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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Gee, that was fun.

It was an exciting weekend - we went from 60 to -18.  It snowed, sleeted and poured rain.  There were ice jams, flooding, power outages, wind.  Then everything froze solid.  I guess this is the new 'normal'.  Mercy.


There was also some upheaval in the LLF household.  After years of enduring a sturdy, but eroding, hand-me-down sofa, we got a new-to-us sofa and a new-to-us rug!  My life, it seems, is all about timing.  I had to coordinate the delivery of the new sofa and rug with the removal of the old sofa.  Since nothing is ever seamless, the new sofa/rug arrived on Thursday afternoon and were stored in the carport - on a tarp, up on blocks due to the entire day of torrential rain on Friday - until my farmer neighbor could get over with his farm hand on the weekend to move the old one out.  It was a queen-sized sleeper and weighed a ton.  As luck (hahahaha) would have it, as soon as the rain stopped, the temperatures took a header and I went out to find my car sealed in a shell of ice on Saturday morning.  Four kettles of hot water later, I had freed the driver's side door and ran it until I could chip the ice off the windows and go feed the farm cats.


The actual switcheroo was very fast and I then (wo)man-handled the new rug - which is quite a bit larger than the old one - and the sofa into place.  We are waiting for the rug to calm down.  The new sofa is larger than the old one and a bit higher, but very comfortable and in great condition.
Lovey waiting for permission to give it a test nap.

Approved!
You will notice the weiner ramp on the left.  Lovey does not approve of the ramp.  The colors are perfect and I was able to move the old living room rug to the dining area.  I can't believe how much difference this new set up makes - it is tres cosy and gives a lot more area of traction to the dogs - very necessary, as both have leg/spine issues.  I sent off the extra-long hallway rug to be cleaned and that will complete the coverage.


I finished my socks and, alas, they are too big.  I had realized it after the first was finished, but I am not accomplished enough to adjust a pattern to different sizes.  This was a one-off size.  I didn't remember to take a picture of the blocked socks, but  will, as they, more than likely, are going to be the stars of a giveaway...  One down, eleven pairs to go!  I then realized that I didn't have another project ready for the needles.  This is code for "I have no idea where all the yarn is for the hundreds of projects that are languishing in craft room".  I found my ball winder and swift and wound 8 skeins of yarn.  Since I still have a couple weeks to go before the February socks can start, I cast on some beautiful silk/wool blend yarn for a small cowl project.  This weekend - amidst the vet appointment, adoption clinic and 'date' with my sister - I will begin the Great Craft Room Revival.  Prayers are now being accepted...


Here's the "After" photo of the Cat/Canning Room Clean-up:



If you look closely, you can just see the top of Slimmie in his self-warming bed.  He LOVES it.  The other beds and cushions are for when he has friends for sleep-overs.  Not.


*****

Just on the off-chance that there might be interest, let me know if you are interested in either of these:

Lots of great patterns in this
magazine!

This baby is a TOME!



I will mail them to the first person who claims them.   Once again, US only - however, the sock giveaway will be open to all!

29 comments:

tpals said...

Your posts are colorful and interesting; my blog is put to shame in comparison. :(

The couch and rug look wonderful. What are the canning rings strung on?

Sue said...

I would love the apples for jam cookbook! I lurk a lot, but do enjoy your blog. You can email me for my address. sweetiesuzy@aol.com

Susan said...

Thank you! I used to put my canning rings on rounded-out wire hangers. Then I outgrew those (as in everything) and just use regular kitchen string. Of course, the problem is that you have unknot and reknot every time you use them. I think it's time to pare down and go back to the hanger circle.

Susan said...

Great! I will get your mailing particulars today.

tpals said...

Hmmm...I'm thinking some kind of string with magnet clasps would be easiest. Thanks for the idea.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

The new couch and rug look fab! Enjoy!

Ed said...

I'm always thankful when I am busy and someone asks me to move a couch with a pull out bed! Now that I'm older, I use a lot of dollys and ratcheting straps for things like those.

I have a plastic bag where I store all my canning rings and lids. I used to have a perfect sized cardboard box that they went into that fit my canning shelf but it wore out and I haven't found another perfect sized cardboard box to replace it just yet.

Susan said...

Magnetic clasps are a great idea! Let me know what you come up with!

Toni said...

Isn't it a good feeling to refresh the look of our surroundings? Looking good!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

the couch and rug look great! great way to hang the lid rings!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Love the new sofa and rug!

Susan said...

And I hadn't even seen them!

Susan said...

I'm to the point where dollies and ratcheting straps don't even cut it. I figured these guys toss 40# hay bales by the thousands and could handle the couch. They were still a little out of breath...

Susan said...

It is! It completely changes the rooms - it's great!

Susan said...

Thank you, Joyce!

Theresa said...

What a pretty sofa and rug combo! And it's bigger, does that mean they suck up the extra space or do you have a sliver by an arm maybe? 40# hay bales, Mine are more like 80-125 depending on which baler the hay guy used. I want your hay guy! Holy moly, you give new meaning to the frozen north. Is Elsa hanging out around those parts?

Susan said...

I love the colour of the rug and the newish sofa. Things look wonderful when they are freshly tidy don't they. Adoption clinic, are you expanding your furry family again?

thecrazysheeplady said...

Looks great!

Nancy In Boise said...

I love the new sofa and the blue wall paint looks great! Glad you guys are all in one piece hopefully with the crazy weather since it's pretty boring in Idaho

Rain said...

Hi Susan :) Your posts are so much fun to read! I love the new rug and couch and Lovey looks so beautifully grumpy ha ha! I don't qualify for your giveaway but good luck to those who do! :)

Casa Mariposa said...

The new normal can kiss my ass. I'd like our non-global warming weather back. I'm back to blogging! Great couch!

Susan said...

Sue, my email did not go through - just had it return today. Please email me at swomersley at gmail dot com.

Susan said...

Thank you! It has made such a difference and it cost 0!

Susan said...

It's not too much bigger, thankfully. My house is not that large and I'm trying to make the most of the space. 80 to 125#? That's a round bale in these parts! I believe I did see Elsa at the barn this morning... :)

Susan said...

We are just dropping off an extra crate to be used by their fosters...so far.

Susan said...

Thank you!

Susan said...

Boring is good! I am not a blue type person, but I just loved the color of the paint. Now I can't imagine not having it on my walls.

Susan said...

Lovey is not fond of the camera - she's telling me to go aim it at The Ham.

Susan said...

Ditto, my dear. I am so glad you are back - it was way too boring and quiet on the Blogosphere without you.