table set, ready for dinner
What a joyous, satisfying Thanksgiving we had! All the cooking and sewing and preparations proved to be worth it as it all came together and our family arrived.
We had some close calls and a lot of tension before that, though. One week before Turkey Day, the thermostat in my stove died! It would likely take a week to get a replacement part#$%&!!!! Dear husband Bob decided we should just get a new stove, but in this era of widespread shortages, that was like a scavenger hunt! He finally found one that fit our need and it was delivered Sunday morning. Hallelujah!
While we were waiting on the stove, at 11 p.m.Friday night, we discovered a flood in the dining room coming coming from under the china cabinet! YIKES!!! We spent the night rotating 4-6 beach towels soaking up the water, spinning them in the washer then drying them while others replaced them with another set of beach towels.
God bless the wonderful plumber who showed up at 11 a.m.Saturday and fixed the kitchen plumbing which had a 1/4″ hole in the pipe! All the while I was praying the kitchen stove would be delivered the next day as promised.
Before all that angst, there was so much excitement as we readied everything–new curtains were made for one guest room, new pillowcases were made and embroidered, flower beds were weeded, fresh flowers placed in the guest rooms and front hall. The dogs and cats were well aware that something was going on.
Sebastian eagerly awaits guests’ arrival
Before everyone arrived, the dinner table was set. I made free standing lace “ornaments” or “dingle dangles.” They were tied to the burlap napkin rings which coordinated with the burlap table runner. The burlap rings were wrapped around linen hemstitched napkins.
Burlap napkin ring with free standing lace pumpkin from Embroidery Library’s Fall Favorites collection. I’m going to have to press that burlap runner into flat submission with heavy starch and my press! UPDATE:All the starch in the world won’t make burlap lie flat. The trick is to pull a burlap strand just 2 threads inside the fringe, like pulling a gathering thread. THEN starch and press the edge flat.
At Thanksgiving, with so many blessings, I think it is especially meaningful and important to express your appreciation and love to the important people in your life. Make a phone call, send a card or make a dishtowel for Turkey Day.
