Guess What I Found Recently!

For about a year I've been looking for some different dining chairs.

We bought our solid oak table in the early 80s in California. It is 42" square claw feet legs but has 2 leaves with it. We got six chairs and the table for $1,400 at that time which would be several hundred dollars more at today's prices. It is solid oak with a brown stain, which I've grown very tired of and want to paint. The problem is I don't want to do the grunge work of sanding. I've done that and refuse to do it again. That's a tough job.

The chairs that came with it were more a country look, which suited me at the time; they don't anymore and I've covered them with slipcovers I made several years ago. I wanted a new look.

So I went on a quest to find some french chairs. I do like that look. I did an internet search every couple of months to see what was available but nothing I liked or wanted to pay a high price for.  Then, lo and behold, while checking Craigslist recently I came across a table, 6 chairs, a beautiful hutch and an Aubusson rug. I didn't want all of those things and really didn't want to spend a lot of money. So I emailed the seller and we agreed upon a price for 2 chairs. I didn't want her arm chairs and 2 chairs needed the cane seats fixed. So we made an appointment to see the chairs.

Have you ever actually been inside a gated community of million dollar homes? I never had. I've been in some exquisite homes but nothing like this neighborhood in Eagle, an upscale suburb of Boise. When we moved to Idaho in the 90s we could have gotten a new home there for $159,000. Not any more. These homes were definitely upscale. Beautiful inside also.

Anyway, the woman and her hubby were gracious and we bought the 2 chairs pictured below. She buys and resells furniture and these she got at a store in Palm Springs, California, with which I'm familiar. These are very good chairs. I'm thrilled to have them and at a price that was extremely good because at Ethan Allen, my favorite furniture store along with Thomasville, I would have started at about $700+ for upholstery of my choice for similar chairs. I am very pleased with my chairs. It gives a totally different look to the dining room.


The two chairs.


Design on chairs.


Cane seats and backs.


Nice and tight.


The backs.


Gorgeous legs with bracings, which shows it's sturdy.


Just a lovely silhouette with the curved legs.


This is what I'll be making for the two I bought.
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Don't you just love this bright pink fence?!


Sweet pink vignette with peonies.


Some old ephemera.


A beautiful shuttered home with an English garden.


The way I like froufrou!!!


Now this is my kind of hammock. Slather it with fluffy ruffled duvets, pillows and cushions. Ummm-hmmm.


I've seen 2 cookies lately that are the most gorgeous ever. This is one set. I'll show the other later with another post.


An antique sign, pink table, pink upholstered vintage chair, pink cushions and a flowered lamp. My kind of decoration for a living room.
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Tidbit:
Oprah Winfrey sleeps on Frette bedsheets, which boast a very high thread count and sell for thousands of dollars a set. They are exceptional sheets. Looking at the website recently, I could have gotten a set marked down to $1,372.00 from $2,745.00 and that's just plain white 100% Egyptian cotton. It does have delicate lace around the top sheet and the pillow has an edging of lace and an inset of lace. Made in Italy. Oh, I guess you know by now I won't be purchasing them any time soon, right? ;-)
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Social Media...Again!

Okay, another great grandma brag here. (Remember, it's my blog and I can do this any time I want!) ;-) This is Miss Juliette as of just a few days ago. She's now a few months old. Her sister just loves her a lot. When she went to her daycare to visit with her friends, she called out, "Everybody, this is my Juliette!" She's a very proud and loving big sister. Juliette loves to be held and is a very sweet baby, sleeping through the night already. She's also a very happy little girl.





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The kids are after me again to...well, let me tell you—upgrade my cell phone. If you know me or have read my blog for any amount of time, you know my feelings on social media; I hate it. I have a Facebook account under an fictitious name to see my grandkids and great grandkids. I don't twitter, although, I tried it for a couple of days and then deleted it. Why would anyone want to know what I'm cooking that day or if I'm in the bathroom on the toilet? Boggles my mind. Even at the continuous nagging by my kids, I don't text. Gasp!!! I want to hear their voices and emotions and I'm just horrible at "two-thumbing" talking. I also hate, hate, hate with a passion people in line at the store talking about their very private lives while the rest of us are appalled at them. In restaurants, I've been watching the folks around us and a couple or a family will all pull out their cell phones and are talking on the cell phone or playing games. Where's the family sociality there? No wonder families are in danger! They don't talk to each other; they text each other. I know this to be true with some families we know. I make Love Bunny turn his off before we go into the restaurant. Mine is rarely on except if I'm shopping and need to ask hubs something we might need. I just don't use it much at all. My granddaughter is the same way and she works for Microsoft. She just got one these past few months when pregnant with her 2nd child and her hubby couldn't find her and thought she'd gone into labor. He had a fit so we gave her an old one of ours we never threw away and put her on our plan for ten dollars more a month. NO data plan, no fancy apps, just a phone she can let someone know if she's in trouble. She and I think so much alike, it's as if she's my daughter and not my granddaughter.

And we don't have a television, which brings up my newest rant.

Why do I have to go out to a restaurant with televisions spread all over the place blaring out sports events while my hubs and I are trying our best to talk? I love Applebee's best of all but I'm getting sick of the loud noise. Olive Garden or other restaurants at which we dine don't have the televisions blaring. Actually, Olive Garden has a separate room on the other side of the dining area at our local one here in town. I truly appreciate that. But while dining we should be chatting with the person or couple, not trying to talk above a blaring sports event. Okay, I'll slither back into my hole now and calm down. :-)
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This is a gorgeous room I think. Love the striped curtains.


Just eye candy roses and lilacs.


I have no clue where this building is but it is stunning with its architecture.


Radishes even make a gorgeous flower arrangement.


Fairies? If they say so, it must be true. Can you spot them?


Gorgeous wallpaper.


Gorgeous balcony and french doors.


A small little private area in a big city.


I think Claudia would like this island. ;-)


Gorgeous, stunning fuchsia chairs and curtains.


Pretty pillow cases with embroidered lace edges.


Eye candy tag for you.


My kind of license plate!


Yummy cookies!


Another place for your pretties, hanging in the windows overlooking an ocean.
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Tidbit:
It is illegal in the U.S. to sell raw almonds. They must be pasteurized before sale.
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“Ahem–do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti…”

This is the third year my family has made Christmas presents for each other and my son used a wood burning tool and burned a special quote into a block of wood for each of us.

My quote is from Henry David Thoreau:

“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still with them.”

When I opened my gift and read it – I started crying – partly tears of amazement since it’s a cool block of knotty wood that he stained and partly because I don’t want to live that way.  I want to sing my song – as beautifully, uniquely, true to myself, yet aware and respectful of others as I possibly can – every single day.

Interestingly, this gift has made me much more aware of when I hold back – don’t sing my song – especially words of encouragement or comfort when it’s someone I don’t know very well.  I find myself thinking, “It might make them uncomfortable.”; “I’m sure they have friends or family who support them already.”; “Since I can’t offer any REALLY assistance, my words are pointless.”

As someone whose theme song is “I am woman hear me roar” – I’m surprised at the number of times I hesitate to reach out to others thinking my actions and words might be intrusive.

Yet reaching out to those in need is exactly what Outreach Community Ministries does each and every day.  Our programs and services are providing hope and opportunities to those who often have neither.

The proceeds of everything Jubilee Furniture sells is supporting the work at Outreach.  Your donation, your purchase and your time volunteering are all critical parts of the equation.

The store is open Fridays from 1 to 8 and Saturdays from 9 to 4.  What follows are photos of some of the furniture which was donated this week:

JFC 01-25-13 001

fabulous side chair is cool basket-weave pattern – couple of worn spots on corners – priced $55

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we have lots of amazing artwork in the store – something people don’t always realize – just got in these horse/rider prints – nicely matted and framed – priced $25 each

JFC 01-25-13 004

great plaid Bassett sofa – some worn spots in fabric – priced $95

JFC 01-25-13 005

sweet drop leaf maple coffee table priced $65

JFC 01-25-13 006

McCreary loveseat – seat cushions ripped and need to be re-upholstered – priced $40

JFC 01-25-13 007

this American Signature loveseat also has some issues but more along the lines of needing to be cleaned (though you can see where the hem has come out at the bottom of the front skirt) priced $40

JFC 01-25-13 008JFC 01-25-13 009

though this black painted round table top needs to be refinished – it’s got the coolest chrome legs I’ve ever seen! – priced $45

JFC 01-25-13 010JFC 01-25-13 011JFC 01-25-13 012

amazing Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams square table with one leaf – note where finish has come off of one of the legs (weird) – priced $195

JFC 01-25-13 013

lots of seating on this long sofa priced $125

JFC 01-25-13 014JFC 01-25-13 015

Broyhill sofa in excellent condition priced $185; matching loveseat also in excellent shape is $125

JFC 01-25-13 016JFC 01-25-13 017JFC 01-25-13 018

similar set also by Broyhill – but slightly different floral pattern and not quite as perfect (though almost): loveseat is $95; chair is priced $45; sofa is $145

JFC 01-25-13 019

white desk with chair is priced $ 45

JFC 01-25-13 020JFC 01-25-13 021

these are three Sauder pieces – two low ones and one square taller one (which is on top of the two low ones).  Square piece has two doors with one shelf behind the doors, one open cube and one with divider/shelves and is priced $75; one of the low pieces is simply an open space and is priced $35; matching low piece has a door with one shelf behind it and is priced $50.  All have funky feet and can be arranged (if you bought ‘em all) in lots of different ways!

JFC 01-25-13 022JFC 01-25-13 023

neutral sofa priced $85; matching loveseat (I noticed one stain on seat cushion) priced $40

JFC 01-25-13 024

sleeper sofa – needs to be cleaned – priced $75

JFC 01-25-13 025

interesting loveseat priced $65; round side table is $35

JFC 01-25-13 026

vintage two door end table or night stand is priced $30

JFC 01-25-13 027JFC 01-25-13 028

nice maple dresser – new top in a different finish has been added – priced $45

JFC 01-25-13 029JFC 01-25-13 030

need a massive surface for feeding a ton of people?  Are you a crafter who can’t get enough table space?  Have I got the table for you!  These two retro folding tables are 9’ by 30” – wood, top painted green – priced $165 each

JFC 01-25-13 031

nice media unit priced $95

JFC 01-25-13 032

lighting is another thing Jubilee Furniture has in abundance – looks at this cool retro hanging chandler! – priced $30

What’s the song in you, dear reader?  My prayer is – today, right now – you sing it with all you got, with gusto, since truly no one else can possibly sing your song and there would be nothing sadder than your song unsung.

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