Paint Samples

I hate making decisions
Today I was supposed to tape the basement…never got to it. I did go to Sherwin-Williams to look at paint samples, though. They are having a sale…30% off. Picked out Wool Skein. It’s a light beige, and, depending on how the light hits it, it has undertones of either gray-green, pale yellow, gray, or no undertone at all. I don’t know if I would like a whole room done in that color. I had planned to do the wall with the slider in chocolate brown with the other walls in a tan/beige. Now, I’m not sure. Aaaaarrrrgggggghhhh! Don’t know what to do! I guess I’ll go with my original plan and if I don’t like it when the whole room is finished…I’ll repaint it. ☺☺☺

My couch has a similar color thread running through it (and it also has dark blue and maroon). So if I slip cover the lounge chair in maroon, and have the chair Kathy wants to give me reupholstered in denim…that could pull the whole room together. On the slider I would like to put drapes in a stripe incorporating all the aforementioned colors.

I tried to take pictures of the paint sample on the walls, but it just does not photograph well.

My bargain chair
Now that I have found someone to re-upholster my bargain chair for a reasonable price, I will go fabric shopping at some point during the next two days. Of course that will put me out on the road during another wicked heat wave.

So, when will I get around to taping the basement? At this point, it’s anybody’s guess.

Insurance adjuster
I had to leave two messages with the insurance adjuster head honcho trying to get it across to him that I needed my car fixed before I leave for vacation. My car has a hitch for a bike rack on it and when I leave for vacation my bike will be on my rack on the back of my car. And hopefully the bumper will be a new one. If not, then I go away with a damaged bumper and hope it stays on.

Anyway, when does the local adjuster call me? Four fifteen this afternoon to get a statement from me…to gather all the information I already gave to their office when I reported the accident on SUNDAY! The interview was going to take 20 minutes or so and all I had was 15 minutes because I had to pick up a friend at the airport. Now I won’t talk to her until tomorrow and I can’t go anywhere until I do. Trapped!

Hissy is a Hit Fit

FIRST: no one got hurt.

I was on I-91 south, coming back from Shelburne Falls, MA yesterday, and a guy in a big 2004 Chevy pick-up rear ended me not once but twice. Traffic was heavy and slow so he didn’t hit me that hard. He claims something went wrong with his transmission. Personally, I think he hit the gas instead of the brake.

I don’t know the exit number but it was just before the exit for Route 141 to East Hampton, right around the Holyoke area.

My friend, Barbara, was with me, but like I said, no one was hurt (except Hissy, and she’ll be fine).

☺☺☺

Another Great Bargain

The latest additions to my Woman's Cave!
I have been looking for two lateral files to replace the 4-drawer and 2-drawer metal cabinets I had. My son, Paul, suggested I go to Value Office Furniture in West Hartford. He had heard their ads on the radio and thought I might have some luck there.

For those who don't know, I'm finishing my basement where I will have an office, library and sitting area.

Luck indeed!
My friend, Barbara, and I were at a CAPA meeting in Avon, and in order to get to VOF before they closed, we had to leave the meeting before it was over. The featured speaker was very interesting, but she had not covered a tenth of her intended material because she had so much information to convey. I was getting bored because she kept getting off track...besides, I had to get to VOF. I know Barbara wanted to stay, but since she was with me...

VOFs's used furniture is in two different back rooms...one for wood, the other for metal. I found these two cabinets for $50 each. SOLD. Others I had seen elsewhere were $300 for one 6 foot file. I ended up paying $95, tax included...discounted because of my cheerful attitude they told me.

Paul and Andy came over this morning to take these out of my car (YES, they both fit in the back of my Honda Fit.) I LOVE MY HONDA FIT SPORT!!!!! After I unloaded the contents of the metal cabinets into the new laterals, Andy took the old cabinets away in his truck.

I am a very happy cave dweller. ☺☺☺

Recent Bargains

Let me begin by saying I hate to shop. If I didn’t need to eat I would never go into a grocery store! Now that I’m sorting things out in my condo, I need to hunt down those little things that will make a difference (to me) décor wise. I find myself having to shop.

Pillows
The pillows that came with the couch are really bland. I found these pillows at Pier 1…on sale. They pick up the colors in the area rug in the dining area.

Candle Holders
While in Goodwill looking for a wingback chair and/or a 2-drawer lateral file, I spotted these candle holders. Perfect for my mantle and only $4 each. Unfortunately, the 'feet' are a tad wider than my mantle is deep. No problem…this winter I’ll have a deeper mantle built. Not a bargain any more, I'm thinking!

Wingback Chair
So that leaves me still in the hunt for a wingback. I saw a couple at a consignment shop but they were in beautiful shape, too high-backed, and too much $$. In order to have the fabric I want (picking up the colors of the pillows on a light background) I need something in bad shape that I can reupholster.

Sunday, as I was heading to Stop & Shop, I saw a tag sale, and contrary to my usual habit, I screeched to a stop and asked if they had any wingbacks. It was obvious they didn’t, but I asked anyway. The lady had a cellar full of them. I found this darling little chair. It’s delicate, not high backed, and it needs reupholstering. When she said $25 I said SOLD! She also goes to upholstering classes here in town and, even though she herself doesn’t want to do the job, she is going to inquire among her classmates to see if one of them wants to take on the task. It sounded like it would be this person’s class project. This chair may turn out to be my biggest bargain yet! ☺☺☺

Canal Ride — 8/13/10

This was a ride on the Windsor Locks/Suffield Canal, not the Erie. Although I have to admit I was thinking about riding the Erie Canal. As crazy as it sounds I want to ride it again…taking more time and riding fewer miles each day. I’d like to accomplish this before I turn 80, so the clock is ticking.

But, getting back to the Windsor Locks Canal, I could not get over how many trees along the entire canal are standing up dead, fallen over dead into the canal or dying. What is going on?

I heard some birds but didn't see very many. Saw a couple of komikaze chipmunks and one rabbit. Even though I was out early, I got to the canal before 8:30 this morning, there was precious little in the way of wild life.

Viewing of the river and the canal was difficult because of the vegetation in full summer foliage. Once the leaves fall off, the views will be uninhibited. Since the leaves are starting to turn now due to stress (not the season) they might fall early.

The bike path over the Route 190 bridge is open for business. It's about time! You can't access the bridge from the parking lot of the canal yet...that's still under construction. For now, one has to ride up Canal St. to Route 159 and cross over where all the traffic is coming off the 190 bridge and turning onto the bridge. A little hairy, but with a little caution it can be done.