LATE FALL...EARLY THANKSGIVING...

We've put witches to bed and ghosts to rest.  The Autumn Leaves song has mostly played out and we are into the last reaches of the fall season, and looking forward to another part of the year that brings with it the smell of chimney smoke and the warmth of familiar, and well worn, hats and gloves and of children's laughter as they look forward to the first snow fall.

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I thought I would share with you the last of the fall decorations around the Cottage and the garden.  As I chart a course through the chaos that is the parlor, because of the guest room renovation, I am replacing the witches, on the mantle, with a family of Harvesters.

The entry hall has a little transformation with the basket of dried hydrangeas, which you have seen before on the dining room table, and a raffia wreath that I made a while ago.  Also shown is a small stack of children's school books along with some pumpkins.

Straw wreath tutorial courtesy of Yvonne at Stone Gable.

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Some of my collection of blue and white dishes with a little touch of autumn.

I would like to re-introduce you to a quick change artist - my kitchen lamp.

Remember the original?

Second, there was a new shade covering made from a coffee sack.

Now the, last and final, change.

I added a ruffle of burlap ribbon to the top and bottom and now.... 

....I think I'm satisfied.

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The buffet in the dining room is the place of honor for His Majesty.  He is shown with a large transferware platter and another old brown transferware plate.

Platter: "His Majesty" by Josiah Wedgewood, England

for Williams-Sonoma

The Asthetic transferware plate: No markings

Cloche with pumpkin: HomeGoods

But, before the turkey was put in place, there was a pretty bouquet of fresh cut flowers from the Farmer's Market in a pitcher resembling an ear of corn.

Flowers: Fall astors, statice, dahlias, sunflower and eucalyptus leaves

Pitcher: Made in Portugal, TJ Maxx

Now, comes the heart of the story.

The Thanksgiving Table

I decided that I liked the pitcher of flowers on the table better than the buffet.  That's how the turkey came to be.

The table of thanksgiving is set with the place mats and napkins from HomeGoods that I've shown before.  The dinner plates you have also seen before.  The salad plates I got on Ebay and the covered glass turkey soup bowls are from Joanne's. The carnival glass sherbet cups and saucers are antiques and belonged to my grandmother.  The stem ware, faux fruit and vegetables, have been picked up at numerous thrift stores and boutiques over the years.

Dinner plate: Royal Chippendale

Salad plate:  "His Majesty" by Johnson Bros., England

Chargers: Made of tin and purchased from a catalog

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Now, I have a confession to make.  

All of the above is

Only Make Believe...

...Yes, that's right.  No Thanksgiving dinner will be served at this table.  No family or friends will sit and partake of a delicious meal or give thanks for all their blessings.  

It is all Only Make Believe.

"IT'S ALL MAKE BELIEVE, ISN'T IT?"

Marilyn Monroe

That's right, Marilyn, and the reason is that I love to decorate and it makes me happy to set a pretty table.

We are actually going down to Santa Cruz to Tim, Tami and Jake's home for Thanksgiving.  I will probably make a couple of pies and some appetizers to take but they will supply the rest of the dinner.  Tim usually cooks a turkey on the Weber and Tami makes the most awesome roasted vegetables and, along with all the sides and fixins, there will be a delicious meal and very good company.  The Captain and I are treated like royalty while we are there and not allowed to do much but enjoy ourselves.

So you see, Marilyn, there is no need to worry, we will be very well taken care of and in the process, I get to have the prettiest table without any of the 'dirty' work.  When the "dinner" is over, it's just a matter of putting everything back on the shelf and then starting to plan for the next big occasion..More fun!

Dinner plates: Churchill, England

Crock with wheat: Made by moi

Chargers:  Target

In the mean time this is where the Captain and I sit down to a festive dinner for most nights this month.  Since we do go away from home for the holidays, I like to make our every day meals a bit of a celebration.  Here we sit down to dishes that I got on Ebay also.  The wine glasses are from an estate sale as well as the small turkeys, and the utensils are a replica of an Early American pattern that I've had for many years.

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Well, I think I have got about as much out of Autumn as I'm ever going to get this year.  It was a brilliant season and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm now getting anxious to move on to the next phase which I hope finds me tying up loose ends so that I can embrace the most wonderful time of the year...Christmas.

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Here is a sneak preview of a little project I'm working on now, and hope to be finishing up within the next week or two.

Wish me luck. You know how my weeks can turn into months....Judy

I'm sharing with these lovely parties:

Home

A Return To Lovliness

Wow Us Wednesday

What's It Wednesday

Home Sweet Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Rustic Restoration Weekend

Saturday Show Off

Seasonal Sunday

Sunday's Best

Make It Pretty Monday