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Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Tag Archives: fall

{GHP} Fall installment #3 and introducing my pheasant

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Drink, Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Family, Flowers, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

fall, Thanksgiving

So how are we doing?  Is everyone happy with the season so far?  We’ve survived Halloween and now it’s onward and upward to the best holiday of the year, turkey day, otherwise known as Thanksgiving.  I am grateful every day for so much, but I’m especially thankful that  there’s a specific day during the year when we can reflect on the people and things in our lives we feel fortunate to enjoy.

via the little book of secretsvia the little book of secrets

vignette designvia vignette designs

unknown

My friend Carla told me she put pumpkins in her bird bath this year.  I’m going to try the same thing (copy cat? why yes, there are only so many original good ideas out there). 🙂

What I love about Thanksgiving is there are no presents to shop for, just ‘splurge on calories’ food.  Even if you don’t love turkey (I know folks that feel that way), you have to admit, it’s a holiday that easily adapts to whatever “traditions” in menu selections you and yours decides to embrace.  Branch out, try at least one new dish, maybe create a dish that is similar to the annual _________[fill in the blank] …it will make cooking so much more fun.

We’re fortunate enough to be hosting our future daughter-in-law, Sarah  (Kevin’s fiancé {he’s the baby of the family}) and her very fun family.  Kathy, her mom, Tristan, her brother and Charles, her grandfather are delightful, and we’re thrilled to be able to share Thanksgiving in our home, with soon to be family, for the first time in a few years.

via Ralph Lauren

The past few years have found us at a dear friend’s home and one year was spent in Arizona, which turned out to be my mother’s last Thanksgiving, so I’m so happy we made the trek.

So, let’s get going on the planning, shall we?  Oddly, as important as the menu is, and believe me, it is, I think of the table first.  This year I’ll have my early Christmas gift from future DIL…“Redfern”, the pheasant, to decorate the room with.  I have mentioned to anyone who’ll listen that I’ve always wanted a taxidermy pheasant.  (I understand if you’re asking, why?!).  Fortunately, my sweet DIL-t0-be surprised me with this in October, assuming (as only a thoughtful person would) that I would want to use him for the fall decorations.  Note: he’ll be out year round, he just may move from one piece of furniture to another.

It took me a few days of walking past the dining room table and my new friend to not jump (we have all kinds of critters in our neighborhood and it made me think a giant bird had landed, uninvited, on our dining table!

Redfern, the pheasant

 

via Party Resource

I happened upon a Pottery Barn sale on their fall linens (the only silver lining to the stores rushing all of the holidays by starting to sell fall items in August, by September they want to usher in Christmas and you can often find some pretty hefty cuts in pricing for the items  you want/need for Thanksgiving).  I found the table runner in our local store and then a very nice sales person helped me by ordering the 8 napkins to match and having them delivered to my house.  They came from Minnesota (I live in California).

 

I’ve always thought this (above) was a very nice way of using a place card that adds to the seasonal feel of the table.  I really like pears, can you tell?

*Turkey plates were purchased years ago through a Ross-Simons catalog for a song.

I’ll use my white chargers and the PB table runner with Churchill’s Thanksgiving plates.

As far as the menu, it’s still in the works.  I know I’ll prepare Creamy Mashed Potatoes, I salt the turkey (as opposed to brining) and I’ll prepare stuffing.  Kevin has volunteered to prepare a side dish and I’ve given some thought to a gingerbread trifle that my friend, Linda,  introduced me to.  Beyond that I’m still in the planning stages.  I’ll keep you posted.

There’s a truly clever and delicious sounding recipe for a Deconstructed Pear Salad HERE:

via stone gable

Happy fall, I’d love to hear from you regarding some of your favorite sides for the Thanksgiving feast!

I’ve joined Sherry for her Open House at No Minimalist Here…stop by for a visit.

{Garden Home and Party} Fall installment #2

29 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Designer, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

fall


Under Spanish Moss blog



By now, hopefully you’ve invited fall into your home and heart!  You’ve gotten into the spirit of the season and maybe grudgingly admitted that the fresh, crisp air invigorates you.

via Ralph Lauren 

Maybe you’ve started a good book and have plans for many cozy weekends relaxing in front of the fire with said book.

Under Spanish Moss blogvia Under Spanish Moss

Maybe you’ve decided to spend your fall season in Europe…me too! {I wish}.

Maybe a trip to Napa Valley, California is in the cards.  What a beautiful time of the year to head up there.  If you go, email me and I’ll send you some information on some of my favorite wineries and shopping.

Maybe you’re taking long walks down a country lane…boy, do I ever wish our “lane” looked like this!

Whatever fall has in store for you, I wish you all of the seasons best and I hope you are enjoying this time, a favorite of mine!

Just another fall day

29 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

decorating for fall, fall, recipe for pumpkin bread

Since FALL is one of my favorite seasons (I love SPRING equally; I feel a bit guilty that I don’t love SUMMER and only like WINTER!)  I thought I’d post these images that I stumbled upon while visiting various blog sites that I love.

Alright all of you traditionalists, have you ever bought one of these beautiful blue-gray pumpkins? They really are beautiful. Image via Country Living

There is something wonderful about fall's natural bounty on an antique table that just feels like home. Image via Country Living

Doesn't this image conjure up a hike on a brisk, fall day? We Southern California folks might have to endure a Santa Ana condition (warm winds) but a girl can dream, right? Image via Country Living

If YOU love FALL you may be inspired to put out some pumpkins, bake a pumpkin bread (recipe below) or curl up with a good book…OR, if you’re like most in my family, watch football!

Fight on!

Note regarding this recipe:  My friend Alison has a wonderful blog site called paper{whites} and she posted about this pumpkin bread which came from a site Tulips & Flight Suits—I knew the recipe had to be good when “Tulips” says that she believes this recipe is 40% of the reason her husband married her! 🙂

Pumpkin Bread

Bread (found on Tulip & Flight Suits via paper{whites} )

——————————————————————————–

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/4 cup pumpkin pie puree (Libby’s)
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oven to 350° F. Oil a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin pie filling, oil, sugar, syrup, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack for 10 minutes. Using a knife, loosen the bread from the pan. Serve warm. Can also be frozen

It’s Back-to-School time!

03 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Back-to-school, fall, supplies

It seems that no matter where you live there is something in the air around the first part of September—it’s that back-to-school, fall rush of energy that affects so many of us.  Like spring’s “new beginnings” I believe it’s safe to say that for many, fall is just as bracing.

School days have been gone from my radar, aside from the traffic jam near University High on my way to work, for 5 years (when Son #2 graduated from college).  Still, my internal clock reminds me that it’s that time of year when the excitement surrounding buying school clothes and supplies hits me, as if I were headed to the classroom.

They had me at "Preppy" --- disclosure: I've been a preppy since they came up with the term.

Russel+Hazel has some unique school/office supplies.

I’m clearly not the only blogger that has been bitten by the bug.  paper{whites} had a great post on school supplies, as did Content in a Cottage.

Knock-Knock has some fun stamps—maybe more for adults than back-to-school kids 🙂 

Knock-Knock is worth a visit.

Reading fellow bloggers musings prompted me to do a Google search of unique office supplies.  In addition to the outstanding See Jane Work site I found a couple of others (listed above)  that could be dangerous to the stationary/organizing/office geek.

3-ring binders have come a long way!

Have fun and I hope you are ready for class (code for gearing up for fall) to begin.

Rushing towards fall

01 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

fall, seasonal decorating

I have always been more of a fall/winter person than a spring/summer enthusiast.  I’m certain there is as much debate (trivial as it may be) about this topic as there is about being a morning person {raising hand} vs. a nighttime person!

Pumpkins at the entry announce the season. Image via Victoria

Don’t get me wrong, I love spring.  What’s not to love, right?  But I gain a burst of energy at the very thought of fall’s approach.

Persimmons and bittersweet make fall tablescapes a no brainer. Image via Country Living

So it was with much excitement that a fellow blogger, Melissa Michaels at The Inspired Room announced she was hosting her annual Fall Nesting Party.

I love the unexpected use of pumpkins in are non-conforming colors! Image via Victoria

Ornamental cabbage and orange flowers are beautiful in contrast and the centerpiece is low enough for great conversation during the meal. Image via Country Living

Melissa is also a fan of fall so she hosts this annual event where you can link to her site with your fall ideas for decorating.  The event isn’t until September 8th but I’ve started thinking of what I want to do, things I’ll layer on.

This is such a simple but elegant way to give a nod to the season without using orange, a color a friend of mine can't abide. Image via Victoria

For my sun-loving friends, trust me, I won’t pull out the plaid and pumpkins just yet but I’ll be thinking of them in eager anticipation!

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