Bringing something special to the table: October tablescapes are all in the family!

Lovely Fall tablescape brings the beauty of the outside indoors, courtesy my talented cousin, Dianne

This year, in Michigan, 2020  finally brought something amazing to the table:  a brilliant Fall color display not seen in years, where our trees changed from a fairly uniform shade of green to a fiery rainbow of oranges, reds and yellow. That means, indoors, something equally amazing must come to the table -  and I'm talking quite literally here -  a tablescape to match the season!

For October's tablescape, your humble blog writer was saved by the bell, or should I say, "belle" - my awesome cousin by blood, but "sistah" by heart, Dianne.

A feast as delicious as the tablescape is festive, my cousin's home, a stone's throw from Lake Michigan

Although, I look nothing like my cousin, we share the love-of-tablescape gene as well as the certainly hereditary trait of not enjoying a dinner out until we have assured ourselves we have been seated at the best location available. Like hairlines, these must be passed through on the maternal side as our mothers were sisters.

"Icing on the cake" chocolate mousse

Chris enjoying the views of  Lake Michigan

Of course, there's more to our connection than tablescapes and fancy dining. We've known each other for most of our lives, having families who spent holidays togethers and, back in the day, many, many Sunday dinners.  

The year finally brought something to the table: amazing Fall colors come to Michigan

And, what could be better than one sistah/cousin? Well, two of course! Add my wonderful cousin, Kathy (Dianne's sister)  and we are the three sistahs musketeers:  ready to take on any sadly vacant restaurant on "ladies night" or displaying great feats of stamina shopping for hours at Frankenmuth. 

The Mighty Sistahs!

Although our lives intertwined for more than half a century (hard to make that sound more "young"!), it's really been the past decade that brought us together as the Mighty Sistahs! Launched a decade ago at a past-its-glory restaurant on the east side of Michigan, in a room which once seated hundreds, three adorable cousins met up for dinner as the venue's sole guests. In a sentiment suiting the environs, I lamented over a glass (or two) of Chardonnay that, although I love my brothers, I was sad not to have had any sisters.

Successful four hour shopping trip at Bronners! 

A Santa & Sistah's fav

In a moment without hesitation, my cousins declared that that was no longer true (!) -  they took me in  as their  official "sistah".  Ever since, we've committed ourselves to, at the very least, quarterly get-togethers which, to date, have included a Motown cruise in Detroit, golf weekends "up north", Christmas gatherings at Lake Michigan, a twighlight boat excursion on the St. Clair River and Halloween at Greenfield Village.

Fall tablescape is on point!

What does all of this have to do with October's tablescape? Well, you've probably caught a central theme in all of the  tablescapes spotlighted this year - it's about sharing things you love with those you love, be it heirloom china and linens with friends (BTS blog January), vintage toasting glasses for an anniversary dinner with the spouse (BTS blog May) , or seasonally-themed leaf-shaped placemats anchoring fine white china with your sistah/cousin.

This month, Chris and I paid a socially-distanced visit (masks on except for eating and outside) to  Dianne and her husband, Ray's home on the west side of the state, a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. My sistah has a keen eye for design  and she applies it to all occasions, whether a full-blown holiday gathering or a casual picnic on the beach. Her Fall tablescape was on point, the color of the placemats coordinating with not only the spectacular autumn leaf display just outside their window, but the fresh mums and daisies bouquet which served as the table's centerpiece. And, (almost) literally, the "icing on the cake" was the chocolate mousse dessert topped with fresh raspberries.

Sistahs taking in the Halloween nights at Greenfield Village, circa 2011

Bringing something amazing to the table is a Sistah Specialty!

Happy Fall Tablescapes and Happy Halloween!