Thanksgiving

This week as I was getting ready to host my Thanksgiving dinner...running here & there...I realized how much the preparing...shopping & gathering adds to the love & enjoyment of Thanksgiving day for many of us. I was shopping at Trader Joe's a few days ago & chatting with a good friend, who also had her basket full of items for her Thanksgiving meal, I felt her excitement about a new recipe she shared with me and I felt her joy that her family would be together for the first time in many years. As we shared our happiness of celebrating with family...I glanced around the store...there seemed to be a quiet happiness or excitement as each shopper filled their carts & shared their favorite ways to prepare the turkey & dressing or as most here call stuffing....not the sparking excitement you feel at Christmas...a quieter shared joyful feel...it was very contagious and at that moment, standing in line at Trader Joe's, I felt very thankful...not that I had found the perfect turkey...not that I found the pumpkin macaroons or the haricot verts from France...I was thankful to share in the joy of the other shoppers as they anticipate their Thanksgiving day with family & friends....Sharing with you a few of my Thanksgiving faves....

Simply beautiful Thanksgiving table...

Butternut squash soup with rosemary...

Thanksgiving table at Rue 27 Maison

Thanksgiving cheer....bourbon & honey cocktail

love the garland & votives on the table

The main attraction....Turkey

southern cornbread dressing...

love the smell of fresh sage...

Beautiful Thanksgiving dinner al fresco...

southern caramel cake...

Love the soft glow of the candles with the pumpkins...

Happy Thanksgiving....until next time...Cheers!

November days...

 We are into the second week of November...a month that is beautiful with the colors of fall for many and the look of winter for some. Growing up in the south, November was always a fave time for me, the weather was cool & crisp...the winds hinted of the colder days to come.  I love the golden leaves of fall against the grey of the skies in November.
                When November arrives...Thanksgiving is just around the corner & Christmas is not far behind. Lots of antique markets this month...everyone is hunting for that special item and gathering for the holidays. We have shopped at several local antique markets and went on a buying trip in the South in the last few weeks...came back with fabulous finds...Sharing with you a few moments of our hunting & gathering...and enjoying some fabulous southern food along the way!

Shopping in the South...

Love the architectural elements we found in Louisiana...

fabulous French panetiere, with beautiful patina..

Vintage & antique garden items...

lots of old gilt...

Delicious & southern...smothered chicken!

Back on the west coast...shopping in Newport at Rogers Gardens...always a treat!

Rogers Gardens has everything to tempt you...

love the metal wreaths hung on antique doors...

the stunning whites at Rogers Gardens...

hunting for finds at a SoCal antique market....

love the French finds from this vendor, Atelier de Campagne

early morning at the market....

Rue 27 Maison...back home, unloading our finds...

Until next time...happy hunting...Cheers!