Sectional Sofa Storytime

All kinds of fun stuff has been happening here on the homefront in the past month or so. Going through the camera roll on my phone has helped me realized that I captured much of it, but haven't shared. Today, let me share the saga of the new couch!

When Pat and I moved into our first place, we had almost no furniture. For several weeks, we actually sat on lawn furniture before finally buying a cheap, unfinished wood futon to serve as our couch. We used the futon for a few years before we inherited a real couch.

My uncle had the couch for quite a few years before we got it. So, by the time we moved into the new house last year it was well-worn. The cushions were sagging, the frame had collapsed (and was held up by 2x4s), the fabric was ripping, and there were stains all over it. We knew it was past time for a new couch. In fact, we went shopping many, many times to look and see if anyone had something like what we wanted.

After the old house finally sold, getting a new couch was at the top of our list. In all of our previous shopping trips, we had only found one couch that met our wants and needs: large sectional (so Pat and I could both stretch out), not leather, dark gray, attached back cushions, etc. Direct Furniture in Foley was our destination. The couch we wanted wasn't displayed anymore, but it was easy enough to order. J Henry Furniture makes the sofa and is based in Mississippi. Unfortunately, because the couches are made to order, it would be 6-8 weeks before our new couch was delivered. We waited on pins and needles, counting down the weeks.

When it was ready, the delivery guys hauled out our well-loved couch before bringing in the three-part sectional sofa. Because our house is laid out oddly, we anticipated some issues but figured it wouldn't be too big a deal. We were mistaken.

The first two sections went in with just a few small issues that re-positioning handled. The final section though. . .

Yup, it landed in the kitchen. Pat and the delivery guys tried everything they could to get it through the kitchen door. But, it just wouldn't go.

Fortunately, there's another entrance to the living room through a storage area. After Pat moved a ton of stuff to get the couch into that area, they realized that the couch was still to large to make it through the doorway.

Off came the door and the door frame. Sigh. However, it worked. The last section was wedged through into the living room after only two hours. The delivery guys received a very generous tip!

For days afterwards the door looked like this.

Pat needed some supplies from the hardware store before he could replace the door and frame completely.

It wasn't pretty, but totally worth it in the end to finally have this beauty of a beast.

Oh, and in addition to picking out the color of the sectional, we were able to select the fabric (from an array of choices) for the six pillows that came with it. I really liked all the colors in this paisley print that we ended up choosing.

It took a few hours for the cats to get used to the couch, but Asia has yet to find a spot on it that she doesn't like.

So that's the tale of the couch that almost wasn't. We've had it over a month now and are still absolutely in love with it. I guess that's a good thing because it looks like it's stuck in here for a while. Have you ever had issues with getting large furniture moved? I'd love to know your stories.

Furniture and Lists and Craft Bags - OH MY!! (WWWW)

The title is a homage to The Wizard of Oz's 70th Anniversary (which I think is today)Not really much to say today.
Last night LOML and I picked up the other dresser (chest of drawers) and placed it in the only open spot in the bedroom. He now thinks we may need to rearrange the bedroom. That's an undertaking I'm not sure want to engage in. It's not that we have a lot of furniture or anything. I just can't fathom another way to set up the room that'll satisfy me as much.

I do have to admit that I'm simply insanely happy that we now have a place for me to put all the clean laundry, instead of storing it in the laundry room until it was worn and dirty again. It's such a relief!

Let me mention that on the way to get the chest of drawers, I was amazed to realize that my husband doesn't know me at all. He mentioned that we need to make a list of all the tasks we need to get done before we take vacation with the RV (like get the new tags, finish cleaning it, make some bank deposits, etc.) I looked at him like he was crazy and informed him that I've already made the list. If anything, I am a list-maker. I may not refer to the list, complete ANYTHING on it, or remember where I put it; but I sure as hell am going to make one. Come on!!

What else? Ummm- I haven't reported on the content of my craft bag recently. For those of you just joining us, I craft (hence the Crafty Hope blog name.) Since I'm always on the move and I never know when the crafty urge or some spare time is gonna hit, I carry some sort of bag with me most of the time that contains the supplies for at least one project. I've been carrying around the current craft bag/supplies for several weeks now without mentioning it yet. I even took some photos for your pleasure!Let's see. . .it's a beading bag. Basically, it's an old purse with several spools of wire, 4 pairs of pliers, and a bunch of beads. The beads are mostly loose in plastic bags. Sorry the picture's so bad, but I didn't have much time to snap the shot and couldn't risk them rolling away.
So that's it.
OH WAIT - It's "Wild, Wild Web Wednesday":

• dating video from the 80's. Oh dear- this is just awesome and awful at the same time
  
  Dating Montage
  by smithy00101
  
  
• New Nintendo DS game sounds awesome and inventive. Getting to use your imagination to work the game is pretty cool -
  
• If you haven't heard about the trend of deciphering music videos into their literal meanings, you should def check these out to get a better understanding of literal music videos.
  
• fancy fast food
  
• This what a trailer for Ghost Busters would have looked like in 1954
  

I'll close on a positive thought: We're halfway to the weekend now!!

Growing Older But Not Up (WWWW)

Have you ever had one of those moments in your life where the fact that you are a grown-up suddenly hits home. It could be your first job, first student loan payment, getting married, or buying a house.

Mine JUST hit. I got dressers.

For years, LOML and I (our clothes) have been living 'out of boxes.' What needed to be on a hanger was hung, but anything that needed to be folded was stacked on a shelf or stuffed in a box. I've complained forever that I wanted a place to put my panties. And, we've searched. . .for years. . .for dressers.

Somehow, the stars aligned, the sales were just right, and we got some! I was so very excited. I AM very excited. (I think LOML is just relieved that I will now stop complaining about it.) We've only gotten the dresser in, not the chest of drawers yet. But, as I pass and use the dresser through the day, wake up looking at it, and fall asleep with it in eyesight . . .I feel more responsible.

This was our first REAL furniture purchase. I know - lame. But, we bought a futon as our first couch, inherited a ton of furniture from my uncle, and had a few bits and pieces we grew up with that we kept. We did buy a mattress, box springs, and a cheap bed frame a few months back (to replace the full-sized bed we've had since I graduated from college.) However, we've never made a purchase like this. REAL furniture, with OUR money.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture to share. But they're just simple, dark wood dressers - very us. As I look at the one piece we currently have and wait for the other, I can't help but feel more like a grown up. Somehow, buying our house didn't do it for me as much as making the purchase of a place to put my panties. Sigh. I need help.

Let's get to some "Wild, Wild Web Wednesday":

• Ever wanted a resource for your pet's health? Check out PetMD for pet health info, like WebMD, but for animals. Cool huh?
  
• I can soooooo use this- With only a few words or so, LyricRat can help you name that tune.
  
• Rockin out with animatronic robots... you know those large creepy robot animals at Chucky Cheese? These have been hacked to play music other than the original cheezy stuff they were intended for.
  
• Ever wanted to send a greeting card (either online or snail mail) to someone but really hated all the sappy ones that seem more intended for your grandmothers. This collection of greeting card sources should remedy that for you.
• There's a whole flicker group of just Jazz hands, called So Jazzy.

In the end, I must admit that while the dressers do make me feel like more of a grown-up, I still refuse to behave like an adult all the time. That's no fun. No fun at all!!

Thrifty Thursday

It's another “Thrifty Thursday.” Yet, I haven’t been able to get back to the thrift store since last week, so no new purchases to show today. On a happier note, I have been in the craft room quite a bit more since I got the new table last week. While I really like the stools that came with the table, LOML* says that he wants to buy me an actual drafting chair that will be better for my back while working at the computer or crafting for long periods of time at that high of a table. That would be fantastic; he’s so sweet. I think he also wants to use the new stools at the bar in our kitchen, because the ones that came with the house are comfortable, but awful ugly, white metal stools that look straight out of an early 80s sitcom. Lovely!

Alright, for some thrifty goodness, since it is (after all) Thrifty Thursday. While I am apparently stuck on the subject of furniture, I’ll share this link to some very cool recycled urban furniture. This chair made from a grocery store buggy is my favorite in the set. What’s yours?Oh drool! Anyway, that's about all the thrifty goodness I'm up for today. Later!