Dinner at Eight: Thanksgiving in the Meadows and Ponds

Among all the holidays during the year, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite. Gathering with family and friends to share memories and laughter over memorable dinners creates a special kind of holiday! While others do the cooking and baking, I'll focus on setting a table that is welcoming and festive, comfortable with a touch of elegance.

Today I'm joining a group of stylists who are sharing their ideas for setting special Thanksgiving tables! If you've come from one of my fellow bloggers, welcome! Our blog hop was organized by Rita of Panoply and you'll find links to all the creative tables at the end of this post.

While Autumn was delayed this year, when it arrived nature seemed to suddenly burst with color in the woods and gardens. Deer began to visit each night to feast on the millions of acorns covering my yard and the northern birds have started arriving to over-winter. Wildlife seemed to be the perfect inspiration for the table, so I began with dinner plates that have gorgeous renderings of birds in meadows and ponds.

A tablecloth covered in a lovely print serves as a muted base, with copper charges bringing the warmth of fall colors to the table. Down the center runs a golden bronze runner of magnolia leaves punctuated by a vibrant centerpiece of roses in shades of tangerine and coral. I added cuttings of camellias from my garden to the fresh flowers. Buds have formed on the camellias several weeks earlier than usual.

I waited in vain for good lighting in the dining room. We've had overcast skies all week interspersed with an occasional drizzle. Some of the photos were taken in what passed for daylight, some in candlelight. Some were lit by lamps and the chandelier. And a few managed to catch the blue hour.

The copper chargers were topped by the dinner plates whose rims echo the design and color of the tablecloth. Individual covered soup bowls are in the shape of pumpkins, six different designs in green, orange and cream colors.

I've used six of the dinner plate designs from the pattern, depicting birds that are at home on land or in the water.

I selected two types of crystal — one vintage (the topaz), one modern. They have different but complementary bowl shapes and similarly classic stems. The topaz crystal is etched in a pattern that replicates the one on the table linens.

I then added more birds to the table in the form of pheasant candle holders and

covered boxes.

Porcelain quail hide beneath the roses. Pheasant feathers were tucked within the garland.

The soft colors of the blue hour behind candlelight.

Ducks, quail and turkeys have settled on the buffet, nestled in fall flowers.

The simple display on the buffet contrasts with the more exuberant table style.

Everyday flatware and napkins bring the comfort factor to an otherwise elegantly set table.

I would like to thank Rita from Panoply for organizing this Thanksgiving tablescape celebration. I hope that you'll visit each of my fellow stylists — you are sure to be inspired by their wonderful ideas!