Everyday Living

Tablescape Tuesday: Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see, Christ whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King”
-Angels We Have Heard on High

We highlight Tuesdays with our”tablescapes ” but another way to describe it around our house would be “table escapes”.  Gathering around the table with family and friends for any occasion is the great escape.  We can put the difficult parts of everyday living aside for a little while as we break bread together.  It’s not only a time of enjoying good food, but a time of laughter, reflection, sharing, and caring.  Even heavy hearts and tired souls can find rest and encouragement around the table.  Perhaps you experience this at your gathering place, wherever and whenever that might be.  It is our prayer that you do!

The gold deer are the focal point of our Christmas dinner table.  Often I place a large centerpiece on the dining table and once the guests are seated I remove it so we can enjoy conversation.  These deer were purchased many years ago from Kirkland’s.  They always show up somewhere during “the most wonderful time of the year”!

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I placed a runner on top of of the tablecloth.  You can’t see much of it, but I like the way it becomes the foundation for all the ornaments.

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I do not remember where I found the ornament place card holders, but they always make an appearance during the Christmas season.  The gold chargers are glass and have an elegance that is sometimes hard to find.  I purchased these at Hobby Lobby, but they no longer stock them!

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A little glam for the red cotton napkins!  The faceted crystal napkin rings are by Fifth Avenue Crystal and I found them at Tuesday Morning a few years ago!

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The Fitz and Floyd china appeared a couple of weeks ago here: ‘Tis the Season.  The beautiful ruby red sherbets were a gift from my long-time friend, Kathy!  They will be used for my Mother’s delicious ambrosia recipe that is always a must-have for my Daddy!

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Some of you have asked the color of my dining room walls…Mediterranean Spice by Benjamin Moore.  I have never tired of it and I love the drama of a red room!  Perfect anytime-but especially Christmas!

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The ruby red stemware appeared here: A Very Merry Birthday!

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I wanted to show the beauty of this Williams Sonoma Indian cotton cloth.  Along the border are six different Christmas carols depicted.  I have enjoyed using it for several years!

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The center of the table is decorated with an assortment of ornaments, including this gorgeous tassel!

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More ornaments with sprigs of fresh holly!

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I added a couple of bouquets of glittered faux tulips!

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We enjoy using the large nativity in our dining room!  I always have five or six nativities in our Christmas vignettes.  You can see a few of them here:  Miracles & Mangers.  Without the birth of the Christ-child, there is no Christmas.

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A couple of cute polka dot stars are gracing the table!

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As you can see, I used an assortment of different ornaments, but their commonality is their colors…red, gold, and
a lime green!

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“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭13-14‬

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Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Creatively Living, Rustic-Refined, Three Mango Seeds, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict,Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, The Vintage Farmhouse,  My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup

Tablescape Tuesday: A Very Merry Birthday!

~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”
John 1:14

As many of you who celebrate a birthday during December know, it is often hard to give the birthday the attention it deserves!  The day can be minimized and often overlooked as the year long anticipation of Christmas draws near!  Our son, Seth was born on December 11th, and for several years I would wait until we had his birthday party before I decorated for Christmas!  I also noticed something I had never paid attention to prior to his December birth-people often wrapped birthday presents with Christmas wrap.  That would never happen for a July birthday!  In other words, we really tried hard to keep his birthday and Christmas separate.  But now as he turns twenty-nine, his birthday dinner is a Christmas setting- and he doesn’t care as long as I prepare some of his favorite foods!  The menu he always requests:  manicotti with lots of Italian sausage and bechamel sauce. Hope you enjoy Seth’s birthday (Christmas) tablescape!

And while we are talking about Seth’s birthday, be sure to check back on Thursday for Butch’s post!

It is a breathtaking sunrise on the first Sunday of December.  The sun cast the most beautiful light on the raspberry walls of our dining room!

The table is set with a natural and rustic theme, since we are celebrating Seth’s birthday!

I didn’t use a tablecloth, but allowed the warmth of the cherry table to set the tone of this tablescape.  The placemats are red and green plaid with a metallic gold thread running through the pattern.  I have had them so long, I can’t remember where they are from!

The Nikko “Happy Holidays” pattern is my oldest Christmas china, and I still love to use it!  I often use the rattan chargers for texture.

I totally love the pair of antler candle stands that Seth made me-aren’t they perfect for the table?!  I found the “Christmas Lodge” snack plates by 222 Fifth last week at TJ Maxx and used them as a bread and butter plate.  They really work in the theme!

Freshly cut pine!

The center of the table was an assortment of rustic elements: small birds nestled in the pine, pine cones scattered, a pair of tall birds!  I used tartan plaid napkins found at TJ Maxx with ornaments from Wal-Mart as napkin rings!

I used 4 decorative cones filled with pine

Picture ornaments from Wal-Mart used  as place card holders-very inexpensive idea!

The sunlight provides a spotlight on one of three rustic candle lanterns on the table,  purchased at TJ Maxx this season!

Ruby red stemware found years ago at a department store

The mint julep cups are often used for greenery or flowers…today they are filled with short-needle pine!


Morning view of the large Nativity sitting in the dining room bay window.

Since we were celebrating Seth’s birthday, I made his favorite…red velvet!

Candles are lit and it’s time to celebrate Seth!

“Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled!”
-Charles Wesley

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Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Creatively Living, Rustic-Refined, Three Mango Seeds, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict,Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, The Vintage Farmhouse,  My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup

Tablescape Tuesday: ‘Tis The Season

~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel”
Isaiah‬ ‭7‬:‭14

“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year“, because we celebrate the birth of Jesus!  During the hustle and bustle of the season, may we not lose sight of why we celebrate.  Without the birth of Christ, there would be no Christmas!  May we all invite him, King Jesus, into our everyday living.

Setting a table for Christmas is always fun!  I just love all the many colors of the season!

I decided to go with tall crystal candlesticks for this setting.  There are 3 different pairs on the table and I bought them several years ago at my favorites–TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning.

Katy gave me these gorgeous place card holders (actually, they are ornaments).  She saw the idea here: French Country Cottage.  I love that she painted the antlers gold!

My Mother made the Christmas tree napkin rings in the late 70’s.  They remain one of my most cherished gifts.  Every Christmas season when I unpack them, I am reminded of the love that went into all the beautiful things that she made and all the people  with whom she shared her many talents and love!

Several years ago, I was shopping with my friend Elaine and I spotted these glasses at Pier 1.  I really liked them, but didn’t buy them.  A couple of weeks later, Elaine brought me a beautifully wrapped package containing–and you guessed–these beautiful glasses!

The gold deer were also a Pier 1 find!

The Christmas China is Fitz and Floyd Classic Choices in the Winter Holiday pattern.  The salad/dessert plate is Rose Wreath!

When I first saw this pattern in a magazine, I immediately fell in love! I ordered 12 place settings and I have enjoyed that it is not a common pattern!

The tablecloth is Sferra – luxurious and expensive Italian made linens.  But, I bought this at Tuesday Morning for a real bargain!

My friend and fellow designer, Terri, made this faux frosted fruit centerpiece six years ago and it still looks great!


I am looking forward to sharing Christmas tablescapes with you this year!  Hopefully, it will inspire you to welcome your friends and family to your table!

“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart”
-Charles Wesley

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Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Creatively Living, Rustic-Refined, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, The Vintage Farmhouse,  My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup