WOODLAND CHINA~ MY MOST ASKED QUESTION YET!

I recently posted 

THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING TIP YOU WILL EVER GET

and although the post was popular, it was the earthenware dishes on the title page that got the most attention!

I got so many e-mails and comment questions about the dinnerware, these beautiful pieces deserved their own post...

FALL AROUND THE KITCHEN

Happy October!

AND...

Welcome to 

FALL AROUND THE HOME

12 fabulous bloggers sharing 12 different rooms of the house all decked out in fall finery!

Today it's 

FALL AROUND THE KITCHEN

here at StoneGable.

I've been waiting for you...

COZY AND WARM THANKSGIVING TABLE

Last year my sister Lisa and her husband Jim hosted Thanksgiving at their Virginia home.

Lisa is an excellent cook... having worked as a caterer and a chef, she is a foodie extraordinaire! EVERYTHING she makes is the best I have ever eaten. So when she offered to make a Thanksgiving meal I was so excited!

As serious as Lisa is about the food she prepares...

she  has a wonderful relaxed philosophy about entertaining... and her Thanksgiving table reflected her warm, fun and welcoming atttitude... it is ALWAYS fun at Lisa's!

There is nothing too formal or uptight about the way Lisa sets a table and her Thanksgiving table was no exception.  I always feel like I am sitting at a table in Tuscany or Provence... she has an easy-going way of decorating!

Lisa used a white tablecloth for the foundation of her table. She then layered a burlap runner and a long burlap ribbon down the center of her table. I love the organic mood it sets!

Stacks and stacks of dishes are really not her style... but she does love to serve dinner on white plates like I do.  Notice her mix of square and round alternating dishes. 

Lisa's house reflects these beautiful warm colors!

Gifts were tucked under some dinner plates. One gift for each family.  She gave us a fascinating book about US Medal Of Honor winners. This book tells such stories of valor, bravery and love of country.

It is a cherished part of our library at StoneGable!

Oak leave from the back yard were used as place cards along with tiny glittery acorns. Such a simple touch... but one with big late fall impact!

Lisa casually filled water glasses with richly designed french inspired napkins. I am presuming these are from Williams-Sonoma. She loves french linens! Another thing we have in common.

A big glass candle holder, reminiscent of a pumpkin, holds a large white pillar candle. Around the base of the candle is a fall potpourri of pods and dried fruit and other fluff.

Down the center of the table are glass vases filled with golden berries on twiggy branches. Lisa and I both have a penchant for "sticks and twigs"!

This year Lisa will be up my way for Thanksgiving... and she will be bringing the fun!!!

LET'S DISH

HARVEST BUFFET

Setting a buffet is an easy way to entertain... especially when you are trying to create an informal or cozy atmosphere.

I often use my kitchen table as a buffet when I want to create a relaxed meal or I am feeding a crowd.

Buffets and fall entertaining are a perfect fit! The food is so flavorful and earthy and... there are so many fabulous natural elements to embellish the buffet!

Here is a small buffet I set for a recent early Autumn supper...

Golden morning light was streaming through the windows as I got the buffet ready!

My barn beam table was a nice hand hewn background for the buffet! A simple burlap runner was added for a little extra textural interest.

For the table, I used lots of white with accents of honey gold... and a big splash of burnt orange from Pycracantha berries.

A big round basket pulls together a centerpiece vignette.  

Beautifully worn vintage flatware handles peek from an ironstone pitcher... even flatware can be used in a centerpiece!

A rotund creamy white pitcher hold Pycrantha berries from our espalier. Pycrantha does not give up it's berries easily...it is very thorny and hard to cut, but so worth the effort!

I am a huge fan of white dishes... especially large white plates!  These are just the most stunning square embossed dinner plates. I got them at HomeGoods on sale for $3.00 a piece. I sure do love a bargain!

Just to look pretty I put golden brown leaf plates from Pottery Barn on top of the white dinner plates...  and then added a baby boo pumpkin cradled in a  brambly candle ring.

Round white dessert plates that match the dinner plates are stacked on the table too!

They are topped off with gold leaf bowls... again encircled with brambles. The fall waldorf-style salad looked so festive in those bowls!

A white ironstone tureen was filled with a hearty Roasted Squash Soup.  

Ironstone cups are stacked and ready for soup!

A little pumpkin is tucked inside the top cups for now!

Bowls to be filled with food are now brimming with pumpkins! What a Autumnal display!

Casual leaf napkins pull the colors on the table together.

Fall is my favorite time of year.. full of beautiful colors, textures and flavors!

A buffet is a wonderful way to greet guests with a welcoming harvest meal!

THE HARVEST MENU

Roasted Buternut Squash Soup With Creme Fraiche

Autumn Waldorf Salad

Leek And Onion Tart

Mulled Cider

Prosecco

Honey Poached Pears In Puff Pastry

(look for this culinary tutorial on Friday)

LET'S DISH AT CUISINE KATHLEEN

Pear Tablescape

It is almost Pumpkin time at StoneGable... Almost! Tucked between the sun and fun of lazy August days and the falling leaves, crisp breezes and pumpkins of October is Orchard Time!

Beautiful apples, luscious grapes and fragrant perfumy pears! September is a wonderful celebration of fruitful bounty!

Apples and grapes have had their 15 minutes of fame and now the pear is in the spotlight. Delicate and dripping with honey-laced flavor, the pear is worth a table all it's own.

Second Thanksgiving Table

More Company's Coming- A Second Thanksgiving Table

Before I begin with today's OFFICIAL post, I want to thank all of the people who have visited and/or  followed my blog over the last 2 months. I know 2 months is not a usual milestone, but I have been so overwhelmed  with gratitude, I need to express my feelings. I thought my 2 month bloggiversary was the 19th, but after checking the date of my first blog, it was the 10th. Being still very new to blogging,

I have learned so much and have been having so much fun!  I have become part of a lovely, warm and supportive community that cheers everyone on! I love that we see worth and effort in each and every blog! I love that this is a supportive and not competitive community! Good for us!

Not a crass word, or an unkind thought has crossed my reading, and  I always leave inspired and refreshed!

I especially want to thank the hosts of the events I participate in.  I don't actually know how much time you put into hosting, but it must be immense! What a gift.

I have made dear, dear friends, too. I get excited when I see that you have dropped by. Your are blessings to me!

Finally, thank you all for your love and support!  I look forward to many more bloggiversaries!

God bless all of you!

Yvonne  xo

We are getting more company for Thanksgiving dinner.My philosophy is the more the merrier! I love my home filled with family, friends and people that need a home for the holidays!

I need to set an extra table.  The table will be placed in the foyer, close to the dinning room.  Because I already had 14 of everyting for the main table, I needed to put together another 4 place settings for the foyer table. So I decided to take a trip to my fabulously stocked HomeGoods to see what I could get on a very limited budget.  Well... I hit the jackpot!

The inspiration for this table were these lovely pumpkin tureens and  napkins. I a wild about these beautiful heavy napkins. I love everything about them!!!! Again I used a softer color pallet, to accomodate the colors in the pumpkins and napkins.

I bought the napkins on sale, $5.99 for 4- I bought 2 packs. What a steal. They are exquisite!  I used the napkins as placemats.  I just made a little tuck by folding them across the center horizontally and  then ironed them with some starch.  The fold is barely noticable.  The napkins that were actually used as napkins were folded casually and full and placed near the fork. I wanted to show off their gorgeous design. (Can you tell how much I like these, sorry for gushing on and on).

The real steal of the day were not the napkins, but the pumpkins... they were $2.00 a piece and the quality is excellent!!!!!!  I know, now that's my kind of bargain!  I found 3 white and 1 green so I bought all 4, and they look fine together. Everything else for the scape', except the flatware, was collected from what I had in my china pantry and around the house!

Leaf plates (HomeGoods), a real favorite of mine,  go under the soup tureens.

White salad plate with a leaf and berry edge (HomeGoods) continues the leafy theme. The cutout edges give this dish real interest.

Large grape-motif leaf plate, with bronze metalic edging (HomeGoods) again lend to the overall theme.

Mixing dishes and color gives interest  and detail.

Brown marble handled flatware compliment the placemats (HomeGoods). Another great bargain!

Golden Glasses.

The centerpiece is a mix of white pumpkins to echo the soup tureens, and pale green striped squash in cloches.  These elements are accented with small pumpkins, glazed styled acorns and leaves.

Matching squash pitcher, on sale for $3.00 at HomeGoods!

Tall slender candles stand in a glass leaf holders (Wm-Sonoma). Covering the center of the table, a burlap runner (Pottery Barn) adds texture and keeps the color neutral.

My table is ready and waiting. All it needs are the guests we are so looking forward to!

I am joining Susan at Between Naps On The Porch, for Tablescape Thursday.  Go see all the wonderful and creative ideas!