My Hutch Decorated for Thanksgiving

I have an old hutch in my dining room that belonged to my mother. I like to change the dishes that I display to reflect the season or holiday. After a very slow start - didn't fall start back in September? - I finally dragged out the fall decorations and got the job done:-) Better late than never!

Today I'm sharing with you my hutch decorated for fall...

A close up of some of the dishes...

 On the top row is a lemonade set that I bought years ago at an auction. The lemonade set is marked "Nippon" and included the pitcher and six cups. Nippon means Japan and from 1891 - 1921 all china coming from Japan was marked in this way. I never really displayed this set because I wasn't very fond of the colors. Once I started decorating my hutch for different seasons I realized the color is perfect for fall.

I also scour thrift stores, flea markets and antique stores for pieces that coordinate to the season.

I bought the dishes on the bottom row at an antique store. They have an old clipper ship design which reminds me of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. I only have one dinner plate, two bread plates and one cup and saucer. I got them all for $4 because they each have a tiny chip. But it's OK because the chips aren't noticeable when the dishes are on the shelf.

The two plates on each end came from a thrift store because I loved the orange and yellow flowers. I'd love to have a set of these for my every day dishes.

The amber colored glass plates are Depression glass. When my husband was a boy his mom who was an antique dealer collected sets of depression glass for each of her children. My husband got the yellow or amber colored dishes, the other brothers got blue and green and of course his sister's set is pink. (Oh, I really covet that pink set:-) I actually use our set for Thanksgiving dinner and I'll also be using it for my Fall luncheon this weekend.

Some final touches...

Another favorite thing is the appliqued linen runner that I put out each fall. I bought this at a church yard sale a few years ago. I love the delicate work in this piece and the fall leaves.

I made the little candle holders out of a canning jar, a little twine and some fall colored berries. The candle is nested in dried red beans. I hot glued wire to the jar so I could hang it from the drawer handles.



I love searching out little treasures in thrift stores and flea markets. I search all year for dishes that I can use in the fall or at Christmas and Easter. The pieces are sometimes chipped or have tiny cracks but I don't mind because I never spend more than a couple of  dollars. That way I can change out pieces or get rid of pieces I don't care for and I don't feel bad because I didn't spend much money:-)



Thank you for allowing me to share my Fall hutch with you. 

Enjoy the season!


Patti

Linking up with:

Making Your Home Sing Monday

Sew Many Ways - So Darn Crafty

Hope in Every Season

Grace at Home

A Stroll Through Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

Get Ready to Party - A Series on Planning and Pulling Off a Party in Your Home

I hope you'll join me on Monday November 18th as I begin an 7 day series on planning and pulling off a party in your home. 
Just in time for the holidays!

See the entire series by clicking the photo:

The holidays are upon us! 

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's all offer opportunities for us to open our home and invite people over for a meal, dessert or a full blown party.

For a time of fellowship and a last hooray before the business of the holiday season is in full force I'm  hosting a fall luncheon for some of my friends.

I'll be writing a series of post about how I plan and get ready for a party. I know some people are hesitant to open their home or maybe a little fearful. Showing hospitality and entertaining in your home doesn't  have to be scary or overwhelming if you follow a few simple steps. 

Whether you're hosting a shower, luncheon, a sit down dinner party or a family holiday party the steps to get ready are pretty much the same.

I show you what I did to get ready for my fall party. These ideas can be applied to any type of party you may want to host. 

In this short series a few of the topic I'll cover are:

The Why, When and Who?

Answering these three questions will be the basis of your party and serve as a springboard for your planning.

Food and Drink

Don't spend all day in the kitchen. I have a few tricks for mixing ready made foods with a few special homemade goodies to make food prep a breeze. (Well almost a breeze:-)

Clean Enough is Good Enough

I'll share with you the simple way I get and keep my  home ready for company without spending the day before (or the day of) the party scrubbing and sweeping and wearing myself out.

The Table

Paper plates or real china? Plastic wear or the good silver? Cloth or paper napkins? Buffet or sit down meal? Don't be overwhelmed. I'll share my ideas for setting a simple table and serving from a buffet.

Games Anyone?

Make a game plan for your party and add a few icebreakers or conversation starters to get the fun going. 

Divide and Conquer

Ask for help! And other bits and pieces of advice to keep your sanity and enjoy your party.

Party Day!

I'll show you my luncheon and share some of the good, the bad, and the not so pretty of partying! 

If you're hesitant to open your home or you do but feel overwhelmed it's my hope that by sharing my experience it  may be a blessing to you. 

I hope you'll join me!

Patti

See day 1 here. Why, When and Who.











Hope in Every Season
Grace at Home

Brandied Fruit for Christmas and Hostess Gifts

I remember years ago my aunt made up a batch of brandied fruit and passed some starter to my mom. Together they kept that fruit going for what seemed like forever.

Brandied fruit is delicious spooned over ice cream or pound cake or as a filling in a crepe topped with whipped cream. I had forgotten about it until I ran across a recipe online and did it ever bring back sweet memories. 

So much so that I had to ask my mom if she still had the recipe. She did, yeah! So I'm starting a batch that  will be ready in a few weeks. A small jar of brandied fruit and a pound cake baked up in a mini loaf pan will make a perfect hostess gift for the many parties during the holidays as well as last minute Christmas gifts. 

Beware this does contain alcohol and fermentation doesn't change that fact so it's not appropriate for children and of course anyone who is opposed to the use of alcohol. Use your best judgement.

It's super easy. Canned fruits mixed with sugar and brandy left to gently ferment on the counter. By replenishing the starter every 3 weeks you can keep this going just about forever...

There are tons of variations on this recipe all over the Internet but this is my method.

Layer pineapple, peaches, apricots and maraschino cherries in a clean jar. Add the sugar and brandy.

Gently stir the mixture. 

Cover and allow to sit on the counter for 3 weeks. Stir a few times a week. 

Ingredients:

2 - 15 ounce cans peaches

2 - 15.25 ounce cans apricots

2 - 20 ounce cans pineapple chunks

1 - 16 ounce jar maraschino cherries

2 1/2 cup sugar

2 1/2 cup brandy

Method:

Drain all the fruit and place in a clean glass jar.

Add the sugar and brandy and stir to combine.

Cover the jar and place in a dark place. In a cabinet or covered with a towel. (Do not refrigerate) 

During the next three weeks stir the fruit several times a week. 

At the end of the three weeks the fruit is ready. You can spoon the fruit and juice over ice cream or pound cake. 

Always keep at least one cup of the fruit as a starter. To replenish starter add 1 cup of sugar and 1 can of pineapple, peaches, apricots or cherries every 3 weeks. Alternate fruit each time. You won't have to add any additional brandy to the starter. 

To give as a gift package up 2 cups of the fruit with instructions to eat one cup now and to use the other cup as a starter if desired. (or they can just eat it all!)

I'll be posting nearer to Christmas how I'm packaging my gifts. 

Have you ever had brandied fruit? 

Do you keep small gifts on hand for hostess gifts or for Christmas?

Hospitality Dare #7 - Host a Party With a Purpose

This is the final day of my participation in the Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I've responded to a dare sent out by Kristin and Krista. See the link at the end of this post for details on how you can take the Hospitality Dare. It's not too late!

Dare #7:   Take a minute to plan a BYOI party (bring your own item).  We have many ideas for you on Kristin's website (think wine & cheese bar, ice cream bar, chili bar, etc.) Yes, the party will take more time than a minute, but this is your GRAND FINALE!  It should be easy since everyone is bringing something. Kristin's post gives the details about hosting a Party With a Purpose!


I love this dare! 

I had already planned a Fall luncheon to get together with my girl friends. To take time to have a little fun and fellowship before the hectic holiday season is upon us. 

The time from Thanksgiving to New Years is always filled with parties and activities but this year in December we're adding in a college graduation for one of my boys. I knew once we hit Thanksgiving I probably wouldn't have time to get all my friends together so this is like our last big hooray!

I printed out a little poem I made up and glued it to the front of the invitation.
 (I'm no poet but I think it gets the point across!)

Celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year's Eve can leave us in a tizzy. 
Let's take some time for friends and fun before we
get so busy!

Right before I sent the invitations I received this dare from Kristin and Krista to host a party with a purpose. 

Getting together with friends is a good purpose in itself but I thought I would expand on it a little. 

I decided to offer the ladies a chance to participate in Operation Christmas Child I slipped a little note in the invitation asking each lady to bring a small gift for the shoe boxes. I made it clear this of course was optional but I know each woman invited and I know they'll be happy to contribute. 

We'll take a group picture to add to the shoe boxes. I love the thought of a child somewhere in the world opening the box of goodies and seeing a bunch of smiling women looking back at them! 

I'll be posting about this luncheon and our group project Operation Christmas Child. 

This is the last day of the Hospitality Dare for me. You can still participate on your own. Go to Kristin's blog for details on how to sign up and how to host a party with a purpose!

I dare you!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges


Did you take the dare? Let me know in the comments...


Come back on the 18th as I start a short series on how to plan a party.

Hospitality Dare #6 - Welcome to the Neighborhood

Dare #6:   Notice the "new kid on the block." Fill out the "Welcome to Our Community " and give it in a welcome card or basket.  If you don't have someone new to the area, but new to a school or a group, offer to introduce him/her to others.

After many moves during our married life our family settled down in a home that we hope is our last move.

To find this house we did most of our hunting long distance and online. As a family we had prayed that God would lead us to just the right house in the right neighborhood.

When I saw what was to become my new home for the first time I felt God saying "This is it, this is your new home!".

So we put in an offer which was accepted and happily moved in certain this was where God wanted us to be.

My happiness turned to sadness when no one from our new neighborhood came over and introduced themselves.

Had I heard God wrong? Did I just love this house so much that I imagined this was where God wanted us?

Over the course of a couple of months we did meet most of our neighbors on our street. Not because they came to us but because we went to them.

That's when I realized that this is where God wanted us.

After that experience I've never allowed someone new to move in on our street that I didn't go over and introduce myself.

A few tips for meeting your neighbors:

• A plate of cookies is nice but don't get hung up making it a big deal. The last new neighbor I introduced myself to I saw her getting her mail out at the street. I just stopped my car and introduced myself.  
• Don't be offended if your welcome isn't received with open arms. People are funny sometimes. When I met my new neighbor a couple of doors down (at the mailbox again) the lady told me she wasn't interested in getting involved in the neighborhood. I told her that was fine but my name's Patti and I live 2 doors down. If you ever need anything let me know...Other than an occasional wave when I pass her on the street we've not spoken again. But I can say I did what I could. 
• Don't feel like you have to be best friends with everyone. Sometimes just knowing your neighbors name is enough. 
• Take a prayer walk through your neighborhood. As you walk by each house pray for the occupants. If you don't know your neighbors pray that God would open an opportunity for you to meet. 

To join this Hospitality Dare check out Kristin's blog and take the dare!


I dare you!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges


Do you know your neighbors?

Hospitality Dare #5 - Give a Small Gift

I'm participating in a Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I'll be posting about the dare and what I did. You can learn about this dare series and sign up by following the link at the end of this post.

I double dog dare you!

Dare #5: Give a small gift today. It could be a jar of homemade jam for your child's teacher, a latte for a coach after practice, or a journal for a friend going through something difficult.   

Every summer I can something from peaches since they are abundant in my area. For the past two summers I've made Vidalia Onion and Peach Relish. It's delicious served with pork or as a dip when poured over cream cheese and served with crackers.

I originally found this recipe in the May 2012 issue of Southern Living. You can find the recipe online by following this link.

Today I pulled several jars from my pantry to give to my fellow teachers in our Children's church. I topped each jar with an unbleached coffee filter secured with twine. 

A simple gift to say I'm thinking about you.

I dare you to take the dare!

Go over to Kirstin Schell's blog for all the detail on how you can sign up for this dare!


You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges

Hospitality Dare #4 - Provide for a Need Today

I'm participating in a Hospitality Dare. For 7 days I'll be posting about how I took the dare and what I did.
See the end of this post for how you can take the hospitality dare.



Dare #4:   Provide for a need today.  Take a bag of rummage to a non-profit, help an elderly person load groceries, take someone home from school who doesn't have a ride, or sacrificially give of your time or resources in some small (or big) way. 


The first day of the dare series I bought a case of beanie weenies, fruit cups and peanut butter crackers. I delivered these food items today to our church for the mini food pantry. We support a large food pantry that serves families in our community but we also keep a small mini pantry at our church.  This mini pantry is used to help people who stop by the church office looking for help.   Many of the people who need help are homeless, living on the streets or camping in the woods behind our church. All items in the bag are ready to eat. The bags also contain hygiene items as well. 

Some of the items in the bag:
Beanie weenies
Vienna sausage
potted meats
fruit cups
pudding cups
baked beans
bottled water and juice
crackers
plastic forks and spoons
Hand wipes 
toothbrush
toothpaste
comb


Every church should keep a food pantry of some type in their facility. It's a great way to give immediate help when someone can't get to the big food pantry right away.

The mini pantry is kept in a closest in one of the Sunday school rooms. Each bag is numbered
so we can keep track of how many have been given out. Since starting the mini pantry 5 years ago
we've given out 877 bags.

You can learn more about the Hospitality Dare by checking out Kirsten's blog post.

I dare you!

Have you accepted the Hospitality Dare? 

Leave me a comment and let me know how it's going!

You can see what I did to meet these dares:

Hospitality Dares and Challenges