My $1.98 Pumpkin Vignette

You know I’m all about keeping it real, and keeping it frugal. Most of the time.

This is one of those times.

We recently bought a fabulous antique china cabinet, and I mentioned how excited I was to have a new display perch. So here’s my first crack, just in time for Sanctuary Arts' “Pretty Your Pumpkin Party”:


It’s not perfect (at least yet!) but it cost me a "whopping" $1.98. The mini pumpkins were .79 a pound at the Sunset Farm Market (really a nursery) in the shore house’s neck of the woods. I loaded up a small bag, to the tune of 2.5 pounds, and so far, so good. The candles and candlesticks were a recent gift, and that branch (much lovelier in person) is from our Krauter’s Plum Tree. I dumped seashells out of the (Home Goods) apothecary jar (and the cute little covered dish I recently treated myself to at Pottery Barn. I think it’s one of the few things I’ve paid retail for in 2008!), arranged the pumpkins, and Bob's your uncle.

I also started to put together my outside décor. I dried out my cornstalks, and added a couple of pumpkins. The mum was a gift from our California house guest last week (thanks, Kevin!). I think I’ll beef the scene up a bit this weekend.

There was also a bit of an impulse buy made while I was at Sunset’s. I couldn’t resist. (In fact I may add another – especially since all Halloween decorations are already 50% off there.):

I've named her Charlotte.

My mom knows I have a thing for old mini chairs, and she spotted this one at a flea market recently. Only thing was, the vendor was selling all of the fall decorations with it. But...for $20! So mom scooped up the whole thing for me, and I’ll be able to recycle the chair (which is old, and in very good shape) for other fun displays, and in "solo exhibitions." The only thing better was hearing this vendor would be in my town for the Harvest Festival this weekend. Whoo hoo!

Lastly, I wanted to share a photo of a house I spotted in Wanamassa, NJ, on my way back from the Sunset “pumpkin patch.” A little background: When it was obvious that the writing was on the wall for the Yankees (of whom I am a fan), and that their last season in Yankee Stadium would draw to an untimely close, my brother (the Mets fan) was quick to rub it in my face. You see, his team was in first place at the time, and my team was all but eliminated. He had a point. My team dropped the ball. In a sense, I had it coming to me.

Sort of like he has this coming to him:

Yup; payback’s a you-know-what, my dear brother.

There. I feel much better now. ;-)

Coming tomorrow, part deux: I’m going to share an easy little pumpkin recipe from Better Homes & Gardens I road tested. Two words: “Chocolate” and “yum.”