The Headmistress: Thanksgiving

11 November 2012

A Little Thanksgiving Take-Home

(Original post for this picture here)

This weekend, the Headmaster and I will host his children and grandchildren in Wisconsin for an early Thanksgiving before we return to Louisiana for the winter. We have a very small 'cottage', but we manage to squeeze a number of folks in for dinner! Instead of the usual turkey, which they will all have Thanksgiving week, we'll do a typical southern 'Sunday dinner' of roast, stuffed potatoes (atypical), and green beans.

We will also gift them with their Christmas presents, but I've also prepared a couple of little 'extras' to take home. I found these on Pinterest and couldn't resist duplicating!

First: Rosemary Salt (Martha Stewart)

This is soooo simple! Simply take kosher salt (you could probably use sea salt as well),

and place in a sauce pot. Add some sprigs of rosemary (I had to use store bought as mine has bitten the proverbial dust in the garden),

and heat for a little while, until the salt is quite warm. The heat allows the rosemary to release its fragrance and smells so nice!

Let it cool for a while, then cover overnight. That's it! And I can tell you that it smells wonderful!

I will use these cute little containers from HL (50%, so they cost just $1).

When ready to fill, remove the rosemary sprigs, fill the containers, add a fresh sprig of the herb,

and add a little bow (I used some twine I had on hand). What could be easier?
Note #1: I had about a half a box of salt on hand; it filled five of these baby jars.

The next treat I also found on Pinterest; it's an autumn mix of some really yummy and fun stuff; the little ones (and the big ones) are sure to like it!

Ingredients: mini pretzels, sunflower seeds, Reese's pieces, Autumn Mix, and Indian Corn.

Mix it all up,

then ladle into jars (also from HL, 50%); add a ribbon and you're done!
Note #2: I used one bag of each and it filled three of these large jars (with a little leftover for the Headmaster; and...a little bit of the sunflower seeds goes a long way!)

We are still praying, and will continue to do so, for all of those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We wish all of you Godspeed.

These little goodies will find their way to some of these parties this week:

Inspire Me Monday ~ Create With Joy

Masterpiece Monday ~ Boogieboard Cottage

Mop It Up Monday ~ I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party ~ Debbiedoo's

Mosaic Monday ~ The Little Red House

Show Me What You Got ~ Our Delightful Home

Metamorphosis Monday ~ Between Naps on the Porch

A Return to Lovliness ~A Delightsome Life
On the Menu Monday ~ Stone Gable

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Coastal Charm

Time to Shine ~ A Diamond in the Stuff

Table Top Tuesday ~ A Stroll Thru Life

One Project at a Time ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons

Tuesday's Treasures ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Show Me What Ya Got ~ Not JUST a Housewife

Be Inspired ~ Elizabeth & Co.
Let's Dish ~ Cuisine Kathleen

Welcome Home Wednesday ~ Vintage on a Dime

Wordless Wednesday ~ Create With Joy

What's It Wednesday ~ Ivy and Elephants

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday ~ Primp

Wow Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Style

Show & Share ~ Southern Lovely

Home Sweet Home ~ The Charm of Home

Home and Garden Thursday ~ A Delightsome Life
Tips and Tutorials ~ Stone Gable

Potpourri Friday ~ 2805

Vintage Inspiration ~ Common Ground

It's Fall, Y'all~ Thrifty Decor Chick

My Romantic Home ~Show and Tell Friday

Furniture Feature Friday ~ Miss Mustard Seed

Flaunt It Friday ~ Chic on a Shoestring

Fresh Eggs Daily ~ Farm Girl Blog Fest

Saturday Nite Special ~ Funky Junk Interiors

My Favorite Thing ~ Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Under the Table and Dreaming ~ Sunday Showcase

Sunday's Best Party ~ My 1929 Charmer

It's Party Time ~ It's So Very Cheri

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

02 November 2012

Another Blank Slate and A Spinning Head!

The Headmaster and I returned on Monday from Louisiana, where we attended my godson's wedding. It was a whirlwind trip!

I tried, really tried, to do some fall decorating, but didn't get very far. So...when we return AGAIN in a couple of weeks, I've got my work cut out for me! We'll be having an early Thanksgiving up here (WI) for the children here, and Thanksgiving down there (Louisiana) for family there. Are you keeping up with this? My head is spinning; in fact, I've awakened a couple of times recently not quite knowing where I was!

Here's what I have so far:

I literally threw some stuff up on the mantel, but am not happy with it, so I will be adding/subtracting. Here is the blank slate:

I added a piece of autumn leaf garland and a Royal Worchestershire Palissy plate (I love those designs). A couple of candlesticks are currently there as well, with some little sprigs of fall attached.

The table is kind of set, but I won't get to the centerpiece or finish until we get back. The table is covered with a drop cloth (as I don't have a table pad, I took two pieces of foam core board and duct taped them together; will also add additional for the leaves!), and my centerpiece will involve a galvanized tray and some tall glass vases which will be filled with colorful dried beans and nuts...maybe some twigs, greenery, fresh flowers, candles. Oops! There's the new mirror fresh from Kirkland's!

Chargers are from my favorite resale shop, Julie's; china will be Johnson Brothers' His Majesty.

I've had these cute white pumpkin soup tureens forever, but seldom use them;

I'll use faux antler knives and carving set, combined with Wallace Grand Baroque.

I took my favorite faux bittersweet and wound it through the chandelier.

The sideboard has a new mirror, and buffet lamps on each side. I took some old candle rings and slid them over the base of the lamps.

I have this wreath, and want to hang it in front, but the mirror sits almost flush against the wall. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can hang this?

Another smaller sideboard on one side of the fireplace also awaits finishing.

I did manage to do most of the shopping for the Thanksgiving dinner, so I can concentrate on the decorating, which will, of course, come down on December 1 so that the Christmas decor can go up! Head still spinning!!

I truly hope all had a great week, and please know that we are constantly thinking of and praying for all of those in the northeast. We know only too well your plight. Godspeed to all of you.

Sharing with some of these fine parties this week: