Sunday, November 20, 2016

Thanksgiving Traditions

This weeks table is decorated for a Thanksgiving feast.   Although I will enjoy the day alone, I am thankful for many happy memories of family Thanksgiving traditions and spending time with loved ones.   I continue the traditions by making the same dishes year after year.   Every now and then I will add something new, but I mostly stick to my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.   My Mother and Grandmothers always had a huge turkey, a large pan of dressing (we didn't stuff the bird), and all the normal sides.   My Mom made the best candied yams in the world.  The pies, cakes and homemade yeast rolls that my Grandma Curry made would melt in hour mouth.    About 18 years ago I purchased Cristina Ferrare's Family Entertaining cookbook.   I was a faithful viewer of her TV show on Hallmark Home & Family.  She is famous for the holiday feast that she cooks each year for her family so I made her Marinated Turkey with Chive Gravy in 1998 and it became a tradition in my home.  I make my own dressing from memory (no recipe) and make sure to add fresh parsley.  My Grandmother Curry made it that way and I think of her each time I bake a pan.   I have a few pictures from Thanksgiving  last year of the Marinated Turkey below.  I will be making a small turkey breast this year and will have plenty of leftovers.  I think the turkey is always better the next day any how.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Thanksgiving place setting. 

I made new napkin rings this year that also serve as place cards. I included a picture tutorial below.  Another blogger posted this idea a few weeks ago so I decided to give it a try. 

I wrapped my Luminara candles with this great bark and moss ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby a few seasons ago. 


I love my Publix pilgrim salt & pepper shakers.   I found the "little" pilgrim pair in a thrift store.  The pilgrim wine charms were ring cupcake toppers.  I snipped off the ring portion and use the glue gun to attach a little twine to tie on the glasses. 

The lighted mercury glass candle holder is part of the Valerie Parr Hill collection from QVC.  



The stack.  I've had these charger plates for 15 plus years.  They are made of a clay type material and very heavy.  The rust plates are from Dollar Tree a few years ago.   I found the leaf embossed salad plates at Home Goods years ago.  The turkey plates were also found at Home Goods.  

This is a photo of the table a sunset.
I found the napkin ring idea recently on The Happy Housie Porch blog.   I was inspired to make my own for my table this year plus I will be able to use them on other tablescapes, not just Thanksgiving. 
I found the wood slices at Hobby Lobby.  The Martha Stewart chalkboard paint came from Jo Ann's along with the chalk markers.   I had the bark/moss ribbon.   The silver napkin rings are in stock at Dollar Tree this season.  I bought a few packs as I have lots of napkin ring projects in mind for future tables. Make sure you check out Krista's blog and see what she uses for her base. Very creative.  


The finished napkins rings.   I added a sprig of fresh rosemary from my herb garden on the final table.  It smells lovely!  

Here's a few pictures from last years Thanksgiving feast.  Cristina's Marinated Turkey  recipe is on her website this week.  It's delicious and you can also use it with other meats, not just turkey.  I also make her Orange-Walnut Cranberry Sauce.  Outstanding!  

This was Thanksgiving 2010.   It was my pup Cooper's first Thanksgiving.  The weather in South Florida was nice and warm so we had Thanksgiving on the patio.   As you can see he has his eyes on that beautiful marinated turkey.   He had his share that evening along with leftovers for a long time. 

This was my Mother's turkey platter.   I'm not sure if it was passed down in the family or if she purchased it new when she and Dad married in 1958.   It was always on the table for as long as I can remember.  It's a treasured piece now and I bring it out every Thanksgiving to keep the tradition going.  I think she would be happy to know I'm using it.  


Have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day!  

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Over the River and Through the Woods

This weeks table is decorated in the spirit of the journey home that many will make over the next week for Thanksgiving.  The day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following are the busiest travel days of the year.   I wish I could make my way home to North Carolina to be with my family for Thanksgiving, but I will be spending it at home here in Florida working and enjoying the day with my four legged child Cooper.   Most people are lucky enough to live within driving distance of their families, but others will travel by plane, train, bus and some by water for the holiday.  It was fun planning this table. The the movie Planes,Trains and Automobiles was constantly playing in my mind as I decorated the table.   I love this movie and try to see it each time it's on TV.   I highly recommend watching it with your family over the Thanksgiving holiday.  The hilarious journey of Steve Martin and John Candy as they struggle to travel  home in time for Thanksgiving will put a smile on your face and also bring a tear or two.   I titled this blog after a song that my brothers I would sing as we made our way to each Grandparents home for Thanksgiving as a child.   We didn't drive over a river, but we did make our way through the woods to their country homes for great family gatherings and delicious food.   

Thanksgiving travel tablescape. 

The centerpiece is designed with travel themed items.  

Some will travel via plane, train, bus, car and sea to visit family. 

Travel themed place setting. 

I used my local home town map area to make the napkin rings and place cards.  I may not be able to be with my family and friends, but I am so thankful for each one. 

Travel themed items used in the centerpiece. 

I love these Pottery Barn travel themed plates.  I found the set in a thrift store in Boca Raton over a year ago.  I knew they would be perfect on a travel themed table. 



Being a pilot and working in aviation I have a large collection of model aircraft.  A colleague from the UK gifted me with this beautiful Lockheed Martin L-100 Hercules model last week.  It's perfect on my table along with my old wings, stripes and crew items.   

I cannot remember where I found this travel themed fabric, but it was either Hobby Lobby or Jo Ann Fabric.  I loved the vintage look of the fabric and I knew it would be perfect for charger plate covers.

The plate stack.   The chargers are covered with the travel fabric.  The dinner plates are from my Mother's and were made by Valerie Parr Hill.  The red salad plate is from Pier One.   The top plates are from Pottery Barn.  They are part of the Travel collection. 

The Pottery Barn "Travel" set of salad plates.

Wishing everyone a safe journey home and Happy Thanksgiving!  

Catherine

This post is linked to the following parties:
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #122 - Life and Linda
Amaze Me Monday #189 - Dwellings The Heart of the Home
Inspire Me Monday Week #254 - Create with Joy
Creative Mondays Link Up - Claire Justine
351st Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop #249 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
Talk of the Town #46 - Sadie Seasongoods
Wow Us Wednesdays #300 - Savvy Southern Style
Snickerdoodle Create-Bake-Make - The Blue Willow House
Home and Garden Thursday - A Delightsome Life
426th Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch 
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
Grace at Home #228 - Imparting Grace 
Home Matters Linky Party #113 - Life with Lorelai 
Home Sweet Home #298 - The Charm of Home 
Celebrate Your Story #52 - Celebrate and Decorate with Chloe Crabtree 
Share Your Style Link Party #92 - 21 Rosemary Lane
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound

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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Veterans Day Tablescape

I designed this table in honor of all that have served our great country to protect our freedom.   I have many family members that have served in the armed forces and some have given their lives.   I want to personally thank all that are currently serving or have served to protect our great country. We will never forget your service! 

I found these military dolls in a thrift store in Boca Raton last week.  Someone had donated their entire collection of military figures all the way back to the Revolutionary war.  I wish I could have purchased the entire collection, but I had to narrow it down to the three in the centerpiece.   They are in excellent condition. I'm still trying to source the manufacture and age.  

Veterans Day place setting. 



The photos at each place setting are family members that have served our county.   The picture on the bottom left is my cousin-in-law Tommy and he is actively serving in the Air Force Reserve in Alaska.  His wife, my first cousin Cindy (pictured below) was also in the Air Force.  The lady on the top left is my Great Aunt Callie.   The two men on the right are my uncles and the top right is the Father of my cousin Cindy below.  



I had to include the canine military members on my table.  There are so many great canine members serving right along with our men and women to protect our freedom.   The military figurines are from Dollar Tree a few years ago.  They were a tan color so I painted them bronze.   I searched high and low for silk poppy's here in South Florida over the last couple of weeks, but no luck so I made my own.  I believe the UK observes Remembrance Day this coming Sunday the 13th. 






Catherine

This post is linked to the following parties: 

Dishing It & Digging It Link Party 121 - Life and Linda
Wow Us Wednesday #299 - Savvy Southern Style 
Home & Garden Thursday - A Delightsome Life 
425th Tablescape Thursday- Between Naps on the Porch  
Inspire Me Monday Week #253 -Create with Joy
The Scoop #248 - Confessions of a Plate Addict  
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner  
Grace at Home #227 - Imparting Grace  
Home Sweet Home #297 -The Charm of Home  
Celebrate Your Story #51 - Celebrate & Deocate with Chloe Crabtree
Home Matters Linky Party #112 - Life with Lorelai 
350th Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life  
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound

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Election Night Watch Party

Thank goodness the final hours of this crazy election year are upon us!  I have been voting for 38 years and I must stay this is the most heated election I've ever witnessed.  I plan on enjoying a bottle of bubbly and celebrate the end of the nasty ads from both sides tonight.   Hopefully no matter the outcome tonight, our country will come together as one and have a strong future ahead of us.   

Chilled bottle of bubbly will be ready for the watch party tonight.

Living room credenza decorated with election items.



I found this great White House cookie kit at Trader Joe's.  It was fun to assemble, but I doubt I will be eating it.

This is the first cookie house I've assembled in my entire life.  Not even a gingerbread house over 50 plus years.   Thinking I may try a kit for Christmas.



I'm not the greatest at decorating cakes, cupcakes etc., but this was fun.


I love my little metal president collection surrounding the White House cookie.

  
Get out and VOTE my friends!  

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