Thrifty and Fun Holiday Table Decorating

For the holidays, each member of the family is given an assignment (or assignments). Tasks include pre-dinner games and crafts, cooking their signature Thanksgiving dish, a post-dinner activity along with caper chart activities that include setting and decorating the table. Typically an adult is paired with younger members of the family to assist with their assignment.

This year in addition to cooking, I am working with my nieces and nephew to set and decorate our Thanksgiving table. As the holidays approached my mother collected and dried autumn leaves in various sizes and colors to use as table decorations and place cards.

Inspired by an article in Real Simple to use found items for table decoration, I took my youngest niece (5) for walk in the neighborhood to collect additional items. We found and gathered a variety of pinecones, small branches and moss, which had fallen in the recent wind and rainstorms. The real find was a young crabapple tree that had snapped in the high winds. The many branches, remnant leaves, tiny apples and sturdy stem will give us plenty of material to create a tablescape and other decorations for the holiday season.

This afternoon my older niece and nephew will come over to set the table and create the tablescape from these founds items. Then we’ll make a pot of Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Soup) for a pre-holiday supper. Can’t wait to spend time with them in the kitchen.

Each Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on the original intent of the first thanksgiving celebrations as we gather with family and friends to share a meal and companionship. May your holiday table reflect all that you are grateful for and be filled with warmth.