Autumn Dining...French Country Style

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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We have been having the perfect autumn weather here in Colorful Colorado, with daytime highs reaching into the 80's and nighttime low's in the 40's.  I love it!  Has autumn made its appearance where you live?
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Well my friends, today I am revisiting an autumn tablescape from last year.  It's called..."Autumn Dining...French Country Style".  It was one of my favorites.  I love how it turned out!  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!
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Autumn Dining...French Country Style
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Welcome to my french country dining room.
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This week I have been playing dishes! 
 I created an informal, autumn table for two...with a little french country flair.
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~Frenchy Wire Cloches~

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Recently I created an autumn vignette for my dining room buffet using these frenchy looking wire cloches.
 If you would like to see my autumn buffet..just click HERE.

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I decided to move the cloches to the table for a little autumn dining...french country style!
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The tall wire cloche stands a stately 30 ins. in height. I found it at a local gift shop. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it! The cloche is made of chicken wire and sits upon a distressed, gray colored, metal urn. Autumn berries and a couple of autumn floral picks decorate the cloche. The smaller wire cloche was a Hobby Lobby find. I love the sweet little bird finial on top of the cloche. This cloche sits atop a silver pedestal dish and is decorated with a yellow-gold candle and more autumn berries.
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My newest little treasure find...frenchy looking woven placemats.

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I love, love, LOVE these heavy woven placemats. They have different shades of gray thread and I knew they would coordinate beautifully with the distressed gray finish of the wire cloches.
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I love the deep shades of red paired with the gray!
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The Table Centerpiece...

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Of course the starring attraction for this autumn table are the two frenchy wire cloches.
 I really do like how the gray cloches look against the red walls!
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The smaller cloche is sitting on a stack of red dessert plates.

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I used a tapestry table runner for a foundation for the table centerpiece. I turned it upside down because the colors were more muted...just what I was looking for! It's a little difficult to see...but I am using an autumn floral arrangement as a backdrop for the cloches in the centerpiece. It's made up of autumn colored roses, berries, grapevine, and greenery. It sits in an old french table tray that also has a distressed gray finish. Layers...layers...layers! Many layers to this autumn table centerpiece!

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An Autumn Pitcher

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I usually have this pretty pitcher in my kitchen. I decided to add it to the table...I love the autumnal colors of the grapes and grape leaves...Oooh...and that pretty distressed gray handle!
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Ohhh...you know how I love my sweet little birds! These pretty autumn songbirds are perfect for this french country table! If you look closely, you will see that their little wings are made up of embossed acorns and oak leaves! Even the birds look french with their pretty frenchy scroll designs!

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An old, tarnished, silver footed tray holds a pair of acorn salt & pepper shakers. More of that distressed gray color!
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The Place Setting...
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I have had this set of dark red colored dishes for several years...they were a gift from my youngest daughter. I use them often...they go so well in my red dining room! I am using the dinner plate and the salad plate in this place setting.
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I am also using my new autumn chargers from Walmart. They have a lovely shade of gray mixed in with the brown...sooo perfect!
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An autumn leaf plate tops off the place setting. I have several shades of these leaf plates but I chose to use the varigated red, orange, and yellow plate because it brings out the same colors of the candle and the autumn florals that decorate the cloches.
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A dark red dinner napkin with gold and olive green florals coordinates nicely with the place setting. I found the wood napkin rings at Walmart last year...they seem to match the charger plates.
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Voila! There you have it...autumn dining...french country style!
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I am joining these fabulous parties today...

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Tablescape Thursday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
Open House Thursday...hosted by Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.
Feathered Nest Friday...hosted by Courtney over at French Country Cottage.
Home Sweet Home...hosted by Sherry over at The Charm of Home.
Potpourri Friday...hosted by Honey over at "2805".
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Thank you, dear ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!
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Well my friends...I'm sooo happy that you stopped by for a visit today! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I'd love to visit with you!!!
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Warmest Autumn Wishes!!!

Autumn Decadence...an Autumn Mantel

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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I think I am finally finished with all the "autumn fluffing" at my place.  Of course, you know how it goes...one never stops "tweaking"!  Hehe!  Last week I shared my french country dining room all dressed up in its new autumn frocks.  I have finished decorating in my living room as well...fireplace mantel included, however I still need to get photos.  Hopefully I will get to that sometime this week.

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In the meantime...I thought I would share my autumn mantel from last year (2010).  I hope that you enjoy!

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"Autumn Decadence"...an Autumn Mantel

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The faux fireplace in my living room...Autumn 2010

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"Autumn Decadence"...an Autumn Mantel
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Hmmm...I did say that I was going for decadent! Hehe! I had sooo much fun decorating my fireplace mantel for autumn this year.
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Continuing the autumn theme in my living room of French courts, vineyards, and romance...I decided to go all out with my mantel decor! I just adore how it turned out!!!
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Autumn Pheasants in the Vineyard
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Two stately pheasants along with a decorative piece of pottery filled with grapes, autumn's bounty, are showcased...front and center...in this autumn mantlescape.
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I used several different types of foliage...trailing grapevines and autumn leaves make up the majority of the thick foliage. If you look close...you will see sprigs of autumn colored zebra grass, berries of all sorts, acorns, pheasant feathers, and grapes...all interwoven throughout the autumn mantelscape. I also used two ornate gold candleholders with pumpkin colored candles....one on each side of the mantel.
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And VOILA...a decadent "pheasants in the vineyard" mantelscape!!!
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A closer view of some of the berries, acorns, and autumn foliage.

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A pair of antique gold colored candleholders with pumpkin colored pillars...nestled into the autumn foliage.

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The Fireplace Hearth...

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The fireplace hearth is filled with "autumn's bounty" as well.

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A couple of old, leather bound books, a tall pitcher filled with more autumn foliage, and grapes sit atop a large hatbox decorated with pumpkins, melons, etc.  Tall cast iron candleholders flank either side of the hatbox vignette, along with a pair of metal peacocks. The metal peacocks are vintage wall art. I loved the pretty copper, gold, and green shades of the peacock feathers. So perfect with my autumn mantelscape!

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A romantic, autumn table for two...set in front of the fireplace.

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The autumn mantelscape makes for the perfect backdrop for this romantic table. 

 If you would like to see more of this tablescape...just click HERE.

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Voila...and there you have it..."Autumn Decadence"...an Autumn Mantel!

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I hope that you enjoyed!

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I am joining these lovely parties today...

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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

Fall Mantel Party...hosted by Layla over at The Lettered Cottage.

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Thank you, dear ladies for hosting these sweet parties for us!

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Well my friends, thank you so much for coming by today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here. I would love to visit with you!

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Warmest Autumn Wishes!

Sunday Favorites...No. 118

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Welcome to the 118th "Sunday Favorites" Party 

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!!
For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!

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Welcome to the 118th run of "Sunday Favorites"
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I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend!  It's another beautiful weather weekend here in Colorful Colorado.  With high temps reaching into the 80's and lows down into the 50's...it really is perfect!  We have already seen some cool weather...autumn truly has made it's appearance in our little corner of Colorado.  The trees are just beginning to turn color.  With the mild, moderate temperatures we are experiencing this weekend...I am reminded of what we call an "Indian Summer"!  Summer like temperatures during the autumn!  I love it!!! 
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  For the past few weeks, I have been revisiting a few of last year's autumn posts for the Sunday Favorites party. Today, I am sharing another one of my "favorite" posts from autumn 2010 called "Autumn Pears...One of My Favorite Things".  I hope that you enjoy! 
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 I am also joining The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday party today.  You will find more info. about this lovely party at the end of today's post. 
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My dearest friend Gloria...
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  Before signing off for the Sunday Favorites party today, I would like to ask for special prayers for a very, dear friend of mine.  Gloria, from Happy To Be blog, is in the hosptial.  After going in for a very routine procedure last Wednesday, she had massive coronary failure.  They rushed her in for emergency heart surgery and did a triple by-pass.  Gloria is doing better but I am still so worried about her.  Please pray for her!  Gloria's daughter, Dawna, has been posting updates on her mother's blog if you would like to go over and leave her your well wishes.  Thank you, my friends...I sooo appreciate your prayers...Gloria is so dear to me!!!
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 Well my friends...I'm looking forward to seeing your Sunday Favorites posts this week and visiting with you!  You can sign up for the party at the end of this post!

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Have a super Sunday!
Chari
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Sunday Favorites My favorite post from:
November 11, 2010
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"Autumn Pears...One of My Favorites Things"
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Today I am joining in with "A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday" party over at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie Blog...hosted by the very sweet Ms. Laurie herself! You will find the credits for this lovely party at the end of my post.
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Poires d'automne...Autumn Pears
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Yes...autumn pears is one of my favorite things! For those of you who know me...you have probably suspected that this is so...for sometime now! Hehe! I'm not exactly sure what it is about a pear that I LOVE. I do love the taste of a pear...but I must admit that I also love the shape of a pear...and the many colors of a pear! Pears are just pretty to me!
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My autumn table centerpiece has pears....
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Yes...I DO love pears! Soooo...when I was doing a little "window shopping" on Ebay...I ran across the prettiest pear plates that I've ever seen...it was love at first sight!!!
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My newest treasure find..."Golden Pears" salad/dessert plates.
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The manufacturer's mark on the back of the plate says...
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Crate & Barrel
Golden Pears
by Julia Bullmore 1998
Japanese Porcelain Decorated in the USA
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I have not been able to find out much about this pretty pattern. I'm just sooo happy that I found them on Ebay and made them MINE! Each plate...of the set of four...has a different type of pear on it.

Ahhh...poires d'automne!!!
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Plate #1....a red pear!
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Plate #2...an autumn pear.
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Plate #3...a golden yellow pear.
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Plate #4...a green pear.
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Gilded leaves...
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I was having a difficult time photographing the pear plates, however the photo above shows the beautiful features of the plates a little better! As you can see...the gold is gilded...it is sooo pretty when the light shines on it! I just love the shade of green that is used on the rim of the plates as well!
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 Ahhhh...autumn pears!!!
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I have pears everywhere...
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I have pears on my dining room buffet!
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I have pears on the wall! If you look to the left side of the photo...you will be able to see a framed print of a pear. The print is one of my favorites...it is a french country pear!!!
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Another dining room buffet vignette with pears.
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An autumn table set beside the fireplace in our living room. A metal clock is filled with pears...for just a little extra interest! A couple of autumn pears nestled in the autumn foliage was added to the base of the clock.
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Yes...I love, love, LOVE PEARS! They really are one of my favorite things!
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*Besides hosting Sunday Favorites,

*I am also joining this lovely party today...

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Seasonal Sundays party...hosted by The Tablescaper.

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A heartfelt thanks to The Tablescaper for hosting this lovely party for us!

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*Warmest autumn wishes!

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Sunday Favorites

Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

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If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

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Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.

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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!
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***Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria***

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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!

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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!

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Thank you!!!
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