Tablescape Inspiration

One of my favorite things to do is set a pretty table. For me it's the best part of party prep--picking a theme, colors, dishes, napkins, glasses, cups, centerpiece, silverware. In recent years I've simplified my assortment of dishes. I have eight bright white dinner plates and eight avocado green salad plates. Both sets are stoneware. I have found that to be sufficient both for everyday use and special occasions with only the addition of "accessories" in various colors.

My favorite blog for tablescape inspiration and other home decor is this one:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

It just might get me to join the Pinterest bandwagon because I see so many things "my style" there! Check it out if it sounds like a place you'd enjoy parking your cursor for a few minutes.

This was Thanksgiving 2011

The day started well despite what the night before had dumped.

I knew it would be a good day when the first kitchen towel I pulled out actually matched the day of the week. My Grandma Mayme embroidered this set that reminds me of the tune, "This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes....so early Monday morning," and so on. I just love how cheerful they are. And how they help bring gratitude for the precious thing of memory.
Grateful for our senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing that work magic on this day and every day. Thankful for all the food, the joy of cooking, pretty dishes, and a table full of people I love, who are pictured here, getting down to the serious business of eating.




The tired host and happy hostess.

I asked my dad to scrunch close to my mom for the picture. Here he is asking, "Like this?"

Sarah just wanted to go to sleep after eating. I begged her to just please let me get a picture of your beautiful eyes. I'm such a pest.


Let sleeping babies lie.

Caught my brother-in-law watching figure skating between football games. Doesn't he look thrilled?

A game of Mexican Dominoes, fun for all ages.


Pappaw, Ima, and the grandkids who were here. We missed Ben this year, the first one where I didn't have all my little birdies in the nest for Thanksgiving. But he was with his lovely fiancee' and I'm just going to have to get used to sharing my kids on the holidays.



With my sister Jill.


Football was more than a game between teams, but between brothers coaching two NFL teams.
John Harbaugh (Ravens) vs. Jim Harbaugh (49ers). We won! Ravens rule!! The Harbaugh parents' 50th wedding annivcrsary is tomorrow ,but they were at the game here in Baltimore to cheer both of their sons. I'm glad I wasn't in their shoes.


Our super-active dog who was ignored all day, but enjoyed the beautiful weather, was finally ready for play time indoors when everyone was gone. He was hoping I'd take the hint.


And I did, while watching the Ravens and Facebooking. Call me a multi-tasker extraordinaire.
Thanks be to God, the Giver of all good things. 'Twas a happy Thanksgiving Day for me.

Pie Gone Awry: My Thanksgiving Poem

On Wednesday night I put a pie in the oven
It's hubby's favorite and a way I show lovin'.
I set the timer and then shut the door
While Sarah took a mop to the kitchen floor.

A half hour later, I went to check progress
But the pie slipped and dumped quite a mess.
"Oh, no-no-no-NO! Gooey coconut paste
All over the door and racks, what a waste!

Determined to salvage at least part of the pie
I gingerly slid it back in, "Worth a try."
Baked it for thirty more minutes or so,
Then I checked again, and whaddya know?

All was not lost--the dessert was redeemed--
But the mess in my oven has got me steamed.
I can be such a klutz, but why on Great Pie Day?
Guess who'll be scraping black yuck on Black Friday?

Hodgepodge: Charity, Compar-ity and Hilarity

Joyce has put out quite a spread of questions. for this Thanksgiving edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Hope you enjoy the feast of answers.

1. Let's start with something controversial...dressing or stuffing? What's it called at your house and what's included in your recipe...cornbread? oysters? sausage? chestnuts?

We call it stuffing, but growing up it was dressing because my folks are from the Midwest.
What's in it depends on who brings it. My recipe includes finely chopped carrots, onion, and celery. My parents are vegetarian, so there's never meat in the stuffing/dressing.

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

Usually my sisters, and usually unfavorably. I'm not as smart or as organized as my older sister Rachel, not as upbeat or as industrious as my sister Andrea , and not as forgiving or as loving as my sister Jill. But when I'm being kind to myself, I realize that I can appreciate their good qualities and try to learn from them.

3. When were you last inside an airport?

January of this year, after celebrating New Year's Eve in Texas with aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and a sister. On the way out, I stood outside in 22 degree weather while inching myself and my two zippered pigs forward while chatting with other passengers in queue. The worst part? I missed my flight from BWI to Houston by 10 minutes! I had never missed a flight in my life, nor had I ever seen a line that was--no lie--a quarter mile long outside, and about 3/4 of a mile long inside. I will not travel again by air at Christmas if I can possibly avoid it. I don't mind lines, but that sickening feeling of missing a flight is just horrible.

4. What is one side dish that absolutely must be included in a turkey dinner?

Just one? Well, I would say sweet potatoes. And yes, I like the marshmallows on top that make the dish pretty much a dessert.

5. What Christmas song do you dread hearing?

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

6. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

It really depends. I almost never drop money in a bucket of charities at intersections, but I try to always drop money in the Salvation Army can. If a stranger approaches me for money directly, usually not. It creeps me out, and I have been "taken" one too many times by supposed down-and-outers when I was naive city slicker working at the crisis pregnancy center many moons ago.

I actually bought the girl a train ticket AND stopped AT NIGHT in Baltimore City at the ATM for $40 to give her, plus some diapers from the center. My director wisely sent another counselor with me for safety's sake, and informed me later, that while I had a compassionate heart, that girl probably sold the diapers for drugs and--if I hadn't seen her get on the train--she probably didn't board it. I felt so stupid.

But my director said, "Is your conscience clean before God?" I answered yes. She said, "Then it wasn't stupid. She has to answer to Him as well. You did what your heart told you was right, and I wouldn't stop you from being generous again if God prompts you. But now you know a little more about the world. And that baby probably wasn't her baby. Girls "borrow" babies to get diapers to exchange for drugs. " I was furious at the exploitation. Furious!

So now I'm more likely to ask questions like a journalist on steroids: the 5 W's and and a H and a few more besides.

As for charities, my husband and I, as well as all our adult children, sponsor Compassion kids. Compassion International's track record for using funds wisely, as well has how they keep us informed, is wonderful. At Christmas we support Samaritan's Purse (see my previous post), and year round we support missions through our church.

7. Share a favorite Thanksgiving memory. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving share a favorite memory associated with food.

How about a gross, funny one? One year (probably 1989 or 90 because Paul's dad was still alive and we were still living in our first house) it was my turn among the local daughters-in-law, to host Thanksgiving. His dad came over with a fresh turkey on Thanksgiving morning for me to fix. For some reason I hadn't put my glasses on. (Probably because I was too busy of a mom or hadn't had coffee yet??) Without glasses, I can make out forms and colors, but don't see texture or detail so well.

Dad went to the living room to play with the grandbabies. Paul was upstairs and I began to prep the bird.

I rinsed the turkey and then proceeded to pull out the neck from the cavity. Well, I saw something round, dark, small, and shiny attached to a hooked end on the neck. I squinted. "Ew. That looks like a head." I squinted harder and leaned in closer. "ACK!" It WAS the head! The turkey still had his head attached!!

I screamed so loud and ran to the living room where I leaned against the wall, shaking uncontrollably and sobbing, "Oh, Paul, oh, Paul, Oh ,Paul!" My husband came running down the steps to me, asking "What? What's wrong?!" He was checking for blood, as if maybe I'd butchered my finger. "The head...he's got a head." He asked, "Who has a head?" and all I could do was point to the kitchen.

Well, he and Dad had to finish the turkey themselves (both good cooks in their own right) and I couldn't eat it. In fact, I couldn't eat turkey for about three years after that, and to this day
make someone else clean out the innerds and let me know when the coast is clear.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Two jokes from our corny school chaplain today:

Q: What's the key to a great Thanksgiving meal?
A. Tur-key.

Q: Why doesn't the turkey eat anything on Thanksgiving?
A: Because he's already stuffed.


Enjoy your holiday as best you can. My thoughts go out to those who are missing loved ones this year, especially for the first time. I remember how hard it was to enjoy holidays after losing my father-in-law. He always brought the kielbasa (Polish sausage) and made sauerkraut with the trinity of celery, carrots ,and onions. He also generously bought the turkey (without heads) and many of the groceries, so we started our married life holidays with a lot of financial help, for which we were truly thankful.