Thanksgiving Accroutrements

I don't "theme" a lot

Really, I don't

But in November, it seems to be

"Turkey Time" 

at Linderhof

Perhaps it is my way of ignoring

all of the Christmas

in the stores in November

But they are a slowly collected lot of turkeys

That sometimes end up on the table during the whole month of November

Not just that 4th Thursday!

It all started in 1970

When I bought this guy

At the dime store

He's made in Japan

And quite handsome I thought

He holds flowers sometimes

Ten or so years later, I found another

just like him

At a garage sale

for probably 50 cents

I like things in pairs

And so I bought it!

My love of blue and white dishes

And my love of my Christmas China

And my love of antiques

found me lusting after "Turkey" china

Oh, the "real" turkey plates from before the turn of the century

Especially the blue and white ones

Had me salvatating!

And searching on eBay --

Where I found

Eight Spode Festival plates

Reasonably priced

And I felt that I could fill in with my other blue and white

(And if hard pressed and with a lot of company, I could use them with my other blue and white plates in say, July!)

Never go to T. J. Maxx

for the next year

I found these plates by Myott.    They're English made

They're blue and white

They have a turkey in the middle

And they were only $15 for 4 plates

I bought 2 boxes!

Now, I had 16 turkey plates

And with more than 16 guests, I can still fill in with my other Spode!

I decided I needed a "turkey" platter

I have a couple of turkey platters

But not a turkey platter

Spode Festival

From Ebay

And like the other turkey dishes, it can fill in if needed anytime of the year

when I use my blue and white!

My last purchase

Which is not very turkey-ish

For the turkey is inside and would be covered by gravy

But there is always gravy at Thanksgiving

I didn't have a blue and white gravy boat

And like the other turkey dishes . . . 

I can use it all year long

(and often do!)

It's a pretty Thanksgiving table

With the blue and white

And I like the fact that I can use my regular blue and white serving dishes

for a cohesive table!

Years ago

At a garage sale I'm sure,

before the turkey china, and

before Martha Stewart featured them

And before Williams-Sonoma sold them

I bought two of the heavy clear glass turkeys

They make a great container for cranberry sauce

And look festive

And make the table (with plain ordinary china) more Thanksgiving-ish!

Alas, when I bought that first turkey in 1970

I also bought

The matching salt and pepper shakers

Turkey "centerpiece"

Salt and pepper shakers on each side

I'm not a salt and pepper shaker collector

But mother always had a couple of "holiday" salt and peppers

that made our table more festive

(for she had one set of good china which was used not only for holidays

but for Sunday dinner as well)

I cannot find them.

I do remember seeing them several years ago

(putting them away because I felt they were too "kitch=y" and not "sophisticated" enough)

But where, I do not know!

So now I'm on a hunt

To find either my originals

or a replacement pair.

I feel that they need to be on the Thanksgiving table again!

From a Thanksgiving for two

To a Thanksgiving with 30 guests,

It's down to two again!

But I fix a "real meal"

turkey 

dressing

mashed potatoes

gravy

homemade cranberry sauce

green beans

(although this year I think I'll do Brussels sprouts)

rolls

And pumpkin pie

(with real whipped cream)

The turkeys will be on the table

And in our tummy

On Thanksgiving Day!

Wish me luck on finding the salt and peppers

And any salt and pepper won't do

They have to match the turkey centerpiece!