Furniture and Green Tomatoes

I am feeling lots better after the flu made a short trip through our house.  Beware, its here early this year.  I have heard of at least 10 other people who have it.  I got the worst of it.  Tom, who has an immune system of steel, felt a "little off" for a few days.  His remedy?  Sleep.  Tom takes more naps then a 2 year old.  As soon as he starts "feeling a little off" he will take a 4 hour nap ASAP, then wake up, eat, and rest most of the day.  That night he will go to sleep hours early and sleep for 12 hours or more.  If he isn't feeling better by then another 4 hour nap and he is good to go. 

Us moms, we cant do that.  People need to be fed, dishes done, laundry washed, and booboo's kissed.  It doesn't help that I am an insomniac and taking a nap makes me feel like I was repeatedly run over by a train.  After waking up I never feel quite right.  20 minutes with my eyes closed is all I can handle or have time for.

I still have a rough cough that makes people look at me like a leper, but I was feeling well enough to do some garage sale shopping this weekend and scored big time in the furniture department. 

- 5 dining chairs, 2 armchairs - They all match each other, but they don't match my house... yet!  I have plans on recovering the seats in a lighter fabric to lighten them up a bit.  Stain resistant tan suede has been a front runner so far with a pretty canvas print coming in second.  7 chairs for $30.

- 1 antique wood & wrought iron school desk - This was the best find of the weekend.  I did a little research and this desk is worth about $200!  I bought it for $8.  Can you believe it?! (Excuse the mess in the photo, I am still behind from my flu week)

- 1 white dresser in great condition - Finally!  No more hanging up little clothes and I get more closet space for those shelves I need to install. $8.00!

- a wood magazine rack/table - great for getting all the papers I don't want to go through yet off the table.  You can see it behind the clock. $4.00

- a wooden mini grandfather clock with cabinet - It needs hands but I couldn't turn it down for $5.00

- a bookshelf - Not pictured.  Its yellow, its big, it holds all the books that didn't have a home.  It was free.  I love it.

- a strong, but dirty wooden ladder - I have wanted an old wood ladder for a long time.  I love them as photography props, but also to use in the garden.  My beans were so high that I cant reach them anymore.  Of course I have to admit that the same day I brought this ladder home to harvest my beans a squirrel came through and harvested everything that was over 6 ft high. AND he did it with all the falcons in the backyard.  Talk about a suicidal squirrel.  If I were a squirrel I wouldn't sneak past 4 sleeping falcons to steal a bushel of beans, let alone a handful. Total spent on ladder = $2

Getting all this home was quite a feat.  One woman was sure we wouldn't get it all in the car, but after 30 minutes of reorganizing we got it all in.  The bookshelf was more funny.  We unloaded half the chairs and tried to get it in the back of the Volvo station wagon my friend brought.  When it wouldn't fit we tied it to the roof and drove SLOWLY home.  I cant imagine what those people in the house thought, but I love that bookshelf.  I am happy we took the time to get it home.  I've crossed so much off my furniture list!  My house looks less and less like a dorm room every day.  Yea!

The last part of my weekend that I want to tell you about has to do with these...

These are the victims of Chaser and the Squirrel.  The squirrel, who has eaten at least 3 pounds of tomatoes, who has been caught in the act with a stolen cherry tomato in his paws & his face dripping with juice, has enticed my squirrel chasing dog to repeatedly climb his way through my tomato patch in an attempt to catch and eat him.

My Lemon Boy is dead.  Trampled to death by Chaser in his insane attempt to catch himself a snack.  Now I have all these green tomatoes.  I never saw the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, I have never eaten a fried green tomato, or any other green tomato.  I have no clue where to start.  Any ideas?

(Also, click out of your blog reader and check out my new banner and About Me page!  I am loving the new look for Autumn.)

Comments

[Glenda]

Wow, what a fabulous bunch of thrifted scores!! Will you keep the old school desk or sell it?

Bummer about the flu :(. I will say, it gets so much easier to rest when sick when your kids are older.

I've not eaten green tomatoes, but the first place I check for recipes is Food Network -- make sure to read the readers' comments because that's usually where I find good hints about using more or less of certain recipe ingredients.

[Glenda]

Duh, I also meant to say that I love your autumn banner and your updated "about me" page :).

[Tanya B.]

LOVE the new banner... :-)...and also all your good furniture finds. You really did well!

I was hoping you'd be able to give ME some ideas on green tomatoes. The ONE plant that survived from a gift of 'saved seeds' has lots of beautiful, large, green tomatoes. We had about three days of sun this summer.... I'll let you know if I run across any ideas from here.

PS: I laughed out loud at your husband's nap therapy for feeling off. They are all the same.... ;-)