Thanksgiving 2018



I love Thanksgiving.  I love all the traditional foods and decorations. I don't wait until Thanksgiving, however, to express my thanks!  I am grateful on a daily basis for all that I have in my life. Joe and I had a dear friend years ago who was being taken by cancer. He told us that he would not pray for himself. I understood, but I don't agree! I say prayers of thanksgiving and I also ask that I may continue to to do the things I do ... to share my skills and talents ... to create fun and excitement .. with all - and for all - who care to be a part of my life.


This year we decided to buy a pasture raised turkey from a local farmer. I name everything (yes, even things I'm going to eat), so I named this guy Bob.  Turns out that Bobbette was a very tasty lady!  If you've never cooked a fresh turkey, they will only take about 2/3s the amount of time frozen/thawed birds will take.  They are not injected with anything, so they don't create that horrible 'turkey coma' that we laugh about! I stuffed Bobbette with apples, a lemon and lots of rosemary. I rubbed her skin with olive oil, and a pulverized powder I made with pink peppercorns, dried garlic, dried sage and more rosemary.


I added the colors of purple and yellow to our tablescape this year! I do something a little different every year and decided a pop of yellow would be nice!  Some of our side dishes are very traditional. Others have a new spin! I always try to fix a couple things that I know Miss Phoebe will enjoy eating!  She's almost 12, but still likes and dislikes certain foods! Something she ate a month ago might not be touched now!  Kids!


I found these cute place mats at Pier 1 this fall and knew I wanted them on my Thanksgiving table. I added a little burlap ribbon to the composed centerpiece and put 'burlap' paper in the background of the menu card.





Our place setting is simple  Johnson Brothers Royal Majesty with Cambridge turkey flatware. The glasses are Mikasa and Fostoria from the 1970s.  Miniature salt and peppers came from Cracker Barrel this season!




 The centerpiece is in the center at all, but set up on the end of the table, so there is room for all the food!  We always serve Thanksgiving dinner family style!

My pilgrims are Villeroy and Boch and have been in my collection for years.  The turkey and the big ceramic pumpkin are Hobby Lobby treasures, but also at least fifteen years old!


Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll be sharing my post with a couple parties, so make sure you click through to see the other posts!






Niki's 44th Birthday!



I still enjoy having a special birthday meal for my only ... Niki turned 44 this year and we finally had her little celebration at the end of October.  She was traveling on her actual birthday, so we had to wait a couple weeks!

A menu card remains one of my favorite ways to make a meal special, so here is the one for her brunch!


She has an attachment to owls ... and who isn't attached to Pioneer Woman these days?  Our table is a mixed up vignette of lots of colors!


PW table runner, napkins and place mats ... Dazzling Dahlia and Fiona patterns.


The centerpiece, set on the end of the table, so we could fill the table with food ... is a simple globe filled with flowers that match the linens ... a couple candles in bright orange glasses ... galvanized lanterns and the yellow owl!


The square dinner plate is Pfaltzgraff, but the owl is a cheap Walmart plate from this new season!  If you follow my blog, you've seen the Labrador flatware before.  It is one of my favorite Cambridge patterns.  We love our Labs!







The owl salt and pepper shakers are from Cracker Barrel and the napkins rings are vintage!  I'm vintage, too ... and I've had these for years!


Here's the birthday girl!  Can't believe that she is 44.  Seems like she should still be toddling around in pigtails!


I'll be sharing this post with a couple blog parties, so make sure you click through to see the other posts.










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Christmas 2020

Mary Queen of Scots Dinner Menu Booklet

Grandma Debbie's Christmas 2018

Grandma's Blue & Green Pupkins!

Autumn at Grandma Debbie's