As one of my friends emailed the night before Thanksgiving, “Setting a nice table is so satisfying, like creating art!” It is satisfying unfolding the tablecloth, folding the napkins, polishing glasses, flatware and candlesticks, setting out plates and, most pleasing task of all, making a centerpiece. For the past few years, I’ve spread some combination of fruits and vegetables down the center of the table, anchoring the arrangement with candles. As I do, I think back to childhood Thanksgiving dinners at my grandparents and one particular shallow glass bowl piled with oranges and apples, purple grapes spilling out over the edges, walnuts scattered around the base, candles to either side. On our table this year our Melrose and crab apples, Comice pears and Delicata squash and my grandmother’s brass candlesticks carry on this tradition of a harvest centerpiece to welcome the friends and family.
Thanksgiving is the first of many dinners of the holiday season. I’m looking forward to creating more pretty tables but even more to sharing food and celebrating the season with people we love.
Lopez Island Kitchen Gardens 
Lovely table! I am with you 100% when it comes to the satisfaction of creating beauty for a meal. I also used natural items with candles on our tables,along with family heirlooms. I think that keeps our loved ones closer even when they are gone. Thanks for a warmly nostalgic piece.
I loved your Thanksgiving table! Thank you for posting the picture of it. Maybe it’s my Quaker upbringing or just an aversion to much ‘stuff’ on the table, but I loved your centerpiece of your garden’s harvest. Here at Tahoe we don’t have vegetable gardens so I make my centerpiece out of fall leaves (fake usually since fallen leaves are under the snow), small fir and pine cones and several ornamental tiny pumpkins and nuts, maybe some small pine boughs. I get such enjoyment out of items I’ve collected from nature. Someday when we’re in Lopez full time I’ll be able to harvest veggies and fruits for my centerpiece.
Where was Bennie while everyone was at the table? I’m pretty sure she’d want to be the center ‘piece’ or at least the center of attention!
Tom and I hope you and Scott have a wonderful holiday season.
elaine
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simply perfect…just the bounty….:-)
You have described the feeling of decorating a holiday table beautifully.
Thank you! I’ve been planning what to do this year. It’s so satisfying. My husband has just finished making a walnut dining table–with extensions for extra Thanksgiving guests. I’ll come up with something that features the table!
Thanks for writing.
I’m looking forward to seeing your creations! I just posted something about the Thanksgiving table, myself. It’s my favorite holiday.
What fun! No bay leaves here but lots to be thankful for. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
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