I’m hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year.
That involves a whole lot of me decorating and a whole lot of someone else cooking.
Here’s what’s on our menu in case you are in Kentucky and make the wrong turn and the Min-it Mart and want to stop by.
turkey (obvi)
dressing
corn casserole
broccoli with cheese sauce
cranberry sauce
cranberry bread
homemade biscuits
mashed potatoes
and homemade apple pie and pumpkin pie for dessert
Yes, please.
And while everyone else is working in the kitchen, you and I can pull up a chair to this table and grab a cup of coffee and talk decorating. I don’t really know my way around a pan of stuffing, but I can chat up centerpieces every day of the week.
I’ll start the conversation with seven random facts about this Thanksgiving table.
1. I decided to to with color.
Please don’t adjust your screen. It’s official. Yes, that is color on the Thanksgiving table.
Crazy. Right?
I know the pilgrims were monochromatic and all, but we are not wearing the bonnets any more.
1621 was great.
But 2015 is even better.
2. This cheese is really stinky.
Pretty, but phhhhewwwwwy.
I’m not even sure what kind of cheese it is.
I went to the gourmet cheese section of WalMart (which appears at first glance to be an oxymoron) and asked for a triangle slice of white cheese.
Katy bar the door.
I almost fainted when I opened the plastic. I know this isn’t smell-a-vision. Count your blessings.
3. I love these bowls
I layered them on leaf chargers that we cut out of plywood and decorative white plates with the prettiest embossed pattern.
The messages on them were too good to pass up.
And the best part?
It’s a great way to send subliminal messages to your teenagers.
4. Limes for Thanksgiving
Yep.
Mark it down.
It’s a thing.
I’m not really sure what we are doing at our Thanksgiving table with an excessive amount of limes, but they look so pretty.
And I do like a lime with my sweet tea so one lime is officially spoken for.
5. Smocked burlap drapes
In totally un-related not Thanksgiving news, I’m working on having these curtains manufactured.
You currently cannot buy them any where and so I’m going rogue and having someone make them for me.
I’ll keep you posted.
6. Gray hydrangea
Yes.
Those are real.
I know….right? Seriously. I had no idea that gray hydrangea were even a thing.
Thank you exotic Wal-Mart floral department.
Maybe those monochromatic Pilgrims started the whole thing.
7. My sister made these acorns
They make me smile every fall.
She made them from acorn tops and with 43% felted wool and 57% genius.
Every Thanksgiving table needs a little bit of handmade.
And when we finished discussing the centerpiece and the stinky cheese and the handmade acorns and the over-abundance of limes, we’d sip our coffee and talk about the leaves outside the dining room and the brilliant colors of the country and open the screened-in porch door to smell the fall air and under the sparkling chandelier you’d tell me what you were fixing for Thankgiving dinner and that you really could cook and sometimes you even baked and you had the most amazing family recipe for pecan pie.
And I’d be so thankful you made a wrong turn at the Min-it Mart.
And then we’d sit.
And count our blessings.
Because that is what Thanksgiving truly for. 🙂
Yes! Color. You probably know I am a "color" girl, er woman. I am proud of your using color Karianne! Ha. Waiting for the drapes too. If you are in the Lake Cumberland area, take a turn down my road for a chat and sweet tea with lime. I even use lime slices in my Diet Coke. Sheila
Burlap curtain NEWS FLASH!!! YAY!!! Lined?? YAY AGAIN, just cause!!!!
WAAAAY TO GO Missy; you hit the nail on the head with that news flash. My sentiments exactly. Waaaay To Go Kerianne you just keep going & going!! Love your descriptive words on everything you post. I especially love the stories you tell, the spin you put on things and did I mention the curtains!!!! It would be a chance of a million to sit down and chat with you. Thank You for you!
Your sister added some acorns and a touching note with the letter book I ordered from her Etsy shop. Made my day!
Letter book? Please tell more!
Where did you get those plates? I love fun sayings! Thanks!
They are actually listed in my Painted Fox Shop AND....in the good news department....if you like them.....I'm having a sale on Thursday with a 20% off code. :) Happy day friend! karianne
Gorgeous table! Love the curtains too. Sounds like a perfect Thanksgiving!
Very pretty! I too love a little color at the table. I like how it is low so you can see the great people sitting at the table with you. Pet peeve of mine...intrusive centerpieces. Love the menu. I'm sure it is going to be a great feast. Make sure you spend enough time at that gorgeous table. I always need to slow my clan down. Six hours to make meal + people that scarf it down in 15 minutes flat= Unhappy mama. This years theme..."take time to smell the turkey". Thanks for the great inspiration!
What I really need is a blog post on how to make a Thanksgiving table for 23 adults, 2 toddlers and 2 infants look beautiful and somehow not chaotic; tall order, I know. God gave us life and dang it, he gave it abundantly. Counting my blessings and loving your tablescape! :)
Your table looks lovely . As does the room. And the menu sounds so yummy. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving from across The Pond.
LOVE it girl!!! Just beautiful, and I love your pops of color!! SO fun, so bright, and so refreshing!!! Have a blessed holiday friend!! XO
Thistle wows farm. (Ha ha, autocorrect!) Thistlewood Farms smocked curtains? Yes please! Lovely.
I have coveted those smocked curtains FOREVER!!! (or at least since I saw them the first time on your blog) I am so excited that you are attempting to get them made and marketed. Please hurry!!!!!
I'm on my way KariAnne! Oh I'll bring my pumpkin pie - best one ever curtesy of my mom's recipe. I'll skip the stinky cheese though if you don't mind. Love your table - it's gorgeous. And your curtains? I have drooled over them for like ever! I bet you will sell oodles of those. Hugs, Cecilia
Hi Karianne, beautiful tablescape. Your dining room looks lovely and so do your photos. I love that rustic cutting board, you know I collect them (smile) and the little bowl with the inscription is pretty too. Beautiful tour. Have a nice day!
How delightful- and I don't use that word casually every day. You've got my creative wheels turning already. I began fall decorating a little early so I could enjoy it more-the traditional colors-NOW, I'm actually weary of it-Ready for the bold-decision already made-I'm pulling down some of that pretty MILK GLASS and putting it to work! Drop by about a week [before T-DAY] And check it out!
Love your table scape! Please tell us wher you got those dishes with the words of encouragement on them!
Stunning! (we too have broccoli and cheese casserole on Thanksgiving. Our recipe includes cream cheese in it, Oh Yeah!)
Yay on the smocked burlap drapes! That was my vote to have in your shop!
I love all the Fall colors. Your centerpiece is beautiful. I like how you have added the wood. And the hydrangeas, never saw that color before. Pretty. Where did you get those plates? Loving those too.
Love your table...and thanks for the inspiration! It is never too early to plan for the important dinner....love it. Nancy wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
I would opt for color any holiday, or day of the week ... Love, love it. Turns drab into delightful every single time. Thanks for a wonderful post. jc
Plates are sold where???
I have to laugh...my Thanksgiving table always Looks Wonderful...but the Tastes...ah, not so much. Not that I don't try really, really hard. For this year's Thanksgiving, my cousin is doing the heavy lifting...I get to do the fun sides and dessert! I love those hand written plates...made by you?? And Burlap drapes - yes! Now you're talking.
Hold up...lol! I'm still stuck on the fact that your decorating your house, and someone else is doing the cooking! Lol! I NEED YOUR SECRET:D This year, I'm being recruited to do the cooking but not at my house! How does this happen...one will never know. I think I'll be needing those limes of yours, but not for tea;) I might need to invite Jose over while cooking! CHEERS FRIEND!
I am SO EXCITED (along with everyone else, it seems!) about the drapes!!!!!! Yay!!!! And if you need a pecan pie recipe that is so easy that a 5-year-old could put it together (and not one of those prodigy-types, either!), I've got that recipe. And it's so TASTY, too! ;)
Gorgeous, as always. But ... surely you are making the biscuits???? After all the recipes and hints we dropped on you in the not-too-distant past????
I count my blessings that I stumbled upon your blog every time you post!! Love, love this table and all you do!!
Beautiful. Where did you get the vases? Are they faux bois? or did your husband make them out of the felled tree?
I've got dibs on staying in the butler's pantry. I've got my cot and bedding all ready to go and I'll bring some coffee and even some lil' ole thing to fortify it ;-)Are we going formal or can I just wear my stretchy clothes so I can eat without feeling like a sausage?? I'll even make some homemade rolls to contribute and I promise I won't be in the way -- I'll be too busy snooping around your house :-) I want lots of pictures!!
I can see everyone wants the plates and you're remaining mum!
I'd take the wrong turn at the mini-mart on purpose...don'tcha know! ;)
Beautiful center piece, beautiful everything. Great news about the drapes AND those wordy plates.....but alas, No gravy..send word to the kitchen. Jere
My heart skipped a beat when I read the draperies!!! Thanksgiving here?? Oh, you are a brave soul! and creative and fun! Love those sweet bowls...may have to add them to my wish list! P.S. I'll help pack your freezer so you'll be the best rock star in the kitchen! (NO one will ever know.. :) )
Love your Thanksgiving table....loved your description of it even more!! :) Wouldn't it be fun to sit and chat about it and count our blessings together?? Thanks for sharing..... Lanita
I'm crazy about the limes and lemons but I'm head over heels for the magnolia leaves! What a beautiful table. And yes I am ecstatic about the curtains! I tried to talk my sister into shocking me some. No deal!
Karianne You should have a lot of fun, this year, counting your blessings. You have had some good ones. Enjoy!
I am on board with you Karianne - I am happy to have someone else do the cooking! I'm not a bad cook, but I don't really enjoy cooking anymore. Fortunately, my husband loves to cook. We host Thanksgiving every year and he makes the juiciest turkey! Btw - love your sisters cute wool acorns - I have a soft spot for acorns - they are so cute!
I laughed my way through your beautiful post. Thank you for the humor you interjected. I'm going to the Walmart Exotic Blooms section posthaste for gray hydrangeas!
You just totally cracked me up with your "stinky cheese"! Thank you for always making me smile! I'm excited about the curtains! I received my birch wreath last week from The Painted Fox and LOVE IT! It ended up in my dining room and looks gorgeous!
So gorgeous! Often times I find the challenge with holiday tablescapes is ensuring you can still easily see you friends and family faces over the top of it. Ha, ha!
The Table. The Decorations. The Room. The EVERYTHING!! Sooo BEAUTIFUL! Hope your guests eat slowly so they can take it all in... You know how it is,,,,, you work for 6 days and it's all over in 30 minutes.
Just what I needed to read before going to bed. Karianne, LOVE your tablescape and your sense of humor. Next time I'm in Kentucky I hope to make a wrong turn and end up at your house and not Indiana (ask Courtney) she'll know what I'm talking about. Ha! Ha! xx
I love your grey walls with your warn window panels. Beautiful!
Love love love the table. I too would rather decorate than cook. I can't wait for the curtains. Ever since I saw them I have been trying to figure out how I could make them. We are moving to the country and those curtains are a must have. So glad I found your blog.
OMGosh! The Smocked Burlap Drapes? I'm IN! And I *love* my Birch Wreath (and a couple more goodies!), and can't wait to see your next sale on tPF ... Thursday, you say? Love all the bright florals and fruit you picked for your Thanksgiving decor (plus that gorgeous "grey," of course)! Dear Lady, you are amazing ~ I need just a smattering of whatever gives you your boundless ENERGY! The next thing you can do , please, is bottle that! Thanks again for the never-ending inspiration ...
So so gorgeous as always Karianne- and I love the pop of color! :)
Beautiful centerpiece! And I love those bowls, too! Thank you for sharing this week at Brag About It link party on VMG206 (Mondays at Midnight). ~ Megin of VMG206
Wow, I love the color. We are hosting too and the centerpiece is what's giving me the most trouble. I love that you use the acorns that make you smile. That makes everything extra special. Wish me luck!
Your pictures show your beautiful table setting to perfection. So lovely. Thank you for sharing with us at Brag About It! ~Laurie
Your Thanksgiving centerpiece is eye-poppingly, jaw-droppingly, knee-floppingly gorgeous! I'd be more than happy to take care of all of your Thanksgiving stuffing needs if you would take care of my Thanksgiving centerpiece needs...imagine the team we would make! :) And OH MY STARS...you are having copies of your too-beautiful-for-words smocked burlap drapes manufactured??? I think my heart just did cartwheels! I will be keeping an eye out for these for certain...I hope all works out! And a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours, KariAnne...how I sooooooo dearly hope it will be filled with much laughter, light, and love!
So lovely! Pinned & shared. Thanks for joining in the party. Hope to see you again soon.
I usually try to keep the dirtied dishes clean and put away. I try to have the house clean. (Really I try to stay out of my husband and daughter's way as they cook their delicious meal!!!) I try to have everyone say or write what they are thankful for as it is the time of year we need to stop and think of our blessings.
Beautiful table and I would buy those drapes in a hot minute -- and make sure they "do not convey" when it's time to move house!! Hope it happens!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Cynthia