The Howell Blessings

'Tis the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, the excitement of family gathering has me scurrying like a mouse. The projects I've started have yet to be completed, yet here I sit blogging as I'm physically depleted. And yet what to my wondering eyes do appear, but a completed tablescape below my chandelier... All tongue-in-cheek aside, I am so thankful for this time of year when the holidays give us excuses to spend time around the table with family and friends.  There is something so special about breaking bread with others. Sharing food and conversation around a table laden with soul comforting food brings a sweet satisfaction to my heart. I hope your Thanksgiving, whether it be with many or a few, begins with giving thanks to God for the many blessings He has given you. It's been way too long since I've shared a tablescape, so I thought I would take this opportunity to do just that. Thanks to my honey for taking the pictures...

I know it has been quite a while since I shared a tablescape. Some of you have gently hinted it was time for another one.  Since I quit work in April my life has been nothing less than random as I have tried to figure out how to get things done and start a new business. I've had not much success in either department. And believe it or not, I (who always has a table on) went months without a tablescape on my table. It wasn't that I didn't get pictures, I had instead papers and a computer on the dining table...something I NEVER do! So, after a certain well placed comment from a certain southern friend whom I miss terribly, and another southern friend who I've never ever met face to face and a few other sweetly dropped hints from other out of state friends (you know who you are ladies) I realized I actually have folks who wait to see what I come up with next.  So thank you ladies for the kick in the pants.  I promise to begin tablescaping once again. I'll tr...

This past Saturday started with an air of excitement as I began preparing a second, much larger turkey than I had on Thanksgiving day. Thinking about what lay ahead put a quick in my tired step. My daddy and younger sister were on their way up from down south to spend the day and overnight with us. And later in the afternoon, my oldest brother and his family would be arriving in time to share a meal in which we all contributed to. Normally I set the table a day or more ahead of time, before a big dinner. We were expecting twelve to sit down all together. My nephew brings his own chair and always gets a corner spot and we fill in between the dining chairs with antique folding chairs that were my great grandparents. This day I couldn't even begin tablescaping until my dad arrived. I had been inspired by a table I had seen on a Southern Living web page and asked my dad to help me put it together.  My inspiration table was laden with wood cut from different siz...