Tying Up Loose Ends

Nothing sets me into motion or motivates me more fully than the knowledge it is now 24 hours to the arrival of my mother for the holidays. It is this mad rush to achieve perfection in which I generally suceed at projects that have either eluded me or I have procrastinated with for a very long time. (Yes, very much like painting of those 2 window trims and door frame in the kitchen. I will get to it!) Back in the summer on a very rainy Saturday as Steve and I drove to carry our trash to the landfill we passed a yard sale. Typical stuff, but my eye caught on a pair of matching chairs. A straight chair and its companion rocker. They were covered in hideous fabric and if left to sit out in the rain would be rendered garbage by the end of the yard saling day. The lady wanted $45 each for them and I balked and offered her $30 for the both of them. She refused. As I browsed further someone offered her even less for them. She came over to me and said she would take $35 for both. I said $30 for both and these little wooden picture frames. Deal. And so it was that I brought home this matched set of parlor chairs and placed them in my front hall terribly in need of being clean and reupholstered. Periodically since then I would browse for the perfect Waverly fabric to cover them with and generally being displeased with the available pattern and/or their price per yard I put the project off for another time. Recently I was in a fabric shop and found a roll of Waverly fabric in the Fernwood Vintage print that was reduced -reduced -reduced in price. I loved the pattern but the price was a bonus. The regularly priced $17.99 a yard was now clearanced down to $4.50. Sold! I purchased three yards and some trim. Yesterday I spent much of the afternon ripping off the old, replacing the chair padding and batting. Today my entry way is warm and inviting in shades of crimson, gold and white. I love the way the chairs look. Steve has been working on his own small projects as well. He has finally after 11 months patched the drywall in the bathroom where a leaking pipe was replaced. He has patched the plaster in the pass through area leading from the old part of the house to the back kitchen and dining area. He and I are much alike in putting tedious little tasks off to the last minute. The last thing I felt like doing was recovering those chairs but now I am glad I did. The front hall looks great and the task is no longer hanging over my head. I may get to put my feet up a bit on Christmas day and not have the nagging little projects bug urging me to get busy.