Some(many?) of you, including John, have been waiting for me to come to my senses and cancel my trip. I'm sure that others would have preferred me to forge ahead in spite of the terrifying statistics, and beat the risk of the coronavirus. I appreciate you all: your encouragement, your tact, and even your silence. The fact is that I'm not a gambler. So, I'm staying out of the airports, the planes and the Ubers; it felt like the end of the world Tuesday, so when John suggested a get together, I told him that my emotions were too bruised. Thankfully, I found small ways to comfort myself.
I put out a couple of Christmas towels.
I opened up one of my new hand soaps, which smells like a lemony fir tree. :)
I replaced "Pumpkin Roll" with "Silver Bells," my favorite holiday scent. (I would burn candles and used to, but now...CAT) I'm not sure how to identify its clean, fresh scent, and thought the Scentsy website might help. Instead it made me laugh! "Minty candy canes dance over warm and welcoming pear, all enveloped in a velvety blanket of caramel and vanilla sugar." Perhaps I should apply for a job writing these descriptions? I couldn't do any worse! :)
Yesterday John came over for dinner, and insisted that he was perfectly capable and eager to swap out my '80s light fixtures for my more modern chandeliers. Indeed, he made everything look SO easy. Plus, he's very neat, careful and not afraid of heights.
The 5 light dining room fixture is simple, and exactly what I wanted.
I didn't care for the "Big Pineapple" when I moved in here 24 years ago, although I've never had to replace a bulb in it. Brass and glass were the height of fashion back then, but I've been ready to get rid of it for at least 20 10 years.
Since I'm scared of heights, I was very nervous about this procedure. Not John.
Here's the 9 light, 2 tier version of the dining room chandelier, with its ideal dimensions for my entry. I worried so much about sizes, needlessly as it turns out. I'm very satisfied with both fixtures!
Poor John needed sunglasses when I turned on the nine 100 watt bulbs though. He's a good sport!
Next on my agenda: white stair skirt boards, new carpet up the stairs(still haven't heard anything from the people I contacted) and manufactured hardwood in my upstairs hallway. Then I'm finished...for now. It seems like the more I look around, the more I see that should get updated! As I told my parents, many people re-do their houses in preparation to sell, but I'm making improvements so that I can enjoy them personally. I periodically go into each room to marvel at the chandeliers, turning them on, and playing with the dining room dimmer switch like a 3 year old. It's my first one! I still walk around the house to admire the fresh paint and the neatness of everything. Next dilemma: what to plan/not plan for Christmas that won't anger my family, endanger them or make me a pariah. Xmas 2020, the gift that just keeps on giving.
