It's almost turkey day...

Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 7:39AM
Yarnista

And because I'm at Disney World with my children right now, what better time to think about Thanksgiving centerpieces?

Is that normal?

We are having the best -- most exhausting -- time, and I know that as soon as I return, Thanksgiving preparations will be in full swing. I am hosting again this year, which means a house full of two horsedogs, seven adults, and seven kids under the age of nine.

Here's what I've accomplished so far:

1. Ordered the free range turkey from the local butcher.

2. That is all.

3. Nothing else.

I can say, however, that my dining room is in considerably better shape than it was last Thanksgiving.

All of this is gone:

And so is all of this:

That table and chairs are gone, too. Sadly, the light fixture will remain until after Thanksgiving, when an electrician can come install the new chandelier. I don't trust my electrical skills in this regard.

In fact, I don't trust my electrical skills at all, because I have no electrical skills, and it's unlikely that I will develop confidence in my electrical skills in the next two weeks.

But here are some things I can do:

1. Cook without poisoning people.

2. Set a table.

3. Ignore football.

4. Compile ideas for the above.

Like this, for example. Great, inexpensive place cards. I would have to use faux leaves from the craft store, as most of the leaves are gone in Northern Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a simple way to dress up your silverware. I have a million odds and ends of ribbon, and this is a good way to use up stash.

 

 

 

 

Must. Find. A. Way. To. Make. A. Dessert. Table. Simple burlap linens. The key to any buffet table is making sure you have several heights on the table. You can use overturned boxes or buckets. You could stack books. It doesn't matter, because you're covering it up with the burlap.

 

 

 

 

I adore the blue plates here. Remember our discussion about blue and orange ?

I love the little berries tucked in between the plate and the charger.

 

 

 

 

White pumpkins are everywhere this year, have you noticed that? These are dressed up with white candles. This look is less traditional... more elegant.

 

 

 

 

Love this idea for the kid's table. You could have the little circle cards all cut out and ready to go and have the kids work on coloring them while they're waiting for dinner.

 

 

 

 

You could pull this off with a permanent calligraphy pen. This is rustic, so it doesn't matter if it's perfect. Easy.

 

 

 

 

Another simple centerpiece idea -- just gourds, berries, and ribbon.

 

 

 

 

 

You could use faux or real leaves here -- just make sure the branches are cut at slightly different heights.

 

 

 

 

And I love this idea a lot. Jones Design Company has free printable cards that say "I am thankful for". You could have them out when guests are arriving and then hang them from a branch tree for others to see.

 

 

 

 

All of this is making me hungry.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

Article originally appeared on Yarnista (http://www.yarnista.com/).