A Rustic Christmas Deer Tablescape

Two posts in one day! And here I’ve been absent for weeks! This is the companion post to my earlier one, A Pinecone Cheese Ball (http://chickadeehomenest.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-pinecone-cheese-ball.html). I thought the two would work well for a New Year’s Eve party.
For years I’ve thought I “needed” a pair of deer (the tabletop kind, not the barn/field kind), but I hadn’t really seen the ones I wanted. My mother has the Fitz and Floyd ones that are gorgeous, and those are some I’ve considered, but I just haven’t been sure about which ones, so I haven’t pushed real hard to get some…until this year, when I did our Christmas china cabinet in Friendly Village ~
 Then I got kind of serious about finding just the ones. It wasn’t an exhaustive search, but I kept an eye out for some I liked (and that I liked the price!), but nothing was jumping out at me…until…Mr. Chickadee and I walked into Harick’s, a favorite shop near our home in Shawnee Hills. You know how the music plays and the light shines upon the Christmas tree that Clark spots (Christmas Vacation)? That’s exactly what happened when I spotted the deer.
But they were pricey—more than I wanted to spend, and I get pretty stubborn about what I’m willing to pay. So we kept looking around and I told Mr. C that there were 3 or 4 things I’d want to take home, one of them being the deer, if only the price were right. Yep…you’re ahead of me, aren’t you? Guess what was under our tree when Santa came?!

When I “gently” questioned Santa about losing his mind he told me the owner agreed to hold them for him while we were there, and agreed to a fabulous price “adjustment.” I’m going with that, so I can enjoy them to the fullest! I know you’ll see these guys a lot over the coming years, now that I finally have my deer!

But you know we bloggers can’t leave things plain and simple. They needed to be nestled and fussed over, of course, to create the after-Christmas-yet-Christmassy centerpiece tablescape I wanted.

Now that’s more like it, isn’t it? Candles and “snow” and pinecones and berries and greenery.

I took a ton of pictures, because I want to show you the detail on them—the fur, or hair (my research says it’s one and the same) is quite visible, though they’re made of some sort of resin, I guess.

 

 

And did you notice the bark candle in front of the deer lying down? My brother has been making tons of these for me—they are really, really cool, and perfect for my love of woodland settings.

I think I’ll be leaving this “centerpiece” up for quite a while—certainly into January—though admittedly it has to be moved for any meal involving more than the two of us. Mr. Chickadee sits at the end of the table, so that works. I sit right in front of them, but I’ve been able to set my place just fine, which means I’ve been enjoying them up close.

I’m always curious about centerpieces—what do you do? Do you leave a large one like this up and work around it? If we do anything here at home for New Year’s Eve I’ll probably just move it back and continue with the woodland theme to not get too fancy this year, and I’ll do a simple buffet around it. For our New Year’s Day pork and sauerkraut it’ll surely need to be moved.

I’m wishing you and yours a happy New Year and the best in 2015!!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I’m thrilled to know you stopped by, and I’ll always visit back and comment too. If you like what you see, I invite you to follow me (I promise to follow back), and please—Pin away and follow me on Pinterest too! Thank you!!
NOTE: Some of the items I use in my posts are in my Etsy shop, but many are not, simply because I haven’t updated my shop. If you see something you like and wonder if it’s available for sale, email me at coral5252@gmail.com and let’s talk!
Saturdays at http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday DIY by Design Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
Wednesday Share Your Cup with Mrs. Olson at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Thursdays at http://www.impartinggrace.com/
Friday at Redoux Interiors at http://www.redouxinteriors.com/
Fridays at Imparting Grace at http://www.impartinggrace.com/
Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
Throwback Thursdays at http://www.glitterglueandpaint.com/throwback-thursday-2/
Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Be Inspired Friday at http://www.Commonground-do.com/
Fridays at Feathered Nest: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
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Fridays at Home Sweet Home: http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Fresh-Cut Fridays at http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com
Fridays at The Thrifty Groove at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
From my nest to yours~
Zuni

Dining with the Birds

Do you remember when I invited you to my screened porch here ?  We’d “gone to the birds” with our wrought iron shelf decor.

Well, the weather here in central Ohio has been absolutely glorious—clear, bright blue skies, a nice breeze, and in the high 70s—perfect for outdoor dining~ BREAKFAST, LUNCH, or DINNER ~in our screened porch, of course!

And it was the perfect opportunity to once again use my PB bird plates (thanks to Yvonne at Stone Gable, who used them on a lovely table of hers).  I had to have them, and off my husband and I went to the PB outlet about an hour from home. 

 

You can see the bird touches on the shelves in the background.

 

The  water bottle was a fun purchase last summer at White Magnolia, the loveliest of shops, in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  And the little birdie is a pitcher—I guess like a creamer or a vase??  I’ve only used it as a vase.

 

My Nicodemus robin that I’ve had for years, and has made appearances on many of my tables, because I love this chubby little guy!

 

Good morning, Sunshine!

Twig place card holders, from Pottery Barn, I think, seemed just right for the occasion, along with the PB goblets from PB’s early years—a gift from my MIL that I’ve enjoyed over and over and over.  I guess they’re “vintage Pottery Barn” now!

 

edie rose home Bloom collection S&P, by Fitz & Floyd, a gift from our son and DIL. :)

 

The Blue Hour is upon us…lovely time for dinner.

When I saw the twinkles in the goblets I couldn’t resist adding this picture…I hope you like it as much as I do.

 

How’s this for perfect for our Dining with the Birds centerpiece?  A robin’s egg I found in our landscaping this spring.  Never fear…I researched what to do with it and learned that by the time I found it it had probably gotten too cold, and besides, there was no nest nearby, so it had been stolen by some mean critter, so I gave it a home for a little while before disposing of it.

 

Do you like to have every.single.meal outside during warm weather?  I find that I’m as bad as the little ones—I don’t want the lovely warm days to end, and I don’t want to go inside!

The table is set…please come join us!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! And if you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to +1 this post or pin it on Pinterest too! Thank you!

I invite you to follow me. If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.

 

Cuisine Kathleen at http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Winter Blues Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

Centerpiece Wednesday at http://www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Open House Party Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com

Share Your Cup Thursday at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com

Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Fridays Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/

Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

Sunday Showcase Party at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Cozy Home Scenes Tuesdays at http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Easter Table & Vignettes

Has Easter hopped right into this week without your even knowing how that happened?  That's what happened at our house--it's here, before I knew it!  So this post will cover lots of territory--from outdoor and indoor vignettes to my Easter tablescape.

Sprint has definitely SPRUNG in central Ohio, though we have a danger of frost until mid-May.  For now, we're enjoying every bit of it, taking it as a GIFT.

And....guess who's lurking around waiting with his load of eggs to hide?!
(As I was taking pictures in the dining room the other day, some movement outside caught my eye...
yep, that's who it was!!  I looked up just in time to see his cotton tail scamper under the bushes!)

A few of the touches of spring around our house...
my favorite Nicodemus piece--this chubby robin with a few eggs in her nest, in my Bombay chicken-wire cloche,
my wrought iron tiered server, chock full of eggs and carrots (close-ups of the carrots to follow),
and our resident duck couple.  They are so cute; they're always together.  I haven't found their nest yet.

And now for my Easter tablescape...

The centerpiece is a gorgeous Fitz & Floyd bunny cake plate my SIL gave me YEARS ago, so it's the good stuff, not what's out there now, and it is beautiful.  I opted for a simple Depression glass sugar bowl (I must look up the pattern!) for the flowers, because I didn't want to hide the beautiful detail on the plate.

Large dinner plate/chargers are new this year (Home Goods) and boy, do I love them!  I wanted to use these hobnail frosted salad/ dessert plates and the dinner plates were perfect with them.  I wish I had at least four more of these dessert plates...I love them, but they were a gift years ago and was never able to find more.


The napkins are brand, spanking new--Easter clearance at Home Goods--and they were perfect for my Easter tablescape. What a happy find!

The napkin rings were made by my mother years ago.  

Perfect for this pastel table!

Here is the yellow plate...I can't decide which color I like best/which place setting I would choose.  I'd like to know which one you like best: YELLOW, WHITE, BLUE, or GREEN?

Carrot place card holders, pinned by--what else?  

A tiny carrot clothes pin!

The large carrot is from a garland I found this year at Tuesday Morning--I cut them off the garland.  And the tiny clothes pins?   I've had them for years. They were still in the original package because I hadn't run across a way to use them, but I fell in love with them when I first saw them, and I am sooooo happy to get to finally use them!  

What other ideas do you have for how to use them?

The lovely teaspoons?  Another gift from my SIL--a hostess gift when I had a shower for her DIL.  Lovely.

You just might recognize these darling cordials...I posted about them HERE, when my mother hosted a pre-wedding dinner party for our son and his fiancee.

And now, they have a new home! 

She thought they'd be happy here, and I hope they're as happy as I am to have them.  Perfect for my Easter table!

Our son and DIL gave me these sweet little bird s&p last year for my birthday--love them!

And my mother gave me the egg years ago...perfect!

I have a confession...of my many dish addictions, sugar and creamers are right up there...so when I saw these on clearance at Home Goods a few days ago, no, they didn't jump in my cart--I GRABBED them and brought them home with me!

Aren't they darling?  Now, how could anyone pass them up?!

Do you understand?  :)

And last but not least...our baby's high chair, set with what else, but Royal Doulton Bunnykins?  

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them!  They encourage me and inspire me.  And if you like what you see a lot J, maybe you’d like to +1 this post or pin it on Pinterest too!  Thank you!

I hope you will follow me.  If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.

I will be joining these fun parties; please stop by to see all the great things there!

 

Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

Sunday Showcase Party at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Cozy Home Scenes Tuesdays at http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ 

Cuisine Kathleen at http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Winter Blues Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

Centerpiece Wednesday at http://www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Voila! French Inspiration on Thursdays at http://frenchcupboard.blogspot.com/

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Open House Party Thursday http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com

Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com

Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Fridays Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/

Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Hoppy Easter to you and yours,

from my Chickadee Nest to yours~

    Zuni

Our Crazy Quilt of a Tree

I wanted to share our Chirstmas tree before it gets too late in the season...Will it serve as inspiration, or give ideas to some who are a bit behind?  I hope so.

Ours has been "up" (as in the tree stand) for almost two weeks, but it took us one week to finish it!   Even though it's technically done, I'm still looking at other beautiful blogs with beautiful Christmas trees--never hurts to see one more, get one more idea to either tweak this year, or save for next year, right?

We use the multi-color lights because our tree is never a theme tree.  It's a conglomeration of US--what we love and cherish.  So in the past we've thought that the multi-color lights looked better.  But we use white lights outside, and when I saw our tree with the multi-color lights from outside, I wondered if I would prefer white inside too.  What do you think?

So here it is! 

Pretty full, isn't it?  We love to load it with ornaments that are all dear and precious to us.
My husband and I buy a new ornament each year, and we now also buy them for our grandbabies, but they
go on our tree, so they'l have the memories of their being on our tree.  Plus we have many ornaments
from those early years when you buy them to start your first trees.
And our Black Beauty... She's an antique.  We bought her right after
Chickadee was born, for her and others to come, and they've all loved to ride her.

Some special ornaments: 

I bought this Reed and Barton silver ornament in 1982.  As you can see by the pictures on the right, the bottom
comes off and you removed the rolled green paper inside and wrote down the memories of that Christmas season.
It was a s-t-r-e-t-c-h at the time, believe me--I was a young, single mom with two little boys,
but because I had those two precious babies I wanted to have it for them.
Now, as I read my notes, I am ever so glad that I bought it.

 

It's our Crazy-Quilt Tree
The ornaments range from Wedgwood and Radkos to school crafts from when our babies were in pre-school--
Gguess which are the most treasured?  :)
This one is a snowman (you could tell, right?) with only one arm left, with a poem about building a snowlady.
I love that this crazy assortment of ornaments tell so much about us:
We're a mom and a dad--no doubt about that.
We're a grandmama & grandpapa--no doubt about that.
I love sunflowers.
We love our memories of a wonderful trip to Paris.
We love Santas--the fat, old-fashioned kind with soft, round, rosy cheecks.
We love palm trees, the beach, summer.
And we love our history--together and individually.  We have ornaments on our tree from
the year my husband was born, and because I came to the USA at age 8, we have
no ornaments from my early years, but we DO have two ornaments
from our first tree in the US.

Here is one of the two ornaments from our first Christmas tree in the US:

Isn't it the sweetest thing?  The "propeller" inside moves when you blow on it--the children have all loved them, of course.  I'm glad I have two--one for each of my boys and their families someday.
These ornaments represent not only the obvious memories, but also the kindness of the people
who helped us when my parents, little brother, and I arrived from Cuba with little more than
the clothes that fit in a suitcase in 1961.  They even had Christmas ornaments for us to start our new lives!



Our 2011 ornament.
Isn't it interesting?!  It's made of strips of cardstock.
Has anyone done a tutorial on how to make these?  It looks relatively easy; I'd love to make more!



The picture of our grandbabies is actually last year's Christmas card.
They're wearing matching Lanz of Salzburg jammies--so cute!



How about that palm tree?!  Is that not the coolest?!
We bought it at FantaSea at St. Armand's Circle outside of Sarasota.
(Beach lovers: be sure to find a FantaSea! Lots of cool stuff!)
You also see a handmade snowman, an apple, candy, etc.

 

Old and new...
The ornament on the left is circa 1965, from when my MIL and FIL lived in Venezuela, where he worked
for an American company.
The one on the right, the precious NEW.

 

Significant Family Events...
Our son and his lovely bride, at their wedding in October of this year.
Above that, my stepson's little thumbprint ornament, from 1982.



The Lenox pitcher and bowl ornament is a gift from one of our sons, because we also have the
Lenox Holiday china.  And the beautiful Santa?  From my MIL. 
The thoughtfulness of others.

A Fitz and Floyd reindeer our little Chickadee loves.
She just turned 4, but when she saw it this year she said, "I remember that."
We're making memories.

"Little Angel" school ornament next to Lenox, next to a tin Santa...perfect.



I told you about this nest HERE, when I had it in the china cabinet.
But as I explained, this nest appeared in our tree one year with a very nice {small} gift in it.
So, being the wise woman I am, it's back in its proper place now :).
I hope none of the chickadees or cardinals on the tree decide to take up residence
there, because it needs to be empty till Santa arrives!



My sons' First Year ornaments...1977 & 1978.
Yes, they've been on our tree every single year.

And, although these are not on our Christmas tree, for Chirstmas Vacation fans...

Can you believe there are people out there crazy enough to have these in their homes?!
The scene where Clark and Eddie "enjoy" a bit of eggnog is one of my husband's favorite scenes,
so one of our sons found these for him.  Every Christmas since, he wants to make sure they're out
(and we don't even like eggnog!)

 I wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas.  Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them!  They encourage me and inspire me.  And if you like what you see a lot J, maybe you’d like to +1 this post too!  Thank you!

I will be joining these fun parties; please stop by to see all the great things there!

 Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

 Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

 Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com

 Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

 Five Minutes Just for Me at http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com

 Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

 Homemaker on a Dime, Sunday at http://www.homemakeronadime.com/p/link-parties.html

 House in Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

 Amaze Me Monday at http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/

 Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

 Motivated Monday at http://becolorful.typepad.com/  

 Newbie Party on Monday at http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

 Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ 

 Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ 

 Mrs. Hines’ Wednesday Show & Tell at http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=120723&type=thumbnail

 Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

 Open House Party Thursday http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com

From my Chickadee Nest to yours~

    Zuni