2010-we hardly knew ya...

Where has this year gone to? It has just whizzed by for me. We've had a pretty great year, with a new daughter-in-law as the topper. I think I've had the most fun joining you on "Tablescape Thursday". Meeting all of you has certainly been a highlight!
We usually don't celebrate New Year's Eve. I guess I'm getting to the age where it's not that exciting anymore. But I thought I would try to throw something together, just in case!

I got really lucky this Christmas. Santa brought me new linens-in black. He also put the silver chargers you see here. I think he has great taste. I am using my Noritake china and Fostoria crystal. I put my $2.00 clock (you'll have to look back to see how I got that!) on my clear plate dish, with silver foil shreds around the base. It will help us with the countdown!

I've set near each place setting noise makers and necklaces to help with the festivities. You can't have New Year's without noisemakers!


A silver bowl with poppers is ready to welcome in 2011!!

My thrift store silver tray is set with silver champagne glasses and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. That is about as exciting as it gets here. I'll put the "bubbly" on ice soon.


Susan-you're such a dear. This year has been a blast for me! Thank You, Thank You-for your wonderful ideas, helps and the beauty you inspire in each of us. May 2011 find you all healthy, happy and ready to tablescape!!!!

The Gift...

Merry Christmas everybody!!! I hope tonight finds you with those you love, wrapped in the joy of the season. As I grow older, I find that I get greater joy from the things that Christmas represents and not the presents that I receive. (Although I do hope that Kindle is under my tree!)

I found just about everything for this table at Wal-Mart. The green cloth is from Kohl's, one of those great $9.99 bargains, that ended up even cheaper with the 20% discount. I've had the gold chargers for awhile, and the burgundy dinner plates look amazing with them. The dessert plates are what got me. I love the simple word "Joy" on the plate. This is the season for Joy!!

I've used two different centerpieces. I purchased the cupcake holder and the votives along with the plates. I had this great idea that it might look great, but didn't think that 13 votives might be just a little bit of a fire hazard. But they really looked great!

I decided to change to a clear cake stand with a gold wrapped box, surrounded by ribbon confetti. My husband gave me the gold candles a few years ago and I think they look quite elegant. I found the little gold packages with the other tree ornaments.


Thank you Susan-you're a true gift to me and others who are inspired weekly by your gifts. As you open your gifts this Christmas, let us all remember the gift that started it all, the birth of our Savior.

On Christmas Day in the Morning...

What do you do for Christmas morning? Is your family a "get up and tear open the gifts" kind of family, or do you do things in a more orderly fashion? Well, my bunch is a "get up and tear" group! Although I'm glad that those early, early mornings are gone, I do miss the excitement of those days. With our kids all out of the nest, hubby and I now have a leisurely breakfast planned for the day. I'm setting my table with my "Christmas everyday" dishes. Pfaltzgraff "Snow Village" caught my eye a long time ago, and I've been using them for about 10 years now. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, I pull them out of the dish cupboard and use them until the New Year comes.

I've started my table with a casual plaid runner that I purchased a a craft fair long ago. Next comes a few of the snowmen that I have collected over the years. I am using the dinner plate, bowl and flatware in this pattern. I've collected several of the serving pieces along with the cream/sugar and the salt and pepper shakers. I pulled out my green Mexican goblets, too. I like the green with the intense reds.

I'm using a cranberry napkin with white "Style Sisters" napkin rings. they remind me of the snow that is supposed to be coming tonight.

Each of the pieces of the flatware have a different scene on the handle. My grandkids love to use this during December.
What do you serve for breakfast? This year we're having waffles from scratch, made in the hotel-style waffle maker. Strawberries, whipped cream, bacon and juice will fill our bunch up, for awhile.







Susan- once again you are tops in my book-or I should say-blog! I always look forward to seeing all of the beauty that you inspire. Everyone-have a Merry Christmas!

A Little Bit of Bling...

Oh, how I love this time of year! One of my favorite days is the first snow of the season. Unfortunately, we haven't had that day yet. Here we are, high in the Rocky Mountains, and today it was 50 degrees! So I decided to make my own Snow Day. I've gathered just about everything white, silvery or glittery that I had in the house. I started with a white table cloth, then pulled out the silver chargers.

Next came my formal china-Ranier by Noritake. That silver band around the plates really adds to the sparkle. I pulled out my formal crystal-Fostoria brand, but for the life of me I can't remember the pattern name. White napkins with bright snowflake napkin rings from Kohl's are next. I used my not-so formal flatware from Onieda, purchased from Kohl's this fall. I liked the sparkle with the plates.

I filled my hurricane with white, matte silver and bright silver beads from Pier 1. Then my silver candle sticks that are not real silver but shine in the candle light. White candles add a soft glow and reflect off of all the silver.

I wrapped a piece of silver bead garland around the hurricane and added some silver beads left over from Mardi Gras. I found the little candles that are embellished with snowflakes at Home Goods. They are just too cute.

Now I know that there will come a day in the not too distant future that I will be cussing and cursing the snow and wishing for Spring. But for today, I will look forward to our first snow.
Susan-thanks so much for hosting Tablescape Thursday. I look forward to seeing all the beautiful and creative things you all are doing. A big "thanks" to all who have left such sweet messages on my tables. Your thoughts are appreciated very much. Now, go back and look some more, there's bound to be something you'll like!!

Forever Plaid...

Christmas is here!! What a wonderful time of year. Thanks so much to Susan at BNOTP
for hosting this great event. I'm looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful tables.
Today I'm starting with a great plaid table cloth. These colors really start off the season for me.

My centerpiece came from Restoration Hardware. I think that I have put this piece just about everywhere in my house, on the mantle, on the piano, on top of the china hutch. It stll looks good and with the candles it's not too tall for a table.

My plates are from "Elkridge Gifts and Framing". They are called "Crimson Cardinal" by burton + BURTON. I love the cardinal in the middle. They are really bright and festive. I've layered them with red chargers from Hobby Lobby.

I made my napkins from fabric I had around the house. The sparkly napkin rings came from Pier One. I chose them because of the gold threads running through the table cloth.

Did you see the little cardinal peeking out of the centerpiece? They're too shy to be out on their own, so I tucked them in the centerpiece!

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. I sure did. It full of food, fun, alughter and love. Go find the button on the right to get back to Susan's!

It's Even Better On Sale!!!

Is it just me of are more and more folks out there are tablescaping? In my recent travels, I have noticed so many more stores that have beautiful dishes, glassware, and tableware available. WalMart has really stepped up lately-at least the one closest to me. I have been planning Thanksgiving for approx. 25 people this year. I've been looking for things to compliment what I already have, so here's a few of my finds.

 

 

When I saw the votives at one of my favorite local haunts,"ElkRidge Gifts and Framing", I knew that a set must be mine. In fact, Marsha, the owner, said she had me in mind when she saw them at market. They are just gorgeous. You may not be able to tell, but they are amber in color, with leaves outlined in gold. I picked these up in July!

 

Now for my fabulous sale finds. Kohl's was my first stop. All of their fall linens were on sale for $9.99. Any size cloth or napkins-all $9.99. So, I picked up a couple of different sizes. The autumn chargers were on sale for $2.00 at WalMart. I'm using my Noritake stoneware that I've had for many years. The pattern is "Tawny". I picked up the napkins at Walmart, also the napkin rings and salt-n-peppers, all on sale. Using my BigLots goblets finishes the place setting. I'm trying a few different stlyes for Thanksgiving, this one is casual. I will be setting 4 tables, so each one will be different. I'll try to post pictures!

 

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Susan- you are such a dear to host this wonderful party! I might not post every week, but I do stop by to look and admire all of your wonderful ideas. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Eek!!!!!!

I really love this time of year. So many things to use for decorating, it's hard to choose! I've changed my Halloween table up just a little bit. It's truly amazing what a trip to Home Goods and Hobby Lobby can do for a girl. Here are some of the things I've picked up.

 

I found the candleabra at Wal-Mart and placed it on a clear cake stand. The little sign is from a cute boutique here in town. I'm using my Lemongrass and Heather Fiesta along with cute orange polka dot plates from Home Goods. I've kept the same dotted napkins with orange ribbons. Purple glassware from Wal-Mart adds to the spooky feeling. Hopefully, my guests won't get a spider surprise with their meal! I picked up the orange table runner at Kohl's, on sale of course.

 

I decorated my buffet with a cute set of apothecary jars that I made! I've seen these on the craft blogs and finally got all the ingredients to put them together. They're filled with yummy Halloween candy-pumpkins, chocolate eyeballs and Halloween gumballs. I know that with Christmas coming, I will find tons of stuff to fill them up with. I purchased the letters j, o, and y to change the message.

 

I set my entry table with an enticing array of spooky beverages. I printed labels for the soda and set them on a silver tray to serve my guests. I really loved the download I got from another of the craft blogs. Eat, Drink and Be Scary is a great motto for this time of the year. I'm sorry I can't give those extremely talented girls their due, I've forgotten their names(one of the hazards of lurking, I know!)Hope you all like Monster Snot, Vampire Blood and Witches Brew to drink!

 

Thanks again Susan at BNOTP for hosting. You're terrific!!! Click her button on the side to get back to her fabulous party!

That Old Black Magic...

I really love this time of year here in the high mountain valleys of Colorado. The air is a little crisper, and nature begins her yearly ritual of change. I especially love it because it means that Halloween is coming!! As a little girl, we had neighbors that decorated for Halloween every year. I especially remember the year they dressed up like the characters from "The Addams Family". Every member of their family was included in the fun. I have tried to do the same thing for the kids in our town. We've had haunted houses, tunnels of terror aand always a cemetary. This year I've found some really cute things for a "Haunted Dinner".

 

I started with black table linens, black chargers and Lemongrass and Heather Fiesta. My inspiration is the witches hat as my centerpiece. The black plates with the eyes are Fitz and Floyd "Bones". I found those at "The Quilted Bear" in SLC. The white plates come from the Dollar Tree. I loved them when I saw them. I think they are really versatile and of course, they only cost $1.00!!!

 

I found the skulls at Dollar Tree too. My hurricanes are made from parts found at-Dollar Tree! That cute "Beware" sign came from Hobby Lobby. Orange votives and napkins tied with orange ribbon complete the table. I think when I set this table again I will use a purple cloth. What do you think?

 

 

I hope you are getting ready for a fun fall. I've been absent from this party for the last several weeks. So many things seem to come together at this time of the year, the most important one being the wedding of our youngest son to beautiful Erin.
Susan-you're such a dear to host this delightful party. Each and everyone of you continue to inspire me each week. Thank you to everyone who has left a comment. I appreciate your sweet words and kind thoughts. Please remember to link back to "Tablescape Thursday" by clicking the button to your right. See you next week!!

My Clock Story...

Thank You Marty for hosting another "Tabletop Tuesday". I've been out of the loop, so to speak, for the last few weeks. Youngest son got married, school started, and projects that needed to be finished have gotten in the way. I've still been checking out the beautiful posts you all put together each week on the various blogs that I follow. You still inspire me, and I hope to be back in the swing of things soon.
So, here's my clock story...


This shelf has been over my bed for a few years, waiting for something to call it home. I was in our local ALCO, if you have one in your area, they are kind of neat. Ours has a big home decor department. Every time I went in, I would see this clock on the shelf, look at the price tag which said "20.00" and think- "Next time, I will have extra cash."

I went in one day and knew that I had an extra twenty in my pocket, and decided to splurge. I took the clock up to the check-out and had the gal ring it up. She said, "Wow, what a deal, it's only $1.99!" Needless to say, I hurried up and paid the lady. The clock came home to my bedroom shelf. I found a few other things to put with it, a dollar store plate with our initial made by my Cricut, a dried flower arrangement that a friend gave to me, a picture, a candlestick and three little topiaries.

I think it turned out pretty good, don't you?

Thanks again Marty-you always have such beautiful things. Keep on inspiring!!!!

Bee's A Buzzin'.....

It's been hot here in the Rocky Mountains lately. I've been feeling lazy, not wanting to get out in the sun. My garden is blooming and the bees are buzzing. We have a great little shop here in my town that sells honey-nothing but honey they gather from their bees and bee-related items. I love to stop in and see what's new and buy a bottle of fresh honey. I saw these plates a few months ago in a catalog that I get regularly. I knew that I had a cute table setting to share with all of you at "Between Naps on the Porch".


I really like the beehive in the center of these dessert or salad plates. I almost hate to put anything on them and cover up the hive!


I found vintage yellow Fiesta at a nother local shop and layered them under the blue.


A white charger from Wal-Mart with a "Summer Rose" pattern breaks up the blue of the placemat from Dollar Tree. I've found some great things at that store and my wallet is happy too.


I purchased the spatter ware from Country Living magazine many years ago. This is the largest of the canister set. I also have a water pitcher that matches. The sunflowers are always cheery and really say "last days of summer are here."


I found the votives at Yankee Candle a few months ago. Can you see the bees?


Susan-as usual, you are a wonderful hostess. I love coming to your porch every Thursday for Tablescape Thursday. Click on the button to get back to the party!