AUTUMN TABLE SETTING

 

Our August was very hot and even through

much of September.  Our pretty fescue grass lawn

turned brown.  Now the cooler weather seems

more than a little wonderful.   Like many of

you I look forward to this time of year and

the change in the season.

I found this tablecloth years back in an

antique mall and yes, it has a few small

holes.  Sometimes I zigzag a hole or do a 

little patch with another piece of lace 

underneath the area.

I enjoy getting out some mix and match fall

colored transferware and setting the table

with this old pattern called "The Old Mill"

by Johnson Brothers probably from

the 1960's.

I hope your fall is going well.  My husband

has had a busy schedule this summer

 with health appointments and heart procedures.

We have been thankful to have the

availablity of the University of Missouri

Hospital here in Columbia, Missouri which

provides excellent health care.

I took the liberty to do some early garden

cleanup and though I already miss my

zinnias, I am glad to have the clean up

task behind me.  I planted a Redbud

tree in the front yard where our old

Pussy Willow was removed so I have

been faithfully watering it during the

intense late summer heat.  Also, I still

have tomatoes that I left in a few

places as I enjoy sharing them with

our neighbors and family.

The dogs on the table are like 1960's

 reproduction ones from England.  Back

in the 1980's I purchased them in Houston,

Texas thinking they were much older.  I

later read about the different ways to

tell if your Staffordshire dogs are older

or reproductions.  There sure is a lot

that can be learned about antiques.

I still have some crafts from past sewing projects but also have sold many items at yard sales!

I do a lot of baking and so enjoy pulling

out the fall cookbooks.  I am glad to be making soups and breads again....such a delight

this time of year.

WINDSOR FRUIT WINDSOR WARE NEW TABLECLOTH

 I recently made a new tablecloth which

has a little more drama to it for my fall

Windsor Ware dishes:

I had just enough left over to make a topper

for the kitchen table which you can see in the

distance on the left back of the photo above.

Today I was very excited as I found

a teapot on Ebay and it wasn't as

expensive as others.  There are some

crazy prices for this pattern but I got

my plates years ago in Colorado in an

antique mall at a very reasonable price.

August in our state is very hot so I get my 

garden work done early and then after 

cleanup I go sew.  Here is the fabric

close up:

I think I must be a confused sort because I

love very pastels and shabby chic soft but

then I also like dramatic colors.

This is how the place setting looks:

I hope you are keeping cool

and have a wonderful summer.

NOVEMBER THANKSGIVING TABLESETTING

 I am sharing my Windsor Ware Harvest Fruit dishes by Johnson Brothers.  I started out years ago with some plates and

have added to my collection when I have seen them at a

decent price.  

Speaking of prices, I recently found a real bargain at

a local resale shop.  Last year Victoria Magazine featured

the most gorgeous cake dome and stand in the Christmas

issue.  I just looked and the replacement business that

everyone talks about had one for over $400.00 but I got

mine for $40.00.  I was so excited.

As you can see to the right, I do have a dome which

had no stand that  I purchased last year so now I have 

2 of those.  I also found some more of the

crystal etched glasses which I mix and match on my

table.  This one is called "June Night" and is beloved.

I broke at least 2 of these over the year so having

extras is a good plan - especially when I see

them at a good price.  They are from the 1930's-40's.  

And I say "oops" to that vacuum

 cleaner wand to the right!

I have been enjoying Instagram so much

and would encourage everyone to look

at it for "whatever" interests you.

The punch bowl above was purchased at the

Salvation Army resale store in Old Colorado City

many years ago.

I make the same comments every year:  I wish we celebrated Thanksgiving earlier so we had more time before Christmas.

HARVEST FRUIT WINDSOR WARE JOHNSON BROTHERS

 

When we move toward fall I enjoy changing

 my dining room table about 3 different

times with various fall toned transferware.

If you love table setting

like I do, you will understand

that this is a hobby.

This set pattern  is Johnson Brothers

 Harvest Fruit Windsor Ware.  

Over the years I have added to

my set but I rarely see the matching

teapot.

I love this tablecloth so much, I think I have been showing

it to you over and over.  It is a vintage alencon French 

lace and a favorite of mine.  The napkins are point

de Venice from Italy.

We have enjoyed such colorful zinnias

and they will last quite a while.

We had the 2nd dryst August on record and our

lawn turned brown.  I have been watering and

it is coming back a little better.

I have watered my garden quite a bit this

summer.  The hydrangeas must have water

to bloom and look revived.

I wish I had more of this velvet

 fabric but years ago

I found just a scrap.

I hope you have time to do some

fall decorating to enjoy!

SEPTEMBER BRINGS CHANGE

 Last week I decided to move forward

with my fall table setting.  It was fun

pulling out various pieces of 

transferware and I also decided to

wash everything as I went along.

The zinnias in our front yard have

been so lovely during August and 

now in September.  I grew them from

the seeds I had last year and once again

I will save seeds for next year.

The tablecloth is an old Quaker one

 that was given to me and formerly belonged to a wonderland lady who

is in Heaven now, 

Marie Smith.

My plates are Johnson Brothers 

Windsor Ware Harvest Fruit.

Our front yard faces south so it gets the

most sun.  I have noticed the back yard

which faces north can be a challenge

for some flowers.  I guess after working

in the garden these 8+ years here I 

now see how these things work.  For

example, one wouldn't want vegetables

in their front yard but I have found

I can tuck some tomato and pepper

 plants here and there in order

to have some.

Hope your September 

is going well.  We are

enjoying and loving cooler

temperatures.  It feels so

wonderful.