Annette, You cracked me up!!! The coffee cup. DH says he picks-up more dishes in the gardens when the season starts then he does in the house. LOL!! I must admit I had to go back and have a look at where it was. Recently took photos in to the garden club and the members were looking for the coffee cups in the photos. they spotted 5. BTW, you'll love the Dame's Rocket. Don't forget to smell them. :O) mnwsgal, I have yet to do the spring sprinkling of the poppy seeds. Thanks for the reminder. It's so nice to see them coming up here and there.

I think you've received some great suggestions. Of course, you came to the right place! I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for your loss. My mom passed away almost 6 years ago, and some days, it seems unreal to me, and we weren't even super-close. So many days I need to know someone's name, or fill in the blanks in a childhood memory, or just have a question about how to do something. I invariably find myself going for the phone. Then I remember that she's gone, and it's been 6 years! Anyway, my mom and grandma passed away within 5 years of each other, and my brother and I got everything from both of their houses. We sold a lot, and kept the stuff that had memories or an emotional attachment, like your tables and lamps. Some of the stuff I started using/had sitting out right away. But, my grandma had a china cabinet bursting with glassware and teapots and such. So much of it is not my taste... too pinky and too many ribbons and roses for me. But, my grandma was the center of my universe, and she loved those things. So, they still sit in a couple dozen cartons, in the basement storeroom. Fast forward ten years... I "made" a silver and crystal vanity table-top set for my MIL for Christmas. I bought the tray cuz she wanted the non-tarnish silver, and I bought a few crystal tumblers for eyeliners, lipsticks, and other tube cosmetics. I wanted a small bowl for center front in my arrangement. I had it in my head that there was a little crystal bowl in Grandma's stuff, and it would be so cool to give one of her things to my MIL, who has sort of taken her place in my life. So I started searching, and searching. Turns out that the "crystal" bowl was just pressed glass, so that was a wasted hunt. But, the good that came out of it was that after ten years, some of the emotional bond with the stuff had faded. I now think I am ready to go through it, pick out the stuff that I really do like, and consign the rest. So, some of the emotion/guilt fades after a few years, and it's easier to deal with these items. Of course, in your case, it's not two houses FULL of stuff, and you actually like what you got! Sorry for the long story. Your tables and lamps look great, btw!

cyn and awm-- no pictures yet! The contractor was too tired to paint that day (he'd worked like 7 hours!), but I did just sample it on my own this a.m. and I do think I like it! I would just paint it myself because I am impatient but my 6 month old, 3, 5, and 8 y.o. have other ideas! (Well, really it's just the baby that would not be able to wait!) oopsie, shutter color is still up for grabs. I am willing to just take them down, but don't know if the holes and difference of color (fading from sun) on the siding will be too ugly. I'm thinking still gray, black, or maybe even white . . .that way they'll blend it but cover the holes/uneven color. Landscaping has a LONG way to go but I am going to be putting in some hydrangea bushes under the one window (Invincibelle so they'll be pink all season) and DH might be talked into doing a window box, too. Thanks so, so much for your continued help!!!! I will definitely post pics as soon as at least the door color is done.

Wanted to update this.. Just finished the 2nd coat last night. After testing all the samples, we ended up using SW Repose Gray. (that was the one that was a close match to Pratt and Lambert Windham). I wasn't even halfway done with the first coat and went into panic about the color. The one side of the room no longer looked the nice warm gray but similar to the color of raspberry ice cream!! Thankfully I realized it was the light bulbs. DH still was only was seeing gray so that's a good thing. I didn't take an after pic yet but there not even flooring in the room so there's not much to look at. Here's the sample of the color to give you an idea. Thanks again for the help!