The colours of Thanksgiving

I was looking at all the fall decor out in bloggyland and I kept seeing front doors painted with a dark paint. Now I know this trend is nothing new but I suddenly decided I must try it! I'm quite brave reckless when it comes to decorating so I very quickly went to town and picked up the paint and a foam roller. We'd had warm summery weather all September so I was certain it would stay nice until I got my door finished . . . wrong. Monday morning a fog rolled in, temperatures plummeted and a slight drizzle of rain proceeded to fall. Well, I thought - if I'm going to do this I have to do it now or our weather may even get worse. The door is under an overhang - what could go wrong?

. . . is this kale just not the most gorgeous shade of green? and oh, so autumn (y)!

Well, I started to roll the paint on and to make a long story short - what a mess! This foam roller was not cooperating - it seemed to slip and slide all over and the paint was going on all streaky - it looked terrible. So I got out a brush (don't use a brush) and started to paint with it and I could see streaks and splotches and areas that had too much paint and areas that had too little. OMG - what am I going to do? I decided I was going to have to let this first coat dry and then see what I could do about it - but not before I actually rubbed some paint off with a rag - can you believe that? The next morning I rushed back into town and went to a specialty paint store for advice. Apparently the paint I was using was OK but some people (me) can't use foam rollers and he proceeded to give me a tiny plush roller. Thank goodness - it worked. After a couple of restless nights spent worrying that my door was going to be a mess all winter, I managed to get another coat on and have proclaimed that "I can live with that!" Whew. If warmer weather returns I will give it another coat, but for now - it's good enough. After I added some plants and twigs and pumpkins and wreaths I felt a whole lot better. My door is dressed and ready for Thanksgiving (in Canada, it's this week-end).

. . . you see? it looks OK!

. . . yes!! . . .

. . . my dusty miller is still thriving . . .

. . . how can you go wrong with cute pumpkins and mums . . .

. . . a sparkly ribbon on a bright wreath . . .

. . . what?

I forgot to mention that during all this a squirrel decided it was going to take some of the cardboard I had used to protect the deck and make a bed in the woodpile.

. . . I don't think so . . .

. . . you get outta here . . .

. . . now!

. . . aaack . . .

. . . what a horrid start . . .

. . . autumn leaves are calming . . .

. . . so are flowers . . .

. . . and all's well that ends well . . .

The Fall Open House Party at The Charm of Home
"Outdoor Decor" at thriftydecorchick
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative