Paint or Stain?

I sure hope all of you folks on the East Coast and in the Midwest are keeping safe, after Sandy. Prayers sent your way for sure.

Remember AJ's fabulous G-Sale? 

Almost everything was a dollar, even chairs. 

I did buy two tables, and paid $5.00 for each table.  AJ was even offered $20.00 for the oak one before I picked it up...and said no it is sold for $5.00.  

We have 5 acres of horse property, and have a large shop/garage that is perfect for working on projects. If I kept the projects up at the house, well I don't think my husband would be as forgiving for all the things I haul home!

 The pictures show them as they looked when they came home, poor dirty tables.

OK, heres my question, on the above table should I paint the whole table ( it does have a solid butcher block top).  Or I could stain the top...and paint the rest? I am thinking of Annie Sloan Old White. It would look nice either way I think.

This oak table has a story.

AJ's wife Linda told me the story about this oak table. It was her Grandma Cavellini's kitchen table, and then Linda's mother had it, and then Linda.

 Well, Linda is my age ( in her 60's), so....this is easily a 100 plus year old table. 

She said she remembered as a little girl her grandma taking two days to make the best spaghetti sauce, and all the prep work was done on this table. She remembers many dinners at this little oak table as a child.

When Linda and AJ moved from California to the Seattle area 16 years ago, the table was stored in their shop garage and was not used, and after all those years...this is it.

Of course after hearing the story, I felt like it was up to me to bring purpose back to Grandma Cavellini's old oak table.

My first thought was to paint all of it with chalk paint... but then I thought maybe I should totally strip it and  stain it.
                                                                                          

          

 I am leaning towards staining the top, and painting the rest of it. I have already sanded the top of the table. I am ready to go, once I decide where I am going!

Now this is where you all come in, I need suggestions... paint, don't paint, colors...distress, don't distress? 

I think I will keep it for myself, which means one of my own tables will have to go... I can live with that.

So I really would like some idea's tossed my way, what do you think? If it was yours what would you do?

Linking up with:
Tuesdays Treasures
 Blissful White Wednesday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Primp Wednesday
Vintage Thingie Thursday

I also want to throw in a cute little guy that came home from the G-Sale, Why? 
Well, because my husband has used the term "when pigs fly" many times over the years. I had to have the little flying piggy to show him, yes, pigs do fly... 

Happy Halloween!!