A Thanksgiving Memory

Although it looks similar to the log cabin of my childhood  this one is actually located in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

My two sisters and I were excited about the first Thanksgiving at our own home after spending 6 years in a nearby orphanage following our mother's death.  We had a fire going in the fireplace in the log cabin and elder Sister Wilma was busy preparing dinner and shouting orders for us to help.  

We couldn't afford a turkey but the fattest chicken in the barnyard and a smoked ham , sweet potatoes , green beans, corn and fluffy buttermilk biscuits made a "gracious " plenty as we say in the deep South. 

As we gathered to eat the bounty of the earth my father had worked so hard to produce on that red Alabama clay,  we gave thanks that we had a roof over our head and food on the table.  We prayed for our brother Cecil , a soldier in the Korean war , and asked God to return him safely to us.

We were but poor farmers and knew that others in our town had much more material wealth than us but we felt rich with the simple blessings of good health, food and faith in God and family. 

I think of that Thanksgiving long ago as I gather with my own children and family.  There's a big fat turkey with all the trimmings but nothing will ever taste as good to me as that simple meal at our first Thanksgiving together as a family on that hilltop cabin in rural Alabama.

9:47 AM by beemagnet · 0

thanksgiving {in cranberry and pumpkin}

I have always put so much effort into coming up with a unique Thanksgiving palette but I forgot how lovely the traditional colors of the holiday can be. I am currently enamored with the combination of deep rich cranberry with golden pumpkin.

(via 100 layer cake, petrina tinsley, j. mendel, bird and banner and lonny)

5:00 AM by beemagnet · 0

{refined rustic} tabletops

Talk of Thanksgiving plans has started, which always gets me excited and my mind spinning with tabletop ideas. This year instead of just one large floral arrangement I adore the idea of multiple small and differing style arrangements. I don't like anything too fussy and formal so these refined yet also rustic floral designs from Lily & Co are perfect inspiration.

And I adore the kerosene lanterns! Have you started planning your table?

11:35 AM by beemagnet · 0

thanksgiving recap

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend! I survived and thoroughly enjoyed hosting my first Thanksgiving, cooking my second turkey and spending time with great friends. I also loved creating a festive, simple and casual table around a burlap runner I recently purchased..


I created the floral arrangement from ranunculus, orchids, bay and wheat.

And didn't have any cloth napkins so I cut up two vintage tea towels and then tied some wheat and a cattail with twine to top them off.

Although it was not a traditional tabletop I really loved the splashes of color and vintage flair. What did you top your table with this year?

8:22 AM by beemagnet · 0

Happy Thanksgiving!

As this is my fisrt year hosting Thanksgiving dinner I am quite busy prepping food, flowers, and decor. So I am going to sign off for the week. But didn't want to do so without thanking all of the loyal delight by design readers that make sharing my thoughts on living a styling life so much more fun and my fellow bloggers for constantly inspiring me! And just in case you need some last minute decor these glittered pumpkins are a fantastic and easy solution.

(via a field journal)
I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving!! I am really excited about my tablescape (went with an orange and blue color scheme with a classic flair) and will hopefully share some photos soon.

9:08 PM by beemagnet · 0

holiday table inspiration

(via james carriere and unknown)
I am so excited and a bit nervous to be hosting Thanksgiving this year and have been searching for simple yet festive tabletop inspiration. I am a bit torn between a traditional fall color palette with a soft touch...

(via jose villa)
A more elegant and classic look...

(via jennifer altman)
Or perhaps luxurious with organic metallic accents...

(via unknown)
And then there are cool color infused options...

(via james carriere and real simple)
And lastly a simple and casual look with a nod to coming Christmas season.

(via canadian house and home and kim ficaro)
Yes, quite indecisive! What stlyle are you leaning towards this year!?

7:00 AM by beemagnet · 0

cheap(er) chic: table covering

I think the decor that I was most stressed about for Thanksgiving was a table covering. I looked at all the local stores and really didn't want to spend an arm and a leg for a one time use tablecloth. So I actually wound up buying this burlap runner (as featured on style me pretty!) for a very reasonable price. However, if that fell though I was truly tempted to just use kraft paper.

It is inexpensive table covering option and definitely won't need to be immediately treated when stained with red wine.

(via emerson made and sunday suppers)
What will you be dressing your table with this year!

7:30 PM by beemagnet · 0