Seeking Strength...Needing Discipline

I've been going back through my last few blog posts, reading them over and searching for the encouragement I found in them when I posted them. My crown is still tarnished and discouragement has set in. I have not only not made any progress but I have succeeded in taking further steps backward. 

I need 
           strength.....
                             encouragement...
                                                        and support 



but I refuse to mention it to anyone around me. I'm formulating some detailed plans for this next week and I hope I start to make some genuine progress. 

In other news, The Little Turquoise Palace aka The Little Turquoise House is getting a good cleaning and a little reorganization. Local businesses continue to close and our furniture store is the next to go. They are having a liquidation sale and I have wanted to replace the futon in our living room with a real grown up sofa that is actually comfortable to sit on for quite some time. I have been shopping for several years now for that perfect sofa and that perfect deal.

                                                Furniture is expensive! 

On the way home from the grocery store one day a couple of weeks ago, I saw the huge signs in the window of the store and before I even considered what I was doing, I pulled over and parked near the curb. I went in and found one I liked - it wasn't anything special, but the color would work in our space, it was the right size and it was VERY comfortable. They were busy and I had groceries in the car so I decided to go home and discuss such a purchase with Hubby. Surprisingly, he was all for it. He said it was my decision, so I thought about it for a few days and dismissed the idea. 

Driving through town a few days later I once again found myself stopping in front of the store. The couch was still there and the more I thought about it the more I wanted it so I mentioned it to Hubby again. He was still all for it but I worried about the money. We talked about price and he told me he felt we could manage $800.00 cash if I wanted to take it out of my piano lesson money. The couch was listed at $1049. He told me to take the cash in and tell her that's all I had. If she went for it, we'd have a couch, if not, I walk away. I thought about it long and hard, went back and forth, first thinking it was a good idea and the next moment I felt it was too extravagant. I went back to the store and This time a saleslady came and asked me what I was looking for. She directed me to the same style sofa I had looked at previously only in a different color as the other one had just sold. I wasn't sure about the goldish tone to this one, but I decided it might work. I told her it was too much that Hubby said I could only spend $800.00 total for everything including tax. She took out her calculator and punched in some numbers, then went back to talk to someone in the office. She came out and said she could let it go for $850.00 plus tax. I turned her down and she took out the calculator again. She asked if I needed it delivered and explained that with the sale they were very behind in their deliveries. I said it was possible we could manage it ourselves. She said she would be willing to let it go for $800.00 with no delivery, tax included, out the door but only if I sign the papers by close of business that day. If I waited until the next day it was back to $850.00 plus tax. I consulted with Hubby and then handed her the $800.00 cash and signed the paperwork. :) Not only did we have uncomfortable, broken down furniture, but our DVD player died and since we don't have cable, our only source of entertainment are our DVD's. We decided that I would buy Hubby a comfortable place to sit as a Valentine's gift and he would buy me a new DVD player! 

I listed both the futon and our broken, torn recliner on several local sales sites and was able to sell them both that same weekend and before the new couch arrived! I didn't even have to help Hubby move it thanks to some great college guys that attend our church!!

The new DVD player came with internet access so now we can use Daughter's Netflix account. I'm once again hooked on home improvement shows and my new favorite is Fixer Upper. The new couch precipitated a cleaning binge and a bit of redecorating with some ideas I got from Joanna Gains. Now that it's done, I love the look of the room and it's so much more comfortable now. 

Hubby had to take his truck to the "big city" 2 hours away for repairs today and I was able to go along. He dropped me off at Michael's and I had a half hour to shop. 

                                              Not. Long. Enough.

But I was grateful for the chance to get out for a bit and browse. I picked up a few scrapbooking supplies and also this letter as the final touch for our living room ... once again taking an idea from Joanna Gains. 

Well that's what I've been up to. It's getting late and I have some work yet to do so I will close this royal entry. Thanks for stopping in. Hopefully I'll be more worthy of my crown next time.