Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!
Ah, but I did catch him. I spied him hiding in between vintage china and gently used baubles on a table in one of the booths of the La Grange Antique Mall, looking rather handsome with a plaid ascot around his chubby brown neck. Right then and there, before he could run away, I snatched him up, thinking he might feel right at home on a plaid tablecloth tucked in away in drawer.
As I roamed about the mall, I eyed a small plastic bag filled with tiny boxes wrapped in plaid paper and gold ribbon and an idea for a holiday tablescape was born.
Over the next few weeks, as I wrapped presents, baked goodies, adorned the trees and tabletops, little bits of plaid pleasure emerged, including a box that Dottie and Rick gave us last Christmas, with a Santa glittered and garbed in PLAID! It wasn’t until I placed the jolly old elf on the table that I realized he was carrying two gingerbread men.
How fortunate it was to then remember a simple candle idea I had actually bookmarked. I mentioned it to my Antler Man whose mind was in sync with mine. Lickety split, up he came from the root cellar, carrying a box of small canning jars.
On and on it went; Penelope’s progress in pursuit of plaid. The cloth was laid and a cookie tin appeared. Cranberries rolled out of the refrigerator. The little plaid napkins I purchased at T.J. Maxx for half off of half off of the price some long ago Christmas past found their way to the table as well.
The pièce de résistance was to be had among my collection of Penny Books. Rather vain, I know, but, really, with a name like Penelope, books with my name in the title are few and far between. There, sitting atop my dresser, was none other that “Penelope’s Progress” clothed in a tartan wrap. A bit of irony is that I discovered it many moons ago in very same antique mall where I captured the gingerbread man.
It is nice, is it not, when a little light shines into our lives, gifting us in the simple pleasures among the rescued treasures along this road we call life?
I hope you all had a merry little Christmas and for those of you celebrating Boxing Day today, enjoyment. Wherever your heart and spirit is, I hope a little light shines – and you catch your own gingerbread man.
That is so beautiful! Can you come decorate for me next year? Hmm?
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Thank you, Apple Pie. 🙂 I’d love to.
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Just loved your tale of a perfectly plaid tablescape, Penny! Relax and enjoy! ♡
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Good advice, Dawn. I think that is just what I will tonight. 🙂 I’m please that you liked the tale in plaid.
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My dear friend, you are so clever, you do know how to put things together and make them look perfect. Love the floating candle in the mason jar, may have to copy that myself, you know me and jars. Hope you had a Wonderful Christmas, and hope to see you soon….
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Thank you, Sharon. This was really done inexpensively, mostly with what I already had. I thought of you when I first saw it, then as I was putting these together. Easy peasy – especially for someone like you who loves jars. Because the cranberries naturally float, they hold up the tea light.
I hope you did as well. Let’s meet up soon. 🙂
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Your enthusiasm and creativity inspire me Penny! I hope you had a nice Christmas! 🙂
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Thank you, Janet. Who knew it could be so much fun to assemble plaid. 🙂
I did – and hope you did as well.
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I really enjoyed reading this blog, and adored the pictures. I love how you pulled everything together with the tartan. Great job!!!
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Oh, Roz, you are the mistress of table decorations, leaving me humbly flattered by your comment. Thank you. It was really fun putting this together.
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I am suitably impressed by this plethora of plaid for a festive holiday tablescape! There is something so cheerful about plaid and who doesn’t like gingerbread men? Would have such fun here with the special dishes, Santa and checking out all the Penelope books! This will have to be a holiday repeat!
Our celebrations would have been very dark and cold if not for that perfect, gorgeous, worth every dime generator. Someone knocked down a power pole in an accident and our area was without electricity from 6 pm yesterday until 5 am this morning. In 15 seconds it came on as did the lights and heater and all things electric. Have decided that piece of equipment is my favorite Christmas present! We had not had to have it since it was put in in April so I thought we were never going to get our money’s worth. She chugged along like a charm. I recommend Genorac highly! Hope you are having a lovely weekend.
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“Plethora of plaid” – now, that would have made a good title. 🙂 Thank you, Marilyn. Methinks you and I would have a splendid time together over tartan and dishes. This was really fun to pull together, mostly with what I had.
Sorry to hear that your power was out, but that generator was sure a godsend, wasn’t it? One night’s worth of heat and lights, especially at Christmastime. I recall you mentioning getting it last spring or thereabouts. One of these days we will need to invest in one, and will look into a Genorac.
Hope your weekend is well lit and warm. We are gloomy and cold here, but, no snow.
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What a magical Christmas you had! That must be the most wonderful second-hand store in the world! Such treasures. I love the plaid — all so beautiful.
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This particular one, the La Grange Antique Mall, is pretty wonderful, Sallie. I always find inspiration there, and I often come home with treasures. Thank you so much.
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You have such a gift of delighting in the simple pleasures, Penny. It really is a wonderful quality and I love plaid–and gingerbread, too, so this was truly a perfect convergence. How nice that Antler Man can so readily come to your assistance. 🙂
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Ah, he often does, Debra. 🙂
Thank you. This was fun to put together – and all because of that gingerbread man.
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Oh, what fun, Penny. I don’t decorate much nowadays as we’re always away over the festive season, but this post makes me want to. 🙂
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I was so pleased with how it turned out, Perpetua, largely because it was so much fun to do and I did it mostly with what I had. I think I’ll just keep that ol’ gingerbread man. I would love to see what you arrange.
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