I love the table and chairs that I got from my brother.   First of all I don't have to worry about the chairs falling apart when company sits in them.  The spindles in the ones we had before kept popping out of their holes, and just as soon as hubby repaired one, another one popped out.  

These chairs are wooden with iron work - a much more substantial set.  They are darker than my old ones and actually match the rest of my furnishings better.   The seats are padded and nice and comfy on the tush.    But....

The fabric doesn't match, so of course I'll need to get new fabric to cover them.  And this table is a fair amount larger than the old one, so the rug underneath isn't big enough.  So I'll need to get a new rug.  And since the table and chairs are so dark, the white chandelier sticks out like a sore thumb.  It'll have to be painted.
The bar stools don't match the new iron and wood, so I'll need to do something about those bar stools.

Isn't it amazing how one new item can cause a snowball effect.  But this is a much needed snowball.  I haven't done any home improvement projects in a while, so this will be fun.  I just need to do it for as little money as possible, but I have some frugal ideas in my head.  I'll update you as I go along.  It will be fun!

Anita
Craft Kits and Supplies

Last night when I was at Walmart I saw that those small Pie Pumpkins are out,  and I began to smile.  I love Pumpkins!  I have loved them since I was young.  I'm not sure why.  But as I think back it probably has something to do with the county fair.

Our county fair is held in September , and we went every year when I was growing up.  It was something to look forward to.  Not necessarily the rides, but the smell of hay spread on the ground around  the animals,  of corn-dogs, and of cooler crisp night air.   You could feel the excitement as you walked along with the crowds.  The chance of winning a gold fish by landing a ping pong ball in one of the clear bowls with a fish swimming inside.  Or maybe winning a stuffed animal by throwing a baseball at the funny creature with yarn all the way around him.  I never won a stuffed animal, but I did carry home quite a few gold fish.

There was always a building that held the exhibits, the craft entries, and the produce entries.   Every year there would be huge tomatoes, squash, beans, and of course pumpkins.  And I believe that must my first fond memory of pumpkins!

Now I have a stash of beautiful ceramic pumpkins.  They are the ones from Hallmark, and I dearly love them.  I think that I will put them out this week.  It may be a little early, but that will just give me more time to enjoy them.

Anita
Gallery Glass Paint
 

I visited my brother and his family today to pick up a table and chairs that I am buying from them at a wonderful, but fair price.   He has a very sweet wife and 3 beautiful daughters.   They are 18, 13, and 3.   He and his wife were 40 when they had the 3 year old.  Things are tougher at 40 - all those 3 am feedings would have killed me.  But....what a blessing this child is.  Everything about her is adorable, and there is nothing like the love of a 3 year old child.   It is pure.  It is real.  It is totally non-judgmental.   She brings joy to me every time I'm near her!

Today at their house there was another joy.  Two new additions to their household.  The sweetest little Malkies or Morkies or Yorkteses you've ever seen!  Wonder what in the world those are?  I'd never heard of them until today.  They are a  cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese.  The sisters are solid black except for a few tufts of white hair on their faces and tails.  They are 7 months old, completely calm, and very lovable.  They sat so still in my lap for a very long time, and I  believe I felt my blood pressure lowering as they sat there!  I wanted to take one home with me so very badly, not that my brother's family was willing to give one up,   but I kept hoping one of them would try to escape and just happen to jump into my car.  No such luck!  And my hubby doesn't want another pet anyway.  But I'm working on that!

Anita
Bucilla Felt Applique Kits