Gratitude

 

Dear friends,

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost underway! Before you know it we'll be sitting round the table with our loved ones eating delicious roasted turkey with all the fixin's with laughter all around us.

The sound of children and adults mingling together makes a lovely song on Thanksgiving day and reminds us all we have so much to be grateful for.

It's not how much we have but what we do with what we do with what we have that counts. I've always believed that. Life will always have it's ups and downs. Times of plenty and times of pennies will come and go but you can always have love and a grateful heart. That costs nothing! 

As for this little ole blogger, I'm so thankful that I have all of you to share with and be inspired by all year round! Aren't we a lucky bunch?

From our table to yours we wish you all a very Happy and bountiful Thanksgiving!

 The Dandelion House Crew,

Deb, Boz, the teens, Max, and the " cottage hens "  

Who's coming by for leftovers this weekend? 

Frugal Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

Dear Friends,

It seems like we were just clearing out the garden beds yesterday and here we are just a few days away from Thanksgiving! I'm very excited to be hosting dinner this year for our family and some of of our dear friends. It's so easy to get caught up in pre- holiday spending when it comes to decorating for fall and your Thanksgiving table what with all the beautiful dinner ware, linens, and faux harvest decor items for sale in your favorite discount department store's. Before you know it, your convinced you need to buy entire sets of dishes, glassware, silver ware and serving trays just for one day of the year. It happens to the best of us! To me there's nothing better or more FUN than rummaging around in my own china cabinet to see what I can create out of things I already have then ADD to it at minimal cost or FREE if I can get away with it!

 Here are a few FUN and FRUGAL table setting ideas sure to add the festive feeling you're after for little or no cost.

I love finding finding sale items that will make my holiday table special but that can be re-used the rest of the year as well. We are having 15 guests this year and I don't have 15 of anything the same!  So, I'm going to mix and match plates, napkins, and silverware. I'm borrowing some beautiful VINTAGE amber glass goblets from my mom to unify the table settings. She actually has 15 of them!

source

   Instead of spending money on fancy napkin rings I'm making my own out of jute twine and cuttings from the garden.

Floral Napkins from Home Goods

Simply tied with a sprig of dried seed pods tucked in they make a natural, but elegant statement for FREE!  ( I already had the twine on hand )

TABLE DECORATIONS

The centerpieces will be small dried flower arrangements cut from the garden tied with the same jute around the mouth of each jar. I'm using small ball mason jars, but recycled food jars would work great too! I'm using folded burlap purchased from my feed store for a table runner. I can re-use it in the garden next season, or make pillows, chair covers or pillows with it when I'm done!

PLACE MARKERS

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS ( and my pinterest )

I just love these personalized pumpkins by Better Homes and Gardens. I think it ties in to my natural garden Thanksgiving table scape perfectly!

I hope you're inspired to keep more of your money in your pocket and create a personal table scape that reflects your personality and creativity! Your family, friends and guests will feel all the more cherished because of it!

Sharing with the Clever Chic Blog Hop , Tilly's Nest Down Home Blog Hop

Our Thanksgiving ~ a poem

 ~ OUR THANKSGIVING  ~ 

All the name tags have been placed,

The candles have been lit.

They all came with food and wine,

They know just where to sit.

Some traveled such a long way,

Some just around the block.

They laughed, they joked, they nibbled…

Dinner’s set for six o’clock.

The game is on the T.V.,

Introductions have been made,

The children have been hugged and kissed,

All compliments were paid.

This day, is very special,

The planning took some time.

Our hearts are light and filled with love,

This family…yours and mine.

Great happiness and cheers to all,

On this day of counting blessings;

We’ll kiss the cook

And have some pie

And fill up on the dressing!

Thanksgiving Day

November 25, 2010

Karen J. Dixon

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.  

~Robert Caspar Lintner