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Panicky dogs, coyotes and new furniture - a jumbled update

Nik

Well-Known Member
Because I've been battling a bad cold my husband has delayed and delayed his return to California for the next load of stuff to move to the new place. It has been nice being all together and has taken some of the burden off my shoulders of running the house, watching the dogs, unpacking, and working full time. The cold part has not been so nice but with him here I was able to get some of the furniture pieces we needed (via craigslist mostly because I refuse to pay for new stuff unless I find some sort of amazing deal and also because I just can't afford to).

The first thing we found were some nice wine racks which can hold my wine glasses, some bottles of wine and give us a little table top space. Those I bought new from Bed Bath and Beyond after finding a coupon and also the racks on major clearance. Storage solution galore at a bargain basement price. Happiness. Husband set up the wine racks. More happiness.

Next I found a ginormous comfy chair for reading etc. in our master on craigs list. The chair was in excellent condition as the very nice gentleman who sold it to me had never even used it. It sat in a corner of his entertainment room for appearances only and he is now redecorating. Thank you nice guy who never uses his very nice furniture and then sells it for basically nothing. I was bummed that the tiffany lamp he was also selling for next to nothing was already spoken for. How cool would that have been to pick up a nice tiffany lamp for next to nothing as well. Oh well. A lamp was not on the list (though now it is because I realize there is not good reading light by my new chair. :/

Well giant comfy chair was in place for no more than a minute before Diesel decided I had bought it for him. "Oh you got me a new bed? How very nice..." Now it is a battle to keep him off the new cozy chair. I have decided to allow him to use the ottoman that came with it though.

diesl-steals-ottoman.jpg

Then I found a ridiculous deal on a very nice sealy diamond something or other mattress. King sized of course. The lady had bought the bed two years ago and then decided she didn't like it and kept it in her guest room unused. We went to check it out. The mattress was in pristine condition. So we got that for cheap. Our old mattress was 1. a queen and overcrowded with us and the two dogs in it every night and 2. over 10 years old and dipping in the middle and causing me back pain or rather more back pain.

Well the dogs were super thrilled with the new king bed. Kahlua still prefers to sleep directly on top of one of us in the bed despite all the extra room but Diesel is thrilled with the extra space. When we are in the master it is a toss up as to whether he wants my new chair or the king bed. He adores both.


diesel-on-new-bed.jpg

The first few nights with the new bed Sean grumbled about how the dogs seem to be taking advantage of the extra space leaving us with no extra space. I for one am happy to finally be waking up without a sore back and crinked neck.

So then the panicky dog... This was yesterday morning. Diesel was acting weird. Really weird. I was in the office with him working as usual and he would not settle. Up and pacing. Panting, whining, etc. I tried to let him out for potty and he refused to leave the deck. So back to the office with him and then he starts shaking and whining. So I wake up the husband and ask him to please see if he can figure out what Diesel is upset about because I needed to be focused on work (yesterday was a very busy work day for me, every other Monday is a publication day for me and that means long long days loaded with frantic work).

Well he comes back to let me know that Diesel wouldn't leave the deck and he went and checked it out... There was a juvenile coyote just outside our fence in the neighbor's yard. It left and then he was able to get Diesel to go down though he stayed glued to Sean's side. It took another hour or so for Diesel to start acting normal and calm. Kahlua, by the way, slept through the entire thing.

Husband plans to make his trip tomorrow provided I don't cough and through the entire night again. So it will be back to singleton life for me and the dogs for a week or so. Hopefully the coyotes will stay away while he is gone. Oh and our garter snake that keeps coming back. I hope he stays away too. But the robin that has built a nest in our tree and laid some eggs, she can stay. I like her. And our big beautiful yellow butterfly can also stay.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Diesel looks like he is laying claim to it all! Nice stuff! I love second hand shopping. People are shocked when I tell them almost every piece of furniture and every decoration I have came from thrift stores. I have found some very nice things, and you can't beat the price! My son now loves going find great deals. And my husband thrift shops more than me :) This is a couple of pics of our finds. The table was brand new, got it for $50 and the chairs were $5 each. Got a leather sofa and recliner for $100 and bought the other couch from a friend, it was like new for $100. The pillows, lamps wall decor, etc... all from second hand shops. We saved a lot! Oh, end table and coffee table also.IMAG1069.jpg IMAG1076.jpg
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Diesel looks like he is laying claim to it all! Nice stuff! I love second hand shopping. People are shocked when I tell them almost every piece of furniture and every decoration I have came from thrift stores. I have found some very nice things, and you can't beat the price! My son now loves going find great deals. And my husband thrift shops more than me :) This is a couple of pics of our finds. The table was brand new, got it for $50 and the chairs were $5 each. Got a leather sofa and recliner for $100 and bought the other couch from a friend, it was like new for $100. The pillows, lamps wall decor, etc... all from second hand shops. We saved a lot! Oh, end table and coffee table also.View attachment 60962 View attachment 60961

Very nice! I like your table cloth too.

Ya we got the giant comfy chair and ottoman for $40 and it is in pristine condition. I just got very lucky. The thrift shops around here can be nearly as expensive as new stuff so usually we lurk on craigs list, next door etc.
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Oh and our couch was given to us free by a friend. She was just going to dump it but it was pristine clean and in great condition because she had it in her entry room and never used it.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Very nice! I like your table cloth too.

Ya we got the giant comfy chair and ottoman for $40 and it is in pristine condition. I just got very lucky. The thrift shops around here can be nearly as expensive as new stuff so usually we lurk on craigs list, next door etc.

$40 is a great price for that chair! I'm all about free stuff too! One man's trash is another man's treasure :p
(As long as its not literal trash) Has to be in good condition:D

Oh, and the table cloth is one of the few things we bought new. But it was cheap;)
 

Pastor Dave

Well-Known Member
You two are my kind of people.....I will spend $2 to save $1. Nothing like a good deal !! I am so glad to see you two chatting. I am a bit bamboozled by seeing "Pastor Dave" on about every post here. Where is everyone else ?? Well, anyway, "shootin" contest this evening, so I will miss bible study and try to hit my targets. Beautiful furniture, Nikki and April. I like the way we are all 3 "well-known" members. CU I'll try to take a pic of my living room. The "boomerang" couch, a corner unit, was given to us. Last winter, a friend gave me a deer to process !! You might notice the fireplace.....the mason 35 years ago, last name "Sloppy"--no kidding, told us that the white mortar was the way to go. We hated it, and my wife used a dark brown ceramic stain and tiny brush and did the whole thing more subtle. When the mason showed up again, I (this time kidding) asked him if he could make it white again. He was not happy at all. I was just being my normal smiling self. Anyway, ladies, so it goes. Nikki, I pray that your cold will rapidly disappear and that your husband has safe travels. Looking at the picture I just took, I will tell you that I "made" the hassock....big deal, huh ? Have a great Wednesday. That is Mr. Coal lying on the "lounge pad" we have in front of the fireplace for the dogs use. LR.jpg
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Excellent finds, Nik! It looks great. Yours too April. Pastor Dave, I think staining the white mortar was a good choice.

Bargain shopper here too! All of my furniture is used, but in great shape. I can't justify buying new and expensive things when I plan to allow all of my dogs on the furniture. My oldest daughter's first homecoming dress was from Goodwill. Boy did I get an earful from some relatives. They thought I was being cheap. Not at all. She has a difficult body shape - thin but very busty - and none of the dresses at the stores fit her properly without alteration. The Goodwill dress was perfect. Heck, many of my own clothes are second hand and nobody even knows.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
I like the dark fireplace also. Your wife did a good job on it. Nice looking kids too :)
Boxergirl, everyone at Goodwill knows us. And we find some really nice things there. My girls have even seen some of beautiful wedding gowns and commented, " I would wear this, and mom, look only $10!" With a lot of kids, you can buy a lot more ,shopping for clothes at goodwill. And we get gently used named brand stuff. It's fun searching too. I found this California Casual Lamps ( not cheap) for $4. We also found walnut and wrought iron Thomlinson end tables for $25. We use them as night stands. IMAG1067.jpg
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
I am the same way, I don’t like to spend a lot of money when you can find perfectly nice things that are “used”. My boyfriend is the opposite though. He wants everything to come brand new with a warranty. So we have to compromise on most things.

I was married once (younger and dumb). I bought my wedding dress at a second hand shop. I am also a difficult body type. I bought it for $50 and paid $75 to have it altered. It was beautiful just way too small. So I had a corset put into the back and it was perfect! Also, having a corset makes it less stressful, you don’t have to worry too much about gaining or loosing weight before the wedding! :p

You all have beautiful homes! :D
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
whenever i tell my mom about buying furniture second hand she always freaks out. She especially freaked out about our bed purchase. She was like "theres probably spider nests and bed bugs in it". I assured her that when I looked at the bed it was pristine white and clean and clearly hadn't been used much if at all.
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
I am the same way, I don’t like to spend a lot of money when you can find perfectly nice things that are “used”. My boyfriend is the opposite though. He wants everything to come brand new with a warranty. So we have to compromise on most things.

I was married once (younger and dumb). I bought my wedding dress at a second hand shop. I am also a difficult body type. I bought it for $50 and paid $75 to have it altered. It was beautiful just way too small. So I had a corset put into the back and it was perfect! Also, having a corset makes it less stressful, you don’t have to worry too much about gaining or loosing weight before the wedding! :p

You all have beautiful homes! :D

You have a beautiful home as well Jarena :)
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
whenever i tell my mom about buying furniture second hand she always freaks out. She especially freaked out about our bed purchase. She was like "theres probably spider nests and bed bugs in it". I assured her that when I looked at the bed it was pristine white and clean and clearly hadn't been used much if at all.

I have a friend who refuses to buy second hand. It could be the exact same sofa, in the same condition. Instead of paying $100 for the used one, she would spend $700 for the new one. In fact the used one could be a better brand, and worth more.. But because someone has " used" it, ... no deal! I don't get it, but to each there own :p
 

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
I like the dark fireplace also. Your wife did a good job on it. Nice looking kids too :)
Boxergirl, everyone at Goodwill knows us. And we find some really nice things there. My girls have even seen some of beautiful wedding gowns and commented, " I would wear this, and mom, look only $10!" With a lot of kids, you can buy a lot more ,shopping for clothes at goodwill. And we get gently used named brand stuff. It's fun searching too. I found this California Casual Lamps ( not cheap) for $4. We also found walnut and wrought iron Thomlinson end tables for $25. We use them as night stands. View attachment 60964

Oh I love the thrill of the hunt to find " that prefect" piece for way less then new!

Love the decor you all have placed the pieces just right....

April in the picture of your living room the one that shows the pillar in the shot....
by any chance was that an old stairs that had been moved?
The reason why I'm asking is we have our stairs going right up the centre of the house..... I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how I can move them and what can be done with the big hole that will be left behind.....looks like you have a sky light/window....
 

April Nicole

Well-Known Member
Oh I love the thrill of the hunt to find " that prefect" piece for way less then new!

Love the decor you all have placed the pieces just right....

April in the picture of your living room the one that shows the pillar in the shot....
by any chance was that an old stairs that had been moved?
The reason why I'm asking is we have our stairs going right up the centre of the house..... I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how I can move them and what can be done with the big hole that will be left behind.....looks like you have a sky light/window....

Hey Shelia, the pillar is actually the dining room, the ceilings in the living room are high, and the ceiling in the dining room is a bit lower. The pillar supports the ceiling in the dining room. And I guess it's decorative as well... But I think it would be a good option for covering a hole from a staircase, and would add extra support. And no sky light. Just a bunch of windows.
 

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Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
Hey Shelia, the pillar is actually the dining room, the ceilings in the living room are high, and the ceiling in the dining room is a bit lower. The pillar supports the ceiling in the dining room. And I guess it's decorative as well... But I think it would be a good option for covering a hole from a staircase, and would add extra support. And no sky light. Just a bunch of windows.

That looks great!
Oh I like that idea. Thanks.