Well the halls are officially decked. Thanksgiving turned into the Thanksgiving that wasn’t. Before you feel too sorry for me, because after all I am the upper most person in your mind, the husband and I had a lovely dinner at my sister and brother in laws. She made cream puffs for desert. Always a flash back to my childhood. My grandma made cream puffs for very special occasions. Every time I eat one I have to say Hi Grandma! One of the first deserts I learned to make was cream puffs.

On Saturday my daughter and her sons were due to come for Thanksgiving dinner. Her Husband left early Friday morning for a hunting trip to South Dakota. The bird was thawing in the fridge, the table was set, and a snow storm was predicted. So we determined we would just punt. The bird was done at the given time of 3:30 and after hours of don’t know, maybe, could be, they decided to try it at 5:30. As they are about 35 minutes from us, weather is always to be considered. After a few miles they turned back. The husband and I ate turkey gravy and mashed potatoes, whereas their dinner was sweet potatoes, banana nut bread, and butterscotch pie. Who got the better meal? Well you be the judge.

I thought I would share my table scape. Which has already been removed for the next event! Starting with a red and black wool plaid runner, I added a glass cake stand to isolate a vignette of smalls. A French tea towel softens the edges of the glass. A couple of small leather books, a bottle brush tree, two small band boxes, a small pinecone wreath with a wool lamb peaking thru, and of course a bow on the wreath acts as a focal point. There wasn’t a lot of thought that went into staging this vignette. They were all things that I had handy. My two pairs of squash pewter candlesticks often make an appearance.

Then it was just trial and error. I had DIY’d a pinecone tree that I wanted to add, and I found that the shape was too similar to the shape of the bottle brush trees, so it took a lot of trial and error to get the placement right. A deer antler made an appearance and my Royal Doulton Lumber Jack character jug on a book rounded out the look. I added some small hand painted stuffed dolls my mom had done many years ago just as a nod to her. Thought it was kind of fun.

On the back side (just as important) a small telescope and a few mercury glass balls add texture and interest.

The place setting? Courtly Check chargers and William Sonoma Woodland Berry dinner plates on a faux cedar place mat. The sterling Francis the 1st. I not only love the way it looks, but I love handling it and feel so privileged to have something so lovely.

This table is very narrow at only 29″. I find a meandering center piece and elevating the main vignette works best. Since there was only to be 5 of us I positioned the centerpiece accordingly. Sometimes it doesn’t make the center at all. When creating vignettes I don’t worry about whether things should “go” together or even if they make sense. What do a lumber jack, telescope, and deer antlers have in common? They say adventure, a sheep with a wreath around its neck, creates great texture. I liked this table even though I didn’t get to enjoy it.

I will leave you with a peak at the chandelier, and of course the snowy deck beyond. I had visions of a lovely winter deck with a fire pit burning on Thursday night. Probably not!!!

A buffet table for Nibbles and Sips on Thursday Night is now in play. A different runner, and a few different introductions. I am at the auditioning stage with it, so I will take photos as soon as I have it locked in. It is supposed to be very cold. Wish me luck.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley