• Originally published November 17, 2009 at midnight, updated November 18, 2009 at 3:50 p.m.

One of my favorite comedians, Louie Anderson, had a skit about the holidays that was always so funny and so relatable.

He said the whole family would be around the Thanksgiving table all quiet and ready to give thanks, and his mother would excitedly jump up and proclaim, "The sweet potatoes! I forgot the sweet potatoes!"

It seemed there was always something in the Anderson household that didn't make it to the table - and probably not unlike lots of families.

For me, the one thing that I often forget is a centerpiece, although one year it was the mashed potatoes that I completely forgot to make.

When my husband's family and mine all converge, we need three tables to fit everyone. That means I need three centerpieces.

I've found that I can usually fashion something simply and quickly by using a mix of flowers from the grocery store, greenery from my yard and pre-made fall arrangements that I store each year until I'm ready to bring them out in October.

That's the secret to the centerpieces - using what you have on hand to create your own unique and fast arrangements.

Centerpiece No. 1: Spruced-up pre-made arrangement

On the kids' table, I'll use a store-bought fall arrangement to dress it up. The problem with many pre-made fall arrangements is that they look canned and they're too orangey and yellow and don't have any freshness from greenery.

You can instantly make a pre-made arrangement look better just by the addition of greenery.

I like to use fresh stems from my yard to make it look fresh. I like to select contrasting textures such as pieces of Leland cypress and stems of bay leaf from my bay tree.

You can also use juniper or cedar branches and ligustrum, ivy, privet, or euonymus.

Alternatively, you can buy a bunch of assorted greenery at the grocery store or your favorite florist and poke it into your pre-made arrangement.

Centerpiece No. 2: Re-purposed Christmas wreath

If your table is round or large, using a Christmas wreath is another easy way to create a fall centerpiece in a flash.

I have a green berry wreath that I tuck fall leaves and gourds into.

You could also use a regular pine or Christmas green wreath and give it a fall touch with pine cones, fall leaves, gourds, and even tuck in some votive candle holders in fall colors.

To fill the center of the wreath, insert a large candle, a pumpkin, a pile of gourds, or a small potted mum.

The important thing to remember is to mix the textures and contrasting colors for interest.

Once Thanksgiving is over, I'll pull out the fall accents, add a red bow and this centerpiece is ready for Christmas decorating duty.

Centerpiece No. 3: Square vase with fresh flowers

This year I've really become a fan of square vases and have two low square vases that I keep on hand for fast, easy and impromptu centerpieces.

I find square vases easier to arrange than the standard round vase because the circular shape of a round vase requires evenly-arranged flower placement, whereas the square vase naturally fills in symmetrically as long as the stems are cut at the same height.

Fill the vase with greenery from your yard or that you purchased, first, and then poke in a single flower type, such as gerbera daisy or alstroemeria (found easily at most grocery stores for about $5).

In this photo, I would also have added something spikey and brown, such as some small stems for more brown color and textural interest.

Again, this arrangement took less than a minute to put together.

Put two of these on a rectangular table for a pretty centerpiece that both looks good and enables you to see from one side of the table to the other.

By keeping a few stock items, such as pre-made fall arrangements, easy-to-fill square vases, and re-purposing your Christmas wreaths, you'll have centerpieces ready with a few snips of your garden clippers.

Best of all, these ideas are fast, inexpensive and look great, by bringing in some of your own garden to the feast of Thanksgiving.

Hints

Scented candles are a wonderful addition to a home, but when you're cooking for a holiday or special meal, opt for unscented candles that don't clash with the fragrance of your meal.

This is especially true at the table, as the food and candle scents can quickly become overwhelming and interfere with the taste of your food.

Need to cut straight stems for your square vase? Cut one stem to the correct height. Line that stem up with the bunch on a cutting board and make the flower tops even.

Next, whack the remaining stems with hedge clippers to cut them all instantly and evenly.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving - and don't forget the sweet potatoes.

Kathryn Weber is a home and decorating columnist and publishes the Red Lotus Letter feng shui ezine. For more information or questions, email katie@redlotusletter.com or write to her at P.O. Box 531, Cuero, TX 77954. Please include your email address or a SASE for a reply.

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