Getting New Bedroom Furniture

Part of the Entire House Re-Decorating Scheme, involved getting new Bedroom Furniture for our Master Bedroom.  We even talked about the idea of when we would begin looking for a new mattress.  We thought that could wait for several more years, since ours was VERY expensive and is about 7 years old.  I knew we needed to paint the Master Bedroom before having furniture delivered and if we painted that room, we'd have to paint the
Master Bathroom too.  Truth be told, I'd like to paint like someone else to paint Everything AND our Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet, too!  But, I know that's not going to happen.

And then yesterday, we moved our Bedroom Furniture out to the Garage to sell it.  That involved lugging this VERY heavy Mattress and Foundation off the bed and leaning it against the wall, while we took the side rails and footboard off the headboard, the drawers from the dresser and night stands, having the neighbor come over and help hubby lug all those big heavy pieces of furniture to the garage.  Then the neighbor left.  Then hubby and I moved the foundation and mattress {still big and VERY heavy} back on top.

That's when I noticed it.

I was shocked!

For more than a week now, I've been complaining when I get up in the morning {and during the day} about how sore I've been...especially my hips and lower back.  I thought it was something else that was causing it...certainly didn't think it was the mattress.  Since we got it, I never get up sore in the morning...and I did before we got it.

There is a "rut" about 1/2 way between the head and foot of the mattress.  It goes from side to side.  And I mean it's a "rut".  It's not just a body impression in the foam on the top of our mattress...no sir!  So, I got on the phone to the store where we purchased in 2007 and talked to the Service Department.  Since our mattress has a wonderful warranty on it, we might not have to think about buying a mattress to replace this one at all.  Praying for good results here.  In my 20+ years of selling mattresses, I've never seen a mattress that looks as bad as ours.  And it feels worse!  I guarantee you!  I never thought I'd feel like this because of a sagging mattress.

   I sold our Bedroom Furniture to make room for the new furniture!

I have this little slide show I made of various photos of our old Set...

This "Rodea" QUEEN size Bedroom Suite is about 5 years old and doesn't show much wear.  There are a couple of small nicks and/or scratches (near the bottom edge of the bed feet, probably from the vacuum cleaner, but nothing major.  It has not been moved from the original place it was set up.  It is a heavy set...and well constructed...for many additional years of use.  We do not have children in the house and our Pups are not allowed on the Bedroom Furniture.  The set includes the Queen Platform Bed {side rails, footboard and headboard}, a Triple Dresser and Matching Mirror and 2 Night Stands {Mattress Set and bench in photos, not included}. The actual color is most like Photo #2 and the one of just the Bed and Nightstand, than the other photos of Dresser/Mirror and the separate Nightstand. It is composed of solid hardwoods and beautifully finished Birch veneers, with brown-black leather features on the headboard.  All drawers are dovetailed.  The furniture is finished in an Espresso color and where needed, the hardware is a brushed chrome.

June Tea Time Strawberry Shortcut Cake & Cucumber Sandwiches

Here is another one of my pretty Royal Albert Old Country Roses Tea Cups, Saucers and Dessert Plate Trios!  Tea Cups are just perfect for Hot Tea, but they're also perfect for Iced Tea, if that's what you prefer today.  There are many delicious sandwiches and desserts for you to eat, too.  I hope you like the little Tea Party I put together for you.  It's so much fun to sit around and sip
tea and eat and talk with friends!  Now, this first Tea Set is quite rare...and beautiful.  It was made in England and dated 1962.  The beautiful cascades of Roses, combine with the leafy field along the edges.

This Set was made in England and is 1962 Vintage.  I love the slightly ruffled edge of the plates and cup...and the gold...the shape and the Roses, of course.

This Cake is Perfect to serve along with Tea.

via

Strawberry Shortcut Layer Cake

·                     1 15.25 ounce (432 g) boxed Pillsbury Strawberry cake mix (with pudding in the mix)
·                     4 eggs
·                     1 cup sour cream (not fat reduced)
·                     1/2 cup melted butter

1.            Line two 9 inch pans with parchment paper on the bottom. Preheat oven to 350F.

2.            In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, sour cream and then drizzle in melted butter and beat on medium speed 2 minutes.  Batter will be thick.  Spread evenly into the two pans and bake 25 minutes and then test by sticking a toothpick in the centre.  It should come out clean.

3.            Remove the pans to a wire rack.  Allow to sit a few minutes until cool enough to handle.  Carefully turn the cake out onto your hand and then put parchment paper side down on a wire rack to cool.

Creamy Pudding Strawberry Frosting

·                    

1 package instant vanilla pudding 

·                     1 1/2 cup cold milk

·                     2 cups whipping cream

·                     2 heaping tablespoons strawberry jam

1.            Beat together instant pudding and cold mix in a medium mixing bowl for two minutes.

2.            Add whipping cream and beat until fluffy.  Beat in the strawberry jam and then refrigerate until set.

3.            Cut each layer into two layers to make a 4 layer cake.  Spread a thin layer of frosting between each layer and then a thin layer on sides and the remaining on top.  Garnish with sliced strawberries. 

Another pretty Set - Peppermint Damask

Blue Damask...I love the scattered Roses all over!

Soft Pink Lace...perfect for all of us who LOVE Pink!!  If you look closely you can see the lacey effect.

{wink wink Debbie}

The next three Sets are in the Cameo Collection...Green, Violet and Pink.  Pretty!!

This is my Beautiful Old Country Roses Flatware...it's beautiful and goes with everything.  The knives have a serrated edge and the roses are all in gold and raised on the handles.  This is a hefty set...and doesn't require polishing, although I have a few sets of Silverplate Flatware I purchased several years ago at a garage sale.  What a deal they were!!

Ruby Lace

{the color is closer to the color of the next picture, not this one}

Golden Pearl

This set, each piece is a bit heavier and about 1/4" larger in all directions than every other Tea Cup, Saucer and Dessert Plate I have in the Old Country Roses line.  And it has the most beautiful Roses and Gold trim, complete with those Golden Pearl Dots.

Dusky Pink Lace

Cucumber and Lemony Dill Cream Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 slices good-quality white bread*
1/3 large English seedless cucumber (about 4 inches), thinly sliced
*Cook's Note: Can cut off the bread crusts, if desired.
Directions
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Lay the slices of bread on your work service and distribute the cream cheese evenly among each slice, spreading into a thin layer. Arrange the cucumber slices in rows over 3 slices of the bread. Top with the remaining bread, and cut into quarters so there are 4 pieces from each sandwich. Serve immediately.

And this pattern is "Holiday" - for your Christmas Tea

I used to have a monthly Tea here at home and then a Tea every other month at Church.  I also would Hostess Baby and Wedding Showers in my home from friends and family.  So, I needed alot of Trio Sets to serve everyone.  I haven't been doing that for a while now and decided it was time to photograph them and put them up for sale in my E-Bay Shop.  That's what I did earlier this week.  I still have a few days until the listings end...but have already sold 2 of them.  {I have multiples of several of the sets I have in this post.}

I hope you've enjoyed your Tea and Sandwiches and Dessert!  

What a Joy!

BENNY... Five Years ago Yesterday (June 6th), Benny was the 2nd Pup to come to live with us...just 3 weeks after we got our 1st Pup. Jasper.  At 11 weeks of age, this Havanese showed a remarkable awareness of things and people around him and their needs.  He loves chicken treats and doing tricks.  He knows the whole routine of  "Sit, Lay Down, Roll-Over, High Five and Give a Kiss".  All I have to do was give him one sign...and he knows.  He is the best
at playing "Dead"...one BANG and over he goes and lights out.  Then I say Hey, and he's ready to play some more.  He loves posing for pictures...and I've got some of the best pictures...alot up close and personal.  And then...Six Months ago, Benny died...leaving a hole in our lives.  He is still very much missed...and loved.  Benny was only 4 years & 8 months old.