I hope your week is off to a great start, sweet friends!
“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 69:30
I am excited to join 16 table stylists for a Thanksgiving Tablescape Blog Hop hosted by my lovely friend, Rita from Panoply! Grab a cup of coffee and settle in a comfy chair for tabletop ideas and inspiration!
Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday in our home. It is a day filled with family, food, and fellowship! Since the passing of my beloved Mother, My Renaissance Man and I have been hosting Thanksgiving for the past sixteen years. The most important part of our celebration is to acknowledge with grateful hearts that all blessings, every good and perfect gift, are provided by our gracious Heavenly Father!
I love setting tables outside, as you know. There are many Thanksgivings that we could enjoy our meal outdoors. Our weather is often pleasant and warm enough on the fourth Thursday of November for alfresco dining. Last week, before the weather turned cold, I set my table on the patio under the pergola. The temperature was in the low 70’s with periods of sun and clouds! The cold did not last as temps are back in the low 80’s today. I wonder if such warmth will stay around, or come back around for Thanksgiving?
I sent RM on a mission to gather all natural materials for a table centerpiece! He foraged in our garden, pasture, and woodlands and came back with an unbelievable amount of nature’s bounty. It is so wonderful to have him home since he retired!
A brightly colored warty pumpkin was placed in the center of the table and crowned with sprigs of blush nandina!
Salad plates were chosen for their short phrases which help to remind us of reasons to celebrate this day. I found these cute ‘Mud Pie’ plates at a favorite local gift shop, The Alabama Gift Company.
Copper-colored napkin rings hold ‘Dahlia Days’ napkins by April Cornell, highlighting all the colors of the table.
A creamy white tablecloth with a gold damask border was pulled from my linen stack to complement the natural runner. A view of the Sunshine Cottage and a Gingko tree that has already lost most of its leaves fills the background.
“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.”
~Robert Caspar Lintner
Copper flatware is my go-to for autumn tables. The pheasant placemats add beautiful texture to any tabletop. I have had these for years and always enjoy pulling them out for the season.
Spode ‘woodland’ dinner plates with The British Flowers border that dates back to 1831, frame the salad plates handsomely! Chargers are the often used ‘Baroque’ by American Atelier.
Our menu rarely changes from year to year. Personally I can do without the turkey or ham, but we will have one or both for our meat lovers. Just give me all the sides…Mother’s cornbread dressing recipe, Butch’s famous rosemary mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, sweet potato casserole, four-cheese mac’n cheese, cranberry sauce from the can for my Daddy, watergate salad, and rolls. Dessert will be carrot cake with cream cheese icing and pecan pies.
I am often asked where to find the amber-colored stemware. I purchased it many years ago at a local department store. That wonderful department store closed a few years ago and it makes me sad to even think about it.
“Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
~Charles Dickens
The table runner is adorned with everything natural, and all collected from right around our house. The items include sugar maple, red maple, Japanese maple, sweet gum, ginkgo, and crepe myrtle leaves. Also you will find hickory nuts, chestnut oak acorns, nandina, crepe myrtle seed heads, cosmos blooms, sweet potato vine, adagio maiden grass, sunshine ligustrum, and antler sheds, just to mention a few. I think RM was attempting to help create a jungle!
My family will gather around our dining room table and count our many blessings. With grateful hearts we will sit down and thank our loving God that my ninety three year old Daddy will be sitting in his usual spot at one end of the table. Thanking God our Father that RM with all of his health challenges in 2023 will be sitting at the other end of the table. With hearts overflowing for the blessing of three precious grandchildren and the joy that they have brought into our lives, we are most grateful! Having all of our family that we hold dear seated at our table brings tears to my eyes even now as I write. We know of course we are not promised another day, and I do not presume upon the future. It is with prayer and hope that this will describe our Thanksgiving Day!
I encourage you to click on the links below for beautiful Thanksgiving inspiration!
Panoply – Harvest of Thanks
Everyday Living – Gathering With Grateful Hearts
Hyacinths for the Soul – A Tribute to Tom Turkey
Home is Where the Boat Is – Giving Thanks Table with Indian Corn Arrangement
My Thrift Store Addiction – Friendsgiving Charcuterie and Wine Buffet
Me and My Captain – Thankful, Grateful
The Painted Apron – Eat, Drink & Be Thankful
Life and Linda – Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please
The Cat’s Whiskerz – Giving Thanks Wherever You Are
Belle Bleu Interiors – Gather with a Grateful Heart
From My Carolina Home – Turkey Time Tablescape
Karins Kottage – Harvest Elegance: Crafting a Thanksgiving Tablescape
Dinner at Eight – A Modern Take on a Traditional Pattern for Thanksgiving
Corner of Plaid and Paisley – Oh, So Thankful
Red Cottage Chronicles – Almost Effortless Thanksgiving Tablescape
The Bookish Dilettante – Thanksgiving Tablescape with Vintage Linens
The Little Yellow Corner Store – A Simple Fruit and Greenery Tablescape
Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled season of Thanksgiving!
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Pam, you had me tearing up too. Your appreciation of your family as something to be so thankful for during this Thanksgiving season and always is so beautifully said. It truly touched my heart. Your outdoor table certainly expresses that love and is a blessing to have it also outdoors. Your husband’s gathering of Fall pumpkins and greenery fir your centerpiece reflects the beauty in nature. The Mud Pue salad plates add such charm to all of the rich and classic pieces. I live the pheasant placemats and Amber stemware. Have a very joyous Thanksgiving with your treasured family.
Marsha, your sweet comments warmed my heart. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
I always look forward to having a virtual seat at a table outdoors or in your garden Pam! Love the organic nature of your runner with all your foraged materials and crowned pumpkin. Your Mud Pie ‘Give Thanks’ plates are adorable and I loved them framed with your Spode Woodland plates and pheasant placemats. I love the warm accents of copper and amber at your table from your flatware and goblets. I’m with you, I can skip the turkey and feast on the sides…how wonderful your dad is in good health and able to join you for another Thanksgiving! My dear MIL would have turned 93 in September and we miss her every day. It’s in the 80s here too for this week, just when I was just getting used to sweater weather. 😊 As always, it’s a treat to join you at the table and hop with you. Happy Tuesday 🦃🧡
Thank you, Mary. We are so grateful to have my sweet Daddy who always brags on my cooking and baking♥️
I love that you can even contemplate an outdoor table in Late November! And, as always, it’s an absolutely beautiful one, Pam. I really do love your dishes!
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
Beautiful, prayerful words mingle through your gorgeous table and outdoor setting, Pam. Butch outdid himself on this, too! I love the departure from Mud Pie’s signature monochrome plates in those salads, making the plate stacks very colorful and varied. The dahlia napkins are perfect for the end of garden harvest, as are each of the real specimens Butch brought to the table. That amber glassware and copper flatware glow in this setting with the sun. The views to the Sunshine Cottage and formal garden are so beautiful, even this late in the seasum. Pam, thank you so much for creating a classic Thanksgiving, complete with family gathered, as we all hope it will be.
Thank you, Rita. It is a pleasure to participate in the blog hops. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
What a peaceful and beautiful setting Pam. First and uppermost, we are all so Blessed with each passing day and you expressed it perfectly. I love the view of the Sunshine Cottage from your pergola and your lovely gardens. Listing all the things I like about your table and AC napkins (envious) would have me mentioning each and every pieces that comprises your table. So I will just say you have captured the Autumnal Holiday perfectly. I had to chuckle because I love all the sides to the Thanksgiving feast and barely nibble on the Turkey. Your menu and mine are almost identical. We also have deviled eggs and desserts of apple cake with our pumpkin pies. Be sure to say “Happy and a BlessedThanksgiving” from our home to yours, especially to your Father….and grands. Bless you my friend….it is always one day at a time for me and I am so grateful, thankful and truly blessed.
Thank you for your sweet comments, my friend. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, your pumpkin plates are so cute and your centerpiece is just gorgeous! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
Thank you, Cecilia!
Pam, I agree with you: I’m all about the sides! I hope that you’ll be able to host outside this year. Your table is so pretty, and I absolutely adore the sweet plates with the Thanksgiving sayings on them. They are so cute! I also love the natural centerpiece running down the center of your table. It is stunning! And I like how the pumpkins in your garden complement your table. Your garden is always a joy to see! I hope you have a very blessed Thanksgiving with your family.
Thank you for your sweet comments, Ricki Jill. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam,
I love seeing a Thanksgiving tablescape outside! This is such a beautiful setting! Love your placemats and dinner plates! I am all about the side dishes for Thanksgiving too! We rarely if ever change up the menu at our house either! Fun to blog hop with you!
Thanks so much, Karin. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
What joy to look ahead and give thanks that beloved family members will be right there at the table. If not in flesh and bone, then certainly in spirit. The baton has been passed to youngest daughter to host our family holiday celebrations, but even though her gang is 10 hours away, it’s always worth the trip. I’ll be bringing the ingredients for stuffing, the folding chairs, a crockpot or two, and other necessities. So very much to be thankful for. Thanks for leading the way, Pam.
How wonderful that you are a guest rather than the hostess! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, your thoughts on gratitude and the blessings in your life are even more beautiful than your spectacular table. I am very grateful for your friendship. Butch outdid himself with his foraging! The warty pumpkin topped with nandina is a showstopper. We will have turkey (the aroma of roasting turkey is heavenly!), but I am with Team Sides for sure. Hopefully EK and EM will learn to make your Mother’s cornbread dressing and carry on the tradition! Did you by chance read Rick Braggs’ turkey story in Southern Living?!?
Roxanne, I am grateful for your friendship and faithfully commenting and reading our blog posts. Yay for the sides! We have a mail problem over the past couple of months. I didn’t get my Southern Lady or Southern Living. I guess someone else is enjoying them! I always read Rick Bragg first.
Pam, your words of Thanksgiving gratitude are so eloquently written in your post. No matter what is going on in our lives, we always have so much to be grateful for. Your sentiments, scripture, and quotes have conveyed this message beautifully. Your table set under the pergola is a feast for the eyes with all of its autumn splendor. Butch did a wonderful job collecting items from nature. Your centerpiece is gorgeous! As always, I adore how you mix patterns, color, and texture. Your linens and fall plates are so pretty. My sweet friend, I wish you a most wonderful day and blessed Thanksgiving.
Thank you sweet friend. We used some of the same scriptures. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
No surprise that your beautiful table is outside in your stunning garden. I love its rustic feel, with natural elements and fall color. We have much to be grateful for, as a plate I have says, “with food on our table and friends at our door.”
Thank you, Carole. Great words on the plate!
The perfect place for a grateful heart to thank our Maker for the love He shows us and for the love of our family. Every moment is a gift. I pray Butch and you will have a coming year of good health. Also your entire family. I’d love to be at your table just to see the love that will be center stage. Do you and Butch sing? I couldn’t go to sleep last night just thinking of all the love that surrounds me. The woodland center piece is a picture of what Butch sees on his walks. A Thanksgiving to remember❤️
Thank you, sweet friend. You are always inspiring♥️
Pam, where do I even begin! What a blessing it is that you are still able to dine al fresco this time of year. Our yard is often covered in snow by then! Your plates are beautiful, and I love the simple words that reflect the season. Foraging and gathering from nature is my favourite thing to do this time of year, and they certainly are a highlight of your table! It sounds like you have so much to be thankful for, and I wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you so kindly, Maureen. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
It’s all lovely — and copper flatware makes me smile!
Thank you, Leslie Anne!
Oh Pam, this setting is gorgeous! I LOVE your centerpiece with the warty pumpkin and natural elements surrounding it, so perfect for your outdoor table where you can see your yard with pumpkins in the background. Your amber stemware always grabs one’s eye when you use it and I adore the copper flatware and feathered placemats. Your grateful heart shines through in this table styled with love. I wish you and your family a very blessed Thanksgiving~
Jenna
Your sweet comments warm my heart, Jenna. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, I so agree about Thanksgiving! It is a favorite holiday for me too. Living with a grateful heart is the only path to happiness. With loss of loved ones, it’s our way to honor their memory and keep them close. It goes without saying that your outdoor setting is always a delight to behold. Your property is magical. I love seeing the Sunshine Cottage in the background. Your table is set with perfection, and kudos to your guy for forging the beautiful natural details down this table. Love that pumpkin with the bumps! Your menu sounds fabulous! Monnie always pardoned the turkey, though I do enjoy roast turkey. I see those wonderful feather placemats on your table. Rita shared some too. I think perhaps I need to add some feather mats to my tabletop stash. They offer wonderful elegant texture to a table.
Thanks for inspiring me. Saved several photos for inspiration. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Sarah for your sweet comments. The feather placemats have been in my stash for 20 years and I still enjoy using them. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, your table and post is full of Thanksgiving and gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for. The table gleams in the sunlight in your beautiful gardens. The warty pumpkin makes such a striking centerpiece with nandina. Butch did an amazing job of foraging your gardens for a bountiful look. The Mud Pie plates are so different and striking. Love your plate stack and those gorgeous pheasant placemats. As always, I so admire your amber glassware. A beautiful table for thanksgiving. How special your daddy can join you. Many blessings.
Thanks so much, Linda. I am so thankful my Daddy is still with us. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, your table is beautiful! I love love that warty pumpkin with the nandina and Butch did a fabulous job of foraging all the natural elements for your centerpiece. The salad plates are really cute and look great with the Spode woodland dinner plates framing them on the pheasant placemats. The copper flatware and amber stemware add a wonderful autumn/Thanksgiving vibe. I love the Charles Dickens quote – great reminder for one to count their blessings. I hope the weather holds and that you are your family are able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at your beautiful table. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, sweet Kim! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam you have a lovely Thanksgiving tablescape.
Happy Thanksgiving
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thank you sweet friends! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season.
How glorious that the family circle will be complete around your Thanksgiving table! And I must say, that lumpy pumpkin is absolutely charming in all its imperfect glory. (I think there’s a lesson in that tablescape!)
Thank you, Nancy. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Oh how wonderful to have your 83 year old daddy at your table! My beloved hubby always had to have cranberry sauce from the can, too. The warty pumpkin is so cute as your centerpiece and those salad plates with the short sayings are perfect. How great to have copper flatware! Your Thanksgiving menu sounds fabulous ! 🍂🧡🍁
Thanks so much, Kitty! My Daddy is a blessing 🍁🧡🍂
So many gorgeous photos!
Thanks so much!
Your table is gorgeous. I love the mud pie plates. How nice you can be outdoors for Thanksgiving meals. Enjoy the rest of the week. Hugs. Kris
Thanks so much, Kris! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving season!
Pam, this is a lovely celebration of nature’s bounty. The ‘runner’ is magical set with the garden in the background. I’m always happy to see your gorgeous pheasant placemats — they capture the season so well. The plate stack is perfect with the complementary napkins and goblets. I really like your copper flatware; I may put it on my wish list. Have a lovely November and a very happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much, Sandra. I love using the copper flatware! Happy Thanksgiving Season!
Pam, Your al fresco tablescape is beautiful! Butch did a great job of foraging. Your salad plates are delightful! So cute! The weather has been so changeable that we may indeed get to dine al fresco on Thanksgiving. Today would have been a little chilly but we’re scheduled for more warm weather next week. We got a decent rain. Hope it came your way. The warty pumpkin adds a nice touch as it’s so interesting with lots of texture. Enjoy your weekend. Clara❤️
Thank you so much, Clara. We had rain yesterday and today, a total of a 1/2 inch. But we were glad to get it ♥️
Oh, Pam I love this – “The most important part of our celebration is to acknowledge with grateful hearts that all blessings, every good and perfect gift, are provided by our gracious Heavenly Father!” Lovely tablescapes too!
You are so sweet, Mary and thank you!
Pam, I love your natural runner centered with the perfect warty pumpkin topped with nadina leaves along with deer antlers. Your goblets and plate stack are elegant accompanied by your lovely linens and feather placemats. Copper flatware is ideal with this pretty autumn table with the best view of your fall garden. You have been one busy lady. Blessings, Bonnie
Thanks Bonnie. I have missed you on the blog hops!
How wonderful that you are blessed with the perfect weather to set this gorgeous table outside!! The table and the surroundings are just beautiful. I love the centerpiece, especially the warty pumpkin!! And those April Cornell napkins are the perfect choice for your fabulous placesettings. God Bless your dad with more restful days – wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, Pam!
Thanks so much and wishing you a happy Thanksgiving season!
I hope your Thanksgiving Day will be just as you are hoping it to be and trust the Lord will bless it to be that way for many years to come! Many blessings on you and your family!
Thank you, Cheryl. Many blessings on you and yours!