Whew!  I’m tired!  So, I may not get through this tonight. 

I compromised.  I did.  Never let it be said that I don’t try to keep the peace….  I decided that I would take some plates.  But, I didn’t have 6 of 1 style that would coordinate with the decor.   I was (as usual) the last one to decorate.  But, that’s OK, cause I had it done a good 3 hours ahead  of the time to start.  And, I work better at ‘the last minute’…that’s just the way I roll.  Table decorated…centerpiece…crows, pumpkins…place mats….and PLATES!  I had 4 of the bird plates, and 4 of the pine needle plates.  I was unable to get more of the bird plates, but I could have gone and gotten some more of the pine needle plates so I would have had 6 matching.  But, I didn’t.  Used what I had, alternated them on the table, and it looked just fine!  However, I did not think it necessary to haul glasses and silverware, too.  So, I didn’t.

 Good Morning!  Sorry, had to go to sleep last night!  So, as I was saying………

The dinner was lovely.  Some of the most beautiful tables.  Will show you some after I finish my story.  I worked on my centerpiece and got it to my liking.  Here is the way my table looked before the dinner started.

And, some close ups….

 The bags hold scented candles.  Each of the guests took one home.

 BTW…I punched out everyone of these little crows to make my own confetti…there were hundreds…..

Several of the men were there to be the ‘waiters’……..including DH….(far left)…

I ‘lifted’ this picture from a friend, who had  posted her pictures last night.  I haven’t asked her yet if I could use it…but, I’m pretty sure she would say ‘yes’…so…picture courtesy of April Cobb.

 DH came from work, so when he got there he looked over the tables.  He said, “Your table is the only one without glasses and silverware.”  Well, it was not the only one…but then a someone came by and told me that I needed to get some glasses for my table, or we wouldn’t have anything to drink out of.    I think I heard a “told you so” from a masculine voice.  So, thinking maybe I really had messed up, I went to the closet and hauled out 6 fancy nancy glasses.  Someone had already come by to put out the silverware.  OK…it’s all ready, have the blessing, and the waiters start serving.  First they bring us a salad, in a clear plastic plate which we set on my plates.  Then, they bring our drinks…IN PLASTIC CUPS !!!  So here I am with this stem ware on the table, and now the drinks are not even in them.  DH was assigned to 3 tables…one of which was mine.  So, after he brought our tea IN PLASTIC CUPS !!!!!, I had him remove the glasses from our table.  Because my table was very full and they were in our way.   Even those who had brought glasses did not use them…they used the plastic cups also.  Our main course and desert were also served in plastic plates.  The meal, prepared by Janice Kelley, was delicious!

So, to sum it up…I had a plan, and it was a good plan.  I should not have changed it.  I should only have listened to the lady in charge.  I compromised on the plates, and I should have left it at that.  I would have had much less stress that way.  Next time I decide to ‘go my own way’…..no one will talk me out of it!

My sweet friend, Pam, came last night.  She is so dear to Joy and I.  Pam is our former organist at church, and she is the one we chose to sing at Mom’s funeral.  So good to spend time with her.

Here, then, are some of the other tables that were fixed last night.  So sorry that I do not remember all the designers names.

Here, the campfire in center of table glowed, and the ones seated at this table wore the hats and kerchiefs…

LOVE these chargers…

 Great ‘coffee’ theme!

Note the scripture on the plates…beautiful ! 

This table was decorated by the incomparable Monty Clark.  Love the silver and lime color scheme.  Sadly, Monty did not get to speak last night.  She had a lovely talk all prepared, but, alas, someone else was on the program…so we’ll have to hear from her later.  (If you hear of my demise…it was Monty who did it!)

This is the table done by April Cobb.  She so graciously lent me her photo.  She is also the ultrasound technician that is keeping track of my grandchild while he/she is still in the womb.    I just know she loves looking at that beautiful child!!! 🙂  Her table was full of fun!

Using the child’s game Candy Land as inspiration.  Very clever.  Done by one of the youth in our church.

A dear lady, Dot Arnold, had a birthday yesterday.  So someone did a table in her honor.  Her daughter was our speaker last night.  She did an excellent job.

There were 23 tables all together.  Wish I could show you all of them.  The lady in charge (Linda Mills) had secured some great door prizes…which is always fun…especially when you win one of them…and I did.  I figure it was a reward for putting myself in a ‘compromising’ state of mind.

It was a wonderful night.  Several of our friends who had moved to other churches were there and it was wonderful to see them.  Wonderful speaker, as well.

It is now 3:04 pm. and it’s looking kinda doubtful if the things in my trunk will make it in today.  There’s always tomorrow…they’ll wait!

Psalm 34:8       Amen.

I’m busy, busy, busy today.  We have a dinner at our church once a year called the ‘Tables of Love’.  Anyone who likes may decorate a table.  It can be any style you like.  I had it all planned out in my head what I was going to do.  So, Tuesday night I did what every smart, well-prepared lady would do.  I gathered together all my supplies.  I put it all in containers that I could manage.  And, I piled it by the back door.  Then I went to my closet and got out the clothes I was going to wear, making sure they were ironed and ready…even put out my shoes.

Now, some people are going to go all out on their table.  They are bringing their china, their glasses, even their silverware.  I think that’s wonderful!  But, we are not going to use those china, glasses and silverware.  We are going to use the churches china, glasses and silverware.  So, I decided that I would not cart all my china, glasses and silverware to the church…especially since we are not going to use them.  I talked to the lady who is in charge of this shin-dig…she said that was fine…not a problem.  THEN, Joy called me and asked me if I knew that we were supposed to take our china, glasses and silverware.  And, I told her that I knew, but was not going to, and I had talked to the lady in charge. and she said OK.  Joy then said “OK”.  But, I felt like she thought I should take china, glasses and silverware.  Then, my DH asked me that night if I knew that all the ladies were taking their china, glasses and silverware.  [how in the world does he know this little tid bit of info?  Who told him that?  Did they think he would care?  Did they think he would tell me?  Well…he did.]   So, I told him that I had talked to the lady in charge and she said it was OK.  Then DH looked at me like,”well, if you ask me, you should take some of the china, glasses and silverware around here and use it at the church.”   He didn’t SAY it…he just looked it.  By the way, the men are serving us tonight…so he will be there.  And, I will never hear the end of it if I am the only one there who does not have their china, glasses and silverware.  Now, that would not bother me…but it would bother him because it would mean that I was not ‘following the rules.”  Cause I “always try to go my own way, and do things differently, instead of following the plan and doing things the ‘right’ way.”  I” need to work on that “.   I must admit, there is the smallest grain of truth in that statement.   WELL….normally, I would go on and do what I had planned.  However since Joy and DH both mentioned it…maybe I need to reconsider.  But, I really do not have the china to go with the theme of my table decor.  That would mean I would have to go on a search for china, glasses and silverware.  I did buy new place mats…but that’s not the same as…well, you know.

So, here I am…getting dressed.  And, I will either go to the church and decorate as I planned, or I will go on a wild goose chase for appropriate china, glasses and silverware, then go to the church and decorate my table.

By the way………the decor was all packed and ready to go in plenty of time.  I did it on Tuesday night, thinking the dinner was on Wednesday…instead of Thursday.  At least it can not be said that I waited till the last minute to get things ready!  Unless you count the china, glasses, silverware…..

Watch for the follow-up report….

Does this picture make your mouth water? I’m a candy corn lover. When I buy a bag, I open it and pour it into a big zip-lock. Then, I pour in a big handful or two or three of peanuts. I shake it up well, and then, dig in! Yummy!

However, there are some other ways to use this confection. From Women’s Day magazine, check out these fun crafts.

Simply find a branch from the backyard and secure it into pot. Then just hot glue candy corn in groups of two or three. Simple. Cute.

This one takes a little more time. Purchase Styrofoam balls in your desired size. Spray paint with orange spray paint. (DUH…what else would you spray paint orange with?) Then hot glue the candy tightly in rows with the largest end next to the ball. Then pop into a flower pot or urn filled with more candy.

I’m quite sure I do not need to give any instructions with this one!

Now this one is just a little more difficult. Purchase a Styrofoam wreath and cover with wide black ribbon. Then begin hot gluing the candy on in circular patterns, alternating the direction of the candy. Finish off with another strip of the black ribbon to hang.

If you wish to save these to use another year…spray them with a clear acrylic sealer.

I’m not much of a Halloween person, but I couldn’t resist sharing these dog costumes! What about you? Is your pup gonna dress up to go Trick-or-Treating? Finn will have to be content to stay home and pass out candy. But, if this does happen to be your cup of tea…..

They could go as other animals……

Or, perhaps, they could go as food…….

Better still…how about as their favorite human……..

Maybe they they’d prefer to be their favorite fictional character……..

Whatever they decide on, please have some dog treats treats on hand instead of candy. If they have to go through this humiliation….they should be well rewarded!

Make sure you watch your dog so they don’t ingest any dropped candy or that other people don’t feed your dog candy. Aside from the fact that chocolate is toxic to dogs, the wrappers of even candy without chocolate can be harmful if ingested by your dog.

And, by the way, if this sort of things takes up a big part of your time………..