Losing the wood, blue pumpkins, and "scary" crows...

Well, I have been continuing my home improvement frenzy. Fall cleaning, touching up (or completing in some cases) paint jobs, and decorating for Thanksgiving have all added up to a busy two weeks, albeit a very satisfying period. I love to spruce things up, wash my windows (well, I don't actually love doing that...) and declutter drawers and cupboards. Soon, I will be able to pack up all the summer clothes, and pull out the cozy sweaters, blankets and flannel sheets. While I don't love winter and all that comes with it, I do like the coziness of it...the Sunday dinners, lighting my fireplace and sitting there staring at it until I doze off and wake at 2 a.m. (wondering where am I and why is the t.v. still blaring??), even the odd flannel nightie (aka "granny gown"...I know, I know, but sooo cozy!!).
Speaking of fireplaces, I redecorated my mantel for Fall. Not Hallowe'en, but Fall (Hallowe'en comes a bit later). Goodbye seashells and sand dollars and hello candles, crows and blue pumpkin. Yep, blue pumpkin!! I know it sounds crazy, but when I plunked the real (orange) McCoy down on the mantel, it just didn't quite fit with the rest of my decor. Now, I'm not one of those decorating-obsessed mothers who forgets that holidays are really for the little ones, honestly. I have plenty of traditional pumpkins and such for Halloween; but, I like to mix things up, and rarely keep things the same from year to year, decoratively speaking. I love to try a new twist on things, while still respecting the tradition of the holiday. In fact, every Christmas, I alter my "theme" to include a new collection, but more on that later in the season...

So, I stared at that poor pumpkin and decided to spray paint it blue, and while I was at it, why not add a bit of white glitter to it? Why not indeed?? You may think I'm crazy, but I like it!! In fact, it makes me smile every time I enter the room. Isn't that what seasonal decorating is all about? Oh, and it was just screaming out to have a crow adorn it. A big, squawking crow! I also added the little orange pumpkin perched atop the pedestal...both the pumpkin and pedestal I got at the Dollar Store a few years back. They were very generic, so I glittered them up this weekend and I think they look rather fine. The silver dollars I got at the flea market, placed them in a vase, and used Dollar Store orange beads to hide the stems. I like the result...a nice change from the typical mantel arrangement. I like the unexpected...and I search for new ways to introduce it into my home. Let me know what you think!

I thought I'd show you my completed dining table. It was brought to my attention that I never showed a picture of its completed state. I wrote about the table before (if you recall, My Dreaded Project), and although it is not the table and chairs of my dreams, it will likely be with me for awhile and it is greatly improved from its "ugly colour wood" previous state. I also am showing the new Pottery Barn runner my friend, Krissy (a transplanted Bostonian) picked up for me this past weekend. I adore crows (the silent type) and I had to have this beauty when I spotted it in my new catalogue (thanks Chris!!). The runner is cotton and the crows are "velvet" and it is creepy enough to be a great Halloween addition to the room. I am like the Americans after their Thanksgiving, with one exception: while you all (or y'all) are dragging out the Christmas decorations, I am hauling out the witches and ghosts and gearing up for the spookiest time of year. I can't (insert cackling witch laughter) wait!!

My dreaded project...

Right now I am trying to get the motivation to repaint my dining room table and chairs. It is, in my husband's words, "a good solid table" and has two great features going for it. It is large enough to seat eight (with the leaf added) and the chairs don't have a weak spot in them, even after eleven years of kids "rough-handling" them. Yes, my set is like a comfy pair of shoes...that doesn't flatter me!!

We purchased the table and chairs in 1996 just after buying an old farmhouse in the country. The house had a large formal dining room and needed more than the train set and ride-on -motorbike that the boys used on a daily basis, as its decor. We didn't feel the echo helped make for a cozy feel, so Paul relented and agreed to buy the dining set. He is a forest engineer and knows good wood. It seemed the sets I kept picking out were either too expensive (who me?) or "not solid enough." After many squabbles and the threat of buying nothing since we couldn't agree, I relented out of desperation and bought the "sensible shoes" instead of the "pretty high heels".Fast forward 11 years, and here I am, brush in hand, ambition...I'm not sure where!!

I think my reluctance stems from the fact that it will be a ton of work and I'm not sure it will make me feel much happier about the table. You see, the chairs have not been blessed with beautiful genes or style. I often lament that the set doesn't reflect my taste and I often state the disclaimer, " it wasn't my choice" when someone new comes over (as if most people would actually care). I think my main objection to the table is the colour of the wood, or maybe it is the busyness of the design, or maybe...maybe it is me!! I think I basically just want something lighter, prettier, and more reflective of my style. It is all a bit silly as I certainly don't need to change it, but this is a decorating blog after all, and we all suffer from a propensity to overthink these things!!!

Well, my mind is made up. If we ever get any consistently nice weather, I'm going to haul the table and all SIX of the chairs outside, roll up my sleeves, put on my gas mask, and start spray painting!! That's right...spray painting...at least the primer coat anyway. What colour I end up with for the final coat, I'm not sure. I could go cream to be safe, a pale shade of robin's egg blue (though I'm afraid I'll tire of it), or something totally different. Any suggestions??

Perhaps I'll end up painting one chair, losing steam, and wind up buying new chairs like the examples above and have a funky new look! We'll see. Wish me luck...and a heavy dose of motivation!!!

**I just love these aluminum chairs. I think they would be a great contrast to my table, but perhaps a bit cold on the behind!?!?!!