Happy Ending

The clean rug on a sunny day.

A few months ago, I sort of went off the deep end looking for a new rug for the living room after our cat peed on it. (If you want to remember, you can read the details below in a post I did at the time.) After a lot of effort, we decided to give up and just live with what we had. That was until I was at work one day, and a coworker mentioned that she was waiting for a call from the rug cleaners. One thing led to another, and we ended up taking the rug to professional rug cleaners. Because we were out of their pickup and delivery zone and had to drop it off ourselves, they gave us a substantial discount - about $350 cheaper than the other one we got. 

We got the rug back this week, and it looks good. And although it still shows a little wear from cat scratching, the stains are gone. One end is a little faded, so we solved that by turning it and putting the unfaded side toward the window. And Ward says he doesn't even notice any of those things.

Yay! I guess good things come to those who wait. Next up is to get new chairs for that room. The chairs we have are inexpensive ones we bought at Ikea to stage things at our last house when we were selling it. And, of course, the cats scratched up the sides of them. But for now, they are working. And I really don't want to go furniture shopping anytime soon.

Until next time...

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2023

Rug Crazy

 

The original rug. It's hard to see the stains and fading in the picture.

It all started when we planned to have a baby shower here for my nephew and his wife. Or maybe it really started when our cat Leo died, and his remaining sister decided to show how she felt about that by peeing at various places around the house. Or maybe it all started even before that when Leo, in his old age, was peeing in various places before he could make it to the litter box. Not really sure.

But there was definitely a problem because I could smell cat pee when I passed the living room. That was after we removed the bookcase that had been used as a litter box. The smell wasn't strong, and Ward couldn't smell it, but it was definitely there. And I didn't think we needed to host a baby shower with any extra odors because of the heightened sense of smell accompanying pregnancy. So, after more investigation, we figured out that the rug in there had been peed on sometime in the past. We rolled it up and took it to the basement to store until we figured out what we were going to do with it.

Rug #2 on the porch airing out. BTW, the blue rug in the back, I picked out the first place we went. We weren't trying to match anything and just needed something so the floor wouldn't get scratched. It serves its purpose and adds a little color.

The day before, I had visited Aunt Martha and saw a new rug she had ordered online and liked the looks of it. So I ordered one from the same place, and with miracles of shipping, it arrived Thursday before the shower on Saturday. However, it came in a box and had a lot of creases in it - too many to fall out in just a couple of days. So we rolled that one up and put it aside until we could figure out what to do with it. We had bare floors for the shower, but in the end, I don't think anyone noticed.

We brought the new rug back out, and while the colors were okay, I didn't like the looks of it. It was one of those washable rugs that are made to go into a washing machine. We have a couple of runners like that, but I didn't like the looks of it in a bigger 8' x 10' size. So we returned it, but only after paying a hefty shipping charge. So I said if I got another rug online, it would be with an easy, free return. 

We shopped many stores to see what was in stock. And I spent who knows how much time shopping online and couldn't find one that fit the bill anywhere. The colors were right, but the pattern was wrong. The pattern was good, but the colors weren't right. Too thin. Too expensive. Too cheap looking. Nothing seemed to work. 

In the meantime, I was looking for a place that would clean our old, smelly wool rug. We had had it for many years, but overall, it was in decent shape except for the stains and pee smell. It took a while, but I finally found a cleaner who would clean it for $400. About twice as much as we paid for it (granted, that was years ago at Costco), and that was more than we wanted to spend.

So, figuring we had nothing to lose, we borrowed Miss Landers' carpet cleaner and cleaned the rug even though that was not a recommended practice for a wool rug. We got a lot of dirt out of it, but the stains remained. And while the pee smell was gone, it smelled like a wet dog, even after it was dry. The smell lessened with time but still smelled, and I was bothered every time I walked by the room. (Once again, Ward could smell nothing.) So then, I liberally spread baking soda and borax over the rug and let it sit for a few days.

Rug #3 clashed with the floors.

But I couldn't help myself and continued shopping online until I found another rug that seemed just right. Good colors, a good design, and an okay price. But when it arrived, the colors weren't right, the pile was low, and it stunk. Three strikes and it was out. I was so disappointed, but we returned it with much less hassle than the first one if you don't count the awkwardness of carrying around a bulky rug.

Then, it was time to vacuum the old rug to see if the baking soda and borax had performed their magic. And what a mess that was. I spent two days on it and ended up with fine, white dust over everything in the room. I hadn't realized that even though all of the dials on the vacuum were set correctly, instead of sucking up the powder, it was blowing it everywhere. Eventually, I got it under control, and the rug smelled better. It still had an odor, but it was faint. The stains and fading still bothered me but weren't obvious at first glance. I guessed we could live with it.

That was until I stopped by Homegoods one day to see what rugs they had. And there was a decent one that seemed to fit the bill, so we bought it and brought it home. Granted, it was a nice-looking rug, but it clashed with the floors. I had always considered the floors a neutral background, but they're not. The golden red oak floors did not look good with the maroon red of the rug. Ward didn't see a problem. (Have I mentioned that all of my senses are more sensitive than his?) So we took that rug back today.

We're back to what we started with. And yes, you can call me obsessed, crazy, or whatever other term you want. I have used all those words to describe myself during this rug quest. However, Ward has only rolled his eyes at me a couple of times and has not said a word during this rug drama. And what a remarkable man he is that he didn't say what he must have been thinking. And for that, I am thankful.

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas to One and All!

The holidays, especially Christmas, are a time when emotions seem to surface more readily. And often, they are tinged with sadness. While I have shed a few tears this year, my emotions were not as raw as they were my first Christmas after my mother passed away. Here is a post I wrote back then.

If you are feeling sad, I hope you can find at least one reason to smile today.

Christmas Smiles

My mother, last Christmas

Tears flow easily these days. I miss my mother. I have always heard that the holidays are especially hard when you have lost someone, but I've never really experienced it like this. It's taken me by surprise because, in my logical mind, I thought I would be thinking about all of the special Christmas times I had with her and be sad. But logic is not necessarily at work here. It's not the Christmases I miss. I miss the emotional connection.

My mother had dementia and slowly left us over the years in many ways. It was discouraging and sad to watch, but no matter what her outward appearance was, I always felt a connection between us during my visits. Towards the end, she was usually quiet, often with a distant stare. But then I'd say something, and there would be a little glint in her eye or a slight smile, and I knew that she was communicating in the way that was available to her at that point in her life. We were connecting, and it made me happy. Before I experienced the last couple of years with my mother, I never would have thought that those difficult times would be the ones I missed the most. But for now, they are.

However, life goes on no matter what the circumstances and this grief is not consuming my life. It's just a part of it. I am ahead this year in many things and feeling more relaxed than usual. I am enjoying the Christmas lights and the Christmas music. I am having good times with my sisters and friends. Ward and I are having long talks and making fun plans.

With all those things, I'm trying to live what my mother taught me until the end of her life. She kept living even when it seemed to the outside world life wasn't worth it. So, as I think of her little smiles, I smile, too. Through the tears.

Ornament Parade - Handmade by Grownups

Over the next few days, I will be rerunning posts where I featured ornaments from our Christmas tree. Like many of you, each ornament brings a special memory with it. These are good memories for me, but they can also bring a tear or two as I think about people from my past who are no longer with me. But with no further ado, here is the fourth set.

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Today, I'm showing you some of our ornaments made for us by family and friends. If you're into crafting, you may find an idea or two you want to try.

This is a dried orange slice that I made. I made another set I gave away with red beads glued in the middle.

This wreath was made from buttons from my grandmother's and mother's button cans. One afternoon, I sat down with my sisters, and we all made ornaments of various kinds from the buttons. We had fun reminiscing about the clothes the buttons had been taken from.

This powder puff lamb was made by a friend. Notice the clove sticks for legs.

This mailbox was made by my aunt. It has two letters and a package inside - very fun detail.

This angel, made by a friend, is crafted from two doilies.

Another friend knit the cover to this ball. I've been meaning to try this myself, but it remains on my To Do list at this point.

This painted ornament was made by the same local artist mentioned in another post. It was a coincidence, but the picture of the house looks just like my grandparents' house where my father grew up. That makes it extra special for me.

This was made by my best friend in grad school. School took up every waking minute at that point in time, so I don't know how she had time to make it, but she did. That made me appreciate it even more.

My aunt made this Queen Anne's Lace flower ornament. It is a pressed flower encased in epoxy. 

She also made this Christmas stocking.

Christmas is tomorrow, but I will be continuing with my ornament parade next week.

Until next time...

Ornament Parade - Kid's Handiwork

  Over the next few days, I will be rerunning posts where I featured ornaments from our Christmas tree. Like many of you, each ornament brings a special memory with it. These are good memories for me, but they can also bring a tear or two as I think about people from my past who are no longer with me. 

But with no further ado, here is the third set.

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We have several ornaments on the tree made by Wally, Theo, and other relatives when they were younger. What's significant about these is that most of them were made by kids more interested in jumping off the chair instead of sitting on it and doing a craft. It took a lot of effort for them to make these and that didn't go unnoticed by Ward and me.

There is a series of this kind of ornament with Wally or Theo's picture in a frame decorated by them.

This one was x-stitched by my younger cousin and was a gift for one of our early Christmas trees. I think she was in middle school at the time.

This one was made by Wally in kindergarten. I think it was supposed to be a round wreath, but the wire the beads were strung on is flexible, and the "wreath" has been in many different shapes over the years.

This gods-eye was made by my nephew. We were very proud of him for making it because working with his hands was definitely not his thing when he was younger.

Wally and Theo made this when they were in early elementary school with a group of kids in the neighborhood. 

I'm not sure how, but this was made by my niece with gelatin. Originally, it was a sun catcher, but it got too hot in the window and started to warp. Then, I retired it to be an ornament we enjoy yearly on our tree.

This one was made by Theo when he was a Tiger Cub Scout. If truth be told, I think his den leader had as much of a hand in it as did Theo.

This was made by Wally in first grade.

This is a cinnamon applesauce ornament. I helped Wally make a set of these in first grade to give to his teachers and other special adults. For the first several years, they gave off a pleasant cinnamon smell.

This is not an ornament but a decoration Wally made in preschool. The teacher spray-painted a pine cone and mounted it on a thread spool. Wally then glued sequins on it for ornaments. Many sequins have fallen off over the years, but it's still a cute little tree.

More to come...

Ornament Parade- The White House Years

 Over the next few days, I will be rerunning posts where I featured ornaments from our Christmas tree. Like many of you, each ornament brings a special memory with it. These are good memories for me, but they can also bring a tear or two as I think about people from my past who are no longer with me. But with no further ado, here is the second set.

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 The White House Historical Association, founded by Jackie Kennedy in 1961 with a mission of protecting, preserving, and providing public access to the history of the White House, puts out an ornament every year honoring a certain President. We have five of these that were gifts from a coworker and friend of Ward's.

Each one comes with literature discussing the symbolism of the ornament, a bio of the President it commemorates, and what life was like with his family in the White House. Very interesting reading, and who doesn't want a history lesson while decorating the tree? :)

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James A. Garfield

Ornament 2005 honors President James A. Garfield. He was our 20th president and was elected in 1891. He served less than a year before he was shot and later died. The ornament's color scheme and wreath design are from art objects, including china, needlework, and historic frames from the family home in Ohio. The pattern on the box is also based on wallpaper from this house. The JAG monogram is from decorations at his inaugural ball, and the ceramic stone in the middle was inspired by a period engraving of the South Front of the White House.

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Chester A. Arthur

t

Ornament 2006 honors Chester A. Arthur, our 21st president. Arthur became President in 1881 after the untimely death of James Garfield. The country was recovering economically during that time, and Arthur's White House was a luxurious one. The ornament design is inspired by several motifs in the White House during Arthur's residence, many of which were designed by Louis Tiffany.

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Grover Cleveland

2007--Front

2007--Back

Ornament 2009 remembers Grover Cleveland, who was our 22nd and 24th president. He was elected in both 1885 and 1893 and was the only U.S. president elected for two non-consecutive terms. Cleveland was also the only President married in the White House. The front of this ornament is a reproduction of an engraving of that event. The back is his bride, Frances Folsom's, monogram. 

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Benjamin Harrison

 Ornament 2008 honors Benjamin Harrison. Harrison was our 23rd president, elected in 1889. The ornament is based on the family's Christmas tree, the first recorded decorated tree in the White House. The toys beneath the tree are presents Harrison's grandchildren received for Christmas.

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Grover Cleveland

2009--Front

2009--Back, This ornament honors Grover Cleveland's second presidential term, which started in 1893. It features the south facade of the White House, where you can see a lit Christmas tree through the windows of the Oval Room. This was the first electric lights used on a White House tree. The back creates a scene from a tree trimming party that the Clevelands held annually for their children and those of the Cabinet members.

Tune in next time for more of the Ornament Parade.

Ornament Parade

 Over the next few days, I will be rerunning posts where I featured ornaments from our Christmas tree. Like many of you, each ornament brings a special memory with it. These are good memories for me, but they can also bring a tear or two as I think about people from my past who are no longer with me. But with no further ado, here is the first set.

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Parade of Ornaments--Where in the World?

Today features ornaments that have a geographic place associated with them. 

This Inuk/Eskimo (choose whatever word you feel more comfortable with) child was given to us by neighbors after they moved to Alaska. We think of them when we hang the ornament every year, and we also think of them whenever we use the broom they left with us when they moved. Twenty-five years later, the broom still serves us well in our garage.

This colorful lady was given to us as a souvenir from a friend's trip to Mexico.

This is a state coin ornament from Virginia. We got it after we realized there was nothing on the tree representing Virginia where Ward was born and grew up. We may have to get another one of these from Louisiana because I realize that we don't have anything for the state Wally was born in.

Ward has cousins who live in South Africa. One of them brought this Zulu doll to us one year during a visit.

This was sent to us the first year we had moved from Texas by friends. It is also the state that Theo was born in. We have another one, but I couldn't seem to find it on the tree when I was taking pictures.

This star was painted by a local artist and has the name of the town we just moved from here in Maryland. We actually have other ornaments she painted. She and I were on the same craft show circuit for a couple of years. I was selling jewelry and felted purses, and she was selling painted things.

This ornament was made from olive wood from Bethlehem. I was given a set of them as a thank-you gift for volunteer work at my church.

This West Virginia ornament was given to me by my parents during my second Christmas away from home.

This one was given to me by my sister last year. Notice the blue and gold which are WV state colors.

And this is a fair trade ornament showing people from all around the world. This was also a volunteer thank-you gift.

After I ran this post the first time, and I said we needed an ornament from Louisiana,
friends sent this one from New Orleans, where Wally was born.

More ornaments to come.

Tis the Season

Elderly Annie does not bother the ornaments these days,
but does enjoy sitting under the tree and chewing on it.

We've been continuing to do a bit of this and that, getting in the Christmas spirit. Last night, we drove around with Christmas music playing, looking at lights. One of the local realtors sponsors a light contest. People enter, he produces a map, and then people vote on their favorite. The winner gets their December electric bill paid for by him. 

So, armed with the contest map and some Christmas CDs, we set out. Some of the displays were huge like you see on TV, and others were more scaled down, but pretty all the same. We went along the route for a while when we found a neighborhood with great lights on almost every house. It was good enough that I will tell my friends about it. After that, it was getting late, so we went home and hoped to pick up the route another night.

Flowers from Ward

I've wrapped more presents and delivered my gifts to work. Speaking of work, Ward sent me a lovely Christmas arrangement at work the other day just because. He's nice that way. We had plans for Christmas and Christmas Eve, but they are up in the air now. Some work schedules may change, and Wally and Theo have COVID. The timing is just so that they may or may not be able to be out and about by Christmas. We shall see. We will save our immediate family celebration until we can all be together and do what's safest for everyone.

When I was growing up, after my oldest sister married, we waited to open presents and celebrate Christmas until she could be there. More often than not, it was after Christmas Day. The rule was that you could open any presents from friends on Christmas, but no family presents. I didn't mind. In fact, sometimes I didn't do my shopping until after Christmas when everything was on sale. I liked that. :)

I've been making candies to give out for some gifts. And, of course, I had to do quality control and sample along the way. If I'm going to do full disclosure about that, I feel a little like I'm on sugar overload right now. Good thing I made a pot of vegetable soup earlier. Maybe the soup and the candy will cancel each other out. :)

Gotta get ready for work this evening, so

Until next time...

An Observation

 or Another Time I am Not Up on the Latest Trend

Over the past couple of months, I have been seeing more and more women wearing false eyelashes in their everyday rounds - at the grocery store, the library, the doctor's office, etc. And it is women of all ages. These are not just little enhancements; these are very long, like they are wearing a mustache instead of eyelashes. Quite frankly, I don't know how these hairy eyelids are not affecting their vision. But maybe they learn how to tilt their head just so, so they can see like I sometimes have to do with my glasses.

For full disclosure, I have never worn false eyelashes, so I really don't know what I'm talking about, but just commenting on a trend I've been seeing (through my unadorned eyes). Have you noticed this trend where you are? Is this a social media thing that I'm not tuned into? Did someone just come out with a product that makes false eyelashes easier to put on? Just wondering...

Now, back to my wrapping.

Until next time...

A Cold Day in December

Or Ramblings about the Weather and Other Things

When we went to bed last night, it was windy, with a warm, steady rain. But this morning, we woke up to our first snow of the year (except for "conversational snow," as the weatherman calls it - meaning flurries.) A big surprise for almost everyone. Although the temperatures have risen and the snow has melted, it's still cold and windy. At least, I think so. And in my world, that's the opinion that matters. However, I will be very happy next spring with temperatures in the 30s and 40s after a typically very cold January and February. It's all relative.

I didn't finish this post, which I started two days ago, and now it's old news. There is nothing interesting in the forecast for the next few days except cold days and colder nights. Not sure what the weather around Christmas will be, but luckily, we will be traveling locally and won't have to worry about getting stuck in an airport waiting for a storm to clear up. Been there, done that, and will be happy to never do it again. Good luck to all of you who will be traveling. May all of your travels be uneventful and safe.

I guess that's enough about the weather. How's that saying go, "If it weren't for the weather, most of us wouldn't know what to talk about." :) But wait! Another weather-related comment. Despite the freezing nights and days, our camellia is blooming with beautiful pink blossoms. I'm not sure how that works, as all of the other plants are either dead or in winter dormancy right now, but the blooms are a bright spot on the grey and brown landscape. 

The pink blossoms are holding their own quite well with the holiday lights that abound. We tried a different arrangement for our outdoor lights this year so that we could use some of the half-lit strands we have. LED bulbs may burn forever, but if they are on cheap wire that breaks, that long-life doesn't do you any good, she says a little annoyed with the whole thing.

Otherwise, Christmas prep is going well. Most gifts are bought. A few are wrapped. And the ones we're making are well on their way. The tree is up, and all the indoor decorating that is going to get done is done. Still up is baking, but I'll get around to that soon. Maybe. 

This year's tree.

Tomorrow, we visit my father-in-law and help him with some of his Christmas preparations. He still likes to have everyone gather at his house for Christmas and stays out of the way, as his kids make it happen. Gathering there is a long tradition in Ward's family that we are lucky to continue.

I think I'll go bake some brownies now. Not to give away at Christmas, but I'm feeling the need to have something sweet for Ward and me for a bedtime snack.

Until next time...