Thanksgiving in the City (or at least the suburbs)

Since Thanksgiving will be at my house this year, I’ve been doing a little planning.  Today, I decided to work on how the table will be set.  I worked on the center of the table with my new gold and cream table runner from Target.  I’m going through a gold phase, as you can see.  I made the center flower arrangement with really good quality fake white magnolias and gold magnolia leaves that I purchased in San Francisco at the flower mart.

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Next, I got out the cream and gold Lenox dinner plates that used to belong to my mom and dad, but were a gift to me last Christmas.  I paired the dinner plates with Queen’s Myott Factory “Thanksgiving” pattern salad plates that I purchased a few years ago.

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Just to make it fun and mix it up a bit, I added my new gold and white pitcher from Target.

Now, I have to start thinking about the menu.  There will be turkey and stuffing.  Because Grandma Bonnie will be here, there might be popovers, carrot ring and her famous potato dish nicknamed “dead rats in butter.”  It’s called that because even dead rats would taste good in that much butter and salt.

For dessert this year, I’m thinking of pumpkin cheesecake with a ginger snap crust and salted carmel topping.   I found a great recipe on The Pioneer Woman.  Of course there will be pies with whip cream and vanilla ice cream too.

~Tiffany


My favorite Halloween Decor

 

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I LOVE Halloween!  I also LOVE children’s artwork!  So my favorite Halloween decor is created by my kids.  Although mixed in with their creations are, a pumpkin my husband made in elementary school and a ghost I made in kindergarten.  Framing was super cheap. All the frames are from Ikea, Goodwill or the Dollar store. I just spray painted them black or white to hide their less than stellar appearance.

 

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My other favorite Halloween art comes from my Father in law and my Father.  My father-in-law Ken carved this awesome pumpkin and stand from one log. You can’t tell but the eyes are and the mouth are carefully carved out. I love the quirkiness of this and had hoped to talk him into carving more for us but unfortunately he passed away. I think of him every time I see this!

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My father Gordon collected antique paper jack-o-lanterns (before the days of Ebay).  He was very picky about their faces and condition and had 13 for our mantle.  My mom, sitter I have split up his pumpkins so I only have four of them.  I have been watching Ebay to add to his collection, but so far I can’t justify the purchase. These remind me of my dad.

 

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I also LOVE pumpkins! Not eating them but I love their color.  I used to feel guilty spending lots of money on gourds that would be thrown away in a short time… now I just view them as future chicken feed.

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~Chanel

 


Meet the County Girl…

I’m the younger sister Chanel and the “Country Girl”.  I live in beautiful Southern Oregon with my hot husband and four kids ages 2 to 16.  We have goats, chickens, bees, three dogs and a cat. I love my family! I also love… ok, maybe I’m obsessed with photography, scuba diving and traveling. I enjoy finding the beauty and humor in the splendid chaos that is my life.

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