Even though we are not of Irish decent, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, because it is the birthday of my daughter, Julianna and my mother, Julia. That, in itself, is a good reason to set a St. Patrick’s Day Table. However, who is St. Patrick and why is this holiday celebrated around the world?

A Little History

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish observe this day as a religious holiday and have so for over 1,000 years.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped from his home and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. 

Mixing Old and New

For this year’s St. Patrick’s Day table, I am using this fun piece of contemporary fabric from my friend, Anne. I couple it with my antique English china, Fondeville Ambassador Ware 6762. The rich shades of green, gold, pink, blue and yellow make these gold-rim plates one of my favorites.

To me, this is the essence of collected chic~mixing bold patterns with elegant tableware.

Stacking the antique china on the simple brushed gold chargers enhances the gold in the pattern. Adding the crackled gold rim clear salad plate from Leslie Roy does not diminish the platter floral design. Similar chargers can be found here. These chargers are so affordable and I use them frequently.

Of course, I love my Wallace silver/gold bee patterned flatware (see link here) which seems to go with just about any place setting I create. The combination of green and gold in this setting lends to the luck of the Irish!

Made in Waterford, Ireland, the Waterford crystal Marquis water goblets and Lismore wine glasses are in keeping with the Irish theme. Gold trim napkins softly fold and find a home inside the wine glass. See similar napkins here.

Making it Festive

With a fun and festive holiday like St. Patrick’s Day, it is easy for the table decor to become kitschy or juvenile. Trying to keep the table elegant, but fun, I add gold shamrocks to the tablecloth. Since I bought these several years ago, resource unknown, you can use gold coins instead.

Each place setting gets a light up shamrock necklace for added whimsy for our guests. See similar necklace here.

The Centerpiece

Brass candlesticks from West Elm brighten up the table. Set up in our family and surrounded by windows, the table changes color as the day progresses.

The centerpiece is a vintage Westmoreland oval footed milk glass bowl with hydrangeas, peonies and green glitter shamrocks. Again, the glittery shamrocks are fun but the centerpiece still looks elegant. The shape is the perfect size for this round table.

Will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? My daughter will be 27 years old and my mother, if alive, would be celebrating her 99th. Time marches on, doesn’t it?

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday.

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This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #650

It is very easy to make a delicious and nutritious granola from scratch. You can alter the recipe to fit your tastebuds and control the quality of the ingredients. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for breakfast, a mid-day snack or a very nice gift to a friend. Many of the ingredients for this homemade granola you may already have on hand.

The Ingredients

This recipe is inspired by one of my son’s classmates. After his parents made a big batch for us, it is now a winning recipe that we’ve tweaked to our own tastes.

Oats, nuts, dried fruit, butter, spices, brown sugar, honey and vanilla is all it takes to make this easy recipe.

Some chopping involved

Measure the dry ingredients and chop the pecans. You can change up the variety of the nuts or leave them out, if you have a nut allergy.

In this recipe, I use slivered almonds and pecans. However, you can add any nut you like~walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts. For dried fruit I use both cranberries and cherries. Did you know cherries are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, high in Vitamin A, boost exercise recovery, benefit heart health, may help with arthritis symptoms, and improves sleep quality? Lately I am adding dried cherries to everything! For a nice selection of dried cherries, click here.

Assemble

Combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Melt the butter and blend with the honey and vanilla.

Pour the honey mixture in with the dry ingredients. Stir to coat evenly.

Bake!

Spread on two cookie sheets. You can either grease the sheets or use parchment paper. Bake in a 220 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until slightly brown. You can stir the mixture half way through the baking process if you want it more evenly browned.

After the granola has cooled, store in an airtight container. This should last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

You can alter the amount of nuts or dried fruit as much as you want. The butter/honey to oatmeal ratio is the more critical element. For this recipe, I add sunflower seeds, and both cranberries and cherries. For a trail mix, you could add M&Ms, raisins or chocolate chips.

Breakfast is always a bit challenging for me as I don’t have a big appetite in the morning. To see another easy oatmeal based breakfast recipe, click here. This is also a great grab and go snack. Just measure a portion in a zip lock bag and keep it in the refrigerator for those times when you are hungry and running out the door.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and if you add any other fun ingredients, let me know! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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After years of putting the same decorations in the same places, I find it fun and a bit challenging to look at my holiday decorations with different eyes. Granted, it is not as easy as putting the same snow globe on the same shelf. Placing a treasured piece in a different place gives it new life. Welcome to this year’s holiday home tour. Some of the vignettes you have seen in previous posts, but here is all the holiday decor in one place.

Entry to our Property

With all the foliage and the irrigation lateral, it is nearly impossible to decorate the part of the property closest to the street. The inset entry gates have 4 large original pillars and on the first two are simple fresh green swags with red plaid ribbons.

Red plaid ribbons continue on the two Balsam Hill lighted wreaths on our entry gates. These wreaths are easier to see at night when they sparkle.

Front Entry and Porch

Lanterns festooned with plaid ribbons and cheerful red poinsettias line the path up to the front door. Battery operated candles sit in the front facing windows, a tribute to a childhood tradition.

A collection of trees provide a wintery feel by the front door. My favorite stone bunny and chickens get a holiday ribbon too.

Usually I do a much more elaborate wreath, but this year there is a simple plaid ribbon and the Alpenhaus iron cow bells from Sundance Catalog outlet (purchased a few years ago on sale).

Front Hall

I love decorating the staircase with fresh cedar garland. Not only does it make the house smell crisp and outdoorsy, the greens makes the perfect base to add other garland. Using 6′ long faux lambs ear garland from Walmart, the greens now look a bit more substantial. The same plaid ribbon is used for continuity. A tip: Since I want to protect the railing, I use green pipe cleaners to attach the garland to the rail. This also makes for an easier removal too.

In the corner by the front door is the “everything to do with the outdoors” tree. This artificial tree is filled with ornaments such as pinecones, hiking boots, mittens, bears skiing, tents, campers, squirrels and owls. As one of my favorite trees to decorate, I joyfully reminisce about the memories collecting these ornaments.

An old, albeit a bit tattered, handmade red and white checkered quilt is used as the tree skirt. Fresh cedar garland (from our neighbor’s Boy Scout troop) frames the dining room entrance. Just an FYI-if you want fresh cedar greens, the local Boy Scouts sell garlands and wreaths at a great, affordable price. I pre-order early and delivery occurs the first week in December.

The Dining Room

So delighted this year to get a fresh cut tree in this space. Rose gold, pink and blush are the primary colors on the tree. The topper is a pink striped ribbon bow. Instead of a regular tree skirt, I use a blush cable knit throw originally from Target. This product is no longer available but here is something very similar at a great price! You will see this same throw on my front porch bench for Valentine decorating.

Bottle brush and feather trees in shades of white, pink and blush on the sideboard pick up the colors of the room and rug.

Faux magnolia and lambs ear garland, pink glittery pinecones, various ornaments and battery-operated string lights top the fireplace mantel.

Family Room

Our family room is surrounded by windows and French doors (very few walls). Each window set gets a faux wreath with red berries

In this very casual room, a holiday quilt is draped over the slipcovered white sofa~a favorite snoozing place for our cat, Donovan. Lighted trees provide a bit of sparkle and festivity to the room.

Breakfast Room

The breakfast room mantel is a simple collection of fresh cedar garland, faux deep red chrysanthemums and a collection of wooden houses. Since I have a gingerbread house theme in the adjacent kitchen, it makes sense to add houses here.

The Kitchen

A few Christmas scene mugs add a bit of joy and color to the coffee station, a well used area of the kitchen.

Placing this image of Santa cooking with elves, on the shelf above the stove, provides inspiration for holiday recipes.

On the kitchen island, a faux tree with salt dough ornaments sits next to my glass patisserie loaded with gingerbread houses. Brown gingham plaid and velvet ribbon tie into the neutral theme.

The Mud/Craft Room

Next to the kitchen is the hard working mud/craft room. The hat rack holds the Santa hats worn throughout this season. To see more of this room, click here.

The Living Room

If you missed the post about this stunning mantel by Chloe of Celebrate and Decorate, you can see it here. Our fresh Christmas tree from Whitfill Nursery goes in this room, but as of this post, it isn’t fully decorated yet.

Thank you for joining me today for my holiday home tour. Christmas is less than one week away and I want to wish you all a blessed, joyous holiday. A new year is right around the corner and we never know what the future will bring. All I do know is that I am so grateful to you and all the support and feedback you have provided to me in 2023.

Sending big holiday hugs to each and every one of you!

Every year I try to make our Thanksgiving table extra special, from the space and table, to the place setting and centerpiece. There is something that says love in setting a lovely table for your guests. Since this is the holiday of thanks, what better way to tell your family and guests how grateful you are to gather together.

My sweet friend, Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is hosting this round up of Thanksgiving ideas to help inspire you this season. Below there are 15 incredible posts filled with wonderful ideas and suggestions on how to make this the best Thanksgiving ever.

Please make sure you stop by each post and of course, we love your comments and feedback. If you are not in the Thanksgiving mood yet, bookmark it for later. Thank you for stopping by.

If you are new to my blog, welcome. My name is Mary and our family lives in a historic home in Phoenix, Arizona. We are blessed with space to entertain and share our unique property with others. So let’s get started on the Thanksgiving table.

Place and Space

With 8 in attendance, the dining room is the most desirable place to have our dinner. Even though our weather is beautiful, it has been a bit warmer during the days. Outside dining could be an option but the mosquito factor is uncertain.

Our dining room table seats 6 comfortably and 8-10 with the additional leaf. Here is a great picture of our dining room rug with colors that are not typical of autumn.

Since typical autumn colors are NOT the shades in my dining room, it is always a bit of a dilemma in decorating the dining room mantel with fall decor that goes with the pink/burgundy/cream/green rug. Naturally I want to pull the same tones/textures to the Thanksgiving table centerpiece. To see the post about my mantel decorating challenge, click here.

Using Natural Materials

A few years ago, I started making centerpieces out of items I can re-use in the yard or garden later. A quick trip to my favorite local happy place, Whitfill Nursery and I find everything I need. From ornamental cabbages to succulents to fresh mint, I believe I have the colors, textures and sizes I want.

Selecting the Tablecloth

Learning from experience, it is important to protect the surface of the table. Remember the dinner party where the bourbon spill did this to our table?

Now I make sure I add the custom made table pad underneath the tablecloth….always. I cannot seem to access the company who made my pads, but there are several resources on Amazon, which provide products you can cut to size. To source table pads, see here.

Not only does the pad protect the table, but it also quiets the sound of glasses or utensils hitting the table during the meal. The manufacturer custom makes them for your table and they fold up for easy storage. Or check out this quilted waterproof pad that you can cut to fit your table. It’s affordable and has good reviews.

Since the tablecloth I want to use is a bit smaller with the additional leaf, I place a larger, neutral tablecloth beneath. Actually what I use is a vintage linen bedsheet I found at a convent during a visit to France. I still swoon over the beautiful monogram sheet.

The Place Setting

The ecru, heavily decorated table linen is the perfect backdrop for the place setting. I found this one at a thrift store.

Using a scalloped wooden charger, Johnson Brothers Windsor Ware platter, and gold rimmed glass Leslie Roy salad plate, each place setting is finished with blush linen napkins and pink glassware. A white pumpkin completes the autumn look. You can find these items or similar here:

• Wooden Chargers (mine are from Pier One and not available; good substitute here
• Johnson Brothers Windsor Ware from Replacements here
• Glass Salad Plates similar here
• Blush linen napkins from Pottery Barn or similar here
• Pink wine glasses here and pink water glasses
• Wallace bee flatware similar here
• Ecru tablecloth similar or on Etsy here.

Assembly of the Centerpiece

Since all the plants are already potted, I place each one into a bowl to protect the table from the bottoms. Water plants and drain before putting them on the table. Using any bowls available (cereal, dessert, glass), the plants are arranged down the center.

Here is a list of plants and quantities I use for a 5′ x 18″ centerpiece:

• Lamb’s ears-2 in 4″ pots
• Ornamental Red Kale Cabbages (5) in 4″ pots
• Echeveria “Red Sky” succulents-2
• Graptoveria “Bashful” succulents-2
• Bacopia Megacopa White-4
• Fresh Mint-2 in 4″ pots

To fill in space, I use:

• Pomegranates
• Brass decorative pumpkins (see similar here)
• 5 Silver mint julep cups with fresh cut pale pink roses (2 dozen from Safeway)
• 2 small antler sheds
• Faux greens that match the ones on the mantel
• 2 tall brass candlesticks
• Scatter votive candles on the table

Since the lamb’s ears are the tallest, they are toward the end. Also, remember not to make the centerpiece so tall that your guests cannot see across the table.

Final Touches

When creating your centerpiece, think textures and scale. It’s easy to have lots of little things going on but keep the selection simple and use repetition, scale, color and texture be your guide. Throughout dinner, my daughter kept reaching over to touch the lamb’s ears~which are so soft and lovely.

The antlers provide a rustic and different element to the table, but do not dominate or standout too much.

Perhaps the best part of the meal is when candles on the table and mantel are lit and everyone sits. Since the dining room is a bit brisk, a warm fire will add to the overall charm.

Previous Years

I hope this inspires you to do a fresh centerpiece for Thanksgiving. Now let’s look at previous Thanksgiving tables. In 2020 we had our dinner outside on the back terrace. Using Hester & Cook fall inspired paper placemat, the centerpiece is a compilation of fabric pumpkins, sheaths of wheat, apples, pears, cotton stems, faux fall leaves and votive candles.

In 2019, again you will see many plants and flowers~petunias, cabbages, lettuces and pale orange roses and alstroemerias. Same concept but different color palette. To see more about this table, click here.

In 2018, all the tones are again in warm autumn colors with chrysanthemums, protea, cabbages, ivy and white roses. To see more about this centerpiece and our Thanksgiving traditions (at least in 2018), click here.

Back in 2017 is when I started using fresh plants vs. all cut flowers. All the plants and items are in a foil lined wooden tray. At the ends of the tray I used ivy and spread it down the table. This centerpiece is a bit more condensed but it is fun experimenting with different vessels. To see more details, click here.

In 2016, I am using fresh cut flowers only, with a few fabric pumpkins. The blog was just starting back then and hopefully my picture-taking skills have improved a bit! Ha!

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Now onto all the fabulous Thanksgiving inspiration from these incredibly talented women!

Ideas for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving Dining Table

Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse

Rachel shares a fall centerpiece that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving Dining table. It combines DIY and vintage pieces for a unique table arrangement.

Heirloom Pumpkin Fall Centerpiece

Heidi from Eleanor Rose Home

Wow your guests with an elegant fall centerpiece utilizing an heirloom pumpkin and seasonal fresh florals.

Thanksgiving Traditions to Try this Year

Kristin from White Arrows Home

These easy Thanksgiving traditions make it a favorite holiday to look forward to all year long.

Thanksgiving Dining Table with Copper Accents and Free Printable Placecards

Cindy from DIY Beautify

Easy tips to set a memorable Thanksgiving table with printable place setting cards that can double as a gratitude garland!

Simple and Beautiful DIY Artichoke and Magnolia Centerpiece

Jen at Midwest Life and Style

Impress your family and friends with a simple and beautiful DIY artichoke and magnolia centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

How to Create a Simple Rustic Thanksgiving Centerpiece

AnnMarie from Simply 2 Moms

Create a simple rustic centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table this year. Pretty neutral style can be used for the entire autumn season.

9 Simple Tips to Hosting the Best Thanksgiving Dinner Ever

Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms

Looking for ways to organize yourself to host Thanksgiving? Here are 9 simple tips to hosting the best Thanksgiving dinner ever. Not hosting this year? Check out my Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas at the end of this post.

Simple Autumn Thanksgiving Vintage Decor Tips

Ann from Dabbling and Decorating

Are you looking for simple Thanksgiving or autumn decorating ideas? Let me share a few tips and tricks to help you get started.

How to Create the Perfect Table for your Thanksgiving Feast

Renae from Peacock Ridge Farm

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to start planning your feast! If you’re not sure how to create the perfect table for your Thanksgiving ing celebration, don’t worry. We’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to decorate your table for Thanksgiving. So read on and learn how to create a festive table for your holiday celebration!

How to Make an Easy DIY Cornucopia Basket

Wendy from WM Design House

Thanksgiving is time to give thanks and celebrate with friends and family. One of my favorite traditions is decorating my Thanksgiving table with my homemade cornucopia. I make it out of chicken wire and rope, and then fill it with pumpkins, gourds, feathers and flowers. It’s a beautiful and festive decoration that always gets me in the Thanksgiving spirit.

Dried Wheat Centerpiece

Jen from Cottage on Bunker Hill

Do you love the look of dried wheat? Me too! I love the natural color…I think it is so pretty so I came up with this dried wheat centerpiece. It is perfect for your traditional Thanksgiving table. Let me show you how to make it.

Boho Cottage Fall Tablescape

Jen from Tatertots and Jello

Create a warm and inviting Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving table by making a DIY table runner, pillows and a beautiful footed bowl centerpiece filled with textured, fabric-covered pumpkins and leaves.

How to Create a Beautiful Thanksgiving Tablescape

Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Enjoy some tips for hosting a large gathering with budget-friendly Thanksgiving table elements. At the same time, learn what pieces you can pull together from around your home, and how to best layer them. Then, you can easily create a thoughtful and beautiful tables cape this Thanksgiving.

Simple Fall Table and the Prettiest Serving Pieces

KariAnne from Thistlewood Farm

Looking for some simple ideas for your Friendsgiving table? Why not add a little blue and white with your pumpkins? Tons of simple ideas to make your holiday celebrations a little easier.

I hope you enjoy all the inspiration! Thank you again for joining me today.

Being well into our citrus season, I am taking advantage of all the different fruits available to us. A typical day means a walk to the orchard to pick an orange, tangerine, grapefruit or kumquat from a tree. This year, my Lisbon lemon tree did produce quite a bumper crop! Today’s post is about lemon love and all the recipes I enjoy making with these gorgeous yellow gems.

Eureka and Lisbon lemons grow well here in Phoenix. Meyer Lemons, with their thinner skins and less tart flavor are harder to come by. But now is the time to use all the fresh lemons, because at least here, once the season is over, lemons get very expensive. Plus, can’t we all use a little more Vitamin C?

Since I am on a make-all-you-can with lemons mode, here are my favorite lemon love recipes.

Lemon Pots de Creme

Pot de crème, plural pots de crème, (pronounced “poe da krem”) is a loose French dessert custard dating to the 17th century. The name means “pot of custard” or “pot of cream”, which also refers to the porcelain cups in which the dessert is served.

I love collecting these sweet porcelain cups and their size makes for the perfect small dessert. The main ingredients are eggs, cream, milk and flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, berries, lemons and more.

To see my detailed post about making this light and refreshing dessert (original recipe from Epicurious), please click here. I just received a large bag of Meyer Lemons from my neighbor, Steve and am looking forward to making a Meyer Lemon and Thyme pot de creme.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

The very first time these delicate pancakes passed my lips, I was at the dreamy Shutters on the Beach restaurant in Santa Monica, California. Every time I taste these, I am transported back at the beachfront restaurant smelling the ocean air.

The original recipe I use is actually from this restaurant and can be found in The Summertime Anytime cookbook by Dana Slatkin. For the full post with the lemon ricotta pancake recipe and yummy pictures, click here.

There are many similar recipes on the internet for these pancakes, but I have only used the original one from the hotel.

Joann’s Lemon Cake

My sweet friend and art instructor, Joann shares her DELICIOUS lemon cake recipe. What makes this loaf cake special, is the lemon syrup that is absorbed into the cake after baking. Similar to a pound cake with lots of lemon flavor, this is perfect for dessert or as a snacking cake with coffee or tea.

For the recipe and more detailed instructions, click here.

Lemon Curd

Last year is the first time I tried my hand at making lemon curd. It is SO easy and you can also make this with Meyer lemons, too. Lemon curd is a fruit spread and is often used instead of jam on scones or toast. It can also be a filling for cakes, small pastries and tarts. The lemon filling in a lemon meringue pie is lemon curd.

Since it doesn’t keep as long as jam, it is best made in small quantities.

With only a few ingredients (eggs, lemons, butter, sugar), you too can whip this up in a short period of time. It tastes WAY better than store bought lemon curd. Now I need to make some scones! Recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction is found here.

Lemon Blueberry Bread~gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free

Who doesn’t love the combination of lemons and fresh blueberries? Using coconut and almond flour, not only is this loaf is easy to make, but it’s gluten, dairy and grain free. The berry icing is just so tasty on top. The recipe is from Ambitious Kitchen and you can find the blog post with further instructions here.

Freshly made Lemonade with a twist

Everyone loves fresh lemonade but have your tried it with fresh herbs? This Basil Lemonade is a family favorite. The addition of basil simple syrup takes the taste up a notch! Lemonade can be made with Meyer lemons too, for a different twist that requires less sugar.

See the recipe here.

Limoncello

Limoncello is a lemon liquor which is mainly produced in southern Italy. It is typically served chilled and after dinner as an aperitif. If you have a lot of lemons (this recipe uses 11), you may want to try this. And I wonder if this recipe counts as getting your daily dosage of Vitamin C…..See post here.

Lemon Meringue Tart

My mother always made the best lemon meringue pies. This recipe from The Kitchen McCabe reminds me of Mom’s pie. Though I made this in 2020 with rangurs, this year I will try it with our own lemons. Either way, it is truly delicious and you cannot go wrong with the mile-high meringue. For the full post, click here. If you prefer to skip to the recipe from The Kitchen McCabe, you can link to it here.

Preserved Lemons

Every January I make a few jars of preserved lemons that last me throughout the year. These salty, tangy, lemony morsels are an indispensable item in Moroccan cooking…or really a great addition to any dish. Since it takes a few weeks to “cure”, get a jump on your preserved lemons now, while lemons are fresh and affordable.

I know I mention Preserved Lemons every year, but once you make them, you will be hooked. And then the recipe possibilities are endless. We add them to tuna salad, grilled salmon or chicken. And one of my favorite recipes is Farfelle Pasta with Lemon Chicken and Herb Salad. Find that recipe here.

Benefits of Lemon Water

If you don’t feel like cooking or baking, do take advantage of fresh lemons and other citrus in season now. I never tire of lemons and try to add some to my daily water. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should be drinking lemon water according to PositiveMed.

• Boosts your immune system
• Balances pH
• Helps with weight loss
• Aids in Digestion
• Diuretic
• Clears skin
• Freshens breath
• Relieves respiratory congestion (use warm water)
• Keeps you Zen
• Help kicks the coffee habit

Meyer Lemon Marmalade

I am hoping you are excited about these recipes, as they are tried and true. Yesterday, I made a batch of Meyer Lemon Marmalade (my absolute favorite) and will be spreading that on a freshly baked Lemon Rosemary Gruyere sourdough bread.

Happy Tuesday! Wishing you a day of lemons and sunshine!

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