I'm still in the process of digging my veggie garden, but next year I should be done part of it so that I can get started growing something. My garden is a very large raised bed, which I am dividing with paths into small, 3 1/2 ft wide beds that I won't need to stand on ever. With our heavy clay soil, anything to cut down on compaction will be good for the plants. In the center of my garden I plan to have a small circular bed with some roses growing in it. I plan to plant in blocks and rows; I like vegetable gardens to be ornamental as well as practical. This style of gardening is called a potager, and is supposed to be popular in europe. As for what I intend to grow: potatoes, different varieties lettuce, spinach, corn, zucchini, yellow summer squash, carrots, peas, beans, beets, broccoli and cauliflower from seed. I will use transplants for: tomatoes, cucumbers, winter squash, peppers, eggplant and pumpkin. I would also like to try cantaloupe and watermelon transplants, though I know they'll be iffy depending on the year. Lots of freezing, lots of canning, lots of fresh eating! Before I plant all of those, we do intend to insulate and went a corner in our basement for a root cellar as well. I'll have to wait and see what plants end up being too finicky (maybe cauliflower!) and get knocked off the list.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who said to refinish the top! After many hours, a few swear words, and a cocktail or two, the table is finished! Here is a closeup of what the finish looked like before: It was crazed, dirty, and in a few places had some sort of goo actually melted into it. I was hoping that I could just clean it, brush on some lacquer thinner, and smooth it out. Not so. I had to completely strip the top, which removed all of the color, so I stained and finished it. It's not perfect, but it's so much better than it was! I think the wood actually looks better with the stain color IN it, rather than ON it. And with all of the leaves in: I've started working on the chairs, and I don't want to go into all of the ugly details, but I may end up with painted chairs, after all. We'll see how it all works out this weekend.

So first off, this isn't a table. And then things need to make sense. To me it makes no sense to hang a mirror over a piece of furniture unless it will be used to check your look on the way out. So does this area lead to the back yard only (where you don't need to see what you look like there) or does this lead to a garage that you use to come and go (?) I would in some way update the color of that furniture piece ... whether you stain it an espresso or you paint it a flat black. Then I would hang one large art piece over it. I would remove all of the little items you have all around it and decorate with a few larger pieces that somehow correspond to how that piece and that space will be used. Do you need a lamp in that area ... again do you come home at night through that space from a garage entry? Do you need a tray for keys if this door leads to the garage? No personal framed photos. Why would you be going to that space to pick out a magazine to read? What could you possible put in a small glass jar reaching down that far? You get the idea. Think in those terms.

@Jodie Teeters, @Gargamel, @IdaClaire Thanks! My kid helped me install it today. When he was a toddler we had huge, ott birthday parties with tons of balloons. He has outgrown those now, thank God, but I told him we can still be reminded of those days because it looks like a big bundle of balloons floating in the air. Next up is clearing everything off the piano and adding a tall lamp.