Sunday, November 24, 2013

Turkey Time Will Soon Be Here




The clock is ticking!
Turkey Day will soon be here.

Our home is filled with the
rich warm tones of the season.

As is tradition,
we will host Thanksgiving Dinner
here for friends and family.

~ Autumn ~
My Favorite Season

~ Rusty Reds ~

~ Mixed with Greens ~

~ Neutrals ~ Shades of Brown ~

~ Amber and Aubergine ~

~ Acorns and Falling Leaves ~

~ Harvest Elegance ~ 

Last year our menu 
included pheasant and a selection
of healthy side dishes.

Of course there
were also lots of sweet treats.

~ Mini Pies ~
~ Apple ~ Pumpkin ~ Pecan ~

Mugs of
~ Irish Coffee ~

It was a warm Texas evening, 
and we dined outside on the terrace.


This year is cold and wet.
I'm scurrying around to set
tables inside where it is warm and cozy.

I'm not sure what 
I'm doing on my tables just yet,
but I'm certain to include these warm, rich, colors.

Best Wishes For A
Happy Thanksgiving
to Each of You!

 ~ Joining ~





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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Cold Here and Time for Boeuf Bourguignon






French Fäience Figural Mustard by Alcide Chaumeil


It's cold here in Texas.  

Time for the chef to fix a hearty dish.



Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon

Cooler weather is the 

perfect time to make a stew,

 and what better choice than 

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. 




Boeuf Bourguignon with Boiled Potatoes and Snow Peas

Want to join me for a delicious meal?




The table is set 

and dinner is ready!




 Pewter chargers topped with 

white dinner plates in Wedgwood Nantucket. 

 The flatware is Lauffer stainless in the Bedford pattern.




~ Tea Towels Used As Placemats ~ 

100% Cotton Made in 

France for William Sonoma.




 ~ Cows ~ Ducks ~ Rabbits ~ Chickens ~

 The woven details offer a

 charming French country feel for

 the theme of a casual one dish meal.
Napkins in olive green and aubergine

 are also from William Sonoma. 
 The pewter napkin rings, 

each with a different flower motif, 

are from the Netherlands.




Contemporary Quimper Pottery

Dinner Plates With Scalloped Rim
Produced at Fäiencerie Kéraluc 

by the Artist L'Helguen
Bowls are wide and shallow.

Perfect for stew!




Ralph Lauren ~ Glen Plaid

 Arte Italica's Crystal w/ Pewter Stems





Metal leaf dish 

 for bread service.
Each of the plates and bowls 

of the Quimper set are a bit different, 

but with the same stylized flower theme.






The gray tones of this pottery work

with the pewter and the gold 

and taupe of the linens.
Centerpiece is simply a wooden bowl filled

with natural horse apples and ceramic acorns.
Natural horn votives 

and a few of the oversized ceramic 

acorns were added around the base.




The glow through the natural horn

adds a bit of warmth on this chilly evening.
A glass of red wine

 is perfect with this dish. 
 Julia recommends a 

Beaujolais, a Bordeaux, or a Burgundy.
The sides of boiled potatoes 

and snow peas compliment the beef cooked 

in red wine with bacon, onions, and mushrooms.





Bon Appetit!

Julia's Recipe here.

~ Joining ~


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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Autumn Splendor


The splendor of a perfect autumn day
delights my senses and makes this time
of year my favorite season.

Leaves in hues of gold and russet brown drifting down,
pumpkin stands, a nip in the air, bowls of hearty steaming soups ~
all provide a sense of joy and merriment after the long, 
hot days of a Texas summer.

Juliska's Harvest Traditions Series in Pumpkin
When I happened upon 
a table set with these
 charming plates, it was love at first sight.

~ Swirling Autumn Leaves ~
~ English Country Vistas ~
~Autumnal Touches ~
Each plate a different enchanting scene
in perfect shades of pumpkin.

I knew immediately that I wanted
to add these to our autumn tables.

~ Dinner for Six ~
Juliska's Country Estate Autumn Harvest 
Debut At
Hyacinths for the Soul

Antique Green Hydrangeas
 Punctuated With Perky Orange Tulips

~Woven Rattan ~
~Bordallo Cabbage Leaf ~
~Nantucket Basket ~
~ Country Estate Autumn Harvest ~
 All stacked up for a cozy autumn feel!

Add in a touch of 
whimsey for each place setting.

Set of Vintage Place Card Holders ~ France

Sterling French Napkin Rings
~ All Souvenirs From the Brocantes of France ~

French Crystal Stems

Christofle Talisman

The Juliska dessert service is sold in sets of four.
I followed The Tablescaper's rule
and bought three sets to make an even dozen.

That gave me six for salads and
six for a dessert buffet.
Of course I had to have the Harvest Hostess Tray too!

We served Apple Pie A La Mode
Apple Pie Recipe Here

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
My tip for serving ice cream on a dessert buffet :
Place a pretty napkin in a glass container,
slip a carton of ice cream into the napkin,
and you instantly have a pretty ice cream server.

Menu for the Evening
Salad of Arugula, Radicchio, and Frisee 
on a bed of Belgian Endive
Preserved Lemon Risotto 
with Grilled Pernod Shrimp
Brussel Sprouts
Asparagus Spears
Dinner Rolls
Apple Pie A La Mode
~~~~~~~
About Juliska Country Estate
"Juliska's Country Estate scenic dinnerware is a true collection of art.  Each piece is first hand painted by friend and artist Deborah Sears and then meticulously translated into decals to preserve the unique look of hand painting.  The various scenes weave a charming narrative of country life through its brushstrokes and beckon the viewer to join in its story." ~ Juliska.com 

If you are as enchanted by this charming dinnerware as I am,
take a few minutes to watch the video as Capucine shares the
history of the inspiration for Juliska's Country Estate.

Video Here


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