We Gather Together – Ideas and Inspiration for Thanksgiving
Does anyone besides me feel like Thanksgiving should be this week instead of next week? Since Thanksgiving is late this year, we all have extra time to prepare for it and also to enjoy fall and Thanksgiving decorations for a bit longer than usual.
Today I’m joining Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Road for a We Gather Together Thanksgiving Blog Hop. I’ll be sharing my Thanksgiving ideas along with a talented group of blogging friends. I am looking forward to the ideas shared and I know that you’ll enjoy them as well.
Many thanks to Amber for hosting this blog hop. Amber decorates her home beautifully with vintage style and if you’ve never visited Amber’s blog, I encourage you to do so.
If you are visiting from Rosemary and Thyme, welcome! Janet sets the most beautiful tables and I know you’ll enjoy her Elegant Thanksgiving Table.
We Gather Together – Ideas and Inspiration for Thanksgiving
Since I’ve already shared this year’s Thanksgiving decor, today I’ll be featuring Thanksgiving ideas from this year and years past.
Decorating for Thanksgiving with Vintage
The past few years I skipped decorating for Thanksgiving but not this year. I pulled out my vintage Thanksgiving decor and decorated our formal living room with my Thanksgiving treasures and also with a giant box of Bittersweet that my cousin harvested for me.
I have so much enjoyed this year’s decor and if you missed it, I hope you’ll hop over to see it and then come back to see the rest of my Thanksgiving ideas.
Decorating for Thanksgiving with Vintage
Thanksgiving Place Setting Ideas
A few weeks ago I shared my Thanksgiving table that featured my vintage turkey collection. If you are looking for ideas for setting your Thanksgiving table, be sure to check out this post as I shared my table along with thirteen other bloggers who shared their table ideas.
Thanksgiving Place Setting Ideas
We Gather Together Thanksgiving Tablescape
Last year when I shared my Thanksgiving table, I named it after my favorite Thanksgiving hymn, “We Gather Together”. Gathering together to celebrate and give thanks for our blessings is what Thanksgiving Day is all about.
I loved how this table looks and especially love the vintage pilgrim candle holder that I used as the table centerpiece.
We Gather Together Thanksgiving Tablescape
Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard Collection
When I decorate for Thanksgiving, I love to use postcards from my collection dating to the early 1900’s. Most of my cards were sent between two of my great-great aunts. The picture below is from this year’s Thanksgiving decor, but if you are interested in seeing a close up of both the front and back of these cards, check out this post from Thanksgiving 2012.
Thanksgiving Recipes
If you are looking for Thanksgiving recipes, may I suggest Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf? It makes a great Thanksgiving side dish and it gets bonus points for being a healthy dish.
Pumpkin bread is a classic fall treat to enjoy but my pumpkin bread recipe is a bit different than the usual recipe. If you are baking pumpkin bread for Thanksgiving, check out my Pumpkin Honey Beer Bread. You won’t regret baking two loaves of this delicious bread.
We Gather Together Thanksgiving Blog Hop
I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving ideas that I shared today. Get more Thanksgiving inspiration from my blogging friends by clicking on the links below. I’m looking forward to reading these posts and I’m sure that you will enjoy them as well.
Next on the tour is Cecilia from My Thrift Store Addiction. Cecilia is sharing vintage Thanksgiving vignettes and I can’t wait to read her post.
These ideas are so fun Paula! I was just thinking I needed to try and make some pumpkin bread this year before everything gets all peppermint. I can’t wait to try your recipes and I love all the vintage items you’ve collected as well. I never think I need anything like arrows until I see your fabulous collections 🙂 Hugs and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, CoCo
Thank you so much, CoCo! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well, even if it is going to be a bit different for you this year.
Paula
Paula I am LOVING all of the vintage touches! Those arrows are just fantastic and I am crazy over your gobblers.
Thank you so much, Laura! I am so glad that I didn’t skip decorating for Thanksgiving this year.
Paula
I think I have said it before, but you have the best vintage postcards! So many pretty ideas from Thanksgiving past, too! Blessings. Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thank you so much, Cecilia! I know my grandmother is looking down, happy that I am using the things that I inherited from her.
Paula
Beautiful decorating ideas and I adore your pretty Pilgrim Candle holder. Pumpkin bread is a favorite and this sounds sooooooooo good.
Thank you, Marty! That bread is realllly good!
Paula
I’ve not heard of Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf before! It looks yummy. I think I’ll try that this weekend. Love all of your fun and cheerful decor pieces too. Especially the arrows and postcards. You have the best stuff! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
The Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf is so yummy and it’s a very healthy recipe. I love it!
Paula
I always love to see your postcard collection, Paula! I also love your pretty Thanksgiving pieces…you always find the cutest things. That pumpkin bread look delicious too. I need to get moving on my menu for the day. Most will stay the same but I may try to shock the family with a new recipe addition this year! Cheers to a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Shelley
Thank you, Shelley! I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.
Paula
Paula, you have shared some wonderful ideas with us. That pumpkin bread looks delicious! All of your vignettes are so pretty, and I love the vintage pilgrim centerpiece! I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much, Shannon! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well. I loved your Thanksgiving tablescape!
Paula
I have to say, that quiver of arrows is quite an amazing decor element! Very striking! Always love seeing your vintage decor ideas, Paula… and I do love your pilgrim candleholder, too! Pinned!
Thank you, Julie! I think that my dad and grandparents are looking down, pleased that the quiver and arrows is still being enjoyed.
Paula
Oops, you really did New Mexico an unjust with not showing pictures of the beautiful landscape, not to mention the amazing New Mexico style food. I lived in Albuquerque for 18 years and was able to drive all over the state for my career. Also many celebrities live in Sant Fe and have ranches. Too bad you didn’t time your Trip for the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, with over 500 hot air balloons in the sky all at the same time. A vision that stays with you.
I hope to write a post to share my New Mexico trip in the near future. I so much enjoyed seeing the beautiful landscape in this state as well as the amazing food. I purchased pinto beans at a farmer’s market there and tried to replicate a dish that I enjoyed many times on my trip, pinto beans layered with ground beef, chilis, and cheese.
I saw a few balloons flying in Albuquerque and can only imagine how beautiful it would be with a sky full of them.
Paula
Everything is perfect! Greeting your guests in this lovely home will be a joy.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Kippi
Thank you so much, Kippi! I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Paula
I love your vintage turkey and postcard collections!!! They are beautiful!
Thank you, Angelina!
Paula
Paula, I always enjoy the family history you share with your vintage decor such as the postcards written between great-great aunts, but that butternut squash rice pilaf looks like real winner – definitely something to write home about! Pinned! I hope you have a Thanksgiving filled with great blessings.
I hope that your Thanksgiving was wonderful, Rita! I can picture you enjoying it with your beautiful river view.
Paula
Paula, I love your place cards. That’s always something that I love to include. Since Thanksgiving is about tradition, I love that you use the vintage post cards in your lovely tablescape. Thank you for the recipe suggestions too. Have a wonderful thanksgiving sweet friend.
I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Carol!
Paula
Look at all those beautiful fall treasures. I am so smitten with the pilgrim candle holder. LOVE!!!
The pilgrim candle holder was a great vintage find. I debated buying it but have no regrets!
Paula
I’m still crushing over your vintage postcards Paula. So much fun to include those as part of your holiday decor. I hope you have a wonder Thanksgiving holiday!
Oops that should say wonderful Thanksgiving! 😉
I love my vintage postcards! I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving, Michelle!
Paula
Paula, what a treasure to have that vintage postcard collection — especially since they were correspondence between your own family members! Lucky you! And how nice you bring them out to decorate your home instead of stuck in a box or drawer somewhere. Have a wonderful holiday!
I love displaying my postcards, Debbee! I hope that you Thanksgiving was wonderful.
Paula
Your little turkey collection is perfect on your Thanksgiving table, and I love all of the use of the bittersweet, it is such a classic at this time of year! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Chloe! My cousin was so kind to harvest all of that Bittersweet for me. I used most of it and my mom is using the rest to decorate tables for her women’s club meeting this week.
Paula
Love your Thanksgiving postcard collection, Paula! You’ve definitely been gathering those for awhile. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, friend!
Almost all of my postcards belonged to my great-great aunt. My grandmother saved all of them and then passed them along to me.
Paula
Hi Paula! You have so many great Thanksgiving ideas here. I love the roundup of your posts! You know I always adore your vintage treasures. That pilgrim candleholder centerpiece is really unique! I love that it’s a taper candle holder especially, as those seem very rare these days in the style you have. I’ll have to try some of those recipes. I’m a sucker for any type of flavored bread, and that combo of honey, pumpkin and beer is definitely one I’ve never tried! Happy Thanksgiving!.
Thank you, Crissy! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Paula
Love, love your vintage post cards. So cute.
Thank you so much, Katie! I am so lucky to have inherited these.
Paula
Love your decor and your recipes! How beautiful and delicious! Those vintage postcards are amazing!
Thank you, Kristin! I’m looking forward to seeing all of your vintage this Christmas season.
Paula
Paula I love all of your vintage Thanksgivng decor and all the special touches you have added around your home to make a Thanksgiving special! Your Thanksgiving tablescapes last year and this year have been favorites of mine in blogland.
I am definitely going to try the rice pilaf recipe too!
Thank you so much for joining the hop. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Amber. Your decor style is right up my alley and I love everything that you do.
I hope that your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
Paula
I love those vintage Thanksgiving postcards! So pretty!
Thanks for linking up with us on our Embracing Home and Family link up party!
-Cherelle
Dearest Paula, you know I love your vintage pieces. I just love the way you’ve used them here!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!