I did a quick search online and found some sites stating that parts of the plant are poisonous if not all. Honestly, if you don't find the plants on any lists of edible plants, then it's best to just assume it is poisonous. But, that doesn't mean you couldn't serve food on it. I would maybe call some local nurseries and ask them what they think. Some plants are only harmful if bitten into. If you are just going to be laying bread or some other food that can just be easily picked up off the leave with out puncturing the leave, then you may be just fine. Some plants though, can have an oily like substance on the outside that can be poisonous. I doubt canna's are like that because if they were, not as many people would grow them because they'd have to be super careful each time the worked in the garden. If you do use them, just play it safe and make sure whatever is laid on them is a finger food that a utensil will not be needed because a utensil will puncture the leaves far too easily (even a spoon could scrap into the leaf's flesh.

I think zone4newby hit it -- shave off from either side and you'll be fine. But my comment has to do with the questions you didn't ask (of course). You're on acreage, and your DH is all about the mud room, dog wash, etc. Is this a farm/hobby farm? Are there horses or other livestock? Big garden? Big workshop? If so, where are those things, and how are you envisioning people getting from those places into the house? Because your mudroom opens from the garage. If coming from the barn/shop/whatever, am I expected to get into the garage (car doors or man door?) and then wind around the cars in the garage to get into the mud room? As for the dogs -- it sounds like they are a big part of your life. And that they get muddy. Are these indoor/outdoor dogs (not hunting dogs in a kennel elsewhere on the land)? How do they get outside? Is there a fenced yard? Where is the access to the fenced yard? If the access is through the back of the house, then the muddy dogs have to walk through the house to get to the mud room to get cleaned up. Finally, you're a family of 4. If the garage is a 2-car, that means one or two vehicles will always be parked outside in the drive, or in a pull-off area. And that is probably the kids' car(s). How is the kid meant to enter the house? Open the garage and go through the mudroom? Or will he take the straight line to the front door? You might want to consider a breezeway of some kind between the house and the garage. It can have a door opening to the front for the driveway parkers, and to the back for those coming from whatever activities take place in the back. It can also work for the dogs if everyone is disciplined enough to take them through the breezeway to be let in and out.

That carousel is great! I love lynn's photo groupings too (and your home, lynn -- so fascinating & creative). My son gave me a digital photo frame for Xmas, & I love it! The color is very good & brings out the best in photos, but the fun is in the mix of photos in the slide show. It's so easy to add photos & make themes on an SD card with a computer. A 4GB SD card holds a lot of photos. I have 200 pictures on one & have room for more. I just got a great new printer/scanner (Canon Pixma 8120), & am enjoying scanning old family photos for the frame. A benefit is that scans of old photos can be edited in a picture editor to make them brighter, sharper, more level, or for cropping. I want to get another frame & do a black & white portraits theme. (Picasa will make a b&w copy of a colored original.) Or maybe I'll do my sons' school portraits in chronological order to show how they've grown... Anyway, digital frames are fun and versatile.

Katmu, I would fill it with books and a few meaningful accessories. We have a large breakfront in the upper foyer. Previously it held more books, but I wanted more of a cabinet of curiosities. It is not something I would have purchased, and I still may sell or brighten the interior back without destroying the piece (not paint directly). When it was moved to an adjoining room during painting, I had planned to not put the pediment back on and may still remove/store just to change it up if I keep. DH said "just paint it," but I cannot do that!