Much as I'd love to chitchat at length, I cut my finger on Sunday and as you can see, am having trouble typing.
Don't worry. It's not a terrible cut. And the gangrenous hue to my other fingers is merely due to the circumstance of my having been scrubbing a pot that we used out on the fire for the maple syruping. It was sooty, so my hand was sooty, and I was also getting ready for friends to come over to grill steaks (outside! in the sunshine!).
I hastily reached across to shove aside a cutting board where my newly sharpened (of course) knife was sitting alongside some tomatoes.
The cutting board started to slide and no, I didn't grab the knife, because that would be stupid, but I did try to prevent the whole board from sliding off and dumping tomato all over the rug. So the butt of the knife blade caught me on the knuckle on its tumble down. And you know how those cuts are — they bleed like crazy (but none got in the food, reality chef judges!). It was all I could do to tape it up and put a latex glove on it. No washing of soot could be achieved.
Later I splinted it so that it has a chance of healing. It will be fine. It's just the vexation of your useless right hand and flipping everything and everyone the bright white bird 🙂
Ah, well, they deserve it no doubt.
In other news, I have been wanting to replace the chair below for a while now. It's all very well, but it creaks (it's a rocker) and only the Chief can sit in it — it's so deep that it makes my legs tired. And a few weeks ago he may or may not have rocked so far back in it that he went over backwards!
I've been looking here and there. Deep down I wanted a leather chair for him — although I need to be clear that he does not want it to be considered *his* chair. He dreads being that person who sits in the same spot every night, disappearing into the furnishings! I think he read somewhere that the father should try to sit in different places when the family gathers. Liven things up, you know?
In any case, do you know how much nice leather chairs cost?
But on Craigslist someone was listing this one (which she said is from Pottery Barn — it's certainly nice enough). It is full-grained leather and the cushions are down-stuffed. I looked, and similar chairs are $1500-2300! She was asking $300. It's in almost perfect condition. The only reason she still had it, I think, is that others had been emailing her and she seemed to do better with a phone call! I didn't even bargain!
You know that we are all about trying to be frugal and not thinking that everything has to be bought new or at top dollar. After all, living on one income is a commitment, one that I have been happy to make.
But — you learn to have sales resistance!
After wrestling it into the back of my CRV and wondering if it was worth it and fretting over what to me is just a lot to pay for a piece of furniture, I now am very happy to have been patient and waited for just the right chair. I love it.
(Funny story — a friend who I visited after picking up the chair asked if I had gotten it. “Yes, although it was not quite fitting in the trunk. But I bungeed the back and it was fine.”
“How big is it? What kind of chair is it?”
“You know, an arm chair…”
Later I realized that she thought I had said that I had trouble getting it in the truck. Our Ford F150 pickup? Yes, that would be a big chair!)
And the quilt is about four inches of quilting away from being ready to be washed… but I can't do anything with my hand at the moment, so it just has to wait…
Okay, this has taken me a long time to write! How are things going with you?
Ellen says
$300?!?! I have insane chair/craigslist steal envy right now!
Donna L. says
I’m so sorry you cut your finger! I’m also right-handed and know how tough that is–so much to do! Can’t do it! Aargh! I am proud at how brave you were–I never thought myself a squeamish person until I cut through the muscle and skin at that spot between the thumb and pointer finger on my hand–such a mess–I couldn’t look at it and I almost fainted…had my husband wrap it up and I drove to get it stitched up…
On a different note– I *SO*wish someone could videotape the upcoming talk about your new book! It just isn’t in the stars for me to fly over–I would happily pay for a CD or even just an audio tape to be inspired by your voice, and it seems the perfect “appe-teaser” for the book I am anxiously awaiting…
Anne says
Oh! how painful to be 4 inches from finished and not be able to finish! That would probably be a good fast for me, but I would hate it so.
claire says
Yay for you! Way to go, resourceful woman. !t looks perfect. And my daughter and I are noticing you seem to have a ‘thing’ for throw pillows, like I do. We note three different, beautiful ones in these pics. They are an easy way to bring in color and patterns and ‘mix things up’. Love it!
Kate says
I don’t know about the not having a ‘father’s chair.” My dad had an armchair that he always sat in when he was in the living room. He was there early in the morning praying the divine office and there at night doing the same. He was a busy man, but whenever he rested and read, that was where he sat. Now that he is gone, the picture of him sitting in that chair is one of my fond memories. My husband doesn’t have a favorite chair since, because of the arrangement of our living room, we can’t fit one in a place he likes. I have an armchair in our bedroom, though, where I knit or read or do school with the younger ones (away from the maddening crowd). It’s not as anti-social as it seems since our bedroom is off the living room.
Those hand wounds are a nuisance. I’m terrible about blood. My husband jokes that if he didn’t work at home, always at hand, half of our kids would have bled to death (or at the least had very terrible looking scars).
Margo, Thrift at Home says
congrats on the chair! So satisfying to get a deal when you have a vision in mind. My husband would dearly love a leather chair, I am sure.
Love the idea of you flipping everyone a bird – they sure do need it 🙂
Kathy@9peas says
I do hope your finger heals up quickly! Great find with the chair, we are in the process of searching out pieces of furniture and the overpriced yet not well made is very hard to wade through.
Valerie says
Swift healing to you!
Adrie @ ALittleWifesHappyLife says
Ouch, ouch, ouch! That looks painful- I hope it’s not as painful as it looks!
I love the chair, and the embroidered throw pillow! I should really do some embroidery… maybe after I finish this quilt. Hopefully that will be very soon- I’m ready to be done with it!
Rozy says
So sorry about your cut finger. Prayers that it will mend quickly. Your rocking chair looks identical to my mother’s. I think she got it when they got married or with their first baby (not me, I was fourth). Hers creaks too of old age as they were married almost 65 years ago. She passed in 2012 but Dad still has the chair.
Helene says
Wow, love that chair. Makes the room look fabulous! I think the Chief should feel comfortable staying in just one chair if he likes it. My Dad has a “chair” and it’s a great part of his personality.
Tamara says
I love it when you are chatty! 🙂 The new chair is fantastic. I had to sell our leather couch last year and I have missed it every day since then. Im sure you’ll be very happy with yours!
Josie says
Prayers for speedy healing! Certainly fits the bill of a Lenten difficulty! I want to thank you a million times over too for your recent advice. Working like a charm as compared to what we are used to around here. We are moving, so it’s a little blessedly hectic. Thank goodness for storage facilities, if I could just get the stuff over there.
I’m a Papa chair fan too, like Kate. My Grandpa had a chair that I remember fondly. Actually, now that I think of it, so did my Dad, and it looked a lot like your great find! God bless!
Lisa G. says
Great chair!
Valerie says
Ouch. So sorry about your cut finger…
Nice shot of your hand; focused and pretty well centered!
I have been looking for a leather chair, just like that one! I have a leather couch, they get better with age. Make sure to (clean and) condition it, especially in the cold months. Like the skin on our hands (or anywhere else) it will dry out. You got a great deal!
Julie says
Apparently it was the weekend for Kitchen Knife Disasters. I had my own little episode slicing cantaloupe…ouch!
I’m so envious of those who find Craigslist treasures. Maybe I need to be more faithful in looking. Good job!