Christmas Through the Years

My tablescape today is again with my old faithful

Phaltzgraff dishes ~ only this time ~ they are my Christmas

dishes that I have had for over 25 years.  Once again, they

were purchased as seconds at the Phaltzgraff outlet in Lancaster, PA.

 

I'm sure you've all seen them before.  They are the old

"Heritage" pattern that were sold from 1981 ~ 2006.

I have service for 10, but to change them up, this year

I added red salad plates to give them a little punch of color.

 

The glasses I've had as long as the dishes.

 

But the napkins and napkin holders are new this year ~

recently purchased from Goodwill.

 

The centerpiece I made last Christmas and is a simple

wreath with red berry picks and pine cones added in for color 

and texture.  It surrounds a glass globe with a red candle

set amidst artificial decorative snow.

  

Having had these dishes for 25 years, I had grown a little tired of them

and hadn't even bothered to get them out the last few years.  

But I'm amazed at the difference the red napkins,

salad plates, and red candle centerpiece made to brighten

the table and make it look festive and suddenly new again.

 

Now I just need to invite someone over for dinner.

~

Dinner plates & soup bowls ~ Phaltzgraff "Heritage" pattern

Red salad plates ~ Sears "Whole Home" dishes

Glasses ~ purchased many years ago

Napkins & napkin rings ~ Goodwill  

~

I'm linking with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for

Table Top Tuesday and with

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for 

Tablescape Thursday. 

 

 

 

 

 

My Office Blues

I was reading a post the other day called

"A Touch of Christmas in Every Room" over at

The Inspired Room and it

inspired me to add a touch of Christmas to my office.

I had an old Christmas tree made out of blue, white, and silver

bulbs stuck into a styrofoam cone that never quite looked right.

I decided to pull them out and put them in this lovely glass pedestal 

bowl that I got at Goodwill.  

 

I added some white seashells to the mixture

since my office has a beach theme (another idea

from The Inspired Room).  

I set it on my desk beside my lifeguard lamp where I

can see it easily while working at my computer.

 

  

Here is Miss Biddy keeping me company and taking a 

little nap while I do my homework.

Just a subtle touch of Christmas ~ but it makes me 

smile every time I look at it.

I wish all Christmas decorating was this easy.

 

I'm linking with Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

 

A Goodwill Makeover

I purchased this tree at Goodwill a month ago with the

idea that it would make a nice Christmas tree for my kitchen.

 

I found some glitzy gold and bronze stems to give it a 

little bit of bling.  I thought I'd do something a little

more sparkly for a change.

 

The first thing I put in the tree was the gold fern cut into smaller pieces.

 

Then I added the bronze fern pieces.

 

I removed the large pine cones, but left the smaller ones.

Then I  added in the glittery pine cones and acorns. 

 

After attaching the pine cones and acorns, I added

the small red berries on gold stems.

 

 

All done and ready for it's place in my kitchen.

  

 

Linking with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for "Metamorphosis Monday", 

with Cindy at Cottage Instincts for "Make it 4 Monday",

and with Carrie at Dittle Dattle for " Amaze Me Monday".

 

 

 

A Beautiful Walk and a Flash Mob

I'm sharing one last post for fall before succumbing to the 

Christmas season.  Even at this late time of the year,

I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the scenery still is on campus.

Today I'm sharing parts of the route I take across The Ohio

State University campus on my walk from work to class. 

Although Ohio State is one of the largest campuses in the country, 

there are still areas where you can find yourself totally 

alone amidst beautiful old buildings and trees.

I don't know what kind of tree this is, but it's bark is lovely

with all it's interesting texture and colors.

Rounding the corner, you come across my favorite place ~ 

an outside amphitheater.  At each side entrance is a

statue of a large urn.

The stage was much prettier before they painted it red over the summer.

Passing by the stage and to your left is the seating area.  On pretty

days, many students come here to study or eat their lunch.

 

Immediately upon leaving the amphitheater, you

catch sight of Ohio State's famous Mirror Lake. 

 

This beautiful serene lake will be wild, wooly and muddy this evening.

An old tradition ~  on the Thursday before our biggest rival game 

with Michigan ~  the students jump in Mirror Lake.  Since this Thursday  

is Thanksgiving, they are jumping tonight. Burrrr.

Still heading on to class are more lovely views from above the

lake and surrounding areas.

 

 

 

Heading back to work, at the other end of campus, is the 

newly built student union which opened in April 2010.

 

 

If you want a sneak peak at the inside of the Ohio Union,

check out the video of Ohio State's version of a

Glee Flash Mob ~  I promise you'll be glad you did.

I'm joining A Southern Daydreamer

for Outdoor Wednesday.

My Thanksgiving Table

Last week I showed you the Thanksgiving table I

set with the dishes I was giving my Mother for her birthday.

But these are my Thanksgiving dishes that I used to set 

the table for her birthday dinner. 

~

It's a very simple table setting again due to the limited size of my table.

 

I started with a soft pinkish-coral tablecloth to bring out the

pink flowers in the salad plate.  The fabric was a $.99 purchase at

a thrift shop that was faded on one side, but perfect on the other.

~

The dinner plate  is Karidesign by Certified International.

 

The lovely turkey salad plate is appropriately called

"Thanksgiving" by Queen's and is a Myott Factory

archive illustration adapted from original copper engravings.

 

I used beige napkins and napkin rings I made to match

the plates using berries, leaves and acorns,

tied together with braided jute roping.

 

I made my centerpiece using a container purchased at Goodwill

and filled it with pale green leaves with a hint of pink in them, berries,

assorted greens and pheasant feathers.

The water glasses are a Dollar Tree purchase.  The 

silverware is a long ago wedding present and the only set I own,

so it shows up repeatedly at my tablescapes.

 

 

 

Although the table is simple from a distance ~ up close

there is texture to be found in each item, which

adds interest and richness to the table. 

 

I'm linking to Tabletop Tuesday  

at A Stroll Through Life

and  Tablescape Thursday

at Between Naps on the Porch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thanksgiving Table

I was in Marshall's the other day and they had all their

fall decor 50% off.  They had these lovely fall dishes on the clearance

table and since I needed three November birthday gifts ~
guess what they're getting?

 I decided to set a pretty Thanksgiving

tablescape before wrapping them to give away.

Who will know the difference except you ~

and I know you won't tell.

   

I love the bowls with a turkey on one side, a pumpkin on the other,

and a lovely acorn and oak leaf inside.

 

The mugs display the same pattern lay out as the bowls.

 

The dinner plate is large with beautiful fall colors and a

gorgeous turkey as it's main theme. 

 

I added a round olive~green salad plate with

pie crust edging for a punch of color 

and change of shape.

 

I topped the place settings off with the beautiful matching

bowls, bright plaid napkins and leaf napkin rings.

 

I also found a lovely turkey to use as a centerpiece,

set in a nest of colorful fall leaves. 

 

In the background, on the hutch, you'll notice

a lovely water pitcher from the clearance table that 

I just couldn't resist.

 

After setting up the tablescape, I fell in love with the

water pitcher and realized I couldn't part with it.  So 

guess who gets this piece ~ and it's not even my birthday.

 

Well, it's time to stop playing with the dishes and

get them wrapped up for my Mother's birthday party tomorrow.

Dinner plate ~ Maxcera "Acorns & Turkey" ~ Marshall's

Green salad plate ~ Home ~ Goodwill purchase

Bowls & Mugs ~ Maxcera "Acorns & Turkey" ~ Marshall's

Napkins ~ a long ago purchase

Napkin rings ~ Oakland Nursery

Turkey centerpiece & Water pitcher ~ Marshall's

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday.