With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I’m anticipating celebrating with a few Hearts, Flowers & a little Chocolate!

I found these Marbled Chocolate Heart Cups at World Market  that make for a quick & easy Valentine’s Day treat~

Perfect for filling with mousse, ice cream, lemon curd or any berries & whipped cream~

I kept it simple and added a tablespoon of Grand Marnier to my whipped cream for a little orange flavor, added some strawberries and garnished with chocolate curls included in the package~

 Ideal for a Valentine’s Day served with Rose Petal Tea, I also found at World Market~

 And a few heart-shaped tea sandwiches of the chicken salad variety and very thin bread from Pepperidge Farm~ a compromise with white on one side & wheat on the other :)

Table Details:

Dishes/G. Demartine & Cie~ Avenier Limoges

Chargers, Napkins & Teapot/ HomeGoods

Leaf Demitasse Spoons/ Tuesday Morning

Wishing you Hearts, Flowers & Chocolate this Valentine’s Day~ not necessarily in that order :)

Our next selection for Food for Thought is Chocolate Chocolate: The True Story of Two Sisters, Tons of Treats, and the Little Shop That Could ~ a book chocoholics can sink their teeth into & perfect with Valentine’s Day approaching !

 Join us Friday, February 3rd to satisfy your sweet tooth &  reading enjoyment!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

Table Top Tuesday~

Tablescape Thursday~

 Foodie Friday~

 Seasonal Sundays~

 Rose Chintz Cottage for Valentine’s Day Tea ~

They’re back . . .

Squatting on our neighbor’s dock. . .

 Squawking. . .

 Soaring. . .

 Sunning. . .

Providing us with a show & some smiles :)

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”
― Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

 Outdoor Wednesday~

  Watery Wednesday~

Alphabe-Thursday~

 Seasonal Sundays~

Mosaic Monday~

The Night Circus  ****.*

by Erin Morgenstern

I’m joining Jain at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.”

“But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.”

“True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.”

I loved this book!

 I was spellbound from the opening paragraph and from the moment the gates opened admitting entrance to Le Cirque des Rêves! Full of fantasy & magic, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat~ a fascinated spectator~  waiting in wonder of what act would unfold next. Dueling illusionists, unusual clocks, vanishing rings, ice gardens, wishing trees, flaming cauldrons and fantastic carousels~ I was captivated by the vivid details! I’m a huge fan of audio books, especially when the narrator is one of my favorites, so the icing on the cake~ or caramel on the apple in this case~ for me, was listening to Jim Dale (known for his spellbinding narration of the Harry Potter series).

 His rendition and audio performance made this tale truly magical as well as memorable!

I took the time :) to set a table as part of this edible review~ inspired by the mention of Midnight Dinners.

The clocks are all set:

“Always precisely at midnight, at the moment the grandfather clock in the foyer begins to chime, the first plates are placed on the table.”

“The towering tents are striped in white and black, no golds and crimsons to be seen.  No color at all, save for the neighboring trees and the grass of the surrounding fields. Black-and-white stripes on grey sky; countless tents of varying shapes and sizes, with an elaborate wrought-iron fence encasing them in a colorless world. Even what little ground is visible from outside is black or white, painted or powdered, or treated with some other circus trick.”

“Then the iron gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition. They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside. Now the circus is open. Now you may enter.”

“The whole of Le Cirque des Rêves is formed by series of circles. Perhaps it is a tribute to the origin of the word ‘circus,’ deriving from the Greek kirkos meaning circle, or ring. There are many such nods to the phenomenon of the circus in the historical sense, though it is hardly a traditional circus. Rather than a single tent with rings enclosed within, this circus contains clusters of tents like pyramids, some large and others quite small. They are set within circular paths, contained within a circular fence. Looping and continuous.”

“You step into a bright, open courtyard surrounded by striped tents. Curving pathways along the perimeter lead away from the courtyard, turning into unseen mysteries dotted with twinkling lights. There are vendors traversing the crowd around you, selling refreshments and oddities, creations flavored with vanilla and honey, chocolate and cinnamon.”

“Midnight Dinners are a tradition at la maison Lefevre.”

“At dinner, which begins promptly at midnight, each course is styled in black or white but bursts with color once pierced with forks or spoons, revealing layer upon layer of flavors.”

“…  it begins to tick, the pendulum swinging steadily and evenly. Then, it becomes something else.”

“Meanwhile, bits of the body of the clock expand and contract, like pieces of a puzzle.”

“After midnight the clock begins once more to fold in upon itself.”

“But the Midnight Dinners have an air of nocturnal mystery already, and Chandresh finds that providing no menu, no map of the culinary route, adds to the experience. Dish after dish is brought to the table, some easily identifiable as quail or rabbit or lamb, served on banana leaves or baked in apples or garnished with brandy-soaked cherries. Other courses are more enigmatic, concealed in sweet sauces or spiced soups; unidentifiable meats hidden in pastries and glazes.”

“Should a diner inquire as to the nature of a particular dish, question of the origin of a bite or a seasoning, a flavor she cannot put her finger on (for even those with the most refined of palates can never identify each and every flavor), she will not be met with a satisfying answer.”

“Chandresh will remark that ‘the recipes belong to the chefs themselves and I am not one to deny them their privacy.’ The curious guest will return to the mysterious plate in front of her, perhaps remarking that, whatever the secrets, the dish is quite impressive, and continuing to wonder where the peculiar flavor might originate as she savors each bite with profound thoughtfulness.”

“In truth, Chandresh prefers not to know all the ingredients, not to understand each technique. He claims such ignorance gives each dish life, makes it more than the sum of its parts. ‘Ah,’ remarked one guest when the topic arose. ‘You prefer not to see the gears of the clock, as to better tell the time.’ “

As deliciously detailed as The Night Circus is, Food for Thought was as abundant as the circus tents… jam & clotted cream on scones… layers of pastry with cinnamon & sugar… cocoa with clouds of extra whipped cream …caramel popcorn & apples…tiered cakes layered to impossible heights… berries bursting with creams and liqueurs…figs dripping with honey…sugar blown into curls & flowers…

I opted for an  illusionist’s trick for Food for Thought, with an eye on calorie consumption & portion control~ satisfying my sweet tooth with a “confection deliciously executed  in chocolate and butterscotch…” in the form of a mini parfait :)

 1 chocolate cupcake, 2 butterscotch pudding cups, 2 slices of angel food cake, 4 squeezes of Chocolate Amazing Glazes, 8 dollops of whipped cream, a sprinkling of toffee chips, and a few chocolate curls. . .

Layered & magically transformed into eight parfaits which manage to tickle the tastebuds but not pack on the pounds with their 2 1/2 oz. serving size :)

 Table Details:

Vintage Clock Plates & Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

Tablecloth (2 Throws)/ HomeGoods

Silver Tray/ from retail days

Dinner Plates & Chargers/ HomeGoods

Flatware/ Horchow

Small beaded Parfait Spoons/ Wild Eye Designs- HomeGoods

Goblets/ Mikasa French Countryside

Napkins/ Pier 1

Clocks/ TimeWorks from retail days

In celebration of my 2 year blogging anniversary, I’m sharing some book love and giving away the audio version of The Night Circus from Audible.com to one winner!

 ”Dale makes palpable the sights and smells of the mysterious night circus, guiding us with his familiar voice and ensuring we never miss a fantastical detail.” ~AudioFile 

 For a chance to win, leave a comment telling me what you are reading now!

 A winner will be selected February 6th.

“There’s magic in that. It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound.”

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

Food for Thought~

Table Top Tuesday~

Tablescape Thursday~

 Foodie Friday~

 Seasonal Sundays~

Winter World **** by Bernd Heinrich

I’m  reposting this book review from last year for Food for Thought, which I’m thrilled about returning, with our first book selection Friday, Jan. 20th~ The Night Circus!

Next up is Chocolate Chocolate: The True Story of Two Sisters, Tons of Treats, and the Little Shop That Could ~ a book chocoholics can sink their teeth into & perfect with Valentine’s Day on the horizon! Join us Friday, February 3rd to satisfy your sweet tooth & your reading enjoyment!

The weather outside is frightful . . . while we thankfully have not had as much snow as the Northeast, it’s been colder than normal here in the sunny South. Snowbound, I had the perfect excuse to stay indoors and read a couple of weeks ago. This book provided *interesting reading while I was tucked away, cozy indoors, watching the birds and wondering how nature adapts to the frigid temperatures and winter landscape.

(*interesting reading for those defined as a bit of a Discovery Channel or Animal Planet geek :-)

“From flying hot-blooded squirrels and diminutive kinglets to sleeping black bears and torpid turtles to frozen insects and frogs, the animal kingdom relies on staggering evolutionary innovations to survive winter. Unlike their human counterparts, who alter the environment to accommodate physical limitations, most animals are adapted to an amazing range of conditions. In Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, biologist, illustrator, and award-winning author Bernd Heinrich explores his local woods, where he delights in the seemingly infinite feats of animal inventiveness he discovers there.”

“Because winter drastically affects the most elemental component of all life — water — radical changes in a creature’s physiology and behavior must take place to match the demands of the environment. Some creatures survive by developing antifreeze; others must remain in constant motion to maintain their high body temperatures. Even if animals can avoid freezing to death, they must still manage to find food in a time of scarcity, or store it from a time of plenty.”

“Beautifully illustrated throughout with the author’s delicate drawings and infused by his inexhaustible enchantment with nature, Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival awakens the wonders and mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter’s harsh, cruel exigencies.”

 I set a Winter World-inspired table with pine cones, lichen covered branches, moss & a few nuts for foraging squirrels. . . on a landscape made of a jute runner layered on a snowy white quilt.

“Perhaps none depends on snow more than the snowshoe hare. The size of this hare’s tracks are out of proportion to the animal’s size. As a result of its low foot-loading, the hare can walk, hop and run very near the top of the fluffiest snow. As a consequence, the more that snow accumulates, throughout the winter, the more easily the hare can reach its food, the fresh twigs of small trees and brush.”

Woodland botanicals, snowy white orbs, and branches fill my lanterns on the table. . .

Rock Salt is sprinkled to mimic an icy coating, rather than to melt the snow on the sidewalk :-)

I was surprised to learn that Crossbills often lay their eggs in winter, so they are able to raise their young when the seeds of spruce or pine cones are most plentiful.

Heinrich is a scientist with a talent for relating his love for nature, his appetite for discovery, and his humorous insights in a fashion that is enjoyable for the reader.

My appetite led me to Pine Cone Cheese for Food for Thought, you can find a recipe here.

Winter can be difficult for birds when the days are short and nights are often cold and long. The natural food supply has been consumed or is hidden by snow.  Water can be hard to find, and food needed to provide the energy to keep birds warm might be scarce.

Food for Thought also led me to make pine cone bird treats for our feathered friends. . . snowy day fun for kids if you have the materials on hand, with a recipe found here.

There is still time to enter my giveaway to celebrate my two-year blogging anniversary and have this set of Chickadee salad, dinner plates, teapot, cream & sugar~ fly to your home!

Follow the link here, to enter.

A winner will be selected February 1st.

 Winter World Table details:

Bird Dishes: Gracie China/Home Goods

White Plates: Oneida Westerly Basket

Jute Runner & Napkins: Pottery Barn

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

 Tabletop Tuesday

 Alphabe-Thursday~

  Tablescape Thursday ~

 Seasonal Sundays~

 Mosaic Monday~

January 20^th~  Food for Thought is returning~ kicking off with The Night Circus. . .

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique experience, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air.”

I’m thrilled at the return of Food for Thought! Jain’s wonderful reading journey and fun idea to mix the pages with the camera & kitchen~ prompted me to get off the fence and start blogging two years ago so I could play among the pages!

This year, 22 books have preselected and you are invited to join in the fun! Just like The Night Circus, Food for Thought becomes a feast for the senses where you can lose yourself among the pages and read with a playful purpose.  If your New Year’s resolution has you cutting calories~ skip the food and share a scene, activity, location~ whatever comes across the pages to you & furthers your reading enjoyment!

Previously for Food for Thought, I have relocated a 1920′s cabin 245 miles and had a celebratory party with Caramel Apples & S’mores. . .

Enjoyed Finger Sand-Witches & a bubbling Cauldron of Soup after the Salem Witch Trials. . .

Travelled to Italy, India & Indonesia & indulged in Chocolate Pizza. . .

 Watched dolphins in Sweetwater Creek while raising Boykin Spaniel Cheese Straws. . .

Food for Thought led me to chase the moon and fireflies~as well as props & dishes to provide visual book reviews & find tablescape inspiration. . .

And led to my discovery of the magic of bottle trees, fairies & sugar and well as new authors, books & recipes. . .

You can see my year in review for Food for Thought here.

Our next selection after The Night Circus is Chocolate Chocolate: The True Story of Two Sisters, Tons of Treats, and the Little Shop That Could ~ a book chocoholics can sink their teeth into & perfect with Valentine’s Day on the horizon!

 Join us Friday, February 3rd to satisfy your sweet tooth & your reading enjoyment!

For Food for Thought inspiration & a fun format to follow for your  review, you can find a few of my favorites of Jain’s reviews:

Rosewater and Soda Bread, Tomato Rhapsody, The Illustrated Olive Farm, The Lost Cyclist, & A Year on Ladybug Farm

For the year’s complete reading list you can email me or Jain.

I hope you’ll experience the magic of Food for Thought this year :)

Thank you for your visit, I’m  joining:

Mosaic Monday~

 Alphabe-Thursday~

  Seasonal Sundays~

I’m on the porch nesting with Chickadees . . .

Enjoying some tea and tucked in a nest of grey~enjoying a bit of warm & welcome sunshine on the porch.

 These Chickadee plates, Global Design Connections by Kate Williams, along with teapot, cream & sugar~ took flight from HomeGoods to follow me home~

I was enamored by the grey twig-rimmed edge on the plates and twiggy detailed spout and handle on the teapot :)

To celebrate my two-year blogging anniversary January 15th, I’m sharing some dish & bird love and giving away this set of two salad plates, two dinner plates, teapot, cream & sugar~ to one winner~ to perch at your table.

For a chance to win these Chickadees :) mention in a comment  you would like them come home to roost with you! Subscribers/followers automatically get a second entry. For an additional chance to win, leave another comment and tell me your favorite bird you like to see perched at your feeder :)

 A winner will be chosen February 1st.

Wishing you a warm place to nest & perch this winter~

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

• Table Top Tuesday~

•  Tablescape Thursday~

•  Feathered Nest Friday~

•  Home Sweet Home~

• Potpourri Friday~

• Vintage Inspiration Friday~

•  Seasonal Sundays~

January for me is a time of reflecting. . .

Trying to avoid the January Blues. . .

 Cleaning out the old~

Making way for the new. . .

Hoping your New Year holds time for you to reflect & relax~

Thank you for your visit, I’m  joining:

 Mosaic Monday~

Outdoor Wednesday ~

Watery Wednesday ~

  Seasonal Sundays~

A look back on my top viewed tablescapes of 2011. Thanks to everyone who visited and to those who took the time to comment!

When it comes to the table, I find myself inspired by Holidays, the Garden & Flowers, Food, Books, and last but not least~  HomeGoods :)

Click on the links below to see the tablescape post in full.

Winter World~ Book

Flowers for Easter~ Holiday and Flowers!

Garden Wisdom~ Garden and a Vintage Volume-inspired Table

Dining with Butterflies~ Book!

Lilacs and Daylight~ Flowers

How to Find Flower Fairies~ Book!

Reliable Seeds~ Garden and Cupcake Fun!

Grandmother’s Flower Garden~ Garden & Grandmother’s Quilt

Stem to Stern~ Holiday Boating Fun

Peony, White, and Blue~ Book and Flowers!

Oh, Say Can You See. . .~  July 4th Holiday

You Say Tomato~ Garden

More Loggerhead Love~ Turtle & Cupcake Fun

Fantasy Island Getaway~ Boating & Anniversary

Nesting Instincts~ Garden/Bird

Halloween Treats~ Halloween Fun

Thanksgiving Lakeside~ Thanksgiving & Flowers

A Fairy Little Christmas~ Book & Cake Pan Fun

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Wishing you A Healthy and Happy New Year!

The winner of Christmas with Tucker along with some tasty canine treats is Jeanne at Bichonpawz!

Happy Reading to Jeanne 

and Bone Appetite to Chloe & LadyBug!

I’m ushering in the New Year with nostalgic Post Card Greetings from the past. . .

Rather than holding place cards, Reindeer are offering Happy New Year Wishes~

Snowflake napkins, napkin rings, and scattered rock salt set the stage for a wintry setting~

I brought my Putz houses~ new but with a vintage feel~ to the table, to echo the snowy scenes of the post card greetings.

Plates- Sophia by Ralph Lauren/ HomeGoods

Beaded Placemats & Napkins /Kohl’s

Silver Chargers/ World Market

Reindeer, Napkin Rings  & Flatware/Target

 May every possible Happiness be Yours in 2012!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

 A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

Vintage Inspiration Friday~

 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Christmas with Tucker **** by Greg Kincaid

I’m ending 2011 on the same note as 2010. . .Tuckered out and ready for a nap or the very least, curling up in a chair with a good book (or twelve :) for a month. . .

I posted this edible review for Food for Thought last December after our White Christmas. Here it is again~ and I’m offering a chance to win this Chloe & Gracie-approved tail :) along with some canine treats to wrap up the Holiday Season!

I’m happy to report that Food for Thought is starting back in January with pre-selected books to review throughout the year! If you’d like to join in the fun, you can email Jain or me for a list of books to review and dates.  

It will be fun reading with a playful purpose again :)

“It is the winter of 1962, and Kansas is hit with one of the worst blizzards in its history. It is during this cruel season that twelve-year-old George is called upon to endure more than even most grown men could withstand—the death of his father and the upkeep of the family that his legacy. When his mother and sisters leave for Minnesota, George has only his grandparents and the companionship of Tucker, an Irish setter, to help him persevere through these most difficult challenges. Can he find the strength to walk the road that leads to healing, find his true self, and ultimately become a man? A coming-of-age story for readers of all ages, Christmas with Tucker is a classic Christmas tale about a young man’s love for his dog, his family, and his farm.”

Young George has a lot on his plate with his responsibilities helping out on his grandparents’ farm. Snow days may mean a break from school, but there is no rest for the weary on a dairy farm. . .

Dairy cows require lots of water, with each cow consuming 25 – 50 gallons of water a day depending on the weather. When the electricity goes out and their stock tanks freeze, their next available source of water is a pond that needs to be ice-free so they aren’t trapped by the ice in their search for water & drown.

I hung my glittery snowflakes on the tree for a snowy effect for this review. . . not dreaming we would be gifted with a White Christmas, the first one here since 1947.

Our snow started Christmas Day and continued through the following day~ quickly melting~ but not before providing me with an opportunity to photograph some snowy barn scenes. . .

“There was this vague but growing conclusion settling in my young mind that life does not always bestow upon us everything we want or think we should have. We are forced to move away from hoping others will give up what we want, to a new place where we must discover how to find happiness on our own. Santa was the last vestige of youth where all our wants are magically delivered by some other.”

“It was like being in the middle of a really great Zane Grey novel, and when I got to page 100, just as I victoriously led my mare over the top of the windswept hill after outwitting the bad guys, someone switched in fifty pages of the bleakest scenes by Charles Dickens and messed up my perfectly good life.”

“Farm boys operate machinery, big machinery, by the time they were thirteen, and I was no exception. I’d learned to drive a tractor as soon as I was tall enough to reach the pedals.”

“He kept the harness and the old horse-drawn blade stored in the implement shed along with other McCray prized possessions: an International Harvester and a Massy Ferguson tractor, plows, cultivators, seed drills, rotary and sickle-bar mowers, hay rakes and balers.”

“My guess was he kept the horses and old blades around for a reason. If the maintainer ever broke, he was prepared to clear the roads with the horses, though by 1962 they were far too old to do the job. If the horses couldn’t pull the blades, he owned countless shovels and we would get at it one scoop at a time.”

George’s grandmother bakes chocolate chip cookies to fortify him for his wintry weather chores~

“He backed a few feet away from me and started barking, demanding that I play with him. I started to run away, hoping he would chase after me, but he was so excited that he set out circling the house at full speed, his big, floppy, red ears going up and down as he bounded by me. I wondered if doggie Christmas had arrived early for this pooch.”

“His warm body helped me feel safe and secure. I pulled him close to me, buried my face in his coat, and realized that all I could do was hunker down and get through the winter. I would have to accept that things did not always turn out the way they should. Maybe that was the new rule.”

The author, Greg Kincaid is a pet-adoption advocate who lives on a farm in eastern Kansas with his wife, two cats, and two dogs, including Rudy adopted from a local shelter. My searches for adoptable dogs on Petfinder not only pulled at my heartstrings, but led me to search for dogs named Tucker that ultimately landed me on Dogster.

Dogster lets you create a profile for your dog, upload a photo and show off your pooch. The most popular pet-based social network with nearly half a million visitors each month, you can find advice on dogs, connect with other dog owners, find a breeding partner and even adopt a new dog. Shhhh, don’t tell Chloe & Gracie there’s a place in cyberspace to receive virtual bones & make friends :-)

My search led me to 1,201 dogs named Tucker on Dogster. . .let me introduce you to a few of them~

Blazes of Glory Tuckers~

The Toy Group~

Tuckered out Tuckers. . .

The Sporting Group . . .

I’m dreaming of a White Tucker. . .

To find adoptable pets near you, visit Petfinder.com.

Just mention in a comment if you’d like a chance to win a copy of Christmas with Tucker.

 A winner will be chosen December 31^st.

Happy Reading & Bone Appetite!

Thank you for your visit, I’m  joining:

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

 A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday~

Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

 From Our Boat to Yours. . .

Wishing You. . .

 A Joyful Christmas!

A Return Visit from St. Nicholas from last year~

Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases!

My pattern, St. Nicholas, by Fitz & Floyd,

Retired many years, breaking I hope to avoid~

The plates show St. Nick decorating the tree~

His fondness for musical sounds, you can see.

Drums, horns, as well as bells too,

 Are placed on the tree all in plain view~

Beaded garland is swagged & placed just so,

Candles lit on the tree cast a warm glow~

A candy cane here, a star placed there,

A Reindeer helper is doing his share.

The mice are not stirring, they’re sleeping instead~

The shaker set holder, a shoe for their bed~

The crackers are placed along side each plate~

When pulling apart, a snap they create~

 Crab apples, cranberries & nuts fill my vases~

 Once again on my table, keeping their places.

Several weeks they will last, a bit of nature they add~

A glimpse of last week’s table here can be had.

Coffee is brewed & ready to pour,

 Help yourself to a cup, there is plenty more~

A stocking is hung on the sideboard with care,

 My hope that St. Nick will look for it there~

The placemats are beaded, they sparkle & shine~

I saw them at Home Goods & said to myself, “Mine!”

 They leapt from the aisle, right into my cart~

For the economy, I am doing my part :-)

Reindeer hold candles, which ones I don’t know,

Maybe Dasher? or Dancer?  providing a glow~

Prancer?  or Vixen? I don’t know their names,

I’m ashamed to admit, they all look the same~

The stump of Nick’s pipe is lit you can see,

By evidence of smoke rising next to the tree~

A sweet Chocolate is placed at each setting too,

 Images many & dear, look here to view~

The glass how it twinkles, reflections how merry,

Venetian Goblets, a shade between roses & cherry~

Only for moments I turned from the table,

Hearing prancing & pawing, I came as quickly as able~

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But my own treasured book, complete with reindeer~

Plucked from my shelf, placed directly in view,

Comet? or Cupid? wish me to share pages with you~

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian Birmingham

In 1822, a New York clergyman named Clement Clarke Moore spun together Christmas memories for his children. The poem he wrote featured a red-suited Santa in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, a never-empty sack of toys, and stockings hung expectantly above the fireplace. He called it “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and it was then published anonymously in a newspaper in Troy, New York. It captured the public’s imagination. The poem’s opening line—“ ‘Twas the night before Christmas” soon replaced the original title.

A joy to read aloud, Moore’s poem has endured. Beginning in hushed suspense, the poem builds to a dramatic crescendo as the rollicking verses usher in the mysterious midnight visitor.

A tale of anticipation and wonder, “The Night Before Christmas” has become a holiday tradition in itself for many families.

Up to my sideboard, the coursers they flew~

St. Nick’s Milk & Cookies, help yourself to some too :-)

If I don’t see you again before Christmas Day,

May your wishes & dreams be delivered by sleigh!

Thank you for your visit & thanks to my hostesses:

•   Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

•   Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word~

•  The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

Enjoy the reading of this classic holiday tale

 by Dick Van Dyke~

I put some milk & cookies out for Santa in anticipation of his arrival. . .

 Thanks to our annual cookie exchange, Santa has lots of variety this year . . .

  Adorable and classic Spritz Cookies. . .

. . .or tray full of other varieties to satisfy his sweet tooth!

My vintage-inspired chalkware Santas, along with my Great Aunt’s Santa mugs & bowl made the trek to the table~

The varieties of cookies for Santa to choose from are as overwhelming for him, as they were for me, deciding on one to bake. . .

Fortunately I had some cookie inspiration from Nigella. . .

Still it was difficult to decide on one variety, so I chose two :)

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

Christmas Chocolate Cookies

Red Velvet Cookies with White Chocolate Chunks~ a new Santa favorite~ easy and one that I’ve bookmarked to make! Recipe courtesy Whipperberry here

Jam Thumbprint Cookies, recipe courtesy Ina Garten here

And Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars~ if you don’t have this recipe committed to memory, you can find it here :)

 Thanks to everyone for baking their delicious cookies this year~ Santa is most appreciative!

 And thanks to Annie, our gracious hostess for inviting us to her beautiful home!

The winner of Nigella Christmas is Pattie at Olla-Podrida! Congratulations Pattie~ email me with your address and I’ll get your cookbook in the mail!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

 A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

Vintage Inspiration Friday~

 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

A look back on my top viewed tablescapes of 2011. Thanks to everyone who visited and to those who took the time to comment!

When it comes to the table, I find myself inspired by Holidays, the Garden & Flowers, Food, Books, and last but not least~  HomeGoods :)

Click on the links below to see the tablescape post in full.

Winter World~ Book

Flowers for Easter~ Holiday and Flowers!

Garden Wisdom~ Garden and a Vintage Volume-inspired Table

Dining with Butterflies~ Book!

Lilacs and Daylight~ Flowers

How to Find Flower Fairies~ Book!

Reliable Seeds~ Garden and Cupcake Fun!

Grandmother’s Flower Garden~ Garden & Grandmother’s Quilt

Stem to Stern~ Holiday Boating Fun

Peony, White, and Blue~ Book and Flowers!

Oh, Say Can You See. . .~  July 4th Holiday

You Say Tomato~ Garden

More Loggerhead Love~ Turtle & Cupcake Fun

Fantasy Island Getaway~ Boating & Anniversary

Nesting Instincts~ Garden/Bird

Halloween Treats~ Halloween Fun

Thanksgiving Lakeside~ Thanksgiving & Flowers

A Fairy Little Christmas~ Book & Cake Pan Fun

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

I didn’t realize Nigella had a Christmas Cookbook until I read Jain’s delicious review last year at Food for Thought~ it immediately went on my wish list! There is plenty to please and tempt your tastebuds to celebrate the holiday season~ from cocktails & appetizers, stress-free suppers, edible gifts to the Christmas day feast!

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Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities *****

“Christmas is a time for family and friends, for tradition and treats. But, let’s face it, when the pressure to feed and entertain builds up, the festive season can begin to lose its sparkle…   That’s where Nigella comes in. With her no-nonsense approach, her inspirational ideas and empathy for the practical realities of the season – combined here with reliable easy-to-follow recipes and reassuring advice about planning and cooking ahead – Nigella Christmas is guaranteed to bring comfort and joy and make sure the season of good will stays that way.”

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“Here is everything you could wish for to make your life and your Christmas easy and enjoyable: from party canapés, cocktails and manageable mass catering to sumptuous Christmas cakes and puddings; from no-fuss brunch to quick and easy homemade presents (chutneys, preserves and other delectable standbys) and edible tree-decorations. There are mouth-watering recipes with a seasonal twist and simple menus for feeding friends over the extended holiday season with minimum stress and maximum enjoyment.”

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I wanted to share some Holiday Cookbook love and giveaway a copy of Nigella Christmas~ although is late for your cooking and entertaining plans this season, this book is one I’m happy to have at my fingertips for future reference and certainly puts me in the Christmas Spirit with its beautiful photographs and presentation!

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 I’m also happy to say that Food for Thought is starting back in January with pre-selected books to review throughout the year! If you’d like to join in the fun, you can email Jain or myself for a list of books to review and dates.  It will be fun reading with a playful purpose again :)

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 I went to the baking section for a little Christmas cookie  inspiration for an annual cookie exchange and found two different recipes to try. . .

Christmas Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate shortbread cookies that are a “doddle” to make :)

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Cookie Ingredients

 ❄ 2 1/2 sticks (18 tablespoons) soft butter

❄ 3/4 cup sugar

❄ 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

❄ 2 cups all-purpose flour

❄ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

❄ 1 teaspoon baking powder

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Festive Topping Ingredients

❄ 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

❄ 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

❄ 1/4 cup boiling water

❄ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

❄ candy sprinkles/nonpareils

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1. Preheat oven to 350°F & line a cookie sheet with parchment.

2. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Sift 1/3 cup cocoa powder into the mixture and beat well. Sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder, and add to mixture. Or just put everything in a food processor and “blitz” :) if you prefer.

3. Form 1 tablespoon sized balls. Place on cookie sheet at least 2″ apart, pressing down into fat discs.

4. Bake 15 minutes. The tops will develop a cracked appearance. Cool 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack until completely cooled.

1. For the topping, combine cocoa powder with confectioners’ sugar, boiling water and vanilla in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat and whisk until smooth. Cool 10 minutes.

2. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of glaze on each cookie, spreading lightly with the back of the spoon, then sprinkle with nonpareils. Work with 6 cookies at a time so the glaze doesn’t dry out before applying the sprinkles.

❄ Makes approx. 24 cookies ❄

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

“…even if you are not usually a white chocolate eater, you will, I think, find these persuasive, perhaps even having to eat a second one straightaway just to make perfectly sure.”

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Ingredients

❄ 1 cup all-purpose flour

❄ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

❄ 1/2 teaspoon salt

❄ 1 cup quick-cooking oats

❄ 9 tablespoons (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon) soft butter

❄ 1/2 cup dark brown sugar

❄ 1/2 cup sugar

❄ 1 large egg

❄ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

❄ 1/2 cup dried cranberries

❄ 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped

❄ 3/4 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and oats. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter and sugars. Beat until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, and mix again.

2. Add flour mixture and beat until well blended. Add cranberries, pecans and white chocolate chips, and mix gently until blended. Refrigerate bowl for 10 minutes.

3. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls, and place them 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Press each ball gently with a fork to flatten it into a fat disk. Place sheets in oven on two racks. Bake just until cookies are pale gold, about 15 minutes; they will still be soft when hot. Let cookies harden on sheet for 5 minutes, remove to cool on a wire rack.

❄ Makes approx. 30 cookies ❄

I did find these persuasive enough to eat a second cookie straightaway :)

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Although I decided an additional drizzle of my remaining my white chocolate chips might be in order :)

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If you’d like a chance to win Nigella Christmas, mention in a comment you’d like to add it to your cookbook collection!

 A winner will be chosen Monday, December 19th.

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“Practical yet inspiring, full of delicious, easy-to-follow recipes and reassuring advice, Nigella Christmas takes the stress out of the festive season and puts back the joy.”

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The winner of a copy of The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree is Kathi Layfield!

 Congratulations Kathi~ email me your address and I’ll get your copy shipped to you!

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Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

❄ Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

❄ Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies~

❄ The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

 

With Christmas the Season to Believe in Holiday Magic~ I’m having a Fairy Little Christmas. . .

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 Enter the Flower Fairies’ magical realm and suspend your disbelief. . . after all, only true believers are able to see the fairies!

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Enchanted with the Flower Fairies, I created a table~ the Forest Floor~ where they are able to live in harmony with nature, safely hidden from human eyes ~

“Fairies require their homes to be cleverly concealed. A hollow in an old tree stump can be transformed into the perfect abode.”

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I fell under the spell of this Stump de Noël Pan at Williams-Sonoma~ the fault of the Flower Fairies, I have no doubt as I followed their sparkling trail. . .

“Fairies sometimes sprinkle sparkling fairy dust upon trails to guide others to their home.”

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I tried to resist the pull of this pan, since I have a several Nordic Ware pans and didn’t need another Christmas one~ but the enchanting woodland shape was too much to resist, especially when a coupon magically appeared by email :)

So a sculpted cake in the shape of a woodland tree stump it would be for the Flower Fairies~  a version of the French Bûche de Noël, drizzled with chocolate and decorated with Enchanted Forest Confections~ Mushrooms & Acorns I also found at Williams- Sonoma.

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Little Chocorooms from World Market this Spring that adorned another Fairy Cake, and Poinsettias sculpted from Tootsie Roll Midgees, embellish the Flower Fairies’ dwelling~

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I confess to using a box mix as a short cut with my busy December calendar and found myself reaching for Duncan Hines Amazing Glazes rather following the recipe included with the pan.

 The Flower Fairies didn’t mind my time-saving steps~ but are anxious to try the Stump de Noël Cake recipe ~with 1 1/2 cups sour cream and 6 oz. of bittersweet chocolate in the batter along with another 4 oz. of chocolate & 1/2 cup of heavy cream in the glaze!

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Microwave your Tootsie Roll Midgees for 10 - 15 seconds and flatten with a rolling pin between two pieces of wax paper. Cut your flattened Tootsie Roll with kitchen shears into leaf shapes and use the heat of your fingers to mold the leaves and score veins with a toothpick.

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I borrowed my Mother-in-Law’s Spode Christmas Rose for my table since flower beds are a perfumed paradise for fairies that adore beauty above all else. . .

“Every flower has its own fairy to care for it, which explains why most of my own fairy encounters have taken place in the garden.”

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“When you happen across a tree stump, look carefully for any knot holes, which fairies often use as entrances to their home.”

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“Some fairies prefer the security of being on the ground and it is here, at the foot of the ancient oak, that I have discovered another favourite dwelling place ~ the forest floor.”

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“A fairy ring is a place where fairies meet to dance. To find such a ring, venture into a shady glade in a quiet part of the woods. Look for a circle of fungi growing. But remember that the fairies only dance by moonlight. . .”

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“No need for journeying, Seeking afar: Where there are flowers, There fairies are. . .”

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“Tread softly and speak quietly when you set foot in the fairies’ world. Who knows—perhaps you too will be allowed a glimpse into their magical kingdom?”

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Fairy Little Christmas Table Details:

Dishes/ Spode Christmas Rose – Mother-in-Law’s

Goblets/ Mikasa French Countryside

Chargers/ Round - World Market, Scalloped - Pier 1

Napkins/ Pottery Barn

Napkin Rings/ HomeGoods

Flatware/ Horchow

Tablecloth/ Matelasse coverlet

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Beautifully illustrated, the paper engineering with its lift-the-flaps, booklets, maps, holograms, and other ephemera, hold surprises waiting to be discovered, and are sure to delight both young readers and the young-at-heart alike!

 You can find it from Amazon here.

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Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies~

 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree **** by Gloria Houston

I’m reposting my review of The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, that I shared last December for Food for Thought.  A book and seasonal treat that encompasses the true spirit of Christmas and a heartwarming story!

This story takes place in a little mountain town in North Carolina.

We visited Spruce Pine the beginning of  December last year, for a taste of small town mountain life, and were greeted with a flurry of large fluffy snowflakes for well over an hour. . . just enough to whet your appetite and evoke a holiday atmosphere~ ideal for the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree !

Set in 1918, Armistice has been declared, but Ruthie is still waiting for her father’s return to their little Appalachian town. According to the traditions of Pine Grove, it falls to Ruthie and her mother to bring home the perfect Christmas tree to donate to the town church, which the previous spring Ruthie and her father selected and marked with a red ribbon. By the light of the moon, Ruthie and her mother make the trek to cut it down & haul it home, which becomes the basis of a new town legend. Ruthie, chosen for the role of the heavenly angel in the Christmas nativity play, longs for a new dress with sleeves that look like angel wings as well as a doll with a dress trimmed in ribbon & lace. Her mother miraculously makes Ruthie’s dreams come true, despite the lack of money and cloth to make such a dress.

Author Gloria Houston was born and raised in the Ingalls community, just outside of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Her parents were the owners of a country store for over 50 years, and she often cites her experiences at the store as inspiration for her writing.

During the Christmas season of 2003, Gloria Houston gave a gift to the small town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina~ the rights to her award-winning children’s book, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree. This gift was a small miracle for this town. . .over the preceding months, Spruce Pine and Mitchell County had suffered serious economic challenges, losing thousands of textile, furniture and other manufacturing jobs to outsourcing.

From that original idea, the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree project was born. With entrepreneurial development as a primary focus, the project has created nearly 100 individual small businesses that have produced quality, handmade products as part of the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree collection. The project also serves as a scholarship tool, with a portion of royalties received from product sales used to fund a scholarship program is to combat the alarmingly low student retention rate at Mitchell High School, the only high school in the county.

 Following Gloria Houston’s gift to the town of Spruce Pine, I thought it would be fitting to make a gift of this sweet book with  beautiful illustrations by two-time Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney!

Ruthie waits for her father to return by train:

“The days passed. Ruthie listened for the squeaky whistle of the little train the mountain folk called Tweetsie, as it chugged through the valley and up the mountain side.”

“Finally they saw it. Growing on the edge of a high cliff on Grandfather Mountain.”

Cinnamon Streusel Cake~ with drifts of snowy powdered sugar~

“Its green color was dark and rich. It was the perfect shape and size, its tip-tip-top pointing up to the heaven.”

“Gloria Houston’s The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney, was published in 1988, and has become a seasonal classic – a touching and joyful story about courage and the power of family.”

 If you’d like a chance to win a copy of The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree for your personal Christmas library, leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas book~ winner will be chosen by random number generator on December 15th~ just in time for Christmas!

The winner of my dish and throw giveaway is Sarah from Hyacinths for the Soul!

Congratulations Sarah~ email me with your address and I’ll get your items in the mail!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

• Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word~

• A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday~

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

• Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

 In a Gardening state-of-mind, I’m on the porch enjoying the Season with a few things that make me happy~

A simple Christmas table~ ideal for our casual living at the Lake.

A promise of a flower in an Amaryllis bulb, a few collected watering cans . . .

. . . and a couple of vintage trowels, showing the visible signs of use & hours of happy work~ one red & one green~ the perfect colors for the season :)

Little watering can ornaments (Smith & Hawken from Target) are filled with bits of Cedar & Leyland Cypress and sprinkled at each place setting~

A favorite decorative birdhouse, made with recycled materials~ a vintage glass door knob, old hardware & barn wood~ has a starring role for the Season with its iron finial church steeple &  tin-fashioned cross.

 The birds will enjoy a gift of seed decorated houses.  Purchased from a garden center, these edible bird treats would make a fun (if messy :) project for kids using a cardboard/milk carton house base, coated with peanut butter & decorated with seeds, raisins, cereal (Cheerios, Chex). . .anything that birds can feast on!

My urn, that has hosted tomatoes & pumpkins at the table, is supporting a grapevine wreath with faux berries and a pine cone laden tree.

A found bird’s nest is back at the table this week, filled with blown quail eggs, a feather, and embellished with a bit of lichen~

I’m sharing some dish love in a giveaway, here~ there is still time to enter if you’d like. A winner will be announced on December 10th.

A few Paperwhite bulbs are waiting to be planted and their fragrance enjoyed~

Wishing you the simple pleasures of

Nesting & Feasting this Holiday Season!

Gardener’s Christmas Table Details:

Chargers & Flatware/ World Market

Napkins & Quilt/ Kohl’s

Bird Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

Dishes/Oneida Westerly Basket

Goblets/ HomeGoods

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

•   Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• At the Picket Fence~ Doors & Porches Party~

• Common Ground~ A Vintage Christmas Party~

•  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

On the heels of Thanksgiving, before rushing headlong into the Christmas Season as I usually do~ I’m lingering at the table with a warm palette of neutrals and a touch of soft gold. . .enjoying the last few days of November.

I found this 222 Fifth, Gold Leaves pattern at T. J. Maxx several weeks ago~ there were only a few pieces remaining which suited my purposes and table for four.

I decided then that these dishes would provide a gentle transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas~ with the blending of the acorns & oak leaves on the salad plates together with the pine cone sprays on the dinner plates.

I’ve always loved organic materials at the table . . . flowers, birds’ nests, greenery. . . pieces of the garden and in this case, remnants of fall with the dried leaves, acorns and bloomed grasses. . .

  A pheasant feather, gold dipped pine cone, soft grasses along and some pieces of evergreens~ Leyland Cypress & pine~ are tucked between the dinner plate and placemat for a seasonal embellishment along with an oak leaf and acorn. . .

 A bit of sparkle and a soft glow provided by the votive holders and beaded placemats, are precursors to the glitz and glamour of the season. . .

My matelassé coverlet is layered with two wool blend throws in a tan and white plaid pattern, also found at TJ Maxx recently, for a little added warmth and soft color~

Mikasa’s French Countryside goblets with their graceful silhouette and flatware from Target with a hammered surface add additional softness to the table.

A lidded tureen~ adorned with an oak leaf pattern on one side and pine cone spray on the opposite~ is filled with greenery, a found bird’s nest filled with blown quail eggs, pheasant feathers, grasses & gold pine cones & oak leaves. . .

After searching for acorns & oak leaves, I found myself foraging along the aisles at Target~ delighted when I found these votive holders~ the hob nail-like surface echoing the detail & texture of a pine cone.

A little seed of an idea germinated with the advent of the Christmas Season. . .

And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to share a little dish love as a gift as I approach my two year blogiversary in January.

A gesture of thanks for your generosity in taking your time to comment and for those who follow. . .

Which still amazes me and I am extremely thankful for :)

This giveway includes four 3-pc place settings, tureen, and this 50 x 70 inch wool blend plaid Lauren throw~ to be given to one winner.

No Tweets, Facebook Likes, or Following is necessary to enter. Just let me know you’re interested in providing a good home to these dishes & cozy throw in your comment to be included in this giveaway and I’ll throw your name into the tureen :) 

Winner will be announced on December 10th.

Thanks so much to ALL for your encouragement, visits & your kind comments!

Wishing you the Warmth and Blessings of the upcoming Christmas Season~

A Gentle Transition Table Details:

Plates & Tureen/Gold Leaves by 222 Fifth/ T.J. Maxx

Goblets/ Mikasa French Countryside/ Tuesday Morning

Placemats/ Kohl’s

Tealight holders & Flatware/ Target

Napkins/ Pier 1

Lauren Wool Blend Plaid Throws/ T. J. Maxx

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

•   Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

  •  Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

• French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday~

  • Rose Vignettes for Fresh-Cut Fridays~

• The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday~

•  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~