~~~PAPER can be Pretty Too!!!~~~~

Good afternoon my dear friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have recuperated from all that FOOD!!!! I actually am looking forward to having some leftovers for dinner tonight, it was SO GOOD!!!! I hate to BRAG:):) but I do make awesome stuffing and gravy:):):). Oh my tummy is growling. Joe and I have been working non stop all day getting all the outside Christmas decorations up. It was GORGEOUS today, 63 degrees!!!!! That NEVER happens, we usually are FREEZING doing the decorations. Now, Back to Thanksgiving. I decided that I needed to cut myself a break, so I purchased some PRETTY paper plates and napkins!!!! This is a FIRST in 44 years of marriage, believe me. I also bought Chinet to put under the paper plates for added strength. I figured with gravy and all that food the plate would need some support!!! So, here is my table. I used my nice tablecloth that you saw last week, the rust colored chargers then the chinet plate and the paper plate!!:)

 I did use my nice crystal wine glasses and my leaf water glasses.

 Had to include my turkey place card holders.

 And my FAVORITE embossed candles.

 There were 10 of us for dinner and we all stuffed ourselves on turkey, sweet potato  casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, peas, pearl onions, and for dessert; peach pie with vanilla ice cream or cheesecake! 

 Now, to let you in on a little secret; after dinner, all of our guests except my daughter and SIL got up and said, "we have to go now, we want to go SHOPPING"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Noone even cleared a glass. SO, I was VERY happy that I had used the paper plates.

 It still took a long time (into Fri. morning) to get it all cleaned up and food put away etc. but that's OK. I was so anxious to get to DECORATING for Christmas:):):) OH, I set up the card table to put the food on since the table would have been too crowded. And buffet style just doesn't work in this tiny dining room.

I hope as I said, that you all had a FABULOUS day. Thanks so much for stopping by. Now I am going to cook up those leftovers!!!!! Much love to all of you. I so appreciate every single one of you. XO, Pinky

Question for you all

I do not know what is going on with Blogger but I have been unable to upload ANY pictures yesterday or today???? Anyone else having problems????

~~~Thanksgiving/ Birthday Table~~~

First of all and MOST importantly, I want to wish EACH and EVERYONE of you a Happy, blessed and grateful Thanksgiving. I hope you will be surrounded by family and friends and truly BE thankful for life's blessings. This is a true American holiday and one that brings us together to be grateful for all we have. On Sat. we hosted our son-in-laws 40th birthday dinner and the table for Thanksgiving will be VERY similiar. So this is one post to cover 2 dinners!!!! I used my BOUNTIFUL tablecloth that is covered with pumpkins, leaves, gourds etc. Then I placed a brown woven placemat, a rust colored charger, green dinner plate, punpkin dessert plate and a decorative pumpkin to top it all off!!!! I also placed a faux leaf in between the plates for even more interest.

 A shot of the placesettng.

 I have plenty of these pretty brown napkins that have a leaf embroidered onto them. I crossed the  dinner fork and dessert fork to see the leaf! And, again, I used my brown bamboo flatware.

 I started out with my leaf wine glasses.... and a pumpkin placecard holder and pumpkin tealite holder.

 they have 3 different leaves on them

 At first I had these candle holders but later swithced them out. I felt they were too tall for comfortable conversation.

 I made my centerpiece several years ago. It is a wicker cornucopia, filled with beautiful leaves, pumpkins, gourds, flowers etc.

 Our menu consisted of filets, crabcakes, potato casserole, mac and cheese and confetti corn. We made 2 sauces for the filets: a madiera sauce and a peppercorn sauce.

 So, I needed my 2 gravy boats.

 This is the candle holder I used and with the rust colored candles. I liked the cream color of the holders with the cream of the tablecloth.

 I LOVE these fun, pumpkin candle rings!

 I also added my brown bubble water goblets.

 Time to get those candles LIT!!!! Can you see the pumpkin placecard holders and the pumpkin tealite holder!

 We are ready for some FOOD!!! I had to remove the centerpiece, but we want to have room for the food, now don't we!

 This was Dave's birthday cake: chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling and fudge frosting!!!!!!!!!!

 And we were surprised with an anniversary cake: yellow cake with raspberry filling and fudge frosting!!!!!

It was a wonderful, fun evening with family and they will all be back on Thursday!!!! Blessings and love to all of you. Next time I will be sharing CHRISTMAS decorations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to go do a clients house tomorrow, but I did start on my house yesterday. Just downstairs....nobody will know:):) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XO, Pinky

~~~Confetti Corn~~~

Hi everyone! Last night we had a birthday dinner for our SIL. He turned 40 so it was a milestone birthday! I wanted to make it as NICE as possible. I will share the table either tomorrow or tues. but wanted to share this recipe with you and will link to On The Mneu Monday at Stonegable and Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum. Dave's favorite vegetable is corn so I had to "kick it up a notch". I have made this before and he really likes it so onto the menu it went! We also had FABULOUS filets, Joe's wonderful crab cakes, Mashed potato casserole,and macaroni and cheese. Tracy made the potato casserole and the mac and cheese. She also brought 2 cakes: one for Dave's birthday and one for our anniversary, which was a big surprise!!!! Here is the recipe and then I will share a few shots with you too!
                                       Confetti Corn
2 Tbls. good olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 small orange bell pepper, diced
2 Tbls. butter
kernals cut from 5 ears of corn (4 cups) I used frozen corn and microwaved it for a few mins. first then drained it.
1 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 Tbls. julienned fresh basil, minced chives, and/or minced fresh parslwy (I used a combination os all 3 to make 2 Tbls.)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onion and saute for 5 mins. until the onion is soft. Stir in the bell pepper and saute 2 more mins.
 Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Over medium heat add the corn, salt and pepper and cook stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 mins. Stir in the herbs and serve hot. This really is so good, I hope you will try it! I was so busy geting everything ready I never got a picture of it but it is also a PRETTY dish!  Now here are some pics for you to enjoy of our evening.
This is Dave and his nephew, Braylon.

 Braylon, is a fun and funny kid!

 Dave's birthday cake. Chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling and fudge frosting!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH HONEY!!!!!

 This is our anniversary cake: yellow cake with raspberry filling and fudge frosting! YUUUUUMMMMM!!!!!

 Braylon in his Halloween costume. He is a little turtle!

 SO cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Yvonne's button is on my sidebar, so hop over there to find some GREAT dishes.  Foodie Friday can be found on Thurs. night at http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/  I am also joining Susan for Met Minday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/  Have a wonderful week everyone. I will be posting the table tomorrow or Tuesday. Hope you stop back!!! XO, Pinky

~~~Our 44th Wedding Anniversary!!!~~~

Yes, we were BABIES when we got married all those years ago!  Young, but in love and so HAPPY to be married. Joe was looking a little green that night but he WAS happy! I promise.

 Last night we had a reservation for dinner at 6, the time we got married. We had a delicious dinner and had some wine with dinner. At our "reception", just a dinner really, we drank MILK cause we weren't old enough to drink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that a riot!!!!

 This is me and my son at our daughter's wedding last Sept.  That was a VERY happy day for all of us!

 Here we all are with the happy couple. Just thought I would share a few pics of that happy day too! Had to make this one smaller cause Joe got cut off!!!

I am so greateful for my Joe, for the life we have built, for our 2 amazing children (and now son-in-law) and all the blessings God has bestowed on us!!!! Thanks so much for stopping by. Love to you all. XO, Pinky

~~~An Organic, Fall Table!!!~~~

As Fall is winding down, I am hanging on for just awhile. I wanted to set a beautiful, ORGANIC table for you! There are so many beautiful, natural elements that are all around us at this time of year. I wanted to incorporate them into a table. It all started when I found this piece of burlap at CTS for $3.99!!!! Not bad for a "tablecloth"!  Another beautiful, sunny morning to take some shots!!!

 I layered the burlap, a brown woven placemat, and a STACK of dishes! I am really loving stacking my dishes in many different combinations! It is such fun to see what I can come up with.

 Before we get to the dishes, I used this wonderful, rattan pedestal bowl for my centerpiece. I surrounded the base with nuts, small pinecones, acorns, cinnamon sticks and faux acorns too.

 Into the bowl went hydrangeas from the yard, seed balls, vine balls, mini pinecones, acorn picks and leaves!!!! An abundance or natural elements!

 A small pumpkin is nestled down in there too.

 I LIKE the impefection of this seed ball: it has been around for awhile:) Just like me!!!!!:):)

 I found this FAUX deer antler circle. I have thought of another use for it so it will be used at Christmas time too.

 I gathered a chocolate brown napkin with a tan napkin in a pinecone ring.

 There is also a bark covered ball in the bowl, can you see it?

 Added some acorns and scatters to the ring

 I used my rattan covered water glasses and my stemmed glasses.

 A shadow shot....so pretty.

 Here we have the placesetting.

 I put a faux acorn at each place in the pinecone bowl. Below that is a beautiful salad dish with raised leaf and berry design. I LOOOOVE these dishes!!

 The dinner plate is from my set of everyday fall dishes. I used my fave brown, bamboo flatware. Another staple for Fall.

 An acorn pick is tucked between the dishes for a fun addition.

 The pinecone bowl.

 Salad plate.

 I also pulled out my rattan covered S and P. These somehow get used all year long.

 This pottery bowl is perfect for this RUSTIC table!

 I love the little FEET! I got this at a craft fair many years ago. I collected pottery for YEARS!

 I almost forgot to add my candles! We can't have a table without candles, can we????? These candle holders are adorned with carved leaves. And the pattern on the candle mimics the pattern of the glasses.

 I wanted to show you the detail on my chairs. It is so pretty and rustic for this setting.

 Detail of the table.

 And the back of the chair. Thanks AGAIN for coming by. I so appreciate each one of you faithful readers. I am joining these parties:

Table Top Tuesday at :  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
White Wednesday at:  http://fadedcharm.blogspot.com/
Wow Us Wednesday at:  http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Vintage Thingie Thursday at:  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday at:  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Foodie Friday at:  http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday at:  http://myromantichome.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday at:  http://thepicketfence.blogspot.com/
Open House Friday at:  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Sunday Favorites at:  http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/
Seasonal Sundays at:  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Have fun and go visit some of these wonderful parties! We are hosting our SIL's 40th birthday dinner this coming Sat. so I will have ANOTHER table to share! Then, of course, our Thanksgiving table next week. Hope you will come back! Love to you all, Pinky