Saturday, October 30, 2010

And the winner is...

...Betsy from "A Perfect Setting" has won a 42-piece set of Mikasa "Italian Countryside" flatware! She was chosen randomly by the little "sheriff" who is very excited about making snow with all the entries!





Congratulations to Betsy, and if you have not visited her, please go by and see her beautiful tables!!

My heartfelt thanks to all who entered, especially those of you who posted and put it on your sidebars! You are all such lovely people, and I really enjoy your visits, as well as my visits to your beautiful and inspiring blogs.

And a very special thanks to the ladies at Mikasa and Lifetime Brands for sponsoring this giveaway!!

Have a lovely Autumn weekend...and many blessings to you:-)

Anita

Fall in the Smokies...

I thought I would share a few photos from our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway here in Balsam, NC.  This is literally our back yard, so we enjoy it as much as possible! These are iphone photos but I think you can still enjoy the grandeur of the mountains!!






















A photo cannot capture the feeling one gets from experiencing this in person! This is God's creation at its best:-)

Have a great weekend!!

Anita

Friday, October 29, 2010

Photo Challenge--Architecture

I thought I would link up some photos of the little guest house in this week's tablescape (HERE) to "Photo Challenge" over at Razmataz hosted by Chania! This is the first time I am joining this party, and I thought it would be fun!! 

This house was a guest house for the "big house" but was moved to the edge of the woods when the big house was torn down. I love the late 19th century details. The sheathing underneath the clapboard is wormy chestnut...








Please be sure to go by "Razmataz" to see some incredible examples of architecture!!

Thanks for stopping by:-)

Anita

Last Day for the Mikasa giveaway!!!

Tonight at midnight EST is the deadline to enter this fabulous giveaway from Mikasa---a 42-piece set of "Italian Countryside" flatware plus the wood caddy!!



I have been using this flatware and I love it. I love that it is substantial and heavy!

Thanks to all of you lovely ladies who have posted it on your blogs! That means a lot to me:-)

If you remember the cute little "Sheriff" from last giveaway, he will again picking the winner tomorrow.

Just go HERE for instructions on how to enter.

Thank you for stopping by here:-)

Anita

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dining at the guest house...

The woods are full of surprises...


But how can we get there?


Let's get closer...


It looks like a house...


"This house that looks to east, to west, 


This, dear one, is our home, our rest;


Yonder the stormy sea, and here...


The woods that bring the sunset near.




The wind from out the west is blowing...











...dark grow the pinewoods, dark and drear; The woods that bring the sunset near.


When o'er wide seas the sun declines,
Far off its fading glory shines,
Far off, sublime, and full of fear; 
The pinewoods bring the sunset near."


I hope you have enjoyed our walk through the woods! I have mentioned that I do not "do" Halloween, but it did seem like the perfect opportunity to use this old house as a backdrop for a table. This was a guesthouse and sat behind my grandparent's house until it was torn down to make way for a more modern house.


My great grandmother lived there alone until they built an apartment in the new house for her. Let's take a look inside...I had never realized how I love the shade of blue in here. Obviously, it is in a very bad shape and would require a lot of work to renovate. It is filled with doors, windows and trim from the old house.


And other treasures...


I love the intricate detail of a carpenter from a hundred years ago...



Now for the table...




I will be participating in "Tablescape Thursday" at "Between Naps on the Porch" so please go by and say "Hi" to Susan!! 

Also, do not forget to enter my giveaway HERE for a 42-piece set of Mikasa "Italian Countryside" flatware! 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I have been very behind this week so if I have not gotten by to visit you, I will be there soon, I promise!! I love getting around to see what wonderful things you are all doing.

Enjoy the wonderful blessings you have and always pass them on to someone else:-)

Poem: "The Woods That Bring the Sunset Near" by Richard Watson Gilder
China: Platinum Scroll by Harmony House
Sterling flatware: "Louvre" 1893 by Wallace
Silver Goblet: Roma SL Madrid
Vintage silver chargers

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Autumn Glow

This week I am staying with a little cooler palette for fall but this time I'm keeping the paisley and you're getting the shiny, cool, flatware! But first...take a look!

We are outside on the porch this beautiful fall day, and the table is set for two. 

Pin It


I am using my creamy Mikasa "Italian Countryside" dinnerware, which I have accented with a green leaf plate.


I used a large piece of matelasse fabric draped over this end of the table. I stayed away from the typical autumn centerpieces and used a piece of driftwood and ferns...


The hydrangeas have turned these beautiful shades of purple, green and brown...


There are plenty of acorns lying around for hungry squirrels this winter, so I borrowed a few for my hurricane.


And don't forget the paisley...the napkins were made from fabric from "Vertigo," which is a local decor and fabric shop. I also added a touch of green with the Fostoria "Argus" green iced tea glasses...




I will be linking up to Susan's "Tablescape Thursday" over at "Between Naps on the Porch." Be sure to stop by there and say hi!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! I really enjoy getting around to visit all of you too:-)

Anita


Mikasa "Italian Countryside" dinnerware and flatware
Fostoria "Argus" green iced tea glasses
Green leaf plates and placemats from Walmart
Bamboo napkin rings from Bed, Bath and Beyond
Everything else...from God's beautiful earth