Harvest Time

Cups and saucers are ready for after dinner coffee...

The table is set with a mix of everyday flatware.  The linen placemats add some femininity to this 'steak and potatoes' meal!

An oil painting of our youngest daughter rests on an antique English bamboo easel.  The house has so many windows and not so many large spaces to hang pictures!  I pulled in this bench and grain sack to break up the look of the arts and crafts style table and chairs.  Two smaller French chairs sit across the table.

All those lovely apples...we have had our fair share of apples this year!  They make a great centerpiece in this old herb crate, which sits low so conversation isn't hindered.

My dining room is a bit of a 'hodge podge' of things.  The craftsman table and hutch (not shown) were the first pieces of furniture we purchased eighteen years ago.  They were made by an amish fellow from Pennsylvania and are wonderfully crafted, but I sure would like something a little bit bigger!  It would help with all the family gatherings!  My husband has such a fondness for it, so it will stay!  But stay tuned...it is getting a makeover (without paint!)

I took down some blue willow plates and hung these 'Harvest Time' plates for fall.

The sign above the wine cabinet is an old billiard's score board from a British pub.  The pewter bowl in front is a favorite piece!  I use it to hold arrangements or to chill wine.

I found this little etching next to my wine cabinet at an antique store near Hilton Head, SC.  It was practically nothing and is one of my favorites!  I love charcoal or pencil drawings and this one has so much character.  I wonder who the man is...maybe he was an old fisherman from nearby with years of the salty air and sea taking its toll.

I believe this chair is called an 'Eastlake' chair.  It was given to me recently by my dad and holds the service of coffee for after dinner.  I love pewter, so I added this creamer and sugar set instead of the Harvest Time.  There are three sets in this large collection, but sometimes I don't like things to be too matchy matchy!

I never appreciated this set of ironstone until learning more about it from other bloggers.  This set from Johnson Bros. of England is called, "Harvest Time."  My parents lived in England for a time (my dad was stationed there with the Air Force.)  They purchased a full set with enough plates to serve 20 people and gave the set to my grandparents!  This seems odd to me now, because my grandparents never had large dinner parties and their sweet, cozy home sat six people comfortably at the dining room table.  My mom was an only child, so there wasn't a large family to feed!  Maybe it was a really good deal.  I am still perplexed as to how they got all of this ironstone back to the states!  Nonetheless, and with no less appreciation, I received this full set when my dear grandparents passed away.  It is a lovely set and I am  very grateful!  I am yet to have a dinner party for 20 people! 

Well, that is about all I have for fall, ya'll.  It is on to Christmas!  I have missed my friends in blogland! 

I am linking to BNOTP Tablescape Thursday!