My Friend's Thanksgiving Table

Since we are going to be at my husband's daughter's home for the holiday,
I would like to share with you my friend's beautiful Thanksgiving table.

I met Nicole through an online sewing forum & when she realized how close we lived to each other, she offered to pleat some fabric for me & teach me to smock.
Little did I know what a BIG part of my life, she (and smocking) would become!

I love her entire home but especially this beautiful room which can accommodate
seating for 12 at her gorgeous Chippendale dining furniture.

She used teal & cranberry accents in this tablescape.
Her china is the elegant Monroe pattern from the Presidential series by Lenox.
It has burgundy & black bands of color accented with gold twisted rope patterns & rims.
Her exquisite stemware is Waterford's Castlemaine...both sets are cherished wedding gifts.









I forgot to bring my good camera to our weekly Smock & Talk gathering,
so I apologize that the quality of these photos is less than stellar.



They don't do justice to all her beautiful items, such as the
Wallace sterling silver sugar & creamer above.
Here is a clearer photo of the same, below.





Peek-A-Boo...I see you...do you see me?
LOL! I try so hard to stay out of those kinds of shots.





The two GORGEOUS footed compote bowls at either ends of the table are
antique Imperial Acanthus Leaf Carnival glass.
I had to hold one up to the window so you could see &
appreciate the intense color & texture. Just Beautiful!!



Darling handmade turkey placecards mark her children's seating.
I love how she mixes the whimsical with the elegant!






Her flatware is the exquisite Wallace Grand Baroque, a gift from her mother-in-love.
I am GREEN with envy over this silverware!










The above photo shows the intricate detailing of the handles as well as the pretty burgundy & gold band of her china.
The leaf shaped salad plates (source unknown) accent the teal in the placemats.
The pretty beaded napkin rings are from Pier One.




On the other side of the dining room sits this exquisite
1924 English sterling silver tea & coffee service with bone handles
... a treasured family heirloom, gifted to her by her grandmother.

See the chains on both sides of the center vessel?
They hold pins which slip into little holes on either side to anchor the kettle to the base.





Again, my photos don't do this justice...it is just magnificent!









Carved Pilgrims & Indians mingle throughout the centerpiece arrangement.















I am very happy that Nicole has graciously allowed me to feature her beautiful Thanksgiving table.
I cherish her friendship as well as the other members of our Smock & Talk group.

As a side note, it was Nicole's husband, a cardiologist, who was on call one year ago this week when my husband went into the emergency department in the middle of a heart attack.

It was Nicole's husband who was awakened with at least a half dozen calls from the ER staff as they tried to stabilize him with IV medications.

It was Nicole's husband who kept him alive until they could get an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) or *heart pump* inserted to give his heart a rest & some help in perfusing his body, while I begged God, "Please, not yet?"

I don't think I've ever properly thanked Dr. Joe for literally saving his life!
I am humbly & eternally grateful.
He gave us one more year of sharing holidays...Christmas, our birthdays, our 23rd wedding anniversary & many precious moments with our children & grandchildren.


I wish for all of you many blessings this Thanksgiving.
Life is about caring & loving your friends & relatives
while you can still see & hold them close.

Thanksgiving Prayer

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

It's time for another Tablescape Thursday with our gracious hostess,
Susan of Between Naps on the Porch!

Be sure to stop by her beautiful blog to see other participants in the party!
Thank you, Susan for hosting this fun event each week.

Some Recent Sewing Projects

I just completed a few corduroy autumn outfits for my granddaughter, Caroline.

This dress is from the Childrens Corner pattern, Annie, view C with 3/4 length sleeves.

It is a size 6 appears to fit her quite well. She may even get two years of use out of it,

since there is space to move the buttons over next fall for more room in the bodice area.

I purchased the picture smocked insert (sorry I don't know the name of the plate).

Although I know HOW to do picture smocking, I just don't enjoy it.

Life is too short to spend any precious hours doing something

that doesn't make your heart sing!

Besides, I don't have the patience nor the eyesight to do it well.

I do ♥ ♥ ♥ to do geometric smocking but the picture smocking

is too much like counted cross-stitch...drives me nuts!

The same trim was used around the neckline & cuffs.

I thought it resembled tatting a bit.

Something ELSE I don't have patience to do. LOL

I used the same piping around the back belt tabs & across the top of the smocked insert.

I wish now, in hindsight, that I would have put it across the bottom of the insert as well.

The weight of the corduroy is distorting the pleating a bit.

Later, I will put some tight back smocking stitches

on the underside to try to stabilize that area a bit more.

Below is another Sara's Skort, also a Childrens Corner pattern.

This, too, is made of corduroy but lined with a slick broadcloth.

The shorts beneath are also of the same broadcloth.

She will likely need to wear tights with this during the winter

& I didn't want them to *grab* against the corduroy.

BTW, That is a SNOWFLAKE in front of the camera!!

What we won't go through to get some decent outside light for photos, huh?

This is a close-up view, showing both the cute leaf pattern on the outside

as well as the solid red lining & shorts beneath.

This pattern fits Ms. C well.

I've made it several times before &

I have added 1 1/2 inches to the length of it & it is STILL above her knees.

Since it is only slightly flared, it would be restrictive to walk in it,

if it were below her knees.

Hard to cartwheel in, too.

I added the monogram to the store-bought shirt,

to pick up the bright blue color in the skirt.

She can still wear the top with other things, like jeans....

although she is such a *girly-girl*, she hates to wear pants.


Thanks for letting me share my sewing projects with you.

I do appreciate your comments & any constructive criticism offered.

How else does one learn?

fondly,

Nifty Thrifty Tues. Finds

Check out the sweet little tray I found at T. J. Maxx this week!

End of season sale & only $2.50!!!

I immediately had to fill it with something & since I had

a carton of Eggnog that I wanted to use up,

(Hubby requested I buy it & then had ONE glass & was tired of it!)

~~insert rolled eyes~~

I made this recipe I found at Cooks.com.

EGGNOG CHERRY NUTBREAD

---

2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 c. eggnog
1/3 c. oil
1/2 c. nuts, chopped
1/2 c. cherries, cut up

Mix dry ingredients. Add eggnog, egg and oil. Mix well. Pour into greased bread pans. (One large or two small)
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Test center for doneness.

This made a tasty sweet treat, perfect for dessert

with a cup of coffee or tea.

As you can see, hubby got into it before I could even take a picture!

I'm joining Linda at

Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays


I also found 12 of these beautiful placemats with matching napkins on sale.




Stop back on Wed. evening & you'll see the tablescape I did with them.

Thanks to Linda for hosting & thank YOU for stopping by The Gazebo House.

Be sure to visit Linda & all the other bargain hunters at



fondly,

Halloween Preparations

Its a ....

♫♫*Beautiful day in the neighborhood, the neighborhood..." ♫♫

We're getting ready for the family to visit after Sunday Mass.

Homemade waffles, bacon & eggs are on the menu.

Coffee, tea & doughnuts, too! This guy looks a little squished.

Probably because THIS guy....

was sitting on top of him in the box!

I'm sure they will both get eaten anyway.

I tried to make Jack-O-Lantern faces on some orange colored Hostess Snowballs.

You can't poked things into them very easily. They're just too soft!

I had to use a cocktail fork to get to the sticky marshmallow centers

This wasn't a huge success. They can't all be show-stoppers, I guess.

Knowing the grandkidlets, the chocolate covered raisins won't be on there

very long, anyway.

We're hoping for a clear & starry night that isn't too cold or wet.

I made Caroline's Ariel costume & even made a flesh-colored long sleeved

top for her to wear under it, but she will need something warm

beneath that.

She wanted to be Ariel &

also asked if I could make her American girl doll a matching costume.

(modeled on my 18" Target doll who lives at my house)

Hope you get lots of Treats & no Tricks at your house tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by The Gazebo House & a special "thanks" to Yvonne at StoneGable for the idea of putting little pumpkins above the door. We've lived in this new house 5 years & I never even noticed that shelf up there.

End of Autumn Colors

I've finally remembered to take my good camera with me

& have been able to capture some beautiful shots of autumn in Ohio.

Mother Nature's bountiful food for the birds

to help them get through the winter.

Burning Bushes

(aka Winged Euonymus or Spindle Tree)
Euonymus alata "Compactus"

Maple trees

I captured these leaves especially for my baby sis in AZ.

Years ago we collected them & ironed them between waxed paper

& mailed them to AZ so she could have a touch of fall.

They have had some recent health issues that

have us all worried.

If you're so inclined, I sure would appreciate it if you could

send up a *knee-mail* for them, both.

We strongly believe in the Power of Prayer!

I took some shots at a local restaurant above &

a local greenhouse below.

At my favorite grocery store, too!

Soon, the heavy rains & then the snow will arrive.

For now, I'm drinking in every drop of color &

trying to fully appreciate each day the Lord gives us!

Thanks for joining me in the Gazebo House.

fondly,
Rett

Joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday