy their meal while Hollis Harper took his nap in the nursery.

Our Thanksgiving menu featured traditional selections...well, traditional for us. Isn't it interesting how many different Thanksgiving menus are thought of as traditions?!

We served the expected turkey and dressing, whipped potatoes and gravy, creamed peas, green beans...

sweet potato casserole, Cranapple Crunch, Christmas Pretzel Salad, lots of hot bread,...

...and pecan pie, apple pie, and vanilla bean ice cream for a dessert.

Yesterday, the little white owl was delivered to my door, a gift from a dear friend. I thought that Beatrice Emaline and Hollis Harper would enjoy him, so I set him on top of the tureen. He ended up spending most of the dinner perched by the edge of Beatrice's plate. He was a last minute hit.

We lingered long at the table after the meal was complete sharing memories and personal observances of reasons to give thanks.

From our house to yours, I pray that your own Thanksgiving Day was filled with loving family and friends. We have been blessed to live in an amazing country, and I know that we have more in common than we have differences. I pray that we will remember that we serve a higher purpose because:

Psalm 33:12-22

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch