Workin' it out

Hey friends!

I'm up to no good and playing in the dishes again.

It's my favorite part of entertaining. 

I love having lots of time to plan and work it all out.

Today I'm trying different table settings for Thanksgiving. 

Somethings I know I will use, as we have enough for 12. 

The Blue Danube

The Threshold gold flat ware that I got from Target.

(so glad I picked these up)

And I'm love love Loving! The navy buffalo check napkins

that I got in the dollar spot at Target.

What I'm still playing with are the chargers and placemats.

The wood chargers look rustic. Don't you think?

Adding the orange napkins really brings warmth to the setting. 

I'm really liking this one.... But then ....

Who knows! 

It could end up totally different! 

I picked up some DARLING little white pumpkins..... hhmmm.

The Versatility of Dishes

 

So, do you think that you have to have all matching dishes to create a 

beautiful semi-formal table? 

You don't! In fact, picking up a few pretty pieces here and there

when you see them, will actually get you a lot of versatility. 

It also allows you to work in a few trends without investing a ton 

of money into a whole set of dishes that you might end up 

quickly getting tired of. 

Accessories like chargers and linens also get you some mileage too.

(dang! I wish I would have straightened that knife)

 Let me show you how quickly the same dishes are transformed into 

a lovely, casual, breakfast table.

 

 All that I changed out were the linens, chargers and crystal.

 A pretty juice glass replaces formal crystal. 

Here's the dish: 

 Plates: Debi Lilly Fluer. I found on the clearance shelf at the back of my local Safeway. $1.25 ea

Tea cups: Homer Laughlin Georgian Eggshell with Blue Band. Got these from Replacements.com

Crystal: Versailles (my grandmother)

Floral glasses: Rachel Ashwell from the Target Shabby Chic collection (about 8 years ago)

Silver Coffee Server: Goodwill (practically free) 

 So that is it for today. 

Have a great rest of the week!

I'm joining:
Seasonal Sundays
My Romantic Home

Common Ground

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

A Delightsome Life

Checking in!

Hola Sweet Friends!

Are you so busy loving the season? 

We are! 

We're winter gardening...  Look at those little roses! 

 Canning... I made homemade cranberry sauce... wonderfulness!

 I will be sharing that recipe with you.

 Decorating! 

 Crocheting! I can't wait to show you this fun project.

 ...more decorating!

... and MORE decorating! 

New Cafe au Lait Bowls

I think it is pretty well known that I have a hard time 

passing up a good dish!

 Last week I was browsing through Lidy's lovely online shop 

The French Garden House. 

She has the most amazing stuff! I wish I could redecorate my whole house using her antiques!

I saw this darling set of blue and white French Cafe au Lait Bowls. 

 They arrived within days of my order and were 

beautifully packaged.

Love them! 
Gotta go...  my props keep disappearing! 

I'm joining:
Mockingbird Hill for Favorite Things Saturday
Bev for Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Cindy for Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Courtney for Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Chemex & Coffee Love!

 Hello my little Happy Harvest Queens!

Are your homes ready for Fall? 

We aren't doing to much ... 

a wreath here, a fresh bouquet there...

Like I said not to much.

 One thing that I love about fall are the cooler temps. and the temptation to drink coffee all day long. 

Truthfully, I really try not to drink it all day. We have been really good about just having 2 or even 3 cups in the morning and then that's it.  In order to encourage and continued that behavior, I moved the big, beautiful, 12 cup, Cuisinart out and moved the little, 8 cup, Farberware percolator in.  We love it. It makes a great, quick pot of coffee for the workday morning. Hubs and I agree that percolated coffee is much better than the automatic drip.

For guests or even just Saturday mornings I prefer the Chemex. Pronounced  kim-ex, it looks European but it was invented and designed by a German Chemist here in America. The design has never changed and is still made here in the US.

 I have tried all kinds of different coffee makers but this is my favorite. Even better than the highly overrated (in my opinion) French Press. If you would like to get one, I got mine here. 

Husband thinks it takes to long, but I think it is worth it.

I use my regular coffee and follow these directions.

A beautiful, clean (no sediment at the bottom) cup of coffee!

Cheers!

Happy Wednesday!

Oh! Hello! 

It's Wednesday and we are half way through the week. 

I hope you are having a good one!

Me and my cup-a-joe!

How silly... but I thought my mug looked so pretty with my shirt.... he he he. 

Anyway! Have a lovely one.

What's by Your Sink?

I know that I am not the only one out there that has more plates than I know what to do with! I am always looking for new ways to use them. So I thought that I would share one with you...

This is just a cookbook easel that I stacked 4 different sized plates in.

I am a huge supporter of surrounding yourself with what you love!

NOW!
For a little teaser .....

What does this....
or this .....



Have to do with THIS?


Next Fresh Cut Friday is November 5th!
Thank you to everyone that participated in yesterday's blog crawl. It was so fun to see everyone's arrangements! I hope you took a minute to see them all.

Check back for a fun announcement regarding the November 5th
party!