For The Thanksgiving Table, Part II

 

 I guess I'm just a farmhouse gal when you get right down to it. . .

It seems I always gravitate to the basic neutrals of THE COUNTRY FARM HOME. . .

 

I do love the new TURKEY PLATES I purchased for Thanksgiving. . .which we will pile high with turkey, dressing, and lots of veggies Thursday. . .but we have a tradition here started by my Mom for Friday. . .On that day I will put the turkey plates aside and in the center of the table I'll stack plenty of farmhouse white ironstone plates in all sizes, bowls, silverware, napkins, salt and pepper. . .anything one might need to help themselves to the left-overs from the day before. . .It's each man for himself after Thanksgiving. . .

Because. . .to start off the Christmas season. . .I will be busy bringing in the tree and decorations. . .There will be a big pot of spiced tea simmering on the stove all day while I begin to add more cheer to the farmhouse. . .If it's cool enough, we'll have the first fire in the open hearth fireplace, too. . .Nothing says holidays better than a good fire to warm hands and heart. . .

As I was gathering everything for Friday. . .I decided to set one place at the farmhouse table that might also have been used for our Thanksgiving dinner. . .The theme here has no turkey plates or bright colors but I have brought together hints of our country's first celebration. . .a Giving Thanks message. . .pewter and candles. . .a hornbook. . .dried corn. . and a soft, orange ceramic pumpkin. . .

Mother of Pearl and pewter knives. . .with cotton bolls to remind us to give thanks for the bumper harvest this year. . .

A little straw makes a nice nest for the white ironstone. . .On John's 18th century style clay pipe from Colonial Williamsburg. . .a little bird perches. . .with more reminders of the harvest. . .

The farm girl in me immediately felt  hugs from family, past and present. . .Honoring the first Thanksgiving. . .and Mom's day after traditions. . .Remembering our blessings with outward signs of Thanks. . .This says it all. . .And. . .it makes this Farmer's Daughter smile. . .

As an added note. . .I never celebrate a Thanksgiving or Christmas without thinking about Mom and her absolutely delicious, melt-in-your-mouth dressing. . .She saved and froze stale bread, biscuits and cornbread for months before as the basic ingredients for the much-loved compliment to the turkey. . .If you would like to read more, and get the  recipe for the dressing and giblet gravy. . . FOLLOW THIS LINK. . .