Fall Decor--I Know, Still!

I think I finished decorating for fall today.

I haven't actually done much. I'm just very picky and I don't like to be rushed into things before I'm ready.



To illustrate, we got this dining set in February, after maaaaaaany years of eating at what I liked to call our Barbie doll table. It was a small table, for a small apartment, that could barely seat four.

I waited for a long time and we saved our pennies so we could get a real, grown up table.

I knew exactly what I wanted. Dark wood, not ornate, sturdy, blocky, simple. And I found it. And I was happy.



Then when I got it home, I realized that hey, I could probably fit the matching cabinet into my teeny tiny eat-in kitchen as well.

And I could.

And I did.

And I loved it.

I loved it so much, that every time we sat down to eat, I would cringe at every little move that could scratch my new dining set. I was jumpy. I still am.

Hey, I'm obsessive. I'm compulsive. I obsess about things compulsively. I'm a freak. I know there are many others like me out there. Probably even some of them are reading this blog.

Anyway, where I'm actually trying to go here, is that I've been on the lookout for decor for the cabinet and functional serving pieces that would also look nice on display inside it.

Until today, I haven't bought one thing for my new dining set. Frankly, when I think about buying something to go in here, my palms get all clammy.

Partly it's because I don't want to spend the money, and partly because I don't want to make a decision that might require me to have to actually return something that I might decide I don't like when I get home.



But on account of Thanksgiving is next week, and there will be eight adults and four children eating at my house, today I started looking with purpose.

In short, I went to Pier I Imports to get lucky. I had a rare coupon and I was hoping I would have a chance to use it.

I tend to walk around stores like this, chanting to myself what I'm searching for so I can stay focused. I'm easily distracted.

Today I was chanting "glass jar, group of odd numbered items, staggered heights." I know it makes no sense to you, but I had something in mind and this is just how I stayed focused.

I did okay too.



First I found these cool candlesticks that are a very pretty bronzy brown color and very earthy elegant looking.

I just made that up.

Anyway, they were perfect for the autumn color scheme I've got going on in my living room and dining area. I was able to get two in different heights, so I was fulfilling my staggered heights criteria.



Next I found this . . . thing. What is it called? I am so not a decorator, I just know what I like and then I give it my own name when I need to tell my kids to dust it.

"Get that, that . . . thingie up there with the hoojit on it. Yes that. Make sure you get all the dealie bobs real good."

So anyway, I've been looking at these, whatever they are, on Darlene's blog, and she's always putting stuff in hers that look real pretty. I knew I had some leaves and fake pumpkins and gourds that I could stuff in mine, so I figured I was set.

I'm happy with how it all came together, and I'm already thinking about what I can stuff in this thing for the holidays.

But I promise I won't start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Topiary

I've been seeing different variations of this pumpkin topiary lately, and I decided that I wanted one for myself.

I had the hardest time finding this urn style pot. This isn't the time of year to go pot shopping, but I finally found this one at Lowes.

I bought the faux pumpkins at Michael's along with the 5/8 inch dowel and the assorted fall foliage. I had to drill holes in the pumpkins to connect them. Man, was that messy.

Then my dowel was a tinsy bit too long so I had to attack it with this hack saw. Is that what this is called? I think Peanut Head got his kicks watching me do this. I couldn't get a rhythm going and I earned every millimeter. When I was finally at the end, he asked me (with a chuckle in his voice) "Do you want some help, honey?" What a little snot he is.

I did it! The sad part is that the easy part is over now. I didn't really know what I was doing with all the foliage and I went a little crazy with the glue gun. I burnt myself with the glue gun so many times that I lost count.

The problem with hot glue is that a) it's sticky and b) it's dang hot. Not a good combination.

Anyway, I plodded along and TA-DA!

I'm just hoping none of this stuff pops off with the first frost. I don't want a repeat of the pine cone incident.

September Procrastination Challenge--And a New Wreath!

This is my gnarly front door.  I say gnarly because it has had the crap beat out of it by the former storm door.  

You think I'm kidding?  I am not.  I live in Idaho.  Idaho is windy.  Our old storm door opened out North and the wind comes from the South.  Well, duh.

In our defense, we were new to Idaho and didn't know about such things.  In California we had just the gentlest of breezes and paradise-like weather that became monotonous, day after day after day.  Well, maybe not that last part, but California doesn't get crazy, scary Idaho wind.

So, not like I need to finish with this story or anything, but the wind caught the door and slammed it up against the house repeatedly, BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

We were left with a bent and broken door frame, shattered glass everywhere, and the door was hanging off its hinges.  I'm seriously not kidding.  It was a mess and it was sad because the storm door was maybe a year old, tops.

So, for our new storm door, Peanut Head was sure to install it so that it opened out South so the wind could only slam it shut instead of beating the house to death with it.  We do learn.

Then, as if my door wasn't sad enough, I bought a gorgeous purple wreath last spring that melted right off of its hangar and dripped all the way down the door.  The wax has been mostly scraped off, but it has left an unsightly snail trail of sorts.  Yes, it looks like dried snot. Disgusting.

So, back to my point, my front door is in need of some sprucing up.  I've been wanting to paint it red for quite some time, and Debbie over at Virtually Organized has posted a September Procrastination Challenge.

This is right up my alley.  Remember my self help book about Procrastinating.  The one I haven't read yet, but I'm going to someday?  Well, you can see where this is going.

Right now, I am officially declaring to the world and committing myself to paint my front door before the end of the month.  I marched into Lowe's today and bought the paint and primer so now I'm committed.

To motivate myself to follow-up on my procrastination challenge, I decided to make myself a fall wreath.

I got most of this stuff on sales at Michael's (50% off this week) and found some of it in my craft closet.

I started snipping leaves off.

And arranging them around the wreath.  Hot gluing them as I went.

There.  Isn't that pretty?

There's just one problem.  I accidentally glued the wreath to the table in my efforts to secure all the leaves.

That's okay, I have a putty knife and that sucker came right off.

I'm pretty happy with it, although it might disappear into my new red door.  We'll have to wait and see.

While eating dinner this evening we heard a strange noise. "PLINK!"

We looked up, alarmed, and I said "MY WREATH!"

One of the pine cones had popped right off.  I sure hope this wreath isn't going to rot off my door.