"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Friday, November 27, 2015

Twas The Day Before Thanksgiving

  

when all through the house not a creature was stirring except for a [SNAKE?]

Let me just cut to the chase.  The universe was conspiring to kill me.  

Went about the business of readying the city house for the family holiday and our first Thanksgiving here.  My new baby blue modern love seat arrived at the store and I went to get it in my pick up truck (free shipping that way.)  My son went with me, we loaded it up and took it home.  Just a huge box and the love seat.  No padding or protection of any kind: a thin cardboard box and love seat???  Unbelievable. This love seat is a piece of crap and made in China.  It looks good, but the quality is poor.  It has a  raw, ragged 1/4 inch edge of fabric that they then stapled to the couch.  No, they couldn't roll the hem over a couple of times before they stapled it, and I fear it will shred or pull out before too long. We had to pull back the underside to find the legs and the woodwork looks like pieces of particle board, not long pieces of hardwood. And, this wasn't a cheap love seat.  I'd have paid $250. for it but not the amount I did pay.  So, I'll have to box it up and return it myself.  Only problem is, there is a howling wind and deluge outside and will be for the next several days.  Who gets 9 inches of rain this time of year without a tropical storm?  High is near freezing today and possible icing warnings.

Okay, this is getting too long already.  Let me just say, while waiting for the trucking company to deliver my bed, I started to prepare the pies.  I looked at the oven, and what in the world did I spy?  An oven like I'd never seen before.  A convection oven.  I've heard of them but haven't a clue how they work or how to use one.  So, I have to get out booklets left by the owner and start reading the schematics.... (my least favorite thing to do in the world).  I'd rather have a root canal.  That, and I told you I've never cooked on an electric cooktop and the dials were Greek to me.

In a nutshell (I can't seem to keep this brief), they delivered the wrong bed: the deliverers said [Senora, we can't do nothing about this.  We just deliver and set up and you have to call company.] The calling began...  They'll call back within 72 business hours.  And, I saw on their website today there is a 25% black Friday sale on everything today. I am thinking (no I am unless they give it to me half off) of sending it back instead of exchanging it for the ivory one I ordered, not the gray one they sent.

After that, a snake was in the dining area of my kitchen. Deep breaths.  Haven't a clue how it got in.  Didn't know if it was a viper or not so wasn't going to chance it and had to kill it.

I unwrapped the new bedding for my wrong bed(that I agonized over) and no shams included.   What?  This wasn't a custom made set.  So, I had to return to the store.  Oh, no, those weren't included.  Have to buy the shams one piece at a time.  Nearly as much as the bed covering I might add.  Okay. Deep breathe. Get them home and one will not unzip no matter what I tried.  I will have to fight the crowds to return it.  Grrrr.  I couldn't even find an alcoholic beverage in the house.  I rarely drink, but would have if I could have found some.

There is more but this is getting too lengthy and I'm sure you don't want to hear about all of the dark comedic happenings. Needless to say, I'm not even going to break this wishbone as I am certain I will come up with the short end.  What ever!

29 comments:

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Oh my goodness Donna ..... I'm exhausted and frustrated just reading about it !!!!!! It's so annoying, all of the work that goes into returning or exchanging everything, isn't it ?
I'm sure that you will get it all sorted and, often, all of those things add up to so much in our heads but, one by one, they get sorted out !
Belated happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and I look forward to seeing all of your purchases in situ when you have sorted everything out. XXXX

It's Just Dottie said...

Smiles...I have missed you...Sounds like a lot has happened in your life while I was away....

Joanne Noragon said...

Not an auspicious beginning to the holiday season. Hopefully the snake left with the bad karma.

donna baker said...

I'm not going to purchase anything like furniture again online. Nothing expensive or bigger than a bread box at least. I think there is a term for the day's events but I'll not repeat it here. Thank you for your good wishes.

donna baker said...

Where have you been dear Dottie? I have wondered. If you only knew. Good to hear from you.

donna baker said...

Not what I'd have chosen. I put the snake outside on a planter to check out later, but I guess a raccoon found it because it's gone.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Ooh dear Donna, this sounds like something I could be writing !
I only purchase large items if I can feel their texture and inspect their construction, no more online purchases for me after a lesson learned buying a Queen Anne chair many years ago, terribly shoddy.
Cooking for a large number of guests always overwhelms me, I've never quite got my act together......
We purchase a "To Go" Thanksgiving Dinner for six from the Cracker Barrel Restaurant and I add a few special items to it.....breezy clean up and I enjoy the day too :)
Hope you enjoyed your family time together.
~Jo

donna baker said...

We did, kind of. One daughter wouldn't attend, but it was a good time considering... It's funny you said that, because I told my daughter that day that next year, it's a Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving takeout. My sister said it was a comedy and I am over it, but that was a day I hope won't ever repeat. And, it caused me nightmares all that night. I'm just hopeless sometimes. Can't win for losing. Glad to hear you have had the same experience with online shopping and your holiday was a good one.

latabledenana said...

I hate when things like that happen..thank God we always have wine in the house;)
Poor you!
A Cracker Barrel TG next year..you made me laugh!

angryparsnip said...

Oh My Goodness !
For me online shopping is the best but I (like you) have to be so careful.
I so agree, all the cheap slave Chinese items (cra***) is just awful. I hope you can resolve all their mistakes.
What about your weather ? Ours is so different also but we didn't get the downpour you are and will get.
Take care and I hope you had and will have many more wonderful days in your new home.

cheers, parsnip

donna baker said...

You make me feel better Monique.

donna baker said...

Parsnip, most of the online shopping problems I have had are with Fed Ex and UPS delivering them everywhere but my house and/or obliterated. This is a first - and last. Snakes try to come inside to hibernate when it gets cold, but I haven't a clue as to how this poor guy got in. Don't like killing anything, but at this point in the day....

Elephant's Child said...

Hiss and spit. What a frustrating time you have had. I do hope it improves. Quickly.

Frances said...

Jeepers...that way too much Stuff at once. Sort of a flood of unwanted occurences.

I am hoping that the weather changes around your area, and bunches of wonderful things begin to change the balance.

xo

donna baker said...

Thank you Child. I guess it's the old maxim, "when it rains it pours." And it is outside today.

donna baker said...

Just your sweet sentiments have made it better already, Frances.

Michelle said...

Bad weather and bad purchasing experiences! Hoping it all gets mended!

donna baker said...

Thank you Michelle.

Val said...

I hope the weekend has improved some since you wrote this. The pillow shams! I think having to head out into the world again when you think you're in for the day is one of the most annoying things, and for me, it's usually because I need one more thing I was positive I had in the cupboard. Baking soda, was the last one like this. How could I not have baking soda in a hutch full of baking supplies?! But I had used it in the cat's litter-box and hadn't replaced it, is how, so off I had to go again, and likely right after I'd changed into comfier clothes too. Gah! Anyway--this is about you!!--I hope things have improved. ♥

elaine said...

It wasn't your week was it - these things are sent to try us - keep smiling - I hope everything gets sorted in the end - they say bad things come in three's, so you should be ok now. No idea what a pillow sham is though.

donna baker said...

They have dear Val. Yes, while making the pies, I had to go out for butter in a cold, pouring rain. And the day of, forgot spices and some ingredients for the big meal and had to go get those. The problem with moving to a new house is you can't find anything. Need to go Christmas shopping but I hate going out in the cold rain.

donna baker said...

No, but I made it through. Then again, I haven't started the hassle/haggling with the companies yet. Pillow shams are decorative pillow covers that match the bedding, but not used to sleep on. Just for looks. Sounds silly written down. Decorators in the US love to pile pillows upon pillows on beds and it is now the norm. Where are you Gaye to enlighten us on the history? Go to Little Augury. She is a bona fide interior designer/decorator/historian with a new book coming soon and a genius. You can click on her site on the right side of my blog list. Love her blog.

RachelD said...

Oh, Donna!! DAYUMMM!

What a cosmic confluence of calamity! And all that while you were COOKING?? Oh,. my. I'm cooking right now, just a leisurely afternoon of chopping and simmering and baking the cornbread in Caro's new oven upstairs, storing the bits and seasonings and pieces in little Tups in the fridge, so that tomorrow will be the GOOD stuff: Baking the dressing and sweet potato custard and pineapple casserole, Chris to man the grill with that enormous turkey (for one table of us) and setting the table and buffet.

I've so looked forward to this---especially when the five Kiddos had to leave on Wed. to go home for the movers.

I so hope your week has been better, the rains stopped, the couch returned, the sham-zipper snafu rectified, and all them other narsties plaguing your holiday.

I send a big old comfy Grandma hug, and permission to say every swear word you know.

rachel

donna baker said...

You made me laugh Rachel and I did need that hug. You forgot the bed, which nearly killed me. Snakes, I can take em but my bed, I'm still not over it. Hope your meal is all perfect. It sure sounds like it.

Deborah Nolan said...

Oh my Donna it really pours when it rains friend. I think the worst part was the snake in the dining area. I am certain by that time I would have passed out. Sure hope things are better today. Hugs!

donna baker said...

Oh Debbie, things like snakes don't bother me. The wrong bed - they still haven't called.

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Moral of the story, Keep liquor in the house! You are Brave all round. pgt

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Moral of the story, Keep liquor in the house! You are Brave all round. pgt

donna baker said...

Gaye, I kept thinking of your comment about the poor quality of the furniture you are seeing. My dream bed is going back. It is gorgeous, but has a flaw in the paint on the headboard and is not the color I ordered, but still gorgeous. The loveseat, though cute is so poorly constructed and the new living room furniture, well, it is not such good quality either. They don't make em like they used to.