FANTASIES AND FRESH FLOWERS...

This above picture

 really has nothing to do with

 fantasies or fresh flowers 

but it does represent the fact that 

  fall and harvest time

 are now being celebrated

 and we have

 so much to be 

thankful for.

Now, about those fantasies...

This is one

 of my biggest...

...a beautifully

 appointed dining room table

 with happy and smiling

 family around it...

...there would be 

signs of the season 

in the choice of dinnerware...

...lovely crystal glasses

 and accessories...

...burning candles,

 fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers 

on display from the Farmers Market 

and good food, of course. 

Once upon a time...

 this wasn't a fantasy,

 it was a reality,

 but that was before the kids grew up

 and had their own fantasies to fulfill

 and we moved away 

from the majority of 

the rest of the family.

Now, 

we are the ones to travel

 to someone else's table 

and be thankful for 

being a part of their fantasies,

 but I don't mind...

I have my memories.

I set this table

 a couple of years ago and,

 to be honest,

 have shown it before,

 but now we are in the process

 of redoing the dining room 

after thirty years,

 so to have 

any kind of a dinner in here now,

 would be 

the biggest fantasy of all.

I just wanted to share

 with you

what I would do..

if only...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now,

 I can tell you

 that we don't live 

an uneventful life here 

at the Cottage.

 No sir, 

we still have our fantasies

 and we fulfill them.

During the holidays 

the big fancy dinner

 is not the only meal

 that exists...

...we do have to eat

 on all the other days

 during the holiday seasons,

 so I try 

to set a pretty table

 to celebrate those ordinary meals

 and the ordinary fantasies

 that go with them.

A set of

 vintage restaurant china (Tepco)

 that we picked up at a swap meet...

...along with

 some beautiful orange tulips, 

displayed in a

 vintage batter bowl...

...make up for the nights

 we sit in front of the TV 

with our plates on our laps.

An ordinary dinner,

 planned around

 pretty china and lovely flowers,

 good food and good company

 becomes an

 extraordinary one.

Hope you have

 every one of your fantasies fulfilled

 this holiday season.

...Judy...

*FYI:  I was inspired to share my tablescapes by BloomNation, a service that supports local florists.

 I was not compensated for this post.

Sharing today with:

No Place Like Home at Rose Chintz Cottage

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Share Your Style Link Party

Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage