Dining Room Updates - The Big Picture and a Portable Table Scape

About a year ago, I FINISHED the dining room, changing the wall color, changing the wall art, bringing in a bit more furniture and such. 

Since then, it has changed a few more times - in small ways. But life is really all about change, right?

Last December's updates have been re-updated a bit.
I have moved furniture around and out. I have added-to and moved art around.

Most recently, I added a few fall-ish things. I love fall.

So I guess I wasn't finished. Seriously, FINISHED is such a FINAL sort of word...don't you agree? 

We need to invent another word that says "I've done some fairly major changes, but the little things will keep changing indefinitely." Any thoughts?

Sorry...rabbit trail. 

Here is the room last December:

Almost immediately, I decided I had too much furniture in the room. I tend to do that. I'm working on it...

But, wait. Let's go back farther...Here's the room before my re-do last year - yellow-ish walls, but the same furniture arrangement as now. I kept many of the same elements in the room. (Maybe I can paint those golden oak chairs soon.)

Here is the room very recently, sans the black table, with my first fall display down the 8 feet long table:

To illustrate my point about the need for a new word, that photo was taken about an hour before this one:

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I had finished the gourd display a couple of weeks ago, and knew almost immediately it would not last. 

It impaired the function of the table as a sewing table, among other things. 

A more portable solution was needed. 

As fate would have it, these three wire baskets were sitting empty just a few feet away! 

It took about 10 minutes to re-vamp the tablescape into three portable wire baskets and a couple of mini-vignettes. 

Though I am trying to change my "keeper" ways, I will admit, being a demi-hoarder has its advantages. 

FYI - Except for the dining table, the large angel, the lamp, a fancy bookmark I framed, the dried gourds and the twig pumpkins... everything you see was either purchased at a thrift store or it was a freebie. 

Word for the Day:
1 Timothy 4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Possibly Linking With
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com/	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com	Silver Pennies Sundays
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/	Bouquet of Talent
Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/	Amaze Me Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/	Mod Mix Monday
http://www.maisondepax.com/	Give Me the Goods Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
www.CedarHillFarmhouse.com/	The Scoop
http://www.whitelacecottage.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
http://mamaldiane.com/	The Gathering Spot
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com/	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.ca/	Centerpiece Wednesday Link Up Party
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://petitemichellelouise.blogspot.com/	Grey Dey Thursdey
http://www.commonground-do.com/	Be Inspired
http://startathome.blogspot.com/	Furniture and Paint Party
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/	Friday’s Five Features
http://vintageinteriorblogs.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk
http://too-much-time.com/	Get Schooled Saturday

Seasonal Vignettes Inside the House

I want the house to look cozy and festive for my Thanksgiving guests, but I don't want the decor to interfere with the functionality.

Though I want to be a "less is more" kinda girl, I usually try to cram too much stuff into my rooms. After all, if I found it in a thrift store for .87c, and I love it, it MUST be meant to be here...right?

Still, I'm working on editing. I want cozy, but clean. Comfortable but not cluttered. 

Which has meant removing some stuff - even though it works with the room, it's just too much. 

This vignette is in my dining room. I love the wasp nest.

They're actually very strong - a form of handmade paper (mixed with wasp spit.) 

The nest is sitting on some spanish moss on a marble cheese board inside an old silver plate pedestal dish I spray painted ivory years ago. 

On the other side of the doorway is another vignette with another wasp nest on a birch bark box. 

The two old cookbooks are falling apart! I purchased them 30 years ago in a thrift store. They are from the 1940s, and I have used them many times to make tasty meals.

After a couple of experiments, I switched to a portable tablescape of gourds, corn, twig pumpkins and other natural items. The wire baskets can easily be removed while the table is used for some other purpose, like sewing dust ruffles.

An off-white painted styro pumpkin from the dollar store sits in a white ironstone bowl in the white hutch.

On top of the hutch, the white painted finials have moved from the living room for a change of pace. A twig garland winds through the bases.

A gift from Karen, my sweet neighbor friend, is a sweet reminder: "One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer."

Thank you, Father, that I have too much stuff from which to choose. Please help me know what to keep and what to let go of, from your perspective.

Word for the Day:
Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Possibly Linking With
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com/	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com	Silver Pennies Sundays
http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/	Bouquet of Talent
Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/	Amaze Me Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/	Mod Mix Monday
http://www.maisondepax.com/	Give Me the Goods Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
www.CedarHillFarmhouse.com/	The Scoop
http://www.whitelacecottage.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
http://mamaldiane.com/	The Gathering Spot
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com/	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.ca/	Centerpiece Wednesday Link Up Party
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://petitemichellelouise.blogspot.com/	Grey Dey Thursdey
http://www.commonground-do.com/	Be Inspired
http://startathome.blogspot.com/	Furniture and Paint Party
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/	Friday’s Five Features
http://vintageinteriorblogs.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk
http://too-much-time.com/	Get Schooled Saturday