Monday, July 8, 2013

Don't Rain On My Parade

Well folks, I don't know how you spent your weekend, but around this place we had a little adventure of the road trip variety.  Only for this trip, we had to trade the trusty Camry  for something just a little bit bigger. We borrowed this beauty from Lt. McNephew.

Care to guess the reason?


If you guessed dining room chairs, then you won the prize. After pouting my way through every restore store in a 60 mile radius, I finally resorted to my very first online shopping safari.  I searched Craig's List for every major city in the state of Georgia, and lo and behold, I found some contenders. 

Off we went. 

He did all the driving.
 I provided the prattle and pointed out the obvious.  

  
 Repeatedly. 

 Three hours later, we arrived at our destination...  bone dry.
 Woohoooo!
  

Then, it was a matter of meeting the chairs in person. They aren't vintage, but I loved the shape of them anyway. Plus, they were sturdy. Plus, they were in great condition.  


Plus... they matched my finish perfectly. I mean, perfectly people... I had brought along one of the two chairs that actually came with the set for comparison. 


And that little pedestal table? 
It came along for the ride.  I don't happen to need a table that size,
 but I do have two daughters and two nieces.  

So we wrapped them up,
 tarped them over, and headed back home. 


He did  the driving. 
I provided the musical accompaniment. 

 I covered everything from
  Raindrops Keep Falling   
to  Singing in the Rain.

 In my head, I sounded just like Gene Kelly.  

In his head, I sounded more like the drip, drip, drip of a faucet.
He told me to turn off the spigot and simmer down.  

So I hummed instead...

I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'... 

We almost made it. 


The shower was a brief one, though, so we just kept on truckin'.

Had I known what the the tarp looked like behind me,
 I probably would have been a lot more concerned. 

Good thing I didn't. 


I'm happy to report that there was no visible water damage. One chair appears to have fallen victim of a flapping grommet attack, but not to worry...
 I do refinish furniture, after all. 

And thus ends the tale of the 
Great Dining Room Chair Adventure. 

I even managed to finish  in the black.
OK, maybe it's sort of a grayish shade of black, but it's black nonetheless. 
After paying for the chairs and gas for the guzzler, 
we have seven whole dollars in the chair account. 

I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup is overflowed...

Next up: 
Wing chairs for the living room. 

So how was your weekend?

52 comments:

Denise said...

Yeah! Headline news. Blogger scores big on dining chairs. I can't wait to see them in person. So happy Sir Lotsa Hair was able to have an easy ride home.

Anonymous said...

I just know you are happy, happy, happy!!!!!!!

Vee said...

Yahoo! Score one for the prattler and her chauffeur! They look fabulous for all that rough a ride.

Sharlotte said...

Oh my gosh, those "new" chairs are so pretty! I can't wait to see what you're going to do with them! Great find!!

Debbie said...

Oh I do love how you tell a story! haha The chairs look great! Looking forward to seeing them all in your kitchen! Enjoy your day!

Debbie Petras said...

What a great find! Those chairs seem to match yours very well indeed. However, that was quite a journey but good for you.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

Barbara F. said...

Happy you found the chairs, Sir Lotsa Hair is a good hubby to drive you all the way there ;-). Pedestal table is a score, too. xo

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Ohh I am so tickled for you ! Was going to email and ask you how many chairs you needed BUT on the 4th a huge tree fell on our house, taking out a good part of our deck railing and putting a few holes in the roof. Don't know when we will get electricity back, sigh.
Love the chairs btw .

Miss Merry said...

Love it! It looks like every road trip I have ever taken. I would have plumb broke down in tears at the sight of the truck and tarp. Thank goodness there was no damage. Mr McDreamy (that is your husband, right?) is such a good sport. It sounds like something I would talk my husband into - he would complain at first, be up for the adventure and expect to come out right in the end - like it usually does. Can't wait to see the dining room all in place.

Sharon said...

I knew those guys were out there waiting for you. And they were worth the wait. These chairs are just beautiful. I can't wait to see your dining room -

I got all *nervous* when I saw the photo of the damaged tarp - but then I remembered my crafty friend can fix ANYTHING!!

Looks like your Gilligan's "three-hour tour" was well worth the trip!

xo

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Hurray!

Well done!

Deanna

Miss Char said...

OK that's it....I'm headed to Georgia to start shopping. Great find Debbie and I love the table, I'm looking for a 36" one just lke it but everything I see is,at least 42". Thanks for,sharing your great find.

Chatty Crone said...

Okay girl - you went to a LOT of work to get just the perfect chair - I honestly do not know how you do it. But yes they were PERFECT and beautiful and I know you will show us a finished picture. sandie

Tanna said...

Yeah, baby!! LOVE it!! Congratulations on your successful search, find and procure mission! And, with cash in still in the bank! You go, girl! Now, I'll be humming... singing in the rain... for the rest of the day. LOL! blessings ~ tanna

Tanna said...

PS I loved your post about a willing and discerning heart... ;)

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

it sure was a wet weekend...but thankfully we were fine. Glad you got your chairs

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Yay! I'm amazed that you drove that far for chairs! Plus you didn't get caught in the rain until on the way home. It's rained here every day practically on stop for days!

Glad you got the chairs you wanted!

Angel @ Finding The Inspiring said...

Wow! I really admire your determination. And what a find! I am so happy your adventure ended well and I can't wait for the next one. :)

Maryann said...

You just proved perseverance pays off, the chairs look terrific. Can't wait to see pictures when you are all done with them (gives me hope for that couch I'm looking for)

Lynn said...

How fun! Congrats on not only getting the chairs but on them matching perfectly too! Enjoy:@)

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Awesome score! Love the visuals of the road trip ... and the way I could hear you singing and humming and pointing out the obvious. I think we are related.

Ann said...

Ok, where's the happy dance icon? Now, will you help me find some suitable chairs for my living room? :)

Glad the McNephew could help., too.

Cheers!

Lorrie said...

Hooray! So glad you found chairs. The finish match is wonderful. Now I don't feel so guilty about painting my chairs.
Best of luck on the wing chair search.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

YEA!!! Those are beauties!! Now, if you want, I can come over and paint them white and shabby them up for you.......I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself LOL!

Carol

Mevely317 said...

Oh goodness, but the Fates were smiling on y'all! This is SO ironic, but we've been (OK, make that, I'VE been) searching off n' on for recliners for a year now. Yesterday AM I revisited Craigs List, and "BINGO!" Despite the 45-mi. ride it was LOVE at first sight, and God willing, he'll deliver the recliner -- and matching love seat -- tomorrow.
I'm singing right along with ya, Debbie ... but won't you puleeeeze send some of that rain our way?

Hugs,
Myra

Amy Kinser said...

They are beautiful! So glad you finally found what you were looking for. Your patience paid off.

elizabeth said...

Yay for the perfect match! At first I thought you were going to say you had the pickup to move one of your girls home.

Scribbler said...

Yay! I am typing with one eye closed, but even I can see that you hit the jackpot!!!

The shredded tarp looks scary -- hope that everything survived the monsoons.

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

YAY! Congrats on your new dining room chairs. They are beautiful ... and to be an exact match to your table is fantastic. You do know what the odds are on that, don't you? I just love how God sometimes chooses to bless us visual people with "little" things like that! Can't wait to see those beauties sitting around your next tablescape. The one you did for 4th of July was great!

My weekend? Helping Daughter the Younger and her family move AGAIN ... but I got the best job -- watching the little ones! We got home last night and this tired Nonna was glad to sleep in her own bed! We don't have to hit the road again until tomorrow. LOL

Rettabug said...

Nobody spins a yarn better than you, Debbie! (I wonder how THAT expression started?)

Your new chairs are beautiful & thank goodness they weren't damaged in transit. You had to be almost sick when you got out of the truck & saw the condition of that tarp!

I look forward to seeing them around a tablescape, full of pretties.

Hugs,
Rett

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Yea! I love a happy ending to a tale. The chairs look wonderful and somebody's going to love that table. We'll be seeing lots of pretty tablescapes in the near future.

Ruth Kelly said...

That is a beautiful table set and it is totally amazing that there was not water damage by the look of the tarp. There were rain storms in our area too.

Renée said...

You scored, I love your chairs! Craig's List is a great way to go...congratulations.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Really nice chairs. Wish I knew you to redo furniture. I ought to take a class..but I know I never will. :) GREAT deal!

Crickit said...

Love the beautiful chairs, table and adventure! You are so fun! Da, da, de, de dum! :)

Christine said...

You must of been singing pretty loud and long, not to hear the flapping of those tarps.
That picture cracked me up!

By the way, congratulations with your stick-to-it'ness.

Creative Life Studio said...

I love how the chairs totally matched! It was worth the 3 (six?) hour drive, wasn't it? I scored an amazing, Ethan Allen table off of Craigslist last year that I drove an hour (a bit more, actually, as I got lost in the country) to get, but it is the BEST piece and maybe the nicest piece of furniture I own! Plus, she knocked off 50 bucks, since I was driving so far.

Just found your blog today; I'll visit again. BTW, I know you turned off your comments on your Sunday post, but I loved it. :)

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Three hours! Did you come my way? Geez, I would have loved to see you ya know! Haha! Just kidding ya, that's really great. I know you must be thrilled to have finally found what you wanted without have to strip them down, even better that they are a perfect match on the stain too. I love the design of the backs from what I am seeing. Yay! Yay! Yay!!!!

Kathy said...

Hello Debbie - gorgeous chairs -they look wonderful - and being sturdy is the most important thing - great road trip - despite the rain - the wind did a number on the tarp! I hope there's lots of sunshine in your day today!
Hugs,
Kathy

Pat@BPM said...

Perfection Debbie. The chairs are gorgeous!

We are considering getting rid of our truck and going for another SUV. We are hoping the condo sells soon. We need the truck to move the last few things from there and then we can kiss the truck goodbye. Everyone tells us to keep the truck, for just such adventures as your chair buying trip. It is a dilemma!:-)

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Thank you for thinking of me ! Still in motel, hope to get electric back by Friday BUT the city has new law that says we now have to update all elec., add wired in fire alarms, etc. which is NOT covered by insurance so it going to cost us big.
Sigh. But GOD is still GOOD !!!
Hope to be posting again next week.
Sorry you lost a pear tree, this rain has really been doing some damage.

Creations By Cindy said...

I know you was doing the Happy Dance! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

WHOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

Oh my gosh what a great adventure.

I love your style - holy smokes you made me laugh and laugh - what a great post.

I am your newest follower!! : - )

Thank for your visit, made it easy to find you!

Babs said...

Love those Chippendale style chairs, and what a ride they took in the truck. Glad they came through without any damage.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debbie, they are beautiful! So glad you found them. And Wow! You got the chairs and a table and were still under budget. See, there was a reason you to didn't find any before. I think any trip with you would be an adventure. laurie

bj said...

wow...what a ride. :)
Your chairs look perfect...so glad you found them....

At The Picket Fence said...

LOL!! I point out the obvious when driving with my husband too. :-) Great find Debbie and even better story to have about your new-to-you chairs!
Vanessa

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

You are just wonderful..which you can see by all these comments...and you ended my day with a smile..thanks friend..and I love your new find.

FrouFrouBritches said...

Love, love, love the chairs!!! The table is gorgeous too!!! Sounds like y'all had a fun little trip. YAY for Craigslist!!!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I knew they would be just the right ones! Good job, rain and all... now what's the next adventure??

Barbara Neubeck said...

...fantastic, Debbie......
Love the chairs....even better, I love that they ticked all the boxes for you...and coming in under budget is great..well done..:)
Hugs and Blessings
Barb xxx

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Debbie, I'm so glad to see that you found your dining room chairs!! They are really beautiful!! What a bonus to find the pedestal table as well. I read your post about all the painted furniture out there, and I couldn't agree more. Like so many trends, it's about to be completely overdone (just my opinion of course). I think a few pieces in the home are nice, but like you said, don't paint the good stuff!!!

It looks like you were lucky that you didn't have to drive all day in the rain. I love the "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" song, by the way. It's a classic. :)

Have a wonderful day, Debbie!

Hugs,

Denise

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