A Shadow on the Floor — The Raven

It was the evening of October 31. I had planned an elegant dinner and set a table that was inspired by friends I had joined in a blog hop to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve. (You can access all their wonderful ideas below.)   

  

It was the last of October, when evening comes earlier. I had just put the finishes touches on the table when suddenly I saw a shadow flit across the floor.

 

   

I turned in astonishment. “The birds!!” I gasped. I had heard the stories, but they had not massed here in fifty years or more.

 

   

  

Now came the soft tapping, then the insistent rapping at my windows louder than before. Without warning blows hammered against the door.

 

  

I mustered my courage and looked through the rustling drapes. Dozens of black birds filled my sight, perched in the trees. As I turned I saw another shadow glide across the floor, larger this time, which filled me with dread.

  

I realized the birds had come through the windows! And my table was littered with nesting materials — moss, sticks, feathers, who knows what.

 

  

    

The birds had left the school and the other houses in town, drawn to my table! The candlelight gleaming above their feathers threw their shadows on the floor.

In that moment I vowed I would be unprepared — nevermore!

 

You can be prepared for Halloween visitors by setting intriguing, eerie, scary or fantastic tables inspired by the creative stylists listed below! Many thanks to Rita of Panoply who organizes these tablescape hops. Whether you've come directly here or are visiting each blog in turn — Welcome!

 

 

Panoply - Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Home is Where the Boat Is - Pink, Eek and Ghostly Sweets

Hyacinths for the Soul - Tartan Spice is Very Nice!

Everyday Living - A Grand Halloween at Wood's Edge

Pandora's Box - A Halloween Alfresco Dinner

My Thrift Store Addiction - BOO-tiful Brunch Buffet

The Cat's Whiskerz - Butterflies and Skellies for a Halloween Tablescape

Karins Kottage - Spooky and Stylish: My Outdoor Halloween Tablescape

Thrifting Wonderland - Jellicle Cats Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Happy Haunting

Life and Linda - Tea With Miss Pumpkinhead

The Painted Apron - A Frightful Night

The Bookish Dilettante - Halloween Tablescape Hop: The Haunted Forest

Me and My Captain - What do Motorhomes, Autumn, and Pumpkins Have in Common

Dinner at Eight - A Shadow on the Floor - The Raven  (you are here!)

Celebrating Everyday Life - Easy and Elegant Ideas for a Spooky-Pretty Halloween Celebration

Red Cottage Chronicles - Shadows of the Sky Halloween Tablescape

 

 

Table details

Dinner plates | Mikasa 'Onyx'  

Salad plates | vintage, used in Summertime Gardens

Wine glasses | Cristal D'Arques-Durand 'Domino Signature Black'

Decanter and cocktail glasses set | Farber Bros Krome Kraft 'Amethyst Art Deco'

Flatware | Mikasa 'Italian Countryside'  

Inspiration | Alfred Hitchcock 'The Birds' and Edgar Allan Poe 'The Raven'

 

* Table details are provided for identification/information only. Dinner at Eight is not affiliated with nor compensated by any other entity.