Looking For a New Sofa

I decided a couple of weeks ago it's time for a new sofa. I've had this one for almost 20 years and it still looks fantastic, but I want a new one. I think it's time for a new one. Sheeesh, almost 20 years?! My granddaughter loves this sofa so it's going over to her home. She actually squealed when I told her she could have it if she wanted it.

She and her hubby have been looking at homes for about 2 years now and couldn't find one they liked until recently. They made a full price offer of $729,000 and waited all day to hear. The realtor said someone else made an offer $750,000— $21,000 over the asking price. They got it and granddaughter was very disappointed. It had everything they wanted for their growing family. They're rapidly outgrowing the home they're in now. That's the real estate market in the Seattle, Washington, area at the moment. You can name your asking price and actually get more for it. I was sad for her but they'll soon find one they like.

So in deciding that I'm going to get a new one, I've been scouring the internet for looks I might want. Ethan Allen will definitely be where I buy it though. Their sofas are far superior to any I've ever had before or seen in other people's homes. I'd love suggestions from any of you. You can see the one I have now:

But I'm seriously considering something like this one, which you'll recognize as my absolutely favorite room ever:

So my dilemma is one with a tight, tucked back or loose pillows for seat and back.  I think I'll stick with 2 cushions if I decide on cushions. I like the roominess of 2 cushions. We rarely have a group at our home so I don't need a 3 cushion one and really don't like their looks as much as 2 cushion seating. What are some of your thoughts on this? I probably haven't considered every single factor yet.
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This is the vacation of a famous person. I'm not going to tell you immediately. But it pierced my heart like none other could. Isn't it fantastic? I love this home.

Family room

Dining or game room

Kitchen and breakfast area.

Cabinets in the kitchen. Would you look at the pink? I. LOVE. IT!

A room for collections. Looks like it could be a garden potting area also.

Bedroom.

Master bathroom.

Bedroom.

Living room.

Porch.

For you Marie Antoinette lovers.

Isn't this evening bag darling?

A cute tag.

A lovely paper lantern.

Quaint small dining area with elegant chandelier.

 Ooooh, and I almost forgot! That first house above is Kirstie Alley's vacation home in Maine. I saw it one day while looking for houses for my granddaughter.
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Linking up with WOW.

Ramblin' About a Few Things

 These are all roses I've made or cuffs I've made.

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Okay as a doting great grandmother here's another video of Caroline learning her dance steps. It's 5 minutes long but you don't have to watch it if you don't want. But I'm her great grandmother so I get to post it. See how this works? LOL

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A few weeks ago while filling out the Pre-Op registration for surgery, one of the questions on one of the many forms had a question at the very bottom: Is there anything else we should know about you or your family. I wondered to myself if they didn't have enough already! But, as you all know, if you don't follow the rules, you don't get to play the game. So I put on there for that last question: Yes, we're a very humorous family. Hubs saw it and said, 'Maybe you should put on there I like model trains.' So I did! The nurse looked at it and smiled. She was very polite and informative as she had had the exact same surgery years ago. I listened intently. I don't think she had much of a sense of humor, certainly not to my obnoxious level, but she did smile. I liked her a lot.
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My hubs, Love Bunny, is frequently asking me 'why' I do a lot of things I do. I simply tell him I'm OCD and he can get over it. That's just the way things are with me. He sighs, we kiss, and go on...MY way, of course.
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Hubs and I are pretty different as many people have told us. So what? We love each other and that's all that matters, but he does have a little quirk that drives me crazy. If I ask him a question, he rarely answers yes or no, but 'okay' as if that's an answer to a question that has a definite choice, not just yes or no. Example: Do you want steak or hamburger for dinner? Answer: Okay. See what I mean. Drives me insane!
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Several days ago I was perusing the internet looking for images to post on here and came across some unique blogs. But there was one of just photos and I noticed the comments on this one blogger's photos. She had one with 674 comments, one with 2,112, one with 3,357, one with 4,335, one with 8,748, one with 8,999, one with 9,114, one with 32,200, one with 36,900 and one with 60,760 comments! I couldn't believe it.  I didn't read the comments but I wonder why that  blog would generate so many comments. Most I've ever seen by far. A few hundred would boggle my mind but 60,760? Wow!
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I eat french fries because it's the vehicle I use to get the ketchup to my mouth.
I eat carrots as the vehicle to get the ranch dressing to my mouth.
I eat salads to get the balsamic vinaigrette to my mouth.
I eat fish because I love fish and it's the vehicle for getting tartar sauce or cocktail sauce to my mouth.
I eat pancakes/waffles as the vehicle for getting maple syrup to my mouth.
I eat biscuits as the vehicle for the butter and jam delivery to my mouth.
French bread is the vehicle for butter with garlic powder.
Without these vehicles I'd be a very sloppy mess.
I just love vehicles!!  :-)

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A beautiful home in a warm climate, perhaps Florida or California.

This simply points to the old adage: never throw anything away. You’ll find a decorative use for it some day.

Another exquisite lamp I’d love in my home, especially that gorgeous lampshade.

An old lantern lending ambiance to a home.

I simply found this photo stunning.

The pinkish hue to this old building along with the elegant dinner party setting is just so lovely and serene.

Bright colors from probably a Scandinavian country. I found the photos from there so sunny and bright I can recognize them. Plus their women are very good at home crafts.

A peaceful setting, but I found those unique lamps a bit over the top!

This tiny home suggests its homeowner has great organizational skills for such a small place. Very cute!

Some of my favorite flowers, hydrangeas. Ours are blooming madly right now.

A beautiful French chateau.

Another beautiful home.

Just drip pearls over an old dull chandelier and this is what you get.

A rolling cart to hold essentials. Neat idea.

And last but not least, a gorgeous set of pretty pillows.

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Linking up with Mosaic Monday.

Post-op Visit

I had my post-op appointment with my ob/gyn doctor early in the morning a few days ago and we just chatted. I doubt I could have stood him viewing his handiwork anyway. The day after surgery was his planned vacation to the East Coast. He had given me his cell phone number before he left with specific instructions that I was to call him if any problem arose but I wasn't about to interrupt his vacation. When I went into ER, that doctor had no such compunctions, however. She was a feisty little thing and I immediately liked her.

Anyway, she caught him in a cooking class in North Carolina. I think his wife planned this event for him. Initially, he didn't want to go but then he was glad because he learned how to make the perfect pie crust. He likes to bake and Tomato Pie was something he wanted to try.

His lesson taught him to use high protein flour—cake flour—and lard. Butter has too low a melting point but lard/Crisco shortening doesn't so it gives the pie its flakiness without melding the layers together. Interesting conversation. I really like him. I did tell him I'd want a piece of a pie he baked however.

I told him my family history about not liking to take pain killers and he said he and I had similar histories in regards to them but he told me I definitely needed to keep taking them. So I'm on my third week of pain killers as I write this. I'm pretty loopy most of the time. I write down every single time I take a pill so I won't forget but hubs takes good care of me since he's home with me all the time. (A positive side of being retired!)

But that day since we were already out, I told him let's pop over to WM and get a few things. After several minutes in the store I started getting woozy and nauseous and informed hubs he'd better get me out asap. He did. I went home, took a pain pill, parked my hiney on the living room sofa and stayed there for a couple of hours.

Then towards the afternoon I asked him to take me to Joanns Fabrics as I hadn't been there in months and had some ideas rolling around in my head that needed a visit to Joanns to set my plans in motion. I'll post pictures of what I got and what I'm doing with some of it very soon. He did and I was fine. I do think I was a bit too aggressive with the activity that day, however.

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Another exquisitely and stunning white bedroom.

A small balcony made gorgeous with flowers and pillows. I really do like this inviting space.

I have wanted one of these carpet bags for about a year now but just cannot bring myself to pay the prices they want for these. This one is one of my favorites though.

A cute vintage and rustic Hoosier cabinet.

Beautiful blues along with pink and a rosie red rug.

Collection of vintage china. I'd take any one of those plates and be happy!

Some tulip eye candy for you.

Just a beautiful old building somewhere in Europe from the looks of it.

A coffee grinder made glam.

A table setting to colorful to pass up.

Simple white canvas with splashes of pink color. Delightful.

I don't know why this little cottage intrigued me but it did. Just quaint, neat, colorful and delightful to look at.

I wouldn't mind doing dishes in this charming kitchen.

Azaleas and rhododendrons always remind me of Virginia. They don't grow especially well here in the deserts but I'd love to be able to have some here. Too dry.

Stunning arches with ivy trim.

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Linking with The Dedicated House.

On Being Famous

As I've stated before, we moved to this town of about 90,000 to get out of a very small (5,000 population) town as I realized after a few years I was not a small town girl. I've lived in large cities most of my life. I feel a certain safety living in anonymity. Small duck in a large pond instead of a large duck in a small pond. I've always felt that way. I cannot explain what originally led us to move to a small town but we did, which led us to here.

So several months ago I received an invitation to have my house photographed for a famous magazine. While it was very flattering, I decided to not accept their offer.

Then again a few months ago another magazine contacted me with the same offer. Again, I said no, thank you. I was again flattered. But I'm not sure I want the fame that comes with that or the trouble and anticipation of doing an actual photo shoot. While I splash all kinds of photos on this blog, there is still some anonymity for me, which brings me to a recent tragedy in Colorado. Horrible, horrible thing to happen to those innocent men, women and children.

I have read some of the articles of what people thought would make a man kill that many people in a theater. Some said it was the fault of guns. Nope, I don't think so. We have guns and have never shot anyone and if someone sane with a gun had been there that night I think fewer people would have died. I believe he is mentally unbalanced, plus it was his quest for fame. (Remember, for us, the desire to have guns comes from being robbed 3 times and walking in on 2 guys, one who came at me with a screwdriver. Hubby subdued him but it was absolutely terrifying for me to face a man with a potential weapon. Never again!)

Hear me out.

We have instant gratification now with iPhones and cameras recording every single act we can photograph. These people have serious psychological problems. Their quest is fame. We see it all around us every single day on news sites, youtube, facebook and it's getting ridiculous. I hate what social media has become. A faux pas moment can instantly be caught and sent around the world in mere seconds to the embarrassment of the person being photographed. That gets the photographer FAME. And the ones being photographed fame also, but most of the time it's embarrassing or criminal fame. If the media didn't bring the acts to everyone in the world, then it might stop. I certainly don't know, but I doubt that's going to happen. News is news to stations fighting for ratings. Sad, very sad. My heart just crumbled for those people facing such a situation. I know, however, that my hubs would protect me with his very own life should this happen. He carries a gun and while the decision to use it would wrack him with grief, I know he'd take that chance to save his or his family's lives.

I have used my camera phone one time and only once. It was a shopping situation where I had to send a photo of an item to a friend to see if it was something she wanted me to buy for her since she lives about an hour's drive from shopping. I don't text; I talk on my phone. I'm one who wants to hear their voice and emotions. And yes, my kids get on me all the time about not texting but I just won't succumb. I don't need to. I've lived without texting for 70 years and so have billions of other people. I don't think we need it as much as others think we do.

So bottom line on this is: I'm not itchin' to become famous. I love my privacy and anonymity much more.
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This is another “dream bedroom” of mine. I think it’s gorgeous.

Another beautiful one I adore. I think it’s the dripping linens on the bed that drew me to this one however.

I like the duvet in this one a lot.

This looks like it’s in Europe somewhere. I love my backyard but I could get used to living here for a while, maybe summers here. No backyard neighbors. ☺

I try to avoid stairs at all costs anymore but I do love this look. The wisteria would smell so good though.

A little rental in France.

I think these are the prettiest afghan pillows I’ve ever seen. Just love all the colors she’s used.

A serene place to rest.

If you’re inclined to vacation like this then this would be an excellent spot to do it.

I would LOVE to have a tub like this in our backyard. It’s secreted so no one could see you and that’s what I’d like. Oooooh, this really speaks to me.

What a darling room with all white cushions and pink roses for a touch of color. Fabulous.

This shower I could see in my backyard also. Taking a shower out here in the summer would be a lot of fun.

I cannot possibly see anyone sleeping like this. I’d get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, step off and kill myself flopping to the floor below. This is just not kid-friendly and I think the owner should be smacked for letting a kid sleep on it. Can you imagine?

Another interesting place to dream.

Isn’t this cute?! I love how it’s decorated.

This is the most interesting pantry I’ve ever seen. I still think I’d put doors on it though. Very pretty.

Ooooooh, yeah. In a heartbeat!!!!!

And a perfect farmhouse for all you wanna-be farmers out there.

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Linking up with At the Picket Fence and French Country Cottage