by Lenna Gonya

Created on: November 06, 2009

Table settings should be as unique and different as the families that surround them. So, you probably already have at least some of the ingredients you need to make your own.

You may have a dish that belonged to a family member, a basket, or a vase that can be used as a centerpiece. Traditionally, in our family the table for Thanksgiving included a dish with matching candle holders that was the last gift my grandmother gave to her daughter-in-law, my mom. Whatever you use, however, if it is like our table, it will need to be small to leave room for the food.

From here, you can add your own touches. Depending on whether you are going for a more rustic harvest look, or something more elaborate. Many of these extras are probably already in your house, or outside your house. A basket or a rattan cornucopia can hold some tiny ears of Indian corn, some little sheaves of wheat, (or faux wheat made from raffia or grasses), little pumpkins, left over from Halloween, or even sea shells. Make it even more practical by adding fresh apples, oranges and grapes, and assorted nuts. Add some tall candles on either side, in holders carved from little gourds or pumpkins, make raffia and leaf napkin ties, and you have a tribute to harvest.

For a more formal setting, use one of the really good dishes, add some fresh or faux fruit, and look for small crystal or glass turkeys and other fall dcor in the local dollar store. If you have the room, position a small round mirror under the centerpiece that reflects the light.

Whichever way you go, formal or casual, find some little photos of those who will be there or can't be there, and place them around the centerpiece. These are the real treasures that you should be grateful for anyway, and it will make everyone happy to see how much you care.

If you don't already have a twelve piece place set of formal dinnerware, and you are planning on having a crowd, there's no crime in using what you have. If you want to dress it up a little, you can buy larger inexpensive plates at any discount store to use as chargers. It will dress up even your everyday dinnerware. Need, silverware. This is a quick fix. In fact, you might want to pick up several sets of the same pattern. There are very attractive inexpensive sets out there now.

Some of us tend to store away the good stuff for special occasions, and Thanksgiving is definitely the time to get out great aunt Susan's linen tablecloth, or grandma's china, if you have some. They were meant to be used.

At our house, after the dining room table is cleared ,the food is moved to the kitchen table, and whatever doesn't need to be refrigerated is left on the table for the afternoon grazers. Have a stack of divided disposable plates on the table and a stack of Thanksgiving napkins for the afternoon snacking. There is no use doing dishes twice.

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