During this time of year, I feel the struggle between the slower pace of autumn and the frenzy of the upcoming holidays. The rhythm of the seasons, the changing of the temperature, and the harvest are all reasons to stop, reflect, enjoy and to give thanks.

I long for the days where the start of Christmas was the day after Thanksgiving. The retail push gets earlier and earlier every year. Even though I do understand those wanting to be the first to share their Christmas design, decor and all things to buy, I miss the slower pace of just enjoying November. To see a previous post on my love for November, click here.

I love Thanksgiving because there are no gifts, just family, friends, food (and football if you like). Planning for the meal, creating a beautiful table setting and breaking bread together, makes it an extra special holiday. A time to reflect on the previous months of the year, a time to reflect on the blessings of life, a time to gather.

Thankful for my Community

Just a few days ago, our local police commander put out an appeal for turkey donations, as our food bank is short for Thanksgiving this year. A few members of our neighborhood board donated money and yesterday, my son and I went to Costco to buy frozen turkeys.

Unfortunately, when we arrived in the meat area, there is a sign indicating a maximum of 5 turkeys per customer. After speaking with a manager and the head of the meat department, we packed 16 turkeys into the shopping cart and headed to check out.

When we arrived at the police station, the reaction from Officer J.B. Klima is pure joy when he saw the trunk of my car filled with turkeys. It is heartwarming to see a big refrigerated truck in the parking lot of the police station filling with turkeys.

I am grateful to live in a neighborhood where people take an active role in caring for others and step up when there is a need. And what a fun experience for me to share with my son!

Thankful for My Health

During a year when health is top of mind for everyone, I am so grateful for my health and vibrance. Much of it has to do with genetics, but also I do try to take care of myself (for the most part). Naturally, there is always room for improvement, but having a positive attitude, remaining connected, eating correctly and exercising helps the situation.

There are many things you can do to feel better, look better and not get sick. If you haven’t read my blog post on 10 Tips on Aging Well, please do. Also, with flu season around the corner, please check out my 10 Tips to Stay Healthy. I wrote this before the pandemic, but it still applies. Together, let’s commit to a healthier 2021.

My Family and Friends

My family is my life. Raising 3 rather amazing children (if I don’t mind saying so) and having a life partner who supports me and all my interests, is the fiber of my being. On Thursday, everyone will be home for Thanksgiving and I am so excited to share time together.

Unfortunately, both my parents are gone, and my siblings don’t live nearby. But when we connect through phone calls and emails, I look back on my childhood fondly and am happy to have many years of fun memories with them.

What would we do without our girl friends? Last Saturday I spent a spontaneous day with my friend, Barb and it was balm for the soul. It’s been hard to really laugh this year, but we did and boy, it was exactly what we needed!

Thankful for You

I can honestly say that I love writing this blog. But often, after I press the SEND button, I have a moment of anxiety thinking that no one will read it, and no one will like it. However, you are the best subscribers anyone could have. Your kind comments and feedback are the food I need to just keep writing. Hearing that you’ve made one of my recipes or tackled a DIY project is music to my ears.

Plus, I am always so thrilled when you refer this blog to someone else. We all need to pull together, share beauty, and keep each other’s spirits up. An unexpected gift is that I have made many new friendships through blogging.

So as we approach Thanksgiving (with or without Christmas decorations), let’s take a moment and be still. Know I am thankful for you and grateful for all that God has given me. Sending warm hugs to you!

Having 4 talented bloggers come to Phoenix and stay at my home last week was such a treat. There is SO much to tell you, but one of the highlights is the Friday night dinner. They all brought favorite recipes and made dinner for 8. Since we are being COVID respectful, dinner in the orchard seems to be the perfect location for us to gather. I can honestly say it is very fun to have these extraordinary, creative women scouring the house for items to set the table. The set of antlers we recently got from a friend (see post here), was the perfect stimulus for the rest of the table design.

But first let me tell you a little bit about each of my guests. In October 2019, I attended an Inspiration Workshop in Texas at KariAnne’s home (Thistlewood Farms). After the workshop, one of the attendees started a weekly conference call where 5 of us would remain connected and share our blogging knowledge (or inexperience in my case).

Over time, a few new bloggers joined the weekly call. When COVID hit, we had our network already up and running. Each week I found myself enjoying our virtual connection in a world promoting lockdowns and isolation.

Long story short, we decided to meet in person here at Bella Terra. I am excited and delighted to host this group. Unfortunately, two members could not attend due to family obligations. Kristin from White Arrows Home wrote a lovely post about why she needed to miss our gathering. You can read it here.

Setting the Table: The Linens

Since Barbara from Mantel and Table and Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate are Tablescape masters, they quickly select the tablecloth (a vintage find embroidered neutral) and a pink linen runner (from Williams Sonoma).

The Dishes

The charger is a ruffled, gold glass one from Leslie Roy, with an additional brass one on top. The plate is my favorite one for fall, Johnson Brothers Windsor Ware. Personally, I have never considered using double chargers, but the layering creates a fabulous and elegant look.

The Antlers

Take charge Chloe grabs the antlers off the front porch and off she goes to the orchard. Barbara states we need flowers and fruit and off we go to Whitfill Nursery and Safeway. Andrea from Design Morsels and Chas from Chas Crazy Creations help with all the rest~getting the glasses, silverware, chairs, etc. Activity is buzzing in the orchard!

The Stemware

After selecting the right colors, sizes and shapes of flowers and fruits, Barbara goes to work on adding the final elements to the table.

Flowers and Fruit

Pink stemware picks up the rose color on the plate. The pink glasses are vintage and part of my collection. Larger pink wine glasses are from Pier One Imports. Chrysanthemums, golden flowers and fruit bring the colors of the plate design to the table.

Pomegranates, pears, crab apples and grapes are tucked in among the flowers and antlers.

Using my Wallace Napoleon Bee pattern flatware, the gold accent goes well with the chargers. You can find this stemware on Amazon here.

As a side note, the antlers are sheds, meaning an animal was not killed for them. Elk grow antlers every year and shed their old ones. We will be using these antlers at our mountain cabin, once they are properly mounted.

Even the pink plastic containers holding the snapdragons blend in with the centerpiece. Squares of plastic are placed beneath the pots to prevent the tablecloth from getting soiled.

The Evening

As evening approaches, the lanterns which were a bargain purchase from Home Depot, are used to line the walkway to the table. You can see that blog post here.

What a magical evening! The dinner everyone prepares is so delicious and worthy of another blog post.

Here’s what I learned: When you live with all your belongings, it is difficult to step outside the box and create something new and different. I would never have thought to use the antlers, nor would I have paired it with pink. But look how lovely this table is~a mixture of rustic and elegance! Wish these friends lived closer as I would invite them over all the time to help me do things like this.

Happy Wednesday! For other centerpiece ideas using plants, flower and fruits, check out a previous post here.

If you enjoy this post, please do share it on Pinterest.

This post shared with Charming Homes & Gardens Week 34

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescapes Thursday #634

Each Thanksgiving I try and do a unique centerpiece that reflects the harvest and a season of gratitude. I love using fresh potted plants because I can plant them in the yard or planters after the holiday dinner is over. It seems counterintuitive to be planting in late November or early December, but it is our growing time here in Phoenix.

The autumn harvest is filled with many wonderful fruits~apples, pears, pomegranates, plums, persimmon, dark grapes and figs. Utilizing these in a centerpiece adds texture, color and shape. Plus you get to consume them after the meal is finished.

Centerpiece #1

Each year, after I select the dinner plate I will use for my place setting, I take it with me to choose centerpiece items. My first stop is usually my favorite gardening spot, Whitfill Nursery. Here, my Johnson Brothers Windsor Ware works perfectly with the ornamental purple cabbage, alyssum, and the ivy. This tends to be my Thanksgiving plate of choice because of its colors.

The next stop is to the closest florist, which is at our grocery store, Safeway. Here is where I purchase pomegranates, pears, apples and cut flowers to compliment the dinner plate. I try to keep cut flowers to a minimum because they only last a few days, whereas all the other items I can simply re-use.

After selecting the items that you want to use, then consider what vessel or base you will stage them. If you are like me, I always set my table a few days before Thanksgiving. Using potted plants, you will need to water them so make sure that they have a place to collect water. Or you can make your base or vessel waterproof. You don’t need to have excess water leaking out from underneath your centerpiece.

In this particular centerpiece, I am using a wooden tray, that I lined with foil and plastic. Using fresh fruit, moss, brass pumpkins, fresh herbs (sage) and potted plants, it is a low, but abundant centerpiece. The ivy can be woven down the table or around candlesticks.

Centerpiece #2

With a larger table or one with more place settings, here is another way to use a mixture of potted plants, flowers and pumpkins. Using multiple vessels for the plants and flowers, creates a sense of interest, as well as different heights.

Putting plants in simple bowls, like the white one above from Pottery Barn (Emma), blends in nicely with the white roses and white pumpkins. Proteas, mums and autumn leaves enhance the colors on the dinner plate.

Often we tend to think that flowers need to go into a vase. But by using glass coffee and silver mint julep cups, you have flexibility to tuck the flowers and plants in where you want.

Centerpiece #3

Lastly, this centerpiece uses succulents, copper colored petunias, ornamental cabbages, and red kale.

Adding alstroemeria, peachy colored roses and seeded eucalyptus, completes the fall look. Look at all the lovely shades and textures.

Again I am using a variety of bowls and small glasses to hold the plants and flowers.

Both white and orange pumpkins are tucked around the centerpiece. A combination of tapers and votives add a magical ambiance.

The benefits of using plants and fruits is their extended use once the holiday meal is over. All the plants go back out into my yard and the fruit gets eaten or used in recipes. Of course, we enjoy the fresh cut flowers and then dry the blossom into potpourri we spread in our hen house.

Get a little creative in the colors, textures and vessels in your centerpiece. I hope this post has offered you some inspiration for your holiday~however it may look this year.

And Now More Thanksgiving Inspiration

Kippi from Kippi at Home shows 3 Simple Thanksgiving Table Settings.

Stacy Ling from Bricks and Blooms creates an easy Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations makes this fun Easy Pilgrim Hat Centerpiece.

Cherryl from Farmgirl Reformed shows how to Create a Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape.

Rebecca from Zucchini Sisters has a 10 Minute Thanksgiving Decor Basket.

Olivia from Olivia O’Hern makes this sweet Felt Inspired Fall Garland.

Niky from The House on Silverado shows Three Simple Place Settings

Jemma from At Home With Jemma shows this adorable Vintage Truck Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

Please visit Agnes from Just That Perfect Piece and see her super easy last minute Napkin Rings.

I hope all these wonderful Thanksgiving ideas is getting you excited about the holiday. If you enjoyed this post, please share it on Pinterest.

Do you ever have one of those days where you are just pooped and resting is the only option? Well, that was me last Saturday with the exception of a long work out at the gym. The day was overcast and must be a drop in barometric pressure, as I didn’t feel like doing anything! So I apologize for not posting last Saturday and look forward to catching up today!

Recent travels

My recent trip to Washington, DC and Old Town Alexandria, Virgina was such fun. Traveling is a breeze (and very clean) and super affordable. The only downside is having to wear a mask. But as with most things in life, we adjust, don’t we?

Many weddings this year are postponed until 2021, but many couples are having a small civil ceremony instead. My son officiated this lovely one which was held outside at the Washington DC War Memorial. With an early morning start time, it was a breezy and chilly day with clear blue skies. So proud of the outstanding job done by Benjamin! And congratulations to Cole and Brooklyn!

We stayed at The Alexandrian hotel in Old Town Alexandria and the location is perfectly close to shops and restaurants. The history is abundant and of course, I loved looking at all the homes, shops and the amazing Halloween/autumn decorations.

Delightful Decorations

Our Nation’s Capitol

Washington, DC is such a beautiful city, for the most part. Unfortunately the rioting this summer has left areas looking like a 3rd world country. It is heartbreaking to see and this destructive behavior is something I just don’t understand.

We also visited the Martin Luther King and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial too. Not very many people present so we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Technology and its downside

When I returned I felt a bit like a pretzel after sitting on the long plane ride and sleeping in another bed. Happily I have a chiropractor I love and he does wonders for my alignment. While in his office, I spotted this sign:

Dr. David Welch states he is seeing more 30 year olds with headaches and neck pain. What was shocking to hear is that he is actually witnessing wedge-shaped vertebra as a result of texting. Think about that for a minute.

So just a reminder if you are texting or on your phone a lot, change your posture. I personally find this information horrifying. My neck was gravely injured in a car accident many years ago and trust me, you don’t want neck pain.

The Back Staircase Project

I swear, this is the longest project, but I am making good progress. Here are some sample runners I just received in the mail from Dash and Albert. We have decided on the blue/white stripe one. The goal is to get this project finished this week. However, the rug make take several weeks to arrive.

Charitable Event at Scottsdale Artist School

I am excited to see the painting I donated on the promotional piece for Beaux Arts 2020. Beaux Arts is a fundraising event held every year by the Scottsdale Artist School. This year the event will be virtual so everyone will have a chance to participate! There are so many wonderful pieces of art available for bidding (including my painting above!). If you would like to participate (it costs nothing to register), click here. My painting is under the category 2020 Fresh Paint Gallery among so many fabulous entries(see here). Online bidding will begin on November 7 – 14th.

As much as I love to travel, there is something comforting about being home. The weather is definitely cooler here and we are so excited to turn off the air conditioning and throw open all the windows.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and Happy Halloween! It’s hard to believe it is the end of October already! Any fun plans for the weekend?

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Earlier this month, I was lamenting a bit about not decorating for Halloween. After all, half the fun doing it for many years was due to the childrens’ excitement. But why not make Halloween something adults can enjoy too? So as a last minute, spontaneous gesture, we decide to have a small Halloween dinner party for our wonderful neighbors.

The Decorations

I honestly can say that decorating just the back porch was SO. MUCH. FUN. When you take decorations out once a year, you tend to forget what you have. And we seem to have a lot of spooky decor.

Naturally, now, when entertaining I always take into account everyone’s comfort level on social distancing so the back porch is the perfect location. Since one of our friends has an underlying condition, it is important to put him and his spouse at a good distance from everyone else.

There is a delicate balance between creating a cozy atmosphere and keeping people 6′ apart from others. How do I accomplish this at the table?

So I stuffed a pair of pants with newspaper and tucked a pillow inside a man’s shirt. Adding a scary mask, I wedged the knife in his back, and made some blood to drip down the white shirt. My “crime victim” is propped on one of the chairs and helps solve the social distancing requirement.

On the other side, Mr. Bones and a rat in a trap joins us for dinner. The table isn’t feeling so empty now!

As you may remember, my husband made a raised centerpiece shelf (see post here), and it comes in handy for the spooky decorations.

Tarnished and dusty candlesticks are perfect with black candles. The old laboratory bottles, skulls, skeletons, black cats and witches add to the Halloween theme. A black, lace spider web fabric with a pom pom edge is covering the centerpiece shelf.

The rest of the porch is decorated with mummies, owls, autumn leaves, lighting and sounds that let you know that you should B.E.W.A.R.E!

The Menu

The menu for the evening is rather simple, starting with a themed cocktail, Deathly Hallows, which was recently in my post, Fall Inspired Drinks. This is served with a variety of mixed nuts and fruit.

The main course is my favorite Turkey Chili (see recipe here) and a fig, pear and goat cheese flat bread. Unable to find fresh figs, I altered this Southern Living recipe using dried figs and added sliced Bosc pears. Drizzled with thick balsamic (the one I buy from Pinetop, see here) and topped with fresh arugula~it was delicious. Since one of our guests is a vegetarian, I also made chili full of vegetables and no meat from Ambitious Kitchen (see recipe here).

Dessert is a simple pumpkin cream cheese swirled brownie. I don’t want to share the recipe because they were okay but not spectacular.

All in all, it was a VERY fun evening, especially with the lights low and the various sound effects (thunder storm, dog and cat howling, lights crackling).

Whatever you are doing for Halloween, I hope you have as much fun as we did at this dinner party. We feel so blessed to have neighbors who are spontaneous and enjoy our festivities! Happy Tuesday!

If you like this post, please feel free to share it on Pinterest.

Happy Saturday! I so look forward to catching up with you today about all things~from travel to baking. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and let’s chat.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like my world has gotten so small since COVID. And I didn’t realize the enormity of this until our recent road trip from Phoenix to Denver and back. Hesitant about going (you know, “but I have so much to do!”), in retrospect, I am very happy that I did.

The Car Trip

Driving for 34 hours and covering 2000 miles in four days is a bit intensive. However, what a wonderful reminder that we do live in such a beautiful country. The open roads of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico are some of the most spectacular. And everyone we encountered was nice and friendly, unlike what the news portrays. America is a gorgeous place and often, I think we take our freedoms for granted. Lesson learned~turn off the news!

First Stop: Vermillion Cliffs

We had the great opportunity of watching the release of the California Condors at the Vermillion Cliffs, near the Grand Canyon. Known for its vibrant colors and intriguing forms, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is 280,000 acres up against the Arizona/Utah border. Since my husband is on the board of The Peregrine Fund, we spent the day with the program directors and biologists responsible for this conservation event.

It takes the dedication and tenacity of hundreds of people to bring the iconic California Condor back from the brink of extinction. In the 1980’s, there were only 22 individual birds left on the planet, yet today they stand at nearly 500. To learn more about this incredible program, click here.

Denver

Not only is the condor release a reason for this trip, but we are also picking up a huge set of antlers in Denver. As you know I am trying to add more Scandinavian elements to our cabin. What better way than placing a nice set of antlers over the front door?

Friends of ours own a ranch and have elk, deer and bison shedding their antlers each year. Since these sheds are very big, shipping them wasn’t an option. So we packed these beauties in the car and drove back to Phoenix.

COVID Hors D’ouerves

We are blessed with wonderful neighbors and make an effort to keep connected during this pandemic. With social distancing of course. When we gather, instead of making a large charcuterie tray or cheese board, I am making “couple plates” so no one is sharing food from the same dishes.

Individual vegetable cups with dip in the bottom, salted almonds, caprese sticks, cheese, salami and crackers seems to be the right amount of food to nibble with a glass or two of wine. I wonder how this pandemic will affect the ways in which we will entertain in the future.

A New Recipe

Do you ever just get a hankering for something and you must have it? I had a chocolate chip cookie moment like that this week. Trying this new recipe, which claims to be the BEST one, turns out to be a winner.

With Christmas cookie baking just around the corner, you may want to consider this recipe. Using block chocolate vs. chips, each one is filled with nooks and crannies of warm melted chocolate. Sprinkle with a flaky sea salt as the finishing touch. Click here for the recipe and review done by Kitchn.

My October Afternoon Tea

A new favorite afternoon tea for this month is Pumpkin Spice Brûlée, with a bit of Rare Hawaiian honey and a spot of milk. The tea is from Teavana, which unfortunately was acquired by Starbucks and all stores are now closed. However, you can find several types of pumpkin spice tea brands on Amazon here. And I just love this very thick honey from Rare Hawaiian Honey Company (I order it online). They have several flavors and I recommend them all!

Be Careful What you Ask for

During this time of year, I sometimes complain about the lack of good pumpkins in Phoenix. All the ones in the stores are basic and have broken stems. And I have to wait to visit the pumpkin farm up in the mountains to find any that are reasonably priced and unique. So what does my husband do? He comes home with this.

Maybe the picture doesn’t depict how HUGE this is, but it took two of us to carry it up the stairs on this rolling cart. It is the focal point now of the front porch. Too funny.

On my bucket list

While in Santa Fe, we toured The Inn of the Five Graces. This stunning Relais & Chateaux property is one of a kind. Quite honestly, I have never seen anything quite like this. The rooms are so fabulously decorated and this is definitely on my bucket list.

Returned to the Yard Sale

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an ongoing yard sale to a home that may potentially be available for purchase. See that post here. Well, I went back in hopes that the contents on the inside of the house are finally revealed, but no luck. Here is what I found instead. Wouldn’t these dolls be perfect for a scary Halloween party? And no, I didn’t buy them.

This wooden cradle could be a potential purchase, however, it is covered in pigeon poop and I didn’t want to put it in my car in this condition. If it is still there when I go back, I may consider it again.

Strange Looking Grapes

Aren’t these the strangest looking grapes? They are called Sweet Sapphire seedless grapes from Bakersfield, California. Tasty and sweet, they are currently at Safeway. I highly recommend them.

Well, that wraps up my weekly activities. If you missed any posts this week, I made a felted wool wreath, organized a hidden space in my front entry and decorated the dining room mantel for Fall.

Have a wonderful weekend! Am hoping to take a quick drive to the cabin to finish the painted dresser. Can’t wait to show you the finished product.

If you like Instagram, I also have an account there. Would love for you to check it out and become a follower.