There is a definite nip in the air in the mornings, and I’ve dug out my light sweaters. It’s official – fall is here. Let’s make the most of it and enjoy all the bounty autumn has to offer.
The oak trees are thick with green acorns, and made a charming centerpiece for this green and gold table.
Autumn Harmony by Christopher Stuart caught my eye while perusing Replacements for fall inspiration. Though Replacements didn’t have any in stock at the time, both Etsy and eBay had a small offering.
I loved the richness of the pattern on the rim of the plate, with its beautifully rendered flora, two narrow contrasting borders and gold accents.
So I happily set my first indoor table of the season before leaving the Cape.
A gold and silver acorn salt & pepper set from Pier 1 coordinated beautifully with mercury glass votives from Pottery Barn.
(I see I left the “P” sticker on the pepper shaker – ooops).
One of the things I like best about indoor table settings is the ability to enjoy them for a few days, taking photos at various times and in different lights. Here I was fortunate to capture the blue hour.
Candleliight dining is magical, isn’t it?
Antique Venetian gold twisted goblets from Elise Abrams Antiques happily joined forces with modern gold lustre chargers from Pier 1 a few years ago, and still available.
The mercury glass votives from Pottery Barn come in all shapes and sizes for an eclectic display.
The Michael Michaud napkin rings were a fortunate find and continued the gilded-fall-flora theme.
Bark-covered vases from Save-on-Crafts nestle happily down the centre of the table, holding nothing but oak leaves and acorns. Simplicity itself.
Gilded simplicy, mind you! 🙂
I’ll switch gears now, if I may, from elegance to emotion. It’s been a tough week in the Entertablement house. Burton, one of our Golden oldies, passed away and in a household of four dogs and three cats, it’s wrenching to realize how big a hole the departure of one dog leaves.
Known as “old reliable”, he had the darkest coat of all of the crew.
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, by any means, 🙂 his gentle personality was especially appreciated by Dundee, who often turned to Burton for comfort when life got to be too miuch for a little orange cat.
Burton leaves his littermate, Taylor, behind and watching her gazing at her brother as he left the house for the last time just broke my heart. They’ve always been together.
Time will make things easier, but in the interim, we’re all a bit of a mess. Ugh. Taylor is doing better than we feared and seems to acknowledge Burton’s absence with patient acceptance.
Burton had a wonderful life for nearly fourteen years, and remembering him in happy times is a great comfort.
Playing on the beach with his favourite toy,
he and Taylor, with their grinning faces turned to the wind,
hanging with the gang,
protecting his pal, Dundee,
and tolerating the annoyingly energetic pup, Clementine.
Godspeed, Burton. You’ll always live on in our hearts. We miss you, buddy, more than we can say.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Dear Helen,
Condolences on your loss…I know very well that feeling of taking a dog on its last trip, although with all our travel I haven’t had to face it for 20 years. I still dream of one or the other of the dogs every few weeks–they gambol and do silly things, just as if they were still with me. Rashida the saluki, Rafiki and Winkie the schipperkes, India Ink the poodle…I loved them all. Much as I would like to have another (I’ve even dreamed we had a dachshund called Yo-yo), our constant travel precludes that–not fair to any animal. I hope you work though your sense of loss, and that Taylor doesn’t grieve long, and that Bonnie Dundee finds a new confidant. Give the other pets time to work out their new hierarchy, and remember all the joy he brought you. RIP.
How to comment on the setting, after that? But the ethereal quality of the gold on the Venice glass (including those chargers I’ve looked at at P1) looks just right. Not too much. And those Michaud rings…oh what lovely workmanship. This green setting would look fabulous in our stube, with its big ornate green kacholofen…I just hung green crystals on the zinc chandelier over the table, too. I could use some of those plates…as if I need any more. lol
Heal well, and thanks.
Thanks muchly, Beatrice. You’ve captured the dynamics of Burton’s passing exactly. Lots of shifting and adjusting; everyone is a bit raw. Clementine remains irrepressible, of course!
As to the table, it was one that caught me unaware. I liked the plates, but the simplicity of the oak leaves combined with the richness of the gold goblets, chargers and napkin rings took on a life of their own. The whole was greater than the sum of the parts. It happens quite unexpectedly, sometimes.
They are such members of the family, giving joy and love in abundance! Prayers for you all.
Thanks, Valeri. Time will help, too.
Really sorry to hear about Burton, Helen. You have some lovely photo-memories there of him – and I bet he had a really good life with you.
Thanks so much, Mike. He was “a great lummox” as my father used to say. Our friends comment that when they die, they want to come back as a pet in our house…
I am so sorry for your lose. I lost my beautiful Golden Emmy a year ago. You never stop missing your precious angel.
You really don’t, no matter how long it is. The sharp pain dulls, though, and you just remember the good times.
OOOOOOOOOOOO Noooooooooo I’m so sorry to hear about Burton. I know your heart is breaking.
Thanks, Sandy. We’ve stayed really busy in the garden today and let the dogs hang out on the porch. Fresh air and activity alway helps.
Helen, Burton has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, where he’s young and happy again.
My heart breaks for your loss.
Awwww! That got me thinking other pets who’ve gone before being there to meet him. Like Tigger. Happy thought!
So sorry to learn about Burton. Hope Taylor and Dundee are doing ok as well as the rest of you.
So far, so good. Taylor seems a bit irritable, which is understandable. Short on patience, and barking to be let in or out without waiting like she usually does. It’s almost a human response. I’m alway crabby when I’m sad.
So sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing.
Seven months ago we had four cats, now we only have one. The three we lost were very old. One died peacefully on his own, 19 years old. We had to put two to sleep, one was 18, the other was 20. The pain is physical, sharp and real.
People who don’t have pets don’t understand.
Saying prayers for you and your family. God bless.
Oh, Elena, I’m so sorry for your loss. We lost our ginger cat Tigger last year, too. He was 18.
We are waiting for the other shoe to drop with Taylor. So far, she’s hanging in. She keeps looking for Burton, which is so sad. But she’s doing better than I feared.
Thanks so much for your kind comments. How old is your remaining cat?
Our last remaining cat, Giacomo Bambino, is 11 years old. He’s a big 20 pound ginger tabby boy. He’s in very good health. Hopefully we’ll have 5 to 8 more good years with him.
In a couple of months we’re going to adopt a couple of small kittens from the same litter. The loving bond litter mates have with each other is joyful and very touching.
Peace be with you.
Elena
Giacomo Bambino is a big boy! The original Tigger was a 17 lb ginger, and my constant companion as a child.
Enjoy the pair of kittens when you get them. There is nothing more enchanting than watching kittens wrestle, chase each other round the house and then collapse in a kitten heap of cuddles.
Thanks for your kind words, Elena.
Such a beautiful tribute to a very, very good boy. I have always enjoyed “Burton” stories and I know there are many more waiting to be told.
A gorgeous table a- I LOVE the oak leaves and acorn greenery – perfection!
Thanks, Mary. He was very special. When we went to pick out a pup from the litter, Glenn settled on him right away, because of the dark coat and shy disposition. The pups weren’t ready to go home yet, and we had to wait another couple of weeks. I had been very taken by the mischievous little female, identified by the green string around her neck. After some discussion, we called the next day and asked them to hold “Miss Green String”, too. Two weeks later, they both came home. Two is so much easier than one. They aren’t lonely in the crate, they trot outside together happily to do their business, they are always comforting each other. Very different personalities – she was (and is) the boss of everyone.
Oh, dear. This brought tears, and I didn’t even know him. The tears are for you, as the rainbow bridge is hardest for the ones left behind. I hope you were there when he passed over.
The table is perfection! I looked at our oak trees and none of them have green acorns. Is that because you’re further north (we’re in southern NH)? I’ve never even SEEN green acorns, and was blown away by yours. No one sells them, of course, so I’ll have to improvise. Thank you so much for the idea!.
We were there, Barb, thank goodness. It was all quite peaceful.
So glad you liked the table. It turned out to be one of my favourites, surprisingly! Funny how that works out sometimes. 🙂 I’d never noticed the acorns at their green stage before, either. They’ll be brown in due course, but I quite like them in green!
When I was lamenting the dearth of acorns on our trees, my husband mentioned that there were hundreds of them on the ground, and in his raised beds. I went out to look and noticed a tall oak overhead, much too tall for me to clip a branch, covered in acorns! Then, The Boston Globe printed an article reporting on the fact that this is a MAST year for acorns with some forests having over 100 per square yard! An abundance of acorns is good for the wild animals that depend on them for food, but not good for us humans because they provide a breeding ground for ticks. When I shared this with my friends, they recommended the book, The Hidden Life of Trees, which claims oaks produce more acorns when they’re stressed. I’m learning so much because of you!
Hi Barb,
I suspect the book is correct. Most plants produce more flowers and seeds when stressed. It’s counter intuitive, isn’t it? You’d think they’d hunker down and keep their resources to themselves, but no.
Have a good day! So nice to hear from you.
HK
I am so sorry for your loss. We too have know this sorrow.
Thanks, Linda. He’s left a big hole… Taylor is doing very well, though.
Oh Helen! Beautiful table, and beautiful words! I’m sure you still feel the loss acutely these few months later, and I’m sending warmth and love your way.
Dundee misses Burton most of all. He was his go-to for all manner of comfort. Astonishingly, Burton’s littermate, Taylor is managing very well without him. I would never have thought she’d have a greater spring in her step, but she does! Shockingly resilient, she’s a tough old bird. She’s 14 this month.
Have a good weekend.
Dear Helen,
I have been following your blog for probably more than a year now, but I am often too shy to comment. Your tablescapes are always beautiful, and I love hearing about the antics of your “brood”. Your story of Burton was so touching. He was such a beautiful boy. I can relate to the feelings of loss. We lost a sweet tortie cat almost 12 years ago now; it was devastating at the time and I still think about her. What consoles me is that we gave her a wonderful home and she was much-loved, as are our two kitties now. I’m positive the same holds true for you and your pets. Its amazing how they wiggle themselves into our hearts. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Kim
Hi Kim,
I just popped over to your newly launched site! You’ve done a beautiful job on it. Congratulations. I’ll be following it with great interest.
Thank you for your kind comments. Like you, I very much enjoy tablescaping, and didn’t even realize it was “a thing” until a few years ago. It just grew as an interest, and photographing the tables provided a record of a transient set-up that would otherwise have disappeared without a trace. Blogging about it allowed others to enjoy the experience. So thank you to all fellow tablescapers for their hard work and inspiration. And a special thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Thursday blog parties! She’s brought together quite a community.
Thanks for your condolences about Burton. My granddaughter, Maddie, especially comments on his absence. And though I have the very lively Dundee, the loss of Tigger left a very big hole. He was a character and a half. We remember all the pets over the years very fondly and frequently chuckle about their antics.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for visiting the site and your kind comments. I’m replying here in case you ever popped back to the site and wondered where your comment went… I’d very much like to blame it all on WordPress, but unfortunately, I somehow accidentally deleted it (its not the first thing I’ve accidentally deleted either). But I didn’t want you to think me rude so I wanted to let you know. Oh, the joys of growing pains with WordPress. Hope you had a great weekend!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Oh, I’ve done that stuff too. WordPress takes a bit of getting used to, but I’m sure you’re doing beautifully. Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow bloggers if you need some help sorting things out. We’re all in this together.
Happy Thanksgiving!
HK
My deepest condolences. Although its been a couple of months, I know the hole is still there. We helped our little 17 year old rescue fur baby across the rainbow bridge this week. We’ve been here before. We know it [almost] inevitable that we will outlive them. A couple of years ago, we were urged to rescue two little brothers whose family had died. No one seemed to want older dogs, much less two of them. We hesitated, then looked in the mirror and realized that the only obstacle we had was the things we would have to work into our schedule. They came home with us that day. They give so much. But, they finally gave out. I’ll miss Gizzie laying on the big oriental rug under our dining room table as we entertain; as much of the room as the furniture, as much of the evening as the other friends. Yet, we’ll go on and have friends, and tables, and food, and remember that it is all part of a great big life. Thank you for sharing photos of Burton. I can tell he was a good spirit. Thank you also for constantly inspiring me to think of ways to make our table interesting, inviting, and a place that friends and family like to gather and go “ah”. Larry
Thank you for your condolences. Burton is still very much missed. It can’t be helped.
Seventeen years! Gizzie had a nice long life, especially for a rescue. Good on you for taking on both dogs in their senior years. It’s really tough to get so attached, knowing that an already-short pet lifespan is truncated by not having been around for their early years. Like you, our dogs are very much part of our day-to-day lives and participate in our entertaining (sometimes to the dismay of our less animal-friendly guests). Our much loved previous ginger cat, Tigger, always had his own plate on the floor near the table. (Winston Churchill’s cat, Jock, had his own placemat on the floor – we didn’t go THAT far). Tigger was a tireless mooch and loved human food; he’d greedily tuck into two or three servings of Christmas dinner. He grew impatient with vegetable-based appetizers and would give me looks of pained reproach, returning later with an air of dignified tolerance to participate in the main course.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Larry. I’m so glad you enjoy the blog; it’s a labour of love. Not to everyone’s taste, but it pleases like-minded tableware people. 🙂