I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving ~ Home and Away




Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends!


This year we are invited to our friends' home for Thanksgiving! I am very excited, if a bit sad my beloved Turkey plates will not be used this year.
[Do they notice? Or do they slumber on, uncaring?].
Last month someone asked me if I keep my bright orange, yellow, and cheddar quilts out all Fall, til Christmas, and the answer is a resounding No. Much as I love those colors I don't like to live with them too long. November 1st, the jackolanterns are put away, as are the brilliant orange quilts and the bright cobalt pitchers.









This year I kept my blue and white color scheme and added grey linen throw pillows; and quilts in faded tones of rose and brown and beige.









I keep my mercury glass pumpkins in the silver only,




and I add mercury glass Mason jars,








 and  a turkey here and there.








Crocks are filled with the last of summer's hydrangeas, now dried to rose, tan, and olive, no longer brilliant sky blue.


Things look a bit spare maybe. Knowing I would not be entertaining for the Big Day, I kept my decorating to a minimum, going for November colors, serene blue, grey, brown.


Just a few pops of autumn leaves peek out,





and a beloved English pitcher filled with bittersweet.


I love bittersweet and hate to discard it when December arrives.


The other pitchers are mostly white ironstone or soft autumn shades, many stained tobacco brown.


Wasting time a bit, I painted my tiny pumpkins with chalk paint. Harder than it sounded--and not at all chalky!?. I am hoping they might be sealed by the paint and last til next year! We'll see.


Mo watches, and waits...poor Mo, no turkey this year



....
My friend and I have been planning the meal. I dug out tablecloths to audition, lent vintage water goblets and my mom's silver gravy ladle. We had fun grocery shopping. Look at these weird Brussels sprouts.



And cute curly butternut squash.


My assignment--my contribution to the dinner Thursday --will be homemade Cape Cod / orange cranberry sauce.







Oh my this is delicious. So sweet. My taste buds swooned, I realized how rarely we eat anything made with real cane sugar. Yum.


And I made creamed onions today; tomorrow I'll make the stuffing. We all prefer our turkey unstuffed, so I bake the stuffing in a big pan: cornbread cubes, seasoning, chestnuts, bacon, apple diced, onion diced, sauteed, cranberries. Fresh sage and thyme. All held together with broth and butter. My house will smell like Thanksgiving even if the day is not celebrated here.

Maybe I'll have pictures to share, we'll see.


Remember my mom's words of wisdom."Put the turkey in the oven, and have a couple beers!" She meant relax and enjoy! So I wish that for each of you and your families too,



love

lizzy

gone to the beach...






PS If you're out and about: garden center, grocery store...now is the last time to stock up on paperwhite narcissus bulbs for January blooms. I had to order mine on Amazon.

11 comments:

  1. The house looks so nice. Yes, very serene.

    I'm sure you'll miss some things about not having Thanksgiving at your house, but change is nice. Your dressing, and the cranberry sauce sound delicious.

    We're skipping the whole thing and heading up to Carmel for a couple of days. Soooo looking forward to it.

    Oh my, Mo looks irresistible in his hat :).

    Beautiful pics of the night sky.

    Do as your Mom says, and enjoy the day.

    Kel

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    Replies
    1. Carmel! What a great idea, have a wonderful time.

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  2. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Mo!! The cranberry sauce looks delicious. My daughter has been making cranberry/pear sauce for several years and we all love it. I will have a house full...15 and 6 dogs!! And I will relax and enjoy the day. Starting it out with a little applique!
    Enjoy the day!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy! Sounds so fun and festive! Cranberry /pear sauce sounds very yummy, I ll have to look around for a recipe. Pears are one of my favorite fruits. Have a wonderful day!

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving my friend! Your place looks lovely and Mo is really rockin' that hat...LOL Enjoy your feast! :) Kit

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kit! Have a wonderful, happy day!

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    2. I was chuckling when I saw your note on my blog. Must be why we are friends. We are afraid to hurt our decors feelings....LOL I love it! :) Kit

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Sending hugs, love, and Maui magic your way.

    Hunter

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  5. I love the serene colors in your November decor. There's so much hype and hustle and bustle this time of year it looks like a haven of peace!

    I hope you get some pictures because your food contributions sound yummy! I'm odd, I like my cranberries in a Jello salad, but yours sound good. LOL, I think that's just the way Brussels sprouts grow but they do look strange - like tiny cabbages on a stick!

    We're celebrating on Saturday so I still have to wait for turkey. I LOVE the picture of Mo in his hat and sweater - he looks like he's ready to go!

    Hope your day was full of fun!

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  6. I love your decor! I hope your Thanksgiving dinner was very nice!

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  7. Grateful for many things including your sweet friendship.

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