Fall Tour: Dining Room ... and a Winner

Our house is all prettied up for the fall season.  Apple and cinnamon candles are burning, spiced chai is steaming in our mugs and some Pumpkin Pie Squares are baking in the oven!  Come on in and check out the dining room!

A glass vase filled with little glittery pumpkins, an old white shutter and a weathered bird house sit to the right of this mantle art (available in my shop), while on the left we have a star, a fabric pumpkin, and a few antique crystal pitchers that were my great grandmother's and my mom's. 

This old fireplace used to burn wood, now it is piped for propane.  It's really cozy on a chilly fall day!  (FYI, the sconces now have battery operated pillars in them.  A gift from my in-laws.  She knows what I love! And boy do they ever look pretty!)

An up close view of the window treatments.  There are deep green roman shades on each window in the dining room (and in the office) topped with burlap swags.  I found this idea on pinterest in a laundry room and loved it!  I also found the pin for washing burlap.  I tried it and I found that it doesn't make a huge difference whether you wash and dry or not. Burlap is burlap.  However...I totally advise against drying it in the dryer.   Don't ask me how I know. *grin*

A bit of a dark view, sorry.  This is the baker's rack with microwave (we find it's more helpful to have it in the dining room than in the kitchen), baskets for paper napkins and paper plates (we use them when we have a gathering), and on the bottom shelf (not seen) is the basket with the kiddos' piano books in it.

The antique player piano.  The player part doesn't work, but the kids play piano.  The oldest five take lessons.  They love their piano teacher!  On the wall is a ladder hubby made for me.  It's wrapped in grapevine garland and some berries.

I am really loving this antique buffet that was given to us. I haven't put anything in it, yet, because hubby has to fix one of the doors and we need to replace some of the hardware.  I'm not sure if we'll ever paint it or not. I'm liking the shabby chic look I've added to this room here and there and I think it would look great with a white-wash look on it, but I can't bring myself to doing it. Sitting on top is a fall runner that Rebekah made for 4H a few years ago. On top of that is a basket that we keep cloth napkins in.  Actually they are the multi-packs of washcloths found and Walmart and other stores.  We use those instead of expensive napkins.  They wash up nicely, too.  We have several shades of tan.  On the wall is a chalkboard I've made. The saying says "Welcome Glorious and Wonderful Fall!" (I shamelessly copied Aunt Ruthie's chalkboard!  She is so talented! Love her!)  I might be putting some more smaller ones in the shop soon so keep on the lookout.

Well that's it for the dining room!  I'll take some pictures of the living room soon!  

♥ ♥ ♥

 Now for the ...

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Hometown Harvest cookbook is...

 I love the fall colors (renate at rwitt9@yahoo.com) 

Congratulations!  I'll send you an email!

Thanks, everyone, for entering!  I loved reading your favorite things about your favorite seasons.  Happy birthday to those who also celebrated (or who will be celebrating) an October birthday!  

Check back in a few days for the living room tour!