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...

The holidays are upon us and I couldn't be more pleased. I was praying earlier this afternoon, thanking God for the many blessings He has given me. I am thankful to be alive! I am thankful that He has blessed me with wonderful family and friends, and I am thankful that He has given me the gift of hospitality.  I am truly in my element when I am preparing food to share with others and look forward to greeting each and every one who is about to join us this holiday season around our table.  I thanked God for giving me the talent to make things look nice so that each one who sits at our table will feel as special as I feel they are to me. This year I am blessed to be able to host two Thanksgiving dinners. The first one is Thanksgiving day when we get to meet our daughters finace's parents for the first time. Then Saturday our second dinner will be for our family members who are nearby and able to come. I always love the hectic bustle in the kitchen as the last mi...

A little birdie told me that spring is coming.  Even though it is still winter, spring is playing hide and seek. 1,2,3..Here I come!   The birds are singing again outside our windows which is a sure sign spring is not too far away. Soon the momma birds will be building nests and by mid spring we'll begin to see the first of the little ones that have hatched.    I think I'll have a cup of tea and watch them for a while. Click on any picture to enlarge it. I love to watch the momma bird feeding her young. The little ones sit quietly in the nest until they hear their momma coming back with food for them. Then their little beaks crack open farther than you would think they could as each one peeps louder than their sibling to try to get more food. I was inspired to set my table by the birds that chirp so sweetly these days.  Just hearing them makes me realize that it won't be too much longer before we see the last of the snow. How many bird houses do you se...

I enjoy creating tablescapes. Whether it is for a holiday or just a special meal with family or friends, I like making the table "special". Tablescaping is another way to express my creativity. I will see a dish or piece of art (Pier 1 is my favorite place to be inspired) and just have to buy it! I can almost see a table done with one inspiration piece. My honey gave up on me a long time ago with telling me "no more dishes" or "you don't need that" and just goes with the flow now, although I still get the occasional lifted eyebrow. I've had a few friends ask me what a tablescape is and although there is no true definition, it simply means making your table special by using props, decor and coodinated place settings to create a mood or atmosphere. If you google tablescape you'll find all sorts of wonderfully inspiring pictures from some extremely creative people who do this for fun as well as those professionals who are lucky enough to make a li...