A Blank Canvas

A table is a blank canvas waiting for the wonder of creation.   Preparing for the Thanksgiving feast is an opportune time for creativity coupled with tradition.

First onto the table are my always favorite pumpkins made from dryer hose and purchased from The Women’s Home many years ago.  I don’t remember how much they cost, but I have more than gotten my money’s worth.

This year they sit on an April Cornell tablecloth folded as a table runner, and they nestle among turkeys of straw and glass.

No Thanksgiving would be complete without the Della Robbia dishes.  The challenge is presenting them differently each year.  This time around they will rest on dark green chargers from Michael’s.

Added to the setting are salad plates from another set of dishes purchased at Target

and finished with green glass bowls from World Market.

Utensils are wrapped in napkins and tied with ribbon that has all the colors of the table.  Could someone tell me why I have 50 yards of it?

Now the table is set, the dressing is made, the turkey is roasting.

 All we need are family and friends to arrive to share another Thanksgiving and express gratitude for all that has come our way.

I am grateful to all of you who spend time with me, and here’s wishing you a bounteous Thanksgiving.

Joining you at Tablescape Thursday

Coming Out!

How is it that china gets left in the cabinet, used only on special occasions, if that often?  At least that’s the way it is at my house, and I actually like my china.  It belonged to my mother, and I remember that every birthday, anniversary or Christmas Daddy would give her  another piece to add to the collection.   This went on for a number of years until she had service for eight and some of the serving pieces.

When Mother moved into an assisted living facility, the china became mine, and when I can find them I have added some new pieces, hoping to acquire enough for each of my daughters to have several place settings.  The pattern is Richelieu made in Bavaria, Germany.  It has long been out of circulation, so finding additional pieces is not easy nor is it anywhere close to the original price.

Because of the memories and the fact that I hate to have anything I don’t use, these delicate dishes are going to come out of the cabinet.  The table won’t be fancy.  Rather the dishes will be incorporated into the settings I like best with touches of color, mismatched pieces and whimsy.

For color and, perhaps, the unexpected this handwoven runner from  Peru will work.

And, remember this funky cast off piece that was purchased  several months ago at The Women’s Home thrift shop?  I knew it would come in handy some day, and tonight it will add the soft glow of candlelight.

Add the china with crisp white napkins held in handmade rings

and here you have it.  The china is out  and is a special touch for a casual week night dinner.

The lobster risotto would look tasty on any plate, but it seems just right served on these lovelies.

For the risotto recipe, come back tomorrow.

It is such fun to share tablescapes of all kinds on Tablescape Thursday.

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A Room of Her Own

Chances are  you are reading this in a comfortable spot, perhaps, with the sun shining in over your shoulder.  Chances are you’ve never been homeless, slept in your car or forced to live in an unsafe environment.  Not all women, or people for that matter, are so lucky, and recognizing this The Women’s Home has taken a step to make it possible for some Houston women to have a safe, affordable place to live.  Many will have been residents of The Women’s Home and will have completed the intensive whole life program there that allows them to regain control of their lives, improve their job skills and find employment.  For many the missing link has been a home, one they can both be proud of and afford.

With the opening of the Jane Cizik Garden Place Apartments, that has changed.  This beautiful 87 unit complex, built mostly with private funding, is dedicated to women and provides a first home for those who are entering the job market at minimal salaries.  It is a sober environment that also provides after care counseling that will reenforce the women’s efforts to maintain healthy lifestyles.

The apartments are more than just a place to live.  They are a place to gather and build new friendships,

to keep the body healthy,

to stroll among the gardens.

Each room of her own is a place to be proud of  and a wonderful tribute to all who made it possible.

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Reflections 2010

As 2010 winds down, it seems a good time to reflect on the things that made it special. There were many, and here, in no particular order, are some of the standouts:

Welcoming our fourth grandchild and learning another is on the way

Time with the granddaughters, just us

A wonderful excursion to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos

Fun filled outings with family and friends to Maine islands

A very successful fall show which reignited my creative fire

Being honored by The Women’s Home and the completion of their lovely new apartment complex

Good health, mine and that of friends

A spectacular new kitchen

Lulu’s Musings and the new folks it introduced me to

Friends, all of you new and old

I’m wondering, what made 2010 special for you?

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Pumpkin Delight

Years ago these pumpkins were purchased at a luncheon benefiting The Women’s Home, and year after year they appear on one flat surface or another from October through November, and each one of those years they seem new all over again.

Can you guess what they are made of?  If you guessed dryer ventilation hose, you are correct.  This material is readily available at Home Depot, Lowe’s or a hardware store.  Here’s how you make the pumpkins:

Cut lengths 24-26”; glue the ends and spray paint with diluted acrylic paints or purchased spray paint in your desired colors.  If you use more than one color as shown here, let each paint color dry before applying the next. For the stem, stick a twig in the hole left in the top when the ends are joined, glue a few fake leaves around the stem and voila, you have pumpkins to enjoy for years to come.

Easy enough, huhn?  If you have other ideas for dryer hose, do pass them on.

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Second Time Around

Thursdays, tablescapes and thrift shop are becoming related in unexpected ways.  Now when I go to volunteer at The Cottage Thrift Shop the ladies who mind the shop on Thursday afternoons are anxious to show me what treasures they have found for a tablescape and ask excitedly, “Will this work? Will this work?”  I love their developing awareness of and interest in putting things together.

Here is what they found this week:

Plastic crabs and a blue, green and white print sheet

Two sets of dishes that worked together perfectly!

And here you have the elements for a casual tablescape which, once again, demonstrates that it takes very little to make a table a visual delight.

I really liked the glasses.  They appeared to be quite old and made from the glass that  reflects an image repeatedly.  I’m sure there is a name for it, but I don’t know what it is.  I decided those were something I just had to have, but, unfortunately somebody else beat me to them.

Check out amazing tablescapes at Tablescape Thursday.