Our Canadian Thanksgiving

I know I'm really late getting this up, but it's been crazy around here this week. So, finally I'm sharing with you our special day.

We had our Thanksgiving dinner last Sunday. We were missing some of the family so there was only 14 sitting for the meal. With that few I really wanted everyone to sit together, but even with the two tables there wasn't enough room. Until my husband realized our dining table actually opened for a leaf we never had! So he made one...looks ugly but I always have a tablecloth on the table anyways. (you can see from the watermarks on the table why...it is on my painting-to-do list)

He's a handy guy to have around

And here it is, with the kitchen table, all decorated and ready for dinner

Too long to get it all in one picture.

 My log candle holders, I had to spread them over the two tables. 

One of my seasonal salt & pepper shakers

The butler cart decorated. This tray was from the dollar store, one of those silver ones. I painted it with acrylic paint and wrote Give Thanks on freehand. Hydrangeas I dried from the garden. 

Our buffet decorated 

The star of the show ready for the oven

Keeping Kaleb busy while dinner cooks

I made these place setting 'cards' from old clothespins I found at a flea market, attached a piece of corn paper, a leaf cut from a dollar store garland, some raffia made into bows and cardstock in a fall colour. They turned out so cute! 

Turkey done!

 All the girls did a wonderful job cleaning up and wouldn't let me help. :)

There will be one more setting for dinner next year! The baby is due in January.

(yes, I know, she/he will need their dinner put in the blender... lol)

Of course, I have to make a stock from the carcass and vegetables.

My husband and mother-in-law relaxing in the workshop/games room after everyone has left. 

   It was a wonderful day, dinner was delicious and there was plenty for people to take leftovers home and still leave lots for us. I was so thankful to have everyone here and especially for the health of our families. 

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Log Candle Holders...part II

Yesterday I posted about making my wooden candle holders for the Thanksgiving table. I got the idea from Marty at Marty's Musings and knew I had to have one for myself. I had to put the project on hold because of my stupid mistakes. But I have it finished and ready for our Thanksgiving dinner this Sunday. For my American friends that don't know, in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. It is all about the harvest, and giving thanks to God for providing us with the bounty.

I wanted to fancy up the tealights. Karah, from the space between, posted a couple weeks ago on how she did Beglittered Tea Lights. I love how hers turned out!!

Karah's candles

I used Elmer's spray adhesive and Martha Stewart fine glitter. 

Not as happy with how mine look, but they'll work and do look better than without it. I should have read her instructions again...next time I'll paint on modge podge or white glue instead of spraying. See how much glitter is on the top? oops 

 Another oops? This project is full of them!

 And here is the final centerpiece! I used an old brown tablecloth, topped it with a burlap runner with the sides folded under, put the log on an angle and surrounded it with the single log tealights, ornamental corn, small gourds, a rusty leaf garland and a few stars. And I love how it looks! Can't wait to set the table for dinner, but that will have to wait. (I cannot keep my cats off this table!! Needless to say, this is set for pictures...I'll have to redo it on Sunday after I kick the cats out to the games room.)

Here it is when the sun went down and the candles are lit. 

  Well, they started out lit...a couple went out as I was taking the picture. 

Guess I shouldn't use cheap tea lights.

Thanks to Karah and Marty for the inspiration! Be sure to check out their blogs, they have wonderful ideas for centerpieces. 

If you liked these ones, I made another set for Christmas using birch logs!

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Cupcakes and Crinoline
It's So Very Cheri
My Modern Country
Two Succulent Sisters

               

                            

                 

             

                            

Wooden Candle Holders

A piece of wood or two, some candles that need painting, some inspiration for my Thanksgiving table and a new drill bit. Made for an interesting day...

I saw a beautiful candle holder made by another Marty and her husband at Marty's Musings.

Marty's Candle Holder

With all the wood out back for the stove & fire pit I knew I'd find some perfect pieces to do something similar.

I bought a 1 1/2" drill bit which is exactly the right size for the candles. 

When I first started drilling the log, it spun with the bit and my hip stabilized it. Good thing - my hip was there...bad thing - my hip was there, and is now bruised.

One down...five to go

The next hole I decided to use the vise. Duh...why I didn't think of that first, I'll never know.

My log holder finished, just needs touch-ups

I cut different sizes out of another log to make individual tea light holders.

Cutting the log. Shoot, I should have closed the door...yes there is a washroom in the workshop. Handy. 

Notice the first aid kit? Very handy.

Once I had the pieces, it was time to drill holes to hold the tealights.

Then the battery died. Fortunately, we have a spare so I put the dead one on the charger and continued...

Notice anything? 

I started to drill and nothing happened. Took me a few seconds (minutes?) to realize what I forgot to do. 

Then I broke one...I guess it was too short to take the pressure.

Needless to say, I didn't do the other short ones!

At once point the drill wrenched in my hand, moving the vise.

Look how much that sucker moved!

Thank heavens the handle was there to stop the vise from completely turning! 

This being the third oops I decided the rest will wait for Larry to get home. Besides, my thumb and wrist are now too sore to hold the drill. But, I think I got a lot accomplished.

On hold...

My darling husband showed me why the vise moved. He had removed one of the bolts because when he's building the burn boards (part of his business) he needs to swivel the vise when wiring. He said I need to put the bolt back in before doing a project like this. Ok, I knew that...I think.

To be continued...you can see part 2 at Wooden Candle Holders

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