"Yes Wenderina, You are a Grown Up Now and That's What Grown Up Furniture Costs"

At the whopping age of 44, I have purchased my very first grown-up piece of furniture (according to my BFF Terry).  Her direct quote makes the title of this post.

Simple and sleek, this couch (plus a few inches and a few throw pillows) will be coming to live with me in about 10-12 weeks.  And where did I find this precious piece of artwork that I can sit on?  Yes, you guessed it, at that very grown-up store with the very grown-up prices - Ethan Allen.

I heart Ethan Allen.

I always have hearted Ethan Allen.

I have never walked into an Ethan Allen before as I just knew I could never walk out with anything except a very green with envy complexion for those who can afford to shop there.

I had to do some deep breathing, and I do have to recognize this couch cost more than my entire living room set of two couches a side chair and an ottoman did the last time I shopped.  But those pieces have almost all invariably and literally fallen to pieces with shredded fabric and stuffing.  I was assured by the very classy lady in pearls who helped me pick out fabrics, I will never experience that end with this couch. 

To complicate matters, I - of course - fell in love with a very expensive fabric....(on left)

...that I smartly used for 2 of the 4 throw pillows instead of the entire couch.  The fabric on right (which didn't come out right in photo) is a herring bone heavy wear fabric that is NOT white (Really! it is like a taupe and tan herring bone) and will be the body of the couch and the other two pillows.

All in all - I came in just at/slightly over with tax budget.  And I think I love it.  So now the only problem is I feel the need to change out my window treatments, the ottoman, the coffee table, and maybe even the rug.  But I think I'll try some of the less grown-up stores for those....maybe.

Life Well Lived, Woman Well Loved

Her live began more than 80 years ago. 

She was the darling of the family being the only girl of her generation. 

As time went by, she developed the smile and impish personality that was her hallmark.

She could hold the spotlight.

And she could be a modern working woman.

 She captured a handsome young man while working at the USO.

 

And married him with her favorite "big brother" (aka cousin, aka my dad) at her side.

 

She laughed her way through life.



And found joy in song.

She raised three beautiful children.

And celebrated their lives through adulthood.

She danced at all their weddings.

She welcomed six grandchildren into the world and loved them beyond measure.

She was active and athletic and passed this on to her family.

 

Until Parkinson's stole her muscular control.  But not her spirit.

When she couldn't speak, she always gave a "thumbs up" that she was doing ok.

In the end, she was hardly recognizable from that spirited, laughing, singing person we all knew, but she kept her sense of humor, her sense of self, and her belief in family to the very end.



Farewell my lovely and loving Aunt Betty.  

Thank you for your life and your example.

You will never be forgotten.