In November of 2018, I wrote a blog post called A Set Table, which discussed my love for setting a table for a gathering. Lauren and I were in the throes of preparing for the baby shower of my oldest daughter and my first grandchild. Max is now on the cusp of turning four and Ashley, my oldest, is preparing for baby number two, which this time around is going to be a girl. It seemed fitting to do another post about table decorating and holiday gatherings.

First on my list, for any gathering or hosted event, is a visit to our local floral store, Sequoia Floral in Santa Rosa. They have a beautiful selection of flowers, branches and containers along with any other bits you could possibly need for decorating.

I usually don’t have a full plan in place for what I am looking for, but typically head out with a rough direction that may center on color, height or formality.

This time around, I wanted to use a bright red or pink on the table as a dramatic color against white, orange and speckled pumpkins, traditional blue and white pottery and green cabbage plates. Although, when I saw the iris, I almost changed my mind.

I ended up with a bunch of these…currently loving a swath of carnations grouped like roses, especially in dark pink!

Sometimes it is hard to decide when you are in the floral cooler, but I try to not overthink and just go with my gut and grabby hands! I could spend all day, dreaming of the different combinations and how I am going to put them together on my table. Thankfully, it is incredibly cold in the cooler, so that prevents an extended stay!

I’ve been really drawn lately to a dark pink lately and found myself with bunches of both carnations and snapdragons for the table. I couldn’t leave without a couple of orchids because that is just not possible for me. And, just outside the cooler was a container with the most spectacular bundles of olive branches with fruits attached and along for the ride.

Then, really it was off to the races. My dining room cabinet is stuffed full of all the things I love and have collected over many years. My assortment of plate sets, including a set of Blue Danube from my wedding registry, vintage silver pieces, my vast collections of white platters, plates and bowls and finds both big and small. It is a pretty complete inventory which is easy to access in its display. Both functional and beautiful, it’s like shopping at home.

I layed the table with a grain sack used as a runner, that has a vibrant green stripe down the center and is the best combination of high and low. I used glass plates with a gold beaded edge detail as charger s and used my blue and white English Willow pattern as the primary plates, along with white napkins and siver settings. The topper was See’s chocolate turkeys, which I will bet will be Max’s favorite part of the whole meal.

Decorating should be fun and I am trying to incorporate more of that into my life right now. Less stress, more joy and embracing the perfection of imperfection.I hope that your Thanksgiving gathering is a time to take a moment to breath, a space to enjoy family, and an opportunity to be thankful for what we all have. I am reminded that is the people not the things that matter most…