![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29MxFYFyP8pqgft-06Ph5iuMywaySfr-GXIVnAHg-N-71WIJMABkYGgIXvXzsnVJgYdwKrPQXPH-pYzM76FVxyXCyXuKKSWZ5_O6oj8D0TZiYh9twU3wWdI475pEaOoe8KShiNELet8M/s400/GlowAnim.gif)
for an autumn dinner party.
I have struggled with getting this tablescape just right all week long.
It is soooo hard for me to NOT do a formal
look in my dining room.
I must have changed these placesettings
at least four times and I'm still not satisfied.
I started with crystal and my china (Lenox-Eternal)
on the glass plate chargers that I painted gold.
I added the sage green brocade placemats beneath for some color.
I need more COLOR in my life!!
I felt it looked too formal so
I took off all the crystal and decided to use the
amber martini glasses...
I intend to make Caramel Apple Martinis!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker®
- 1 oz. Vodka
- 1 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
You can put a thin line of caramel topping in the glass if you like.
Now I'm thinking
I should put one water/wine glass back at the places.
I didn't like the crow on the papier-mâché pumpkin centerpiece
so I switched to this shiny porcelain pumpkin.
I like it much better!
I also have little glass tea lights scattered around.
Real flames....yikes! They make me nervous but I'll cope.
I wanted to accent the plum color in the grapes
and when I saw these candlesticks,
I thought they would do the trick.
After I thought I had it all complete, I remembered
the brown leaf chargers that I'd bought recently at Wal-Mart.
(only $3 apiece)
Sooooo, I switched those for the gold and
they really made for a warmer and more casual feeling.
Now I'm not so sure about using them with the dressier
silk brocade placemats but I liked the colors together.
*sigh*
Sometimes they look like wood and
sometimes they look like leather.
In some light, they almost look plum colored!
Lastly, I took off all the little individual salt and pepper
shakers so I could use the cute little ones shown here....
because I had just realized how great they go
with this little bowl I found in a thrift shop last week.
Any suggestions?
Its too small for rolls and a bit too big
for mints or after dinner chocolates.
Maybe grated parmesan cheese.
Does everybody else fuss like this?
Now to work on the menu
which I base on the dishes I'm using
instead of the other way around, like normal people.
I'm leaning towards serving
potato soup in the pumpkin bowls,
followed by a salad with pears & walnuts.
individual beef wellingtons.
(all the work is done ahead of guests arrival)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DYK5S3CBbDCdERbV6hjM3XTJLIx6sXfxTawimQPFoNBJht-lXEt5E9MWv8xHCx37Ic5pL7dNNxhiEPk7GgOGrPfjuhtkxBIjJ6aII-M_TpBOtwiDmVOUCq-_ZplzcAguzymVGlxUt9A/s400/wellington_225_x_186.jpg)
Beef Wellington Singles
|
Dessert will be pumpkin roll slices
topped with a small scoop of French vanilla ice cream
and warm caramel sauce to drizzle on top.
Unless I decided to pull off those green placemats.
I can never decide if the juxtaposition of rustic & formal
is creative or stupid looking.
I think I need a nap!
Thank you to Susan for hosting
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_x908CSKJhI4/SnZN2RIIlTI/AAAAAAAAJgg/z9rjUjpmRG0/S187/TT.jpg)
at her blog, Between Naps on the Porch
as well as Michael for having
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DBz7W5TWbkk/SZh9UJUdczI/AAAAAAAAHBc/M739aCg4sJg/S150/Foodie+Friday+Logo+2.jpg)
at Designs by Gollum.
Please be sure to visit both of these wonderful
blogs to see more of the same tables & treats.