This past holiday, I decorated two tables—one for a feast and one for a celebration.  The table settings were nearly identical in presentation, but opposite in tone. 

As might be expected on a Nova Scotian table, harvest fruits and colours are “de rigueur” for the Thanksgiving feast.  The sweep of orange, red, yellow, and gold overflowed from an English trug that had been highlighted with strokes of gold and cream paints on the handle and rim.  Alongside the trug were the larger gourds and the weighty pumpkin, grounding the table display with its bloated presence.  For sparkle, this year’s candles were the floating variety swimming above a collection of river stones in a wide-mouthed glass bowl—all conveniently available in your local stores.  This harvest extravaganza set on a pale gold table runner embroidered with bumblebees stretching down a blue granite tabletop.  Overhead halogen lights caused the granite’s mica chips to glow silver.  Adding silver bowls filled with hydrangea blossoms and gathered butternuts accentuated the mica with Lunenburg County flair.  With the addition of Nova Scotian crystal goblets, the South Shore harvest table was sparkling for the feast.                           

For the celebration, imagine the same layout, but this time all of the harvest vegetables and gourds were creamy white.  The tables were covered with ivory tablecloths and overlaid with gold organza.  Instead of trugs, harvest baskets from the farm markets were highlighted with gold and cream accents.  The harvest baskets were lined with shimmering ivory fabric to envelope small white pumpkin-shaped gourds.  Nearby, white “Lumina” pumpkins support a cascade of velvety white scallop squashes.  More floating candles and river stones filled more glass bowls, but this time the candlelight flickered in concert with hurricane-enclosed tapers set above and beyond the table in cream-painted standing candelabras.  The gold organza glistened in response.  If you hadn’t already surmised, our celebration was connubial, all made up in Harvest White.  

Though the holiday may have past, keep the fall table atmosphere right through November.  The South Shore offers so many natural elements for decorative interpretation.  Look to the garden for inspiration.  Look to the shore.  Collected driftwood, shells, and stones are just as appropriate as fall flowers and leaves.  All are a celebration of the South Shore harvest.  If you would rather have “ready-made” decorations, you will find fall wreaths already available at the Burgoyne’s wreath shop on the edge of Mahone Bay.  Our vintage 2003 birch twig wreath is still in prime condition, awaiting the blustery days of November.  For added South Shore elegance try using Amos Pewter’s cardholders for place cards (www.amospewter.com) at your fall dinner parties.  And for absolute glamour, use Nova Scotian crystal stemware (www.novascotiancrystal.com), and toast with goblets like the beautiful and flowing “Annapolis” pattern or the more modern martini  “Argyle” pattern.  It’s all South Shore Style. 

Thoughts?