Tuesday, November 20, 2018

OVER THE RIVER, ETC...










Over the river and through the woods
 to Grandmother's (and Grandfather's)
 house we go...

So goes the old holiday song 
and it happens to have 
special meaning for us this year 
because our kids are
 leaving the beach 
and coming to the woods 
for Thanksgiving.





As I have said in the past, 
this doesn't happen very often.

 With their jobs, 
they don't always get the same days off 
so it is hard for them to get away. 
 It is easier for us 
to go to them.
  But, this year,
 it all worked out
 so we can spend time together
 here at the Cottage.





Right up front, 
let me tell you that we are 
not a fancy family.

 We would rather go
 to a casual restaurant 
where we can wear jeans and tennies
 as opposed to a 
fancy, dress-up place. 
 Don't get me wrong,
 we love good food 
but would rather be comfortable 
while eating it.

 My big night out
would consist of
 a trip to Home Goods,
 followed by dinner at In-N-Out Burger,
 in the car, with my dog. 
 That is what makes me happy
 and I don't apologize for it.





I don't go so far as to say 
I love to cook every day
 but if it is a special dinner,
 shared with my family, 
then I really enjoy it.

  I will fix a turkey breast 
and all the good stuff 
that goes with it.

 Nothing fancy, 
just plain old good 
meat and potatoes.





Before the food though,
 my first thought is setting a pretty table.
  Here again, nothing really fancy.

  My "good" china 
is made up of sets picked up at 
flea markets and thrift shops.

 Here I will show you
 three possibilities I might use 
to set a pretty table...
of course, 
there will be flowers,
 candles and fancy glasses 
to complete it all.





This china is my finest. 
 It is Royal Chippendale (England) 
and I bought it 
from an antique shop 
when we first moved
 to the Cottage...





...this set of dishes
 came from a parking lot sale 
a few years back.

  It is Tepco (USA)
 which was made for, and used in,
 restaurants
 around the 40's and 50's. 
I can remember going to places 
where food was served on
 Tepco with a western theme... 





...this setting is bright and cheery. 
 It came from Home Goods
 and that says it all.

Now, after showing all of these,
 because all of the above are
 my "good" dishes, 
I don't put them in the dishwasher. 
 Because we don't have the privilege
 of visiting with the kids all that often,
 I don't want to spend time doing dishes,
 so here is the actual table setting
 I have decided upon. 
 It will mostly consist of
 everyday pieces.





Starting out with gold 
could tell a different story,
 but not this charger. 
 It is plastic and 
came from the dollar store...





...this charger knocks it all up a notch. 
 It is tin 
and I ordered eight of them 
from a catalog years ago.

 I love the lacy edge 
that peeks out from under 
the dinner plate...





These dishes 
were a give-away 
from the grocery store 
that Tami worked at 
about 30 years ago. 
 The rolled edges 
add a little extra 
to the setting...





...these napkins 
are from a large set
 I picked up at a flea market 
once upon a time. 
They top off the settings
 with a black and white checked ribbon
 that ties in with 
the chair back covers 
and the window valance. 
 Further embellishments consist of 
a dried autumn leaf 
and a stem of wheat.





A simple centerpiece
 sits in the middle
 and persimmons add a little color there
 and at each place setting.  
This will be removed 
during dinner
 as the narrow table can't hold it
 and food, as well.





I will fight for 
the candles to remain 
during dinner, however, 
as I am THAT fancy,
 but the rest of the gang
 says they like to see 
what they are eating!












I ordered some blue velvet 
along with some red velvet
 that I don't have yet.  
You will see later 
the plans I have for them.





We wish you all 
a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving
 and hope you enjoy the time spent
 with your families and friends...






...and then
 I will be back with 
the beginning of this year's 
love affair with
 Christmas!



...Judy...






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16 comments:

  1. I say whichever selection you made, you will have a beautiful table. I love them all!

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  2. Happy Thanksgiving, Judy! Enjoy your family, how wonderful that you all get to be together. And the more I learn about you, the more I know we'd get along famously as neighbors! Home Goods, here we come!! xo

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  3. You sound like my kind of "people", Judy. Your table setting is beautiful. I know your meal will be delicious. It's wonderful that your family can be with you on this special day.
    Looking forward to seeing your Christmas decor. I haven't started yet and really don't know what I want to do.
    Will be a more simple kind of Christmas this year for us.
    Happy Thanksgiving !
    Hugs,
    Charlotte in Va.

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  4. I'm with you Judy...I want to wear my jeans and be compfy...which I will do on Thanksgiving. Our family is a laid back one as well. Your table looks very festive and I am sure all will enjoy the good meal you provide. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Janice

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  5. Hi Judy! All of your place settings would be perfect for a special Thanksgiving gathering. Love the Tepco plates with the birds. I hope you enjoy your time with your family - so wonderful they will be with you. Jeans, a burger and a dog - that sounds good to me as wel! Happy thanksgiving! Jane

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  6. I love your simple tablescape. Enjoy the time with family. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  7. Perfect . . . beautiful and if it can all go in your dishwasher, all the better. Enjoy the love of family gathered together in your lovely cottage home. God bless you all.
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Connie :)

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  8. Lovely! Have a wonderful feast with your family. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  9. I’m so happy your family will all be together this Thanksgiving. Your tablescape is beautiful and I have to tell you I love that white truck. I like simpler to and more so the older I get! I love that tin charger with the lace like edges, if you ever see them again let me know. I love swirl plates and used them too on our table. I hope you and your family had a bless Thanksgiving

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  10. We are the same way Judy. It was the first year in a long time for us to all be together on the actual holiday. With firefighters and nurses in the family it is hard to always come together on the actual day. They are usually working the holidays. So this year was a treat for me too to all be together on the day. Glad the kids could all join you this year at the Cottage. What a special blessing. Hope the day was special. We are comfy and cozy and after dinner played some games and then hit the stores for the PRE BLACK FRIDAY EVENTS LOL! Just fun to be in the crazy. Hugs and have a great rest of this weekend. Hugs to Kai from Buddy!
    Kris

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  11. This is such a lovely, charming post....! After several years of many people coming for Thanksgiving (buffet paper plates) we had only 8 this year sitting down at a formal table. Football was forgotten and everyone lingered at the table, even returning for desert(much later). I think it was the memories---whatever you create---formal or informal..(your table was lovely) but most important is who is at the table! I was relaxed as everything was accomplished the day before---and when Momma is happy---everyone is happy. Sandi

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  12. Thanks so much, Sandi. We had 5 for dinner as my grandson's girl friend spent the time with her grandmother. It was a great day and the dinner was very good. There was football after dinner, as my S-I-L and grandson love their sports, but that was OK the rest of us played with the three dogs and had a great time. It was just nice that we could all be together..Now, trying to play catch up and get ready for Christmas..Happy Monday..Judy

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  13. Love, love, love! Such a pretty table and everything looks so warm and welcoming! Your favorite night out is my 'dream date', too! haha. I hope you had a wonderful day with your family and fur-baby, filled with laughter and love. Hugs xo Karen

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  14. I love it. My daughter did the dishes for us. It was wonderful. I love the checked napkins. Cute, cute.

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  15. I missed this post as went into my spam folder! Your table is so pretty and even though simple, very homey and cozy. I love your white plates and napkins with the ribbon. It's all so darling and hope you had a wonderful day with the kids. Simple is best anymore. Hugs.. Marilyn

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  16. Oh I love all your dishes - they are ones I would pick myself. I have never had a full new set of dishes - I get them at yard sales and thrift shops and estate sales - more fun to hunt them up and add to the collection. I love restaurant dishes. Our favorite Mexican restaurant has some that I'd love to have, but of course they frown on people walking off with their dishes. hahahaha. I too plan my tables sometimes by what will go in the dishwasher - makes for faster cleanup, though our son-in-law is super great, he goes right into the kitchen and starts cleaning up. The grandsons do the drying if there are any hand wash dishes - and even when planning for dishwasher safe dishes there are always some the will need to be hand washed. Everyone pitches in and it is soon all done. I'm glad your kids got to come for the holiday - we had everyone here - except for our son and his family in West Virginia - but they are coming out to visit for a week at the end of January. Mr. Kai is certainly fine with his frame of leaves. Happy happy days my dear.

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy