Setting the holiday table
Last week I didn't link to the story I wrote on slipcovers because good as I am at justifying not staying on topic on this blog, I had a tough time justifying linking to slipcovers.
Not so this week. ...
I wrote a story on setting a festive table for Thanksgiving, which appeared in today's Home & Garden section. Here's the link. Actually, it started off as a story on setting a festive table for Thanksgiving, and I was just about finished when the designer called me over to show me the photo (above). I took a look at it, and my eyes started to bug out.
It was like one of those exams where you've written about two pages of the essay and you suddenly realize you've misread the question, so you have to say something like, "That's how some people would argue the case, but they would be wrong" and then go in a completely different direction.
I rushed back to my desk and started turning my Thanksgiving table story into a festive holiday table story.
When I had called about the photo assignment, the manager at the new Great Gatherings in Annapolis, where the picture was taken, described the setting as "transitional." I just hadn't focused on what that would mean.
But if you want your table to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, it's a great example. Just not a concept I had thought of before.
I couldn't use my friend in the story, but here's the link to the post I wrote last Thanksgiving about her beautiful table setting.
(Barbara Haddock Taylor/Sun photographer)
Comments
Of course a food blog should link to an article about slipcovers. How else are we supposed to eat in the living room without worrying about spills?
Excellent point. EL
Posted by: Laura Lee | November 15, 2008 5:42 PM
It's lovely, but too busy for me. I have a long narrow table that looks best with simple china, crystal and silver on a background of a pretty tablecloth. Decoration usually consists of greenery or flowers down the middle, studded with various-sized candlesticks or votives, depending on my mood. Sometimes I'll put a bowl or basket of seasonally appropriate ornaments in the middle.
Posted by: Dottie | November 15, 2008 8:50 PM
Good grief! My idea of a festive holiday table is clearing all the accumulated reading material (old Urbanites, SF paperbacks, mail that isn't date critical, etc.) and finding the good pepper grinder.
Posted by: Lissa | November 15, 2008 10:25 PM
I love a well docorated table for holidays with a centerpiece and all that but my problem is too much food. If I don't want to have people getting up to get their own stuff out of the kitchen, my food takes up every inch of available space on the table.
I've started decorating other places with fresh flowers like the living room and leaving the table for serving bowls and gravy boats, etc. Of course, as I've mentioned, when I cook, the state of Rhode Island could drop in at any time and there would be enough for all!
Posted by: Joyce W. | November 16, 2008 9:35 AM
It sounds like Lissa and I might be right at home at each other's holiday tables - before or after the clearing off of detritus! (My mother would be appalled - but that's true of so many things . . . )
Posted by: KristinB | November 16, 2008 12:44 PM
I'm with Joyce in the food-takes-up-the-entire-table prblem. I wasonce sitting at a lovely table where our hostess hadcut the artlessly arranged flowers from her owngarden and a spider lowered itself from on the the roses.....
Posted by: Eve | November 16, 2008 1:09 PM
I'm with Joyce and others on the food takes up all the space thing. My family gatherings have had a nice centerpiece while the food was cooking, but nearing dinner time, we'd pull the centerpiece and put out all the serving bowls, gravy boats, and hot mats (or whatever) to accompany all the sides.
Plus, my mom would carve the turkey in the kitchen and put all the sliced meats on a big platter that we all passed around.
Posted by: PCB Rob | November 16, 2008 4:28 PM
That sort of table is for someone who has "hired help" to serve food. Give me my simpler, but food filled table any day.
I want my house to look real and lived in. (And boy, it does)...
Posted by: Cosmo Girl | November 16, 2008 5:08 PM
Oh, I don't know Cosmo Girl--I think I could pull off a pretty nice table, even though I AM the "hired help." We've been known to throw a party for more than 100 people, doing all the cooking ourselves (and, alas, the clean-up ...)
Posted by: Dahlink | November 17, 2008 6:29 AM
Dahlink: I only meant that there is no food on the table, and no place to put the food. It is very attractive, but meant to be looked at, not used by a regular family. There is not much room for servings bowls, ergo my comment about "the food being served by the help."
Posted by: Cosmo Girl | November 17, 2008 7:47 AM
Lissa, that sounds like my house minus several balls of yarn. Though I should probably admit that I have a weakness for styling food, even if it's just cheese and crackers.
Posted by: Stacy | November 17, 2008 8:54 AM
Stacy, my idea of styling food is making sure there is no dog or cat fur on whatever I'm serving other people.
Posted by: Lissa | November 17, 2008 10:11 AM
Any idea who makes the dinnerware in this picture??
And the pattern? Wow! Looks great to me.
Posted by: Venus | November 8, 2009 11:47 PM