Nana, I like the table and it doesn't make me blue, just the shorter days and chilly nights. The blue color represents my feelings about the end of summer and with that the necessity of putting away my gazebos and outdoor furniture and outdoor decor, the dying of my flower garden and eventual coming of winter. Punk, I have had the gingham plates and the floral goblets for quite a while, just finally got around to using them in a tablescape. I have lots of fall and Halloween decor. I just need the mental acceptance of fall to get them out, LOL I'm still in deep denial. Thanks, Candy

i'm currently having the same issue with a property i take care of. We had a pearl black finish put on and we have some big areas that like the finish hasn't come through. as soon as our pool was filled - the next day -- we had the pool company come out twice a day for a few weeks to keep checking the chemicals and brushing the pool. This was done and we still have these bad areas. I personally think when the initial acid wash was done they didn't let the acid sit on the walls long enough. I'm waiting to hear back how they are going to fix this. If this was what the final product was to look like, we should have been informed. If i get my house or car painted, i am expecting a uniform color throughout......

Sadly, florantha, that issue remains unresolved. We ordered 2 chandeliers for the great room & foyer but when they came we decided they were too small for those purposes, but we still love them and plan to use them somewhere. That somewhere may be over the island, but we're not sure if they will be too big for that since they are around 2.5 feet wide each. We also ordered 1 crystal chandelier at our local lighting store that we love because it was on floor model sale, and we might want to use that for the kitchen but then we'd have to get 2 more and they were $$ so we don't know if we want to spend the money to get 2 more. Plus, we might want to use that one in the dining room. So, long story short... that's all still up in the air! On the bright side, I ALMOST have kitchen hardware all resolved, provided the knobs I am having cousins from Scotland send over to me work (they were not available in the US at all for some reason)

Clubm~~I call it a themed gift, I give all of the girls the same thing and same with the guys. Maybe for the girls PJ's and slippers~~StarBucks gift cards and travel coffee mugs for the guys. Once the guys got beer mugs and a fancy beer I found on vacation. I got fancy jellies for the girls last year, also on vacation. I bought them small bowls and gave them each one of my small silver spoons for the jelly. We give every one a gift card to where ever they want, I usually attach them to a bottle of a StarBucks drink~~this year I bought at CostCo rain umbrellas for guys and gals I will attach gift cards to that. I went to one of my fav stores for a cheese and wine party last Friday night, I bought canvas bags for the girls and a fancy hand lotion and a very cute ornament made with wire and pearls. The girls are very easy to pick a gift out for, guys not so much. I always shop on vacation~~I also know a gal that does stained glass, she does a show every year, I have something I bought for the girls there last year~~I have given them each a piece for several years now either at Chrsitmas or for their bdays. I used to stress out with gifts~~spending way too much and trying to even out the amount I gave every one. This is my formula now, a GC attached to something fun (last year it has head lamps, also from CostCo) But, sometimes it is just the SBucks drinks and once a small can of soda. I give everyone an ornament~~this makes me a bit nuts trying to find something that suiits the person. Then I give them each what ever is my guy/gal theme gift~~so far it is easy peasy, thoughtful and they love it!! I am always looking a shop year round~~using things for bdays and Christmas~~I have bags in a closet with each persons name on it~~I can pull together a gift ASAP for almost anyone. I also shop the sales after each holiday and buy things to give my girls for that hoilday the next year ;)