November is here and time for me to start thinking about the Thanksgiving table(s). But, truth be told, I have been thinking about those tables for a long time now! Thanksgiving Day is my favorite day of the year!
Even though we have a large family, it's important to me that everyone eat together on Thanksgiving Day. When we lived in The Farmhouse, that meant rearranging the furniture and having two tables (one year, there were three) in our large farmhouse kitchen. Here at Pineapple House, we add folding tables to extend our dining room table and the table(s) flows into the living room.
Thanksgiving Day is not a paper plate day for us. (Absolutely NO shade on people who do use paper plates! We all do what works for us and for our situation!) I love dishes and pretty tables . . . and we have plenty of helpers at clean up time which is a huge blessing. So we get out the dishes of choice: brown transferware or Blue Willow or even the Grandmother Dishes. If there aren't enough, we sometimes cobble together coordinating plates or layer a smaller plate on a white one. We get out the cloth napkins, again, varying every other one if we don't have enough of that year's pattern. We pull together flatware from several sets. We get out the crystal and mix that with dollar store goblets. (Yes, there is a lot of cobbling with our gobbling!) And we always use place cards on the Thanksgiving table to add a special touch of individuality. (The cousins invented games to play with the place cards, so I can't stop now!)
Decorating the l o n g table can be a challenge. Sometimes I feel like it's much of the same every year, but as I look back, the color scheme, choice of candles, and variety of mums or pumpkins or gourds give each year a slightly different feel.
For reflection and inspiration, I gathered photos of our Thanksgiving tables from past years.
🦃 Do you wing it or do you think about it all year as I do?
🦃Are you a paper plate family, an heirloom china family, or something in between?
What lovely tables you set, Cheryl. The Blue Willow one especially appealed to me. Blue mixed with the bit of orange from the pumpkins is so pretty. Since we already celebrated Thanksgiving up here in the north, my table thinking has turned to Christmas. I like to think about it, but probably not all year long.
ReplyDeleteNo paper plates here, either. I love pulling out the china and playing with napkins, crystal, and plates!
Whatever you decide, the very best part of the entire day will be the gathering together of those you love. Happy planning!
Thank you, Lorrie! I am not surprised that the Blue Willow table appealed to you, knowing your affinity towards blue. :) I have probably told you before that I would love for American Thanksgiving to be in October so we'd have more time between both of these lovely holidays. And you're so right . . . the best part of is is the gathering with loved ones! Happy Christmas planning to you!
DeleteNot having Thanksgiving here it's hard to make any comparisons. But I do think that any special occasion deserves a lovely table, with good china and pretty napkins. Yours look very attractive over the years. As Lorrie says, it's the gathering of family and friends that makes the occasion.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara! It's all a part of the fun, isn't it? Making those special occasions truly special? I love doing it! I agree with you and with Lorrie. Gathering with loved ones is the best part!
DeleteLoved the photos of your Thanksgiving table settings, Cheryl. Beautiful. I really enjoy setting a nice table with all the pretty dishes and napkins and glassware. Our Canadian Thanksgiving is over (October) so we're starting to gently think about Christmas - since we had a touch of snow this morning to start the mood. :) I know you will have fun and joy as you prepare for your favourite day of the year. Happy November! xo
ReplyDeleteOooo . . . a touch of snow would certainly inspire Christmas thoughts!
DeleteThank you, Brenda! It is so enjoyable to plan a special table and make it festive. As I told Lorrie, I would dearly love to celebrate Thanksgiving in October and have a few more weeks between that and Christmas. But I love both occasions and all the celebrations that accompany them! Happy November to you too!
I love to set a formal table for Thanksgiving! Real dishes, flatware, and glassware! I do give in on cloth napkins, and try to find beautiful paper napkins. Often I do place cards as well. We do two tables now, but might be able to make one long table.
ReplyDeleteI'm really in the mood for Christmas but I'll move slowly in that direction, and not rush into it. Thanksgiving is late in the month this year, so that requires some planning for decor with Christmas gatherings beginning early in December.
Deanna Rabe
I have seen photos of your Thanksgiving tables and they are lovely! There is definitely a shorter time between holidays this year, and our family Christmas gathering will be a few days before Christmas. So this not-going-to-think-about-Christmas-until-after-Thanksgiving girl is needing to adjust her plans this year! :)
DeleteCheryl, I aspire to set a Thanksgiving table like you my friend! Since I am frequently the only woman in the house at our gatherings after having made breakfast for the crew and then dinner in the afternoon it's hard for me to set such an exquisite table. Our son and our grands don't seem to mind and do help along the way. I do though use our best china and crystal and flatware. I admit to using paper napkins, though. I love seeing your creativity and beautiful tables you always set!
ReplyDeleteMartha Ellen, you are so kind . . . and I can't help but imagine that your Thanksgiving table is lovely! I love that your son and grands help along the way! Doesn't that make the day enjoyable? When it's all said and done, as others have already said, the gathering with loved ones is the most important element . . . and, of course, giving thanks to the Giver! Happy November to you!
DeleteIt is no wonder this is your favorite day of the year! Gathering all the family together with such a beautiful table must be such a joy to all of your guests. Your table settings are inspiring. Here at our house, I love to set the table for Thanksgiving using our best dishes. We tend to do the same thing each year which I love.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mrs. White! It is a pleasure for me to set a special table and then gather with my loves and give thanks! I love that you do the same thing every year . . . tradition! . . . and I am sure that everyone is making fond memories around your lovely table!
DeleteWhat a pleasure to look back at all your beautiful and varied Thanksgiving tables. I do love to set a Thanksgiving table but alas since we've moved to the Country that has not been my joy. I still get to set the Christmas table for all to enjoy and some birthday tables. Since all of our kids aren't here together until Friday and everyone has had the big turkey meal already we go for something different on our Friday gathering day. On Thanksgiving we'll be at our Colville kids home with our DIL's family. Maybe this year I will put out the finest for our Friday Taco night. :)
ReplyDeleteTraditions change with the times . . . but I am certain that you make your Christmas, birthday, and other holiday tables so special! Gathering with our dear ones, love around the table, making memories . . . those are the things that bring joy!
DeleteLovely table settings from previous years. I love to use all of the china and glass, but not a lot of others in our family do....so we sometimes use the "paper things", to put everyone else "at ease". I even put my china things in the dishwasher to make clean up seem easier for those that come to our house and help. It is after all a time to chat while doing the clean up! We have one child and he does not want our "things", so if the good china plates get some wear on them (which they haven't yet), then that's okay with me. At least I was happy using them!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving! We'll be going to our sons' house, so I'm not in charge this year!
Melissa, we all do what works best for our families! And YAY for using the china that makes you happy! I decided a long time ago that I was going to use my nice things because if I didn't, no one would have enjoyed them and they wouldn't benefit anybody. So the Grandmother Dishes are used occasionally and a few of us really appreciate them. :)
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