“Harvest Moon”….And the coming of Autumn.
I think of the heat of those long Summer days fading, as the cool crisp days of Fall are beginning.
In many regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the landscape silently explodes with vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange.
“It is the summer’s great last heat,
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.”
–Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt
If you don’t know the definition of a Harvest Moon, this is according to the Farmer’s Almanac:
“For several evenings, the moonrise comes soon after sunset. This results in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening, which was a traditional aide to farmers and crews harvesting their summer-grown crops. Hence, it’s called the “Harvest” Moon! This year, look for September’s full Harvest Moon to appear just after sunset on Friday, September 9. It then reaches peak illumination at 5:58 A.M. Eastern Time on Saturday the 10th, drifting below the horizon shortly thereafter. The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive.”
Some Native Americans have given the “Harvest Moon” names including:
- Autumn Moon (Cree)
- Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe)
- Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe)
- Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
- Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine)
This year the Harvest Moon will appear full for about three days, from Friday through Sunday.
Genesis 1: 14-16 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.”
I really like looking at the Harvest Moon or any full moon for that matter; actually, sometimes I have to make myself stop watching and go to bed.
Gazing at a full moon makes me feel peaceful.
I am in awe at the brightness of any full moon and the shadows it creates.
It is a glorious sight.
The Harvest Moon signals the season of Summer is giving way to the Autumn season.
I love Autumn as the heat is waning, the air is crisp and fresh, and the earth starts to glow with color along with the beautiful skies of dawns and sunsets.
The deciduous trees such as the Maple, Oak, Ash, etc begin their leaf drop, providing endless hours for long walks shuffling through the falling and drifting leaves.
I also love the Autumn foods, the cozy sweaters and throws, plaid socks, and smoke curling above a cottage chimney.
Yep! Definite Happiness and Contentment.
“The Harvest Moon glows round and bold,
In pumpkin shades outlined in gold,
Illuminating eerie forms,
Unnatural as a candied corn.”
—Richelle E. Goodrich
I love to curl up with a good book ….and below are a few Autumnal words from 3 authors.
“Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” Delia Owens
“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” J.K.Rowling
“I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift.” Dodinsky
What are your local signs of Fall?
So now let’s talk tablescaping.
This tablescape started out in one direction and ended up splitting off several times before I finally decided on the placements.
Kinda like the full Harvest Moon…it can change nightly.
Which leads me to one of my favorite songs my Mother used to sing. “Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon…up in the sky…..”
Do you remember that song?
For my Harvest Moon tablescape…I used an orange citrus table runner with various shades of yellow and orange.
I thought the round images looked like the Harvest Moon.
Large handled vintage wooden scoops also adorn the table. Just because I like them. 🙂
I like my table to have a ‘collected’ look.
In other words, the tablescape is a little bit modern, traditional and vintage.
It is not all ‘matchy’….don’t even know if ‘matchy’ is a word, but it is now. LOL
For the centerpiece, I kept it simple with a roped basket holding additional glasses and a pitcher encased in rafia-like roping.
Later I added a few Autumn leaves.
The plate stack starts with a yellow placemat on the table.
I added a woven placemat on top of that.
Then I placed a goldish-yellow harvest moon color dinner plate on the stack.
But I changed it out to an orange harvest moon color dinner plate….matching the napkins.
The dessert plate sits atop the plate stack and sports a yellow and orange flower in the center.
The center of the flower looks like the harvest moon, don’tcha think?
I added a cluster of three very small oranges or tangerines beside each setting…. I originally thought I would put them on the rolled up napkin.
But I changed my mind on that too.
The solid orange napkins are positioned under the plate stack giving the orange handled flatware plenty of space beside the place setting.
Water Glasses are clear and are hand blown with a band of yellow and orange encircling the center.
There is an orange Fiesta ware creamer and sugar as well as orange salt and pepper shakers.
There is orange Sangria in the lidded wine carafes (recipe to follow) sitting around the table.
I also had a debate with myself over which napkin I wanted to use.
The solid color won out. LOL
All items on my table are items I have had for several years.
Have a wonderful day and a big shout out to Rita of Panoply, who is so organized that being an organizer just comes natural to her.
Thanks Rita for all your work organizing these hops.
Isaiah 30: 26 “Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days,”
Tropical Orange Sangria Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Freshly squeezed Orange juice
- 1 Cup Peach juice
- 1 Cup Pineapple juice
- 2 Ounces Simple Syrup
- 1 25 Oz bottle Sparkling Apple Cider
- 1 1/2 Cups White Grape Juice
- 1 sliced & quartered orange
- 1 sliced & quartered apple
- 1 sliced & quartered peach
- 1 can orange soda (optional, but I like the deep orange color it adds to the sangria)
Instructions
- Make simple syrup by mixing equal parts of water and sugar in sauce pan over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
- Stir all the juices, soda, cider and simple syrup into a large container and place in fridge for at least 4 hours or longer
- Place all the chopped fruits into a plastic bag and chill til ready to serve. Just before serving add the chilled &/or frozen fruit. (you can add any frozen fruit if desired)
I love the soft colors of your table, rather like how they would appear in moonlight. It’s definitely a table for the beginnings of fall, when there is just a hint of it in the air and in the garden. I’ve enjoyed hopping with you!
We, here in Florida have a bit of a flux in our weather but not like the drastic changes in the upper states but I have wonderful memories of those seasons when I lived in Kansas. Enjoy your weather and have a great Autumn. Thanks for stopping by Sandra.
Kari, I love your theme of the Harvest Moon, one of my favorite times of the year. I love the wonderful quotes your chose to describe the season. Your table is fun and full of wonderful colors and textures. It is always a pleasure to hop with you. I hope you have a happy fall🍂🍁🧡
Thanks Ann…this is a wonderful time of the year…everyone seems ready for cooler weather. Have a wonderful September.
How lovely is your tablescape! The table runner is perfect. And your dessert plates add a lovely flair. The centerpiece and wooden spoons add warmth. However… I am in love with your orange fiesta ware creamer and sugar!
Thank you for your fabulous moon information! Superb!
Happy September!
Nancy, I have had that orange fiesta ware for more years than I care to remember, I also have a matching tea pot and tray, and a few serving pieces in addition to the S&P, dinner plates, salad plates and coffee mug. I don’t think they make that color anymore…I believe it was called tangerine. Enjoy the Harvest moon and the rest of September. Blessings
They do not make that color anymore. Yours is so beautiful!
Kari, just last night, I looked at the moon and thought how bright it is shining – and it’s not even a full moon yet. Without really thinking it through, I thought it was going to be a harvest moon!
Your salad plates look vintage 70s to me. Yes, I’m old enough to remember this style 🙂 I love the color orange and yellow and loved how you completed each table setting with a colorful napkin that included all the colors.
This is a lovely table to celebrate the Harvest Moon and God’s creation.
Hugs,
Rachelle
Thanks Rachelle for stopping by and for your kind comments…Early this morning, at 4:00 am to be exact, the Captain was getting ready to go to work (flying) and the moon was not quite the harvest moon yet but was taking on the coloring and looking beautiful.I sat in the courtyard savoring every moment even when a wispy cloud passed in front of it…It was awesome. Happy Autumn to you.
What a unique theme. Your pretty oranges are a great addition. Love the plaids.
thank you Carol. Have a great day.
Kari, I will be definitely watching the moon on Friday thanks to your great information. It was nice that you showed how fluid a table setting can be as changes take place during the set up. Ideas change as you see what works best. Loved the rattan additions to the table giving it a casual feel. I will be trying your recipe. Happy Fall!
I found a thrifted blue willow soup tureen with matching ladle many years ago and as I was setting up this table, I considered for a brief moment to introduce the blue willow to the citrus orange as I love that soup tureen….but then I said to myself…Nah! it deserves a place for it to be the star and shine away. Whether it be a Harvest Moon or any other full moon. Plus I have a service for twelve blue willow from Johnson Bros that I used to use as my everyday dishes some 30 years ago. Have a great September! and thanks for stopping by.
Dear Kari, I love your Shine On Harvest Moon blog. Fall is my favorite season. I love the beautiful reds, greens, yellows and browns of fall. I grew up in Kansas as well. As you know I live in Missouri, but we have many of the same fall leaves here. It’s cooler and beautiful at the same time. I’ll be looking at the Harvest Moon this weekend.
Say “hi” to The Captain.
Hugs,
Sandy
Thanks my sweet friend for stopping by. Yes, as you know, we lived in NKC, MO before moving to SW Florida and the seasons in Kansas are pretty much the seasons in MO. There does not seem to a line of delineation. LOL I pray this finds you and Ron well…you are always in my prayers dear ones. Have a wonderful and happy Autumn. Hugs
hi Kari! Loved your thoughts on the Harvest Moon, such a wonderful theme for a Fall table! I love the way you used what you had in a creative way to decorate your table~ the plate stack is a lovely combo of texture and Fall colors. It’s fun to experiment with different looks when you’re setting a table, magical combinations are born that way! Your Sangria Mocktail is so pretty and sounds so tasty, cheers to Fall 🥂!
thanks Jenna! I will always be a kid at heart because I enjoy playing with dishes so much. As I am getting back into blogging…tho not as regularly as I once did…I find I am discovering dish ware and decor stashed away in tubs that I just can’t part with. Who knows? I might one day need that one of a kind thing-a-ma-jig in a tablescape. LOL Have a beautiful and wonderful Autumn with your lovely family.
It is so lovely to be hopping with you again and to feel the joy in you doing it! I hope you are 100% and enjoying all aspects of life once again! This is delightful! My parents still sing Shine on Harvest Moon in perfect harmony! I know exactly what you are talking about! You found so many sweet little accents that reminded you of the harvest moon to incorporate into your early fall tablescape. It all brings a smile to my face! Happy September Kari!
Thanks Chloe….we sang around our home too and it wasn’t long until all of us girls (3) were harmonizing with Mom and dad on many of those older songs.
Health wise, I’m doing pretty good…I still have to have lab work and cat and pet scans regularly, swallow large Creon pills before I can eat ANY food… and I tire easily but God brought me to it and through it and I trust Him for the outcome. Happy September right back at you.
Kari, I’ll be on the lookout for the Harvest Moon this weekend, thank you for the information and fun theme for your post and fall table! Love the vintage vibe of your table from your dinnerware, glasses and Fiestaware. As alway,s it’s a treat to hop with you and join you at the table. Happy September ♥
Thanks for stopping by Mary…you are always an inspiration with your beautiful tables! Yesterday, As the Captain and I sat around eating our home made ice cream and chocolate cake, we found ourselves reminiscing about the hand cranked ice cream and vintage decor pieces and how all of it just becomes more treasured as years go by. Happy Autumn and here is to more shared hops.
Kari, what a clever and fun theme that inspired your table! And a delicious sounding, looking beverage recipe —- refreshing for the hot start to autumn! Nice styling of curated items from your home too. Especially love the orange Fiesta pieces and those special glasses!
thanks Debbee…the sangria can be spiced up with some triple sec or just about anything, but for some reason, My sweet tooth insists all drinks taste like a coke-cola. LOL I love digging around in my stash…it is almost like Christmas as I sometimes ??? lose track of what I have. LOL thanks for stopping by and have a great September my friend.
Kari, I have a serious crush on your retro dinner plates! I love the cozy orange colour of the Fiesta ware cream and sugar. The handblown glasses are gorgeous, and I can only imagine the talent that goes in to making them. I was not aware that it is to be a harvest moon this weekend, and I will definitely be out observing it. My elder neighbour used to plant and harvest his garden by the moon, and always had the most incredible crops!
Maureen when we operated our horse and cattle ranch in New Mexico, we did so many things by the moon phases, including weaning young livestock and branding. In New Mexico, the law says one must always brand your livestock and register that brand with the state. Breeding as well as Planting was always done by the moon. I have always loved a full moon….and the song ‘by the light of the silvery moon’ has more meaning than most would think. Happy Autumn to you and yours.
Kari, first of all, I enjoyed the quotes, verses, the Native American historical names, and the farmer’s almanac background which all created a wonderful back story to your harvest moon tablescape. Your choices ended up as perfect complements to each other. I adore the glassware, and the center additional glasses and pitcher on the table. The salad plate definitely gives me a vintage vibe. The way you chose your napkins and how to place them really makes a nice presentation for the place settings. Thank you so much for your kind words and thank you for being a part of this group in tablescaping. Happy September!
Oh Rita, it is we who should be thanking you for your talents in organizing. And I enjoy setting these tables and digging in my old vintage treasures. I just wish I could organize and catalog as well as you do, as I have so many shelves and tubs of decor that need a little thinning out….but it is like parting with an old friend and instead of liberating me, I have thoughts of “what if I need that later on?’ I was so envious of your purging efforts when you moved to the condo…but I am not quite there yet….perhaps will never be. LOL
On another note, I’m ready for basketball, as I am sure you are too. Rock Chalk Jayhawks AND Go Mountaineers! Go Big 12!!!!!
Hi Kari! What a lovely table ensemble to celebrate the golden harvest moon! Such a creative theme and you’ve styled it beautifully, my Friend! Happy almost autumn! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
thank you Cecilia for stopping by and commenting. I do love a full moon! In fact, we named our home Villa de la Luna or house of the moon. Don’t know if you are aware, but I tend to name EVERYTHING. Our cars, pool cleaner and vacuum robot… all have names too. Have a wonderful week as we move into the cooler weather.
Kari, your Shine On Harvest Moon is lovely . Great title, thanks for the reminder. Your plate stack is lovely with the rattan chargers and gold and orange dishware. Love your raffia lined glassware, Great choice on the napkins. I think we all have that problem, trying to choose. A pleasure hopping along with you.
Linda you are a genius…I have to thank you for your post on lighting your pool area…I took your suggestion and now our courtyard and pool areas are adorned with clusters of LED lights! Thanks for being a part of these hops and for being a friend. Happy Autumn…almost. 🙂
Kari, I love your style of writing. It is beautiful as is your table. I can see it evolved as your were using your creativity. The runner is a lovely background for your Harvest Moon tablescape. Yes, I remember the song and it is now playing on repeat in my head 🤣 The large wooden spoons bring warmth to your setting as does the centerpiece with its texture. I love your plate stack, with the napkin tucked in. Thank you for sharing the sangria recipe. It is a joy to blog hop with you. Happy Tuesday!
Thanks for your sweet comments Pam, I’m afraid I write like I talk…. or so I have been told. 🙂 And you are right…this tablescape evolved over a period of several weeks and it will stay up and set until I decide to remove it or do another. LOL
The ladies in my Friday Bible study have been meandering over to that table each week, noting the progress (or no progress) by tilting their heads and tapping their chins and ‘chuckling’ to each other, all the while thinking, she can’t make up her mind. I’m sure once they see this post they will announce…. FINALLY!!!
Happy Almost Autumn to you dear friend.
Kari, Shine on Harvest Moon! I love the title and theme of this post. The golden colors are a reminder of the golden fall colors we get here in Central Texas. Our autumn is not filled with vibrant color, but more the subdued browns and golds. I love it. Thanks for sharing all the information. Great post! Happy Autumn!
Sarah, I hear you on the more subdued colors of Autumn in Texas…We lived in the Dallas area (Duncanville) for several years, and in fact our twins were born at Methodist Dallas Medical Hospital (more years ago than I care to remember…LOL) However, Texas had a bit more colorful Fall than we do here in SW Florida. Originally I am from Kansas where there are definite seasons and plenty of snow…so imagine our laughter and smiles as we watched a driver in a Dallas parking lot …spraying fabric softener under each tire after a very, very light frost. I think he thought it was the same as tire chains; when all he had to do is slowly drive away. LOL
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Autumn and colors to you and your family.
I love your post! It was fun reading it, and I love your table!!! The dessert plates are so cute. They are definitely my style! Are they from the 1970s? The oranges and yellows on your table are definitely reminiscent of the harvest moon, and I want to thank you for telling us that it’s this weekend. I hope we have a break with the clouds and rain so we can see it! I also love the banded glasses: They look sturdy, and I’ve seen similar glassware from Sundance (one of my favorites). I hope you have a lovely fall!
Thank you Ricki and you are right, the dessert/salad plates are melamine and from the 70’s…although I was just a mere child when I collected them! LOL Just joking of course. The glasses are one of my many favorites because they are hand blown and each glass is different, I have a setting for 8 and I marvel at the difference in colors where the yellow and orange bands meet and intersect with each other. It is the little things in life that fascinate me. I am in awe of God’s beauty and work, especially with me. Be sure to look for the Harvest Moon as it promises to be spectacular this year.
You have included so much here- a new recipe, the difference between Harvest Moon and Full Moon, and your gorgeous fall table. I would not have thought to use the citrus table runner. In my mind it is for a spring/summer table, but it is a great basis for your table. The oranges do look like Harvest Moons. The roped basket is a perfect centerpiece. I would like some of the sangria mocktail please.
thanks Jan, I’m not sure why the recipe posted twice…got to check into that…WP has been doing some strange things lately…must be a full moon! LOL
Wonderful post! Love!
thank you for stopping by…and hapoy Autumn!
What a great idea for a transitional fall theme, the oranges are perfect!
Carole, here in Florida…it is always growing season…when the temps are in the 70’s all night long…everything continues to grow…including fruits and veggies AND weeds. It seems they don’t know the difference. LOL thanks for stopping by.