Bedroom additions

In an earlier post, which may not seem "earlier" for you because if you're scrolling down it will seem to you to be "after" ... but trust me, it was earlier. Anywaaaaaaaaaay, I mentioned that Turner's Furniture had a huge sale on Thursday, so when I went in to purchase the leather loveseat I also purchased two nightstands for our master bedroom. Nothing too fancy ... just two nightstands that we needed at a good price. However, as the ever-so-famous radio personality Paul Harvey says, "now you'll hear the rest of the story."

So ... I went in and found Barbie, our saleswoman, and she proceeded to write up the loveseat on the sales ticket while I browsed the store. I remembered that I needed nightstands so I looked at the ones that came with the bed we bought, but not only were they too expensive they were also too big for what I wanted. So Barbie (you're imagining a blonde woman with big breasts, aren't ya? Well, you're wrong - she's a petite brunette in her early 50's - work with that imagery) and I are walking around trying to find nightstands that would compliment our cherry sleighbed, and she finds exactly what I was looking for. Big deal, right? Well ... as we stand looking at the nightstands I say to myself (but aloud), "Hmmm, I'm gonna need lamps." Bear in mind, the SALESWOMAN is standing next to me salivating over my dilemma. I typically would not like this, but this ONE time I can say I'm glad I was thinking aloud. Barbie grabs my arm and says, "I've got the perfect lamps for you. Follow me." Like the good girl I am (cough), I follow.

We walk a few steps and turn a corner ... and then I can a huge beam of sunlight ... the kind from heaven ... shine upon two lamps. I swear I hear harps playing ... and angels singing ... because there in front of me ... are my lamps. Not any lamps ... MY LAMPS.

The photo I posted does NOT pick up the intricate details of my lamps, so allow me to describe them to you. Each lamp has a black stalk with a light gold medium-sized lampshade. Upon the black stalks are GOLDEN DRAGONFLIES ... gliding up the stalk like vines ... and on top of each lamp ... perched above the shade ... is a dragonfly landed upon a lillypad.

Now ... I know sure as I'm sittin' here that nary a one of you will understand how much I adore these lamps ... but that's okay. I don't mind. I love them ... L O V E them. Not as much as my children, of course ... but if the house caught fire I'd get my family out and run back in for these.

I also posted a picture of my newest framed artwork. The four golden frames will be hung above our bed this weekend (I've been given his word), and will tie into the lamps so beautifully.

Oh yeah, there is also a few pics of the antique dresser a friend (and one time mentor) gave me - Gale Whitehurst. I love this dresser and I think it looks great with our sleigh bed.

Okay, now I must go and finish helping Hannah prepare homemade potato soup. It's her first time to make it so I need to supervise :)

Last thing ... I hope all of my readers will take a moment on Monday and think of why we celebrate that day, MLK's birthday. I'll post about that later ...

J

Gettin' closer ...

... to actually finishing the den. This is a photo of our leather couch's cousin - the loveseat. They've missed each other so much, and who am I to keep them apart? Ahhh, I love to help bring ... um ... couches and loveseats together :)

Of course, Turner's having a HUGE 35% off sale helped a little, too ...

The newest "kill"

Ron is thrilled to introduce his latest possession ... counting from the left, it's the 3rd deer. Well, there is a single pic of it, too, but when it is photographed next to the others you can get a better idea just how big this deer is.

He is the Great White Hunter ... and our deep freezer can prove it!

J

TU Alumni Party!

Will is gonna LOVE this ...

Ahem ... okay. Let me be the first to invite all TU alum to my house on March 2nd! Micky West, Director of Alumni Affairs, asked me (as his friend and colleague who he owes BIG time) to host an alum party at my house. This, of course, forces Ron and I to get EVERYTHING done in time so for that I thank him.

Anyway ... the part that will absolutely slay Will ...

Not only is it an alum party, but I've decided for a Mexican theme party! We are going to hire a Mexican band to play outside on the grass ... and serve Mexican food, margaritas and Corona! So ... if anyone reading this attended TU for a minimum of 2 years - YOU'RE INVITED!! Invitations will go out soon so be on the lookout.

Okay dude ... I'm ready ... let's hear (er, read) it.

J :-)

Doggy style

Introducing ...

(2nd pic) Sally (the black dog) and Precious (the little red one). We only recently added Precious to our family. My dear friend Ginger brought her to us as she had been abandoned by a neighbor. They moved and left the dog ... who does that? Anyway, she's ours now and she fits like a glove.

The top photo is of Lilly, our whore dog. Yes, she's in heat ... and yes, she's ... she's ... yeah, she's doing that. It's one of those wierd moments that captures your attention ... and is so unbelievable that you can't turn away. Not only could I not turn away .. I reached for my camera in my bag (I know Will ... I'm expecting LOTS of comments on this one).

What do all of these pictures have in common?

N O T H I N G

... which is why I lumped them all together! From the top ... the new grill. Ron was smart to get a gas line running outside on the grilling porch, which means no more running to the store to get a new tank of propane!! Since I have a gas stovetop now (I'll regale everyone with stories of how I am learning how to cook with gas again ... can you say, "burnt peas?") it only made sense to run a different line outside on the porch.

Second pic ... the FINALLY completed shower in the master bath. Ron is still having a tough time adjusting to two shower heads. Me? I loved it right away ...

Third photo ... laundry room. Need more? I didn't think so.

Fourth ... Hannah's den of solace - her bedroom. We haven't hung anything on her walls yet, but as soon as we do I'll have to post a new picture. She is sooooooooo into all the Japanese art and characters ... and her wall hangings reflect it.

And the last one ... is obviously the garden tub in the master bath. After the final inspection (oops, hadn't had that yet), we will hang the hanging light fixture over the tub. It's GORGEOUS ... and hopefully we would have put in the little shelf on the wall (you know, for candles and ... um ... things ;))

Other pics and such ...

Starting from the top ...

The wine rack - nothing too fancy since we don't drink a lot of wine. I would, but it would be too easy for me to become a "wino." :-)

The antique buffet - this piece of furniture came from my mother. When she happened upon it one day and brought it home, I fell in love (sorry Ron, you weren't the first). One of times my mom came to visit me, she surprised me and brought it with her (my mom drives a truck - no, not a semi, Will). She told me that she wanted to see me enjoy it while she was ALIVE, and she didn't want to wait until she had died. Pretty cool, eh? So I do as exactly as she suggested ... I enjoy it. It is one of my favorite pieces ... ever.

The last pic is showing the columns that divide the dining area from the den. I've yet to buy a dining table, but will as soon as I find the one I want. We kind of did the backwards way (with regards to the dining table) insomuch as we invested 2K in the kitchen table. Most people pour their money into the dining room furniture, but we figured we'll get more use out of the kitchen table - THAT'S where we have "family time" EVERY day and not just a couple of days of the year. I want a small intimate table (preferably an antique cherry table) with parsons chairs. If anyone finds something like this LET ME KNOW!

J

Newest photos of furniture

Okay ... I've been asked by a few friends to hurry and post some pics of the house, so here I sit ... devoting as much time as it takes to post them (this should make you happy, Debbie!). Anyway, I suppose I will post them in groups. This posting is strictly the newest furniture pieces (minus Hannah's and Eli's bedroom suites). We still have to buy the matching leather loveseat, a dining room table, nightstands for our bedroom, and office furniture for my office.

I'm not sure which piece of new furniture I like best. I love to lay on the couch and smell the leather ... and I love eating dinner at the new table looking out onto the plantation greenery ... but I think the bed is the prize. I bought 600 count Egytian sheets for it, plus a down mattress cover. It is very close to feeling like a "heavenly bed" ... you know, those that are found in the hotel chain ... man, I can't remember which chain ... well, the mind goes first, right? Anyway, a few years ago I went to a conference in San Antonio, Texas and stayed at a very nice hotel that features the "heavenly beds." Oh geeeeez ... it was soooooooo difficult to get out of the bed. My new bed is very much like that. I bought the comforter and pillow shams at Target. I looked at many different places for the right comforter ... and when I went Christmas shopping 2 weeks ago I found it. I was trying to take a close up picture of the comforter, but I figured y'all will just have to come by and see it!

J

P.S. Did anyone notice the dead carcasses hanging on the wall behind the couch?