Setting a lovely table in anticipation of an upcoming holiday is always a fun activity. While football games were on the TV last Sunday, My Sweet Babboo brought up the heavy turkey bin and special Thanksgiving linens and I had a playful time arranging the pub table for the holiday. I try to make this holiday table just a little different every year, but still utilizing what I already have.

This year, I wanted the table to be full of color. So, I began by spreading out my deep red tablecloth, and put the Turkey Talk placemats on top with the table topper in the center.

The placemats are fussy cut centers, set on point with sidebars of turkey feather print.

This year, as most years, I chose the deep copper color chargers. White stoneware plates are on top with my turkey salad plates. I love these turkey plates, and we will use them all month.

Dark brown napkins are held with special turkey napkin rings that say Happy Thanksgiving across the bottom.

At the top of each place setting is a turkey placecard holder. These work for seating arrangements, as well as using on buffets to label food. At a pot luck, I can use them to tell which offerings are gluten free or what the dish is.

Each place setting has individual salt and pepper shakers, crystal water glasses and pretty wine glasses with everyday flatware.

The centerpiece is arranged with my biggest and tiniest little critters.

My largest ceramic turkey is set in the middle of the table facing the room in a bed of silk autumn leaves. It is flanked by smaller ceramic turkeys.

Then, in the corner of the table topper, my tiny chipmunks have pulled a wishbone.

Another turkey is on the backside of the large one, so turkeys are facing every direction.

There we are, a table full of autumn color to enjoy all November.

Some years, I go in a lighter direction. From 2015, this table was set formally on our dining table with place settings for six. I used our good white china on gold chargers, and placed the napkins on the plates to showcase the napkin rings.

From 2019, a white tablecloth is under the same quilted placemats, and the dinner plates are the ruffled edge rust color ones. These have since been donated back to the thrift store. Different turkeys make the centerpiece with tall candles in a ring holder with a pumpkin in the middle.

Another table from 2018 used the same elements as the ones above in a different way. This time copper chargers anchor our good china with the turkey salad plate. The centerpiece has a ceramic turkey in a nest of autumn color flowers in the pine cone basket I made. Gold flatware this time added to the formality of the setting.

I sometimes put my pilgrim figures on the table, like this one from 2017. Tall candles and more ceramic turkeys make a full centerpiece.

One year on the pub table, I set the square gold plates on copper chargers with the turkey salad plates. My pumpkin bowls stayed on the table from October that year, to hold soup. Those gold plates have also been donated back to the thrift store. The centerpiece is built around a pumpkin cookie jar and ceramic turkeys.

One last turkey to show you, it isn’t Thanksgiving without this wax turkey candle that I’ve had since I was a child. My mother bought it for 79-cents, and it still has it’s sticker on the bottom. It usually goes on the table next to my chair in the den so I see it every day.

I hope that gives you inspiration to set your own holiday table this year. Do it early so you can enjoy it for more than just one day. Do you have special things for Thanksgiving you use year after year?

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