Throwback Thrifty Tables

I considered doing a brand-new tablescape today,

but . . . I am bone lazy.

Actually, I'm not really ready to do all the toting

and moving of dishes and glassware and

centerpiece stuff . . . my knee is still sore and cranky,

and still under those "rest it" doc's orders.  Bor-ing.

But the ghosts of Fall table settings past

are plentiful in the pictures archives.

2009:  Lunch for one in the Parlor.

Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx, a free lantern, a few gifts,

and of course -- more Dollar Tree. 

 Got the rooster plate in Los Angeles, at a TJ Maxx.  Just like home ....

The lantern was liberated from a country club by my daughter Alida,

when she waitressed at a wedding there.  The lanterns were abandoned and up for grabs.

Free is my favorite price. The fabulous tea pot is a gift, years ago, from my daughters.

2009:  Lunch, in the Conservatory.

Walmart, Dollar Tree, Ebay, and more Dollar Tree.

Seeing a pattern here?

 Dollar Tree well represented here.  I love a store where everything is a buck.

So, this table may have a bit of a pumpkin overload going on. Hey, the tables can't all be winners.

2009:  Dining Room casual dinner for two.

Looks like a pasta night, doesn't it? 

 Plates from Dollar Tree.  Bowls from a discount drugstore.
Plaid linen napkins, vintage, eBay, cheap.

It's hard to see with my clumsy pictures, but the blue in the plates does match the blues in the bowls.

Trust me.

 Hand blown turquoise wine glasses from my favorite charity thrift shop.

 2009: Dining Room again.  For two.

Soup lunch!  Yes, with beer, hence the Pilseners.

 Goodwill candle holder, Dollar tree plates, TJ Maxx bowls, Dollar Tree bird votives,

my Mom's pewter S & P, eBay vintage silverplate flatware, Dollar Tree placemats.

 Home Goods napkins.  They have the best prices on new napkins.

 Goodwill had two of these mercury glass candleholders.

Ask me why I bought only one?  I cannot answer you.  Stupid.

Frenchy-looking tin cachepot holding the ivy?

From a decorators' sample sale in NYC, many moons ago.

And that wraps up the Tablescape and Thrift parts of

our Thursday blog post, ladies and gentlemen.  :-) 

Because it is Throwback Thursday, here's a picture of our

Dion DiPoochy, also in 2009, wondering why I have draped him

in a pumpkin garland.  He was always so patient.

Confused sometimes, but always patient.

And with that, it's Goodbye time.

I think there are chairs in my future, on Craigslist,

and on tomorrow's blog post.  
And hopefully in our dining room.  Be well! -- Cass

LINK PARTIES!

Tablescape Thursday, at Between Naps On The Porch.  Click!

Treasure Hunt Thursday, at From My Front Porch to Yours.  Click!

Wednesday - Wordless AND Outdoors!

Okay -- Almost Wordless.  But definitely Outdoors!
These are from today, November 5th, and we have not yet had a hard frost.  
Suits me. -- Enjoy your Wednesday! -- Cass

This is my kind of November - mild and windy.

Still loads of tomatoes, and our summer geraniums are still

going strong; I think I may try and over-winter them.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, what's left of it!

Visit Wordless Wednesday, here.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer, here.

I Elect Not To Fret

Today, here in these United States,
it is Election Day. 

E PLURIBUS UNUM.  The phrase suggested 'way back in 1776, for
the Great Seal of the United States.  Latin for "out of many, one," it describes the coming-together
of the 13 former colonies, which had strong regional differences, into a cohesive, purposeful whole.
It's still a part of the Great Seal.  You can read more (lots more!) about the Seal here.

Anywho, I'll vote today.

This isn't a presidential election year, so there isn't the great

excitement of nationwide voting, but that doesn't mean it doesn't count.

Me, getting ready to cast my ballot.

 Now, about that fretting mentioned in the title. . . .

You know my Thanksgiving "to do" list?

The TBDBT?

This year, I'm letting it go.

This year, I'm a bit hobbled with a bum knee, and spending

way too much time with that knee immobile.

Meaning I am doing way too much sitting.  Yes, annoying.

Going to the doc today.
Hoping for a quick fix!

With just 3 weeks till Howard heads out on his annual

Turkey Hunt, and brings home a whopper of a Tom,

those "to-do" items are most likely not going to get "to-done."

Howard does love his knickers.

The important stuff will get done; it always does.

Cooking, cleaning, more cooking . . . . Those things we'll do.

The old silver will be polished.

We'll get out the Thanksgiving dishes.

Cranberry sauce will boil merrily away on the stove.

And I'll make the walnut pie - just one this year.

We don't want a lot of leftovers.

On the great day, Howard will host - in his Turkey Shirt.

And most importantly, That Old House will be full of people.  Well fed people.  :-)

Thanksgiving Day 2009

But as for that TBDBT List,

for yet another Thanksgiving,

the dining room chairs will not have matching seat covers.

And it's a pretty good bet those draperies in there will not be sewn.

Unless Howard has heretofore hidden talents.

 And you know what?  Those things aren't important to anyone but, probably, me.

So I'm letting them go.  I'm allowed.  Kind of amazing.

You can find me here, today, un-laxing,

being all Lazy Lady Liberty on Election Day.

I seem to be in danger of a wardrobe malfunction.

Fellow citizens, please vote.

It is, absolutely, the least we can do to show our

gratitude in this month of Thanksgiving.

Happy Tuesday!  Keep an eye on that Thanksgiving

Countdown Clock on my sidebar.  Yikes! -- Cass

Vintage graphics courtesy of Karen, at The Graphics Fairy.

Hello New Craigslist Coffee Table: Get To Work!

For the past month, I've posted every Friday about
our Craigslist search for a coffee table for our study.

This past Friday ... we found it!

Yay!

Here it is, in its Craigslist ad.

I liked its sturdy bigness.  And the chubby legs.

I mean, really . . . chubby legs!  How cute.

So on yesterday's glorious Sunday afternoon,

Howard and I went to Lake Mohawk,

a short drive up Route 15 from us . . . .

And after keeping my husband from wandering off

to look at the boats, we found the sellers' house,

and Mr Coffee was loaded into the back of the minivan.

:-) 

And it came home to That Old House!

There are no good pictures today; I am laid up with a bum knee,

and there's an extra chair in the study for me to use, and this table

is just tucked in where it would fit.  It's not set in place yet.

The table is lovely, and nicely "distressed" -- restrained.

But ... white isn't right in this room.

So we are choosing another color.  Or, colors.

Howard and most of you are leaning toward green.

Me?  I am kind of leaning toward red, but that's because 

I love red.

Like this red, below, on that strip of fabric on the table.

It's the fabric for the dining room draperies, and

I have paint in that exact color.  All ready to go!

Or maybe ... red legs and base, and green top?

Or a top painted in a gold, green, red plaid?

Or a top decoupaged in paper or fabric?

While the white finish is very nice, it is not

right in this book-lined, rather dark jumble of a room.

Next Craigslist search:  More dining room chairs,

and also chairs for the round oak table in the sunroom.

Oh yes.  I've got some on the hook already.

Have a lovely Monday! -- Cass

Help Me Paint A Thrifty Craigslist Table

Howard and I are Sunday-driving to a
charming lakeside village, where we're going
to take a gander at this table, below.

And I think it's a pretty safe bet that this table, below,

will be coming home to That Old House in the back of the minivan.

For the past month, I've been assiduously cruising Craigslist

for a cheap bargain coffee table, big and sturdy, for our study.

Which has been without coffee table convenience

since Anne moved out, and took hers with her.

Anne's architect chest, AKA coffee table.

No luck with the coffee table search until Friday, when lightning struck, and that

cute, cottage-y, kitschy, scallop-y, chunky coffee table stood up and said, "Pick me!"

So we did.

 Now, what color should we paint it? 

The sturdy study upholstery is a very printed cotton tapestry,

furniture we bought in 2001 for its dog-and-teenager-proof qualities.

And it has stood up to dogs, kids, and grownups very well over the years.

Loads of colors.  Gold, brown, black, red, other red, rust,

pale green, dark green, weird blue, and a bit of a purplish color,

but I don't know what you'd call it.

Then there's the rug.  Similar colors, only paler.

"Stop looking at me!

You think I want to wear this stupid dress?"

I initially was thinking dark red (mostly because I

already have some dark red paint), but then I thought,

No, let's make it green to blend in 

with the room, which also has green walls.

And I already have green paint.

Howard, in the study in his favorite spot ... and I have leftover wall paint in a Sherwin Williams
green that I cannot remember the name of and will have to find the can and hope the label is still
legible ... because the wall color may make a nice table color, too, with a poly finish over it.

So, whatcha think?

Green?  Red?  Gold?  Plaid?

No, seriously -- what do you think would be a good color for this table?

(It's kind of a dark room.)

And ... should I decoupage the top because -- yes -- I already have some Mod Podge?

Have a gorgeous Sunday, my friends.

It is crazy, crazy windy here, and a few loose shutters keep

scaring the life out of me by banging on the house.

I'm glad it's not Halloween tonight!

The leaves are flying off the trees.  Goodbye, chlorophyll!

-- Cass