Currier and Ives Blue for a Christmas Tablescape

I have developed a love for blue and white and was so thrilled to visit an antique store in my area of Kentucky and purchase this Currier and Ives blue set of antique china. The china was made by Royal China Company in the USA from 1950 to 1986. I felt just like a kid in a candy store as I looked at each piece. 

I find myself searching for blue and white tablescapes on blogs and Pinterest.

Setting a table for eight with this china is so much fun for me. I just love the look! The chargers are chop plates by Bordallo Pinheiro followed by dinner plates with "The Old Grist Mill" design and fruit bowls with "The Old Farm Gate" design.  

Six dark blue candles surrounded by fresh cut cedar lined the center of the table.

Blue glass ornaments filled a raised crystal bowl while mirrored glass ornaments nestled in the cedar cuttings. 

Blue beaded garland ran atop the cedar pieces. 

Cedar cuttings and blue glittered stem filled a crystal vase near the table. 

Flatware for the blue and white tablescape is 1847 Rogers Old Colony. The silver plated flatware was a gift from my husband's aunt years ago. 

Crisp white dinner napkins rolled inside antique silver napkin rings were placed at an angle to the top left side of the dinner plate. 

Blue goblets from my hutch were selected to finish the table setting. 

Magnolia leaf clusters were cut from a friend's tree and attached to wire wreaths. Blue ribbon bows were tied and fastened to each wreath before they were hung from each set of shutters.  The leaves last about 10 days so beware of making the wreaths too early. 

Gosh, I am ready for the guests to arrive and share some holiday laughter and fun around this Currier and Ives Blue Christmas tablescape. 

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to these wonderful parties:

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Fall into Fall@ DIY by Design on Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday
My Thrift Store Addiction

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings
Thoughts of Home on Thursday @ White Spray Paint

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

A Few Birds in the Upper New England States

In early October, we visited the six upper New England States to see the fall leaves (plus a couple of days in New York). I'm running behind in sharing this post but I decided to go ahead and post it before winter really sets in. I thought the leaves were gorgeous in certain places.

We were able to get some pictures of a few birds from the area to share.

In Stowe, Vermont, we saw a mallard drake on a pond at a hotel we stayed. This male duck has beautiful colors. 

His green head, gray flanks, and black tail-curl make him easy to identify. 

I thought this pic of the mallard drake and hen was interesting. Look close at the hen and you will notice she has a dark blue patch on her wing and a dull orange and black bill. 

Also in Stowe, we saw lots American Robins in a berry tree off the deck of our hotel room. 

The robins were having a feast on the berries.

One of the days of our trip, we rode the Cape Cod Central Railroad along the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts. Perched on a telephone pole along the canal was a Double-crested Cormorant.

I'll end with a collage of pics from the White Mountain National Park Lower Falls.

Thanks for stopping by - Judy.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Our World @ Our World Tuesday Meme

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern on Tuesday evening

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Floyd Family Homestead on Wednesday

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday evening

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday evening

Photo Friday @ Pierced Wonderings

Skywatch Friday @ Skyley

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

Camera Critters on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Gather Here With A Grateful Heart - A Thanksgiving Tablescape

Soon we will gather around our tables to celebrate Thanksgiving here in USA. We will give thanks and celebrate the day with family and friends. 

Turkeys will be cooking in our ovens and wonderful aromas will fill our homes. Tables will be set, whether elegant or simple, it won't matter, for it is the gathering of grateful hearts that makes this day so special.

 As you scroll down the page, I hope you will reflect on what you are grateful for.

I know you are planning your menus and gathering your dishes as all good bloggers do.

From the words of George Washington . . . "that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country . . . "

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to these great parties:

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

Tuesday Turn Around @ My Wee Abode

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday

Favorite Things Thursday @ Katherine's Corner

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda

Blessings of Thanksgiving Tablescape

Thanksgiving is here and it's a special time to count your blessings. 

As I share this Thanksgiving table with you, I'll also share a few Thanksgiving prayers that can be said at your table.

Thank You, God

For the food we are about to eat,

For those who are here

To share these blessings,

For the generosity of our hosts

That make this possible.

Bless those who are here

And those who are in our hearts,

And all those who are not

As fortunate on this day.

Amen.

from here

As we bow our heads to pray, we give thanks to you God, for this Thanksgiving Day.

We thank ou Father, for our families, friends, and for all the blessings, both big and small, that you pour out on us each day. 

We give thanks to you for this wonderful time together, and for each one present here today.

Amen.

from here

We thank you for the turkey,
the Gravy and the dressing.
Dear Lord, this table overflows
With Thy abundant blessing.

Let us always be aware
That all gifts come from You,
And may we serve Your heavenly will
In everything we do. Amen.

from here

Dear Lord,
As we gather together around this table
laden with your plentiful gifts to us,
we thank You for always providing
what we really need
and for sometimes granting wishes
for things we don't really need.
Today, let us be especially thankful
for each other - for family and friends
who enrich our lives in wonderful ways,
even when they present us with challenges
Let us join together now
in peaceful, loving fellowship
to celebrate Your love for us
and our love for each other. Amend

from here

Prayers that kids could say:

Lord, we thank you this Thanksgiving,
For the food we eat and the lives we're living. Amen.

Lord, we pray You'll bless this food,
As we eat it now in gratitude. Amen.

We thank You, God, for the food we eat;
We thank you for our lives so sweet. Amen.

from here

I hope you are okay with me giving some possible prayers for your table. Sometimes people are looking for a prayer to say so I hope this gives a little help.

Thanks for stopping by for another day for Life in Kentucky - Judy.

Linking to:

Tuesday Turn About @ My Wee Abode 

Birds at the Feeders and Around the Yard

I was surprised to see this fella in the birch tree by our deck; I haven't seen one in a while. The dark-eyed junco has such a pretty pink bill and a slate color with a white underbelly that it makes him very distinctive. He may be coming for the winter.

Juvenile Goldfinches have been at my feeders lately. They are just too cute.

Male and female Downy Woodpeckers have been on my suet feeders and running up and down the birch trees by the feeders.

Nuthatches and Tufted Titmice are busy too.

I always love to see the Carolina Chickadees at the feeders.

Around the yard . . .

Check out this marbled orb weaver spider. It was on a stump in the yard. 

When your mower is in for repair, we get mushrooms in the yard. 

Thanks for stopping by for another day of Life in Kentucky - Judy. 

Linking to:

Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life on Sunday evening

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday

Our World @ Our World Tuesday Meme

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

Wednesday Around the World @ Photographing New Zealand

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern on Tuesday evening

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods
The Homesteader Hop @ Floyd Family Homestead

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wed. evenings 

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wed. evenings

Share Your Style Link Party @ The Essence of Home on Thursday evening

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme on Wednesday evening

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday evening

Photo Friday @ Pierced Wonderings

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

Camera Critters on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon