Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Center Of My Table and a Weight Loss Plan

Sometimes I go for 
ELEGANT
and sometimes I go for 
Simple, Homey and a tad Rustic
when I decorate for Fall
and Thanksgiving.

Here is what sits in
the center of my 
dining room table right now.
I threw it together in a 
large rectangular basket with a wood bottom,
some over sized faux acrons,
some mini pumpkins,
some cinnamon sticks.
Then I added some leaves gathered here and there.
I have family heirloom sterling silver
candlesticks on either side.

There is a piece of bark cloth underneath
the basket that I have
had for about 15 years and STILL love.
The MIX sign is from a closed down,
abandoned stockyard 
and stolen by my girls when we went
home when my brother died.  
Shhhh- I would hate to see them arrested 
although it would probably serve them right.
It was  given  to me for Mother's Day.
It brings back bittersweet memories of times
 I spent with my Dad in the little office above
the stockyard floor with the owner of the place.

I have plaid napkins on the table that coordinates with the bark cloth.
You can just see the edge of one napkin the the 
center of the picture.

I think it would be fun to serve
this cake along with pumpkin
and pecan pie.

It is either the cake above or the one below.

Yes- That is a real cake.
(for those that want to know it is supposed to be
a skinned mole rat)-Imagine serving THAT!!!
The dilemma is 
Which one matches my centerpiece the best?

The weight loss plan I promised?
This is a FREE plan!
No need to use PayPal or your
credit card for this one.
Try to imagine a piece of that last cake
on a plate in front of you.
I guarantee that will curb your appetite.
You're welcome!
Catch you a bit later this morning!



your photo name

66 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a very scary cake, it looks like a skinned (whatever it is).

Tessa~ said...

Your centerpiece is lovely...

I'm not even going to *touch* that groundhog cake!!!! LOL!

Your quarterback...Aaron R....So sorry he got hurt last night!!!! -sigh- He is one of the best looking quarterbacks, with his "Bette Davis Eyes"........ We wish him well.

Tessa~

farmhouse-story said...

omgosh, wonder what the story is behind that ugly guy? your centerpiece, though, couldn't be cuter--love the mix sign added:)

Japolina said...

I've been divorced from sugar since Friday so i'd eat it if you put it in front of me today!

living from glory to glory said...

I wish I would of had that picture in the recesses of my mind when I was eating Oreo's around 3:00 AM this morning.
That is one scary looking cake!
Now, your centerpiece is really country and very cute!
Blessings, Roxy

Kathy@ Gone North said...

Love the table setting, love the sign, love the story behind the sign the most.
Love the 1st cake, the 2nd cake... not so much... & seriously?? What is that?? : )

Boopnut said...

You are right about that cake!...LOL. Love the centerpiece!
Deb

Susie said...

Diana, The pumpkin cake , yes, yes go with the pumpkin cake. I like the big basket loaded up with fall items. The little sign must mean a lot to you.:):) xoxo,Susie

Dixie Delights said...

I have a feeling my boys would looove that second cake :-)

Sylvia said...

I'm voting for the pumpkin cake to. Don't think I could bring myself to eat the other one.

Jettie said...

I wish I had that 2nd cake for our next church potluck, the kids would love it. Especially those teen aged boys.

Susan said...

I love this post and had many witty things to say until I saw that last cake and quite honestly, I'm speechless. You've done what my family and friends have been trying to do for years. Words simply fail me now.

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

I love rustic fall decorating - your table looks so pretty! And I'll take a slice of the pumpkin cake please! That other cake just totally creeps me out!

Amber ~ The French Pressed Home said...

Table looks fantastic but I'll PASS on the cake. ;) Have a cozy day!! xo

Janice Kay Schaub said...

The pumpkin is awesome. All my fall decorations are mainly on the front porch. I did bring in some pretty leaves and scattered those in different places with pinecones and stuff. My front porch is decorated for Fall but wont be long and it will have to change to Winter
Janice

Leslie Anne Tarabella said...

MOLE RAT! MOLE RAT! MOLE RAT!
I laughed so hard my coffee came out my nose!

(Lovely other things).

Julie Marie said...

Your centerpiece is so pretty Diana... and I love that you include family treasures with it... xoxo Julie Marie

Nellie said...

Love your "weight loss plan!" My scale just keeps creeping upward!:-(

I love your centerpiece! It has special meaning to everyone.

Have a good Tuesday!

xo Nellie

Beth said...

Your centerpiece is beautiful Diana. Your weight loss plan would certainly jump start a diet for me. LOL

Busy Bee Suz said...

Your table looks so pretty....I really love the 'meaningful' touches!!!
The cake? The grossest thing I've seen today. Of course, I've only been awake 25 minutes...so we'll see.

Kelly said...

OMG!!!! That last cake is horrid! Who would make that or dare eat that? Makes me think of the armadillo cake on Steel Magnolias. LOL!

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

EEEEWWWWWW! That cake is horrid! But I did get a good laugh, so thanks! And, I do love the way your centerpiece looks!

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

EEEEWWWWW! That cake is horrid! But I did get a good laugh, so thank you! And, I love your centerpiece!

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

OMG that rat cake is scarrrrrrry. But a great way to lose weight. You made my day this early morning. I am laughing so hard - tooooo funnnny
Mary

Donna said...

Hahaha! I knew that you would leave us guessing til the end about your weight loss plan, Diana! I think my thighs are getting thinner by the second:) Love your arrangement. and the barkcloth tablecloth. Hope the internet police didn't catch that part about the stolen (I mean "found") sign!

Lynne said...

The REAL guilt free dessert is your pretty centerpiece, Missy!

"Rat Cake"...hmmmm...perhaps the perfect Thanksgiving feast for our feline friends!
w/L

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

Oh my...that is the worst cake I have ever seen. I may no longer love cake...thanks :) I do love your centerpiece...and that "mix" sign. Very fun...

ā„³artina @ Northern Nesting said...

LOL you crack me up!!!
Pretty centerpiece Diana!

Jackie See said...

We have moles here too. we chase them from neighbors yards to neighbors yards. The mole cake makes me want to get my shovel! Love the centerpiece and that your girls created a memory with the sign. We just returned home and I brought the flu home with me. yuck! Thanks for my morning laughter!! xxoo back to ya!

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home said...

Where do you find all these gross pictures???? I am just now getting the image of those hairy men out of my mind and now a nude rat cake????? You're the best...hugs, Penny

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Yap it worked Diana!
Love, love your centerpiece!
Hugs friend,
Cindy

Junkchiccottage said...

Ha Ha girl you crack me up. You just have to laugh when you think someone actually is having that cake on their table!!! Tooo funny. Made me smile today. I love your center piece and the mix sign is great.
Kris

Anonymous said...

You are too much, Diana! But seriously, I love the basket full of autumn's beauty.

Debbie said...

I like how you've mixed the rustic, and the silver in your centerpiece, Diana. Of course, leave it to you to include stolen property in your arrangement.
The pumpkin cake is tempting.
The skinned rat...not so much.
When I scrolled down to the last image, I actually gasped!!! Where do you get this stuff??!!!

Pura Vida said...

hmmmm...a skinned mole rat...you got me on that one!

Chatty Crone said...

So you just 'put a few things together' you don't realize how talented you are.

Maureen Wyatt said...

The centrepiece is very pretty and so much more special with the 'stolen' sign and all the memories that go along with it. The skinned rat cake, however, is the most disgusting dessert I have ever seen! Who would dream of making it?

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

I don't have to imagine a slice of that cake on my plate...for me it's enough to see the cake. wow, I didn't see that coming. lol

Dewena said...

A rat would be pretty bad but a "skinned" rat! Totally awful. I'll try imagining it and let you know how it goes.

Beautiful centerpiece and fabulous barkcloth!

Red Rose Alley said...

Your centerpiece is nice, Diana. I love the silver pieces that were an heirloom. There's something about the smell of cinnamon sticks that really bring out the season of Autumn. I used to visit my sister, and every time I walked in her kitchen, I would smell the scent of cinnamon and orange spices. It made the whole kitchen so cozy.

Love,
~Sheri

Karen said...

I like the centerpiece, it looks just right, the pumpkin cake, I'll have a bite...but the dead animal curbs my appetite :)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

LOL...

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I love that gorgeous centerpiece, with cake, perfect! Funny, I was twiking a little with a C'mas runner on my formal dining table, where I also placed my wooden bowl..Tksgiving looking, but go nicely together. I'll copy some things you got in your bowl, BUT NOT THE RAT!!!!! Oh Dianna, please, I'm gonna throw up any second!
Love,
FABBY

NanaNor's said...

As always you had me until the end-hate the cake but the image will make me not want to eat anything; you crack me up.
Love your fall centerpiece-so very cool.
Hugs today.
Noreen

camp and cottage living said...

OMG, you are so right about the diet. I couldn't eat a bite with that horrible cake sitting on the table-Yuck!
About the table arrangement; a thrown together casual arrangement is my favorite!
I love it when people use their creative juices instead of just going to the local shop and buying something.

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

You are a nut! Love your arrangement. Pretty! Your diet plan is questionable ... mostly ugly, it really doesn't with your decor :-)

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

ewww...that cake looks real, but it won't stop me!!!Love it when things just come together when decorating!
Warmly,
deb

p.s. Nice wreath that you won!

This N That said...

Ewww gross..I wonder what it looks like upside down ?? Still not appetizing ?? Definitely not appetizing..

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

You are a hoot! That's some cake there! That's one way to get people not to eat cake! :-)

Heaven's Walk said...

Ewwwwwwww!!!! THAT is one nasty looking cake! My appetite surely disappeared. lol

Your centerpiece is pretty though, Diana! :) Love that there are sweet memories in the mix. ♥

xoxo laurie

Sew a Fine Seam said...

Oh Diana leave it to you to find the most perfect cake ever - LOL!
If you use that cake for your centerpiece I'll come photograph it and blog about it - LOL!

joanne said...

you are on sick human person. That's why I love you! mole cake indeed.

Celestina Marie said...

Love your rustic table dƩcor, the colors and the memories, but the mole cake, not so much. Just lost my appetite. LOL
This will keep me from wanting cake anytime soon!!
You are a hoot!!
XO Celestina Marie

Anonymous said...

You little stinker! I've missed you! Yep, I do believe thinking of that last cake could curb an appetite! :) Thank you for being such a sweet blog friend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

koralee said...

I love the significance of that Mix sign of yours....I love visiting you...you always have me leaving with a little smile on my face...thanks for blessing so many of us. xoxo

Cindy said...

Haha, you are so funny! That last photo would put me off of food for a long time if someone sat it in front of me, I'm afraid!
Your centrepiece is really pretty, a lovely "MIX".
Hugs, cindy

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

That cake is awful! Every time I want to steal a piece of my son's Halloween candy, I'm going to think of that horrible cake. :) I like how you added cinnamon sticks to the centerpiece. I bet it smells wonderful!

Laura said...

You crazy girl!
You had us all going.
I love you table!

Off to bed-
I hope I don't see that cake in my dreams.

Laura

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Love your centerpiece and the pumpkin cake, but that last one will probably give me nightmares as it's already past my bedtime. Eek!!! You are too funny. :)

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Morning Diana, I have never seen such a thing.... that cake....I'm not sure what to say. I think I agree with Cheryl when she says it would give her nightmares....me to.
You have such a wonderful sense of humour Diana.
Have a lovely day today.
Best Wishes
Daphne

vivian said...

oh my... thats a pretty ugly cake! but your table looks lovely!
I suppose I should start planning our thanksgiving dinner. always a full house and always overfilled plates!
have a great day
xoxo
vivian

Kirby Carespodi said...

At what type of function would one serve that particular cake? Love your table!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Diana, your table looks lovely and I need to find some acorns like that. I do see that it holds an element of danger though. Hope the kids are not arrested during dessert. It would be a shame to miss out. Would you just imagine that 2nd cake, like you would imagine singing to people in their underwear, and immediately lose weight? Happy Wednesday..Judy

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Please oh please serve the frosted pumpkin cake..and NOT the mole! Ok?
My choice, was I think, #5. I liked the colors in the one with the chandelier but could not really tell what the table itself was like...so chose the ruffled burlap.
I had to laugh at your girls stealing your stuff. Join the club!! Shall we call the "Tabletop police?" :)

Miss Kitty said...

Very pretty tablesetting! Thanks for sharing where the items came from (even the stolen one...it probably would have gotten thrown away but now it has a starring role). The last photo reminds me o the groom's cake in "Steel Magnolias"...it was an armadillo.

Little Blue Mouse said...

That second cake would certainly curb my appetite - yuck!