If you’ve ever shopped for rugs on-line, you know too well how overwhelming it can be. There are thousands more to choose from than in any retail store, and after a while you feel like your eyes will pop out of their sockets.
What made it worse was I was looking for not one, but two rugs.
Unlike the opinions for the living room rug which were varied, most of you favored this one for the dining area, and so did I. It was backordered for a few weeks, but I got it last week as promised by Wayfair.
It’s an 8′ round, off-white shag rug with a taupe/tan swirl throughout. When I first saw it I was a little disappointed, thinking that it might be too big, but once the table was placed on top it’s actually the perfect size. Just large enough so the chairs won’t get caught but small enough so that it doesn’t interfere with the flow of traffic.
An unexpected surprise is the swirls perfectly match the fabric of the existing drapes. The same drapes were also in our living room, but a couple of months ago I switched them out so now I have fabric if I want to make some seat cushions. Just what I need…another project. I’m just not sure I want to tackle that right now that the weather is getting nicer and there’s much to do outside.
Which brings me to my next topic…
Mother Nature has been unpredictable this season. Just the other day, we had the air conditioner on, I put away my winter clothes, we turned off the pilot light in the gas fireplace and I planted some flowers in containers. Notice where the flowers are now? The other day was so cold and although it’s been a bit warmer, a frost is still possible.
Meanwhile, my body looks like a mine field that blew up because the May flies think I’m their personal buffet table. Maybe a frost would be a good thing. Might kill off those m+%&##fu#@!s!
Confession time: I put some tulle over my head and tied a piece of string around my neck to keep them off my face. That’s how desperate I was. I finally broke down and bought one of those silly looking net thingies you place over your head, but not before a fly bit me on the eyelid and I puffed up like Popeye.
At least it matched the rest of my ravaged, bitten body, which Fisherman so sweetly pointed out.
We had some much needed tree work done last week. Here’s a couple of piles of wood for your viewing pleasure…
and a couple more…
and one more on the right, but I’ve got some plans for that tree stump. Can you guess what they are?
There was a large tree in the front that was removed and it used to have an outside light attached to it which we definitely need for safety reasons, so we bought this lantern and attached it to the stump. The only thing I don’t like is the cord is visible, but once the plants are filled in it will be fine.
First up on the agenda will be to get the backyard leveled and ready for a fire pit and maybe a raised garden bed or two. I also want to put a small stone wall in the front of the house by the foundation and maybe around a small tree on the front lawn. We bought the stone today and it will be delivered Wednesday.
In other news…
I bought some of those peel and stick ’tiles’ for our guest bath and spent some time putting a few up the other day. I’m not sure how I feel about them just yet. Don’t love them, but don’t hate them. They’re a bit more colorful and busy than what I normally gravitate toward, but maybe that’s a good thing ;).
Memorial weekend we’re going on our first RV event. It’s only about an hour and a half away near the Vermont border and there should be at least 200 other RV’ers there. Should be interesting…
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
The rug is perfect!
The may flies sound awful!!!
kelly says
I love the new rug under your table. It’s a perfect fit and match! I can’t wait to see the fire pit after you get it done. I’ve been after my husband to start ours but as usual it takes him a while to complete projects. Time and money are our biggest obstacles. Your upcoming camping trip sounds fun! We have a wedding to go to that weekend and we may go visit some friends at the lake too.
susan says
I love the way the rug looks – a perfect match! You have a good eye, Doreen.
Enjoy your RV outing. It sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to see the pictures.
Julie says
Hi Doreen, the rug looks great and I love the color of it! So sorry to hear about bug bites too. It sounds like you are really doing a lot of work around your house. An RV trip sounds like fun and I hope you have a good time. Have a nice weekend and week.
Julie xo
Judy Clark says
Doreen – love the round rug – perfect! Flies sound terrible? I had to laugh at the picture of you with tulle tied around your head!
Judy
Doreen says
Believe me Judy, if you saw me you would have laughed even more ;).
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
The rug looks perfect and makes such a cosy space of your dining area. I’m looking for a rug for the living-room and really, it’s killing me!
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
That rug is perfect!! Love it – and it looks even nicer than I pictured. Beautiful job Lady!
The weather here can’t make up its mind either. That is the bad part about lovely weather and flower season – the gol darn bloomin’ bugs!! Ugh! I hate them too! Very innovative of you to keep you flowers in that spot indoors though. Lol
Love the light idea for outside – and all of your other ideas. Such a pretty spot and can’t wait to see when projects are finished.
Hope the RV thing is really fun!! Too bad the sale was a bust. Better luck next time. 😉
xoxo
Doreen says
Lol did you notice we hung the flowers on the game table handles? We’re nothing if not resourceful. ;).
Have a great week Carrie, and thanks for stopping by. It’s always great to hear from you!
Cecilia says
I love the rug! It’s perfect in every way. We’re having crazy weather too…lots of rain and temperatures staying below 90. Crazy for this time of year but very much appreciated!
Lol, if that was the best thing at the Flea, no wonder you were disappointed. Yikes!
Have a wonderful week, Doreen!
Hugs,
Cecilia
Oh, and enjoy your RV event. 🙂
tammy j says
i’ve heard that rv’ers are fun and wonderful people! hope you enjoy the get together.
your rug is beautiful. i’d say perfect even!
and now.
thank you.
i will have ceramic pig nightmares tonight.
there is someone somewhere with a tree stump… who instead of putting up an elegant light fixture…
is even as we speak… putting a pink ceramic pig on it with horse hair eyelashes.
to each his/her own.
♥
Lavender Dreams says
The rug looks so luxurious! Have fun on your RV trip! Sounds like fun! Sweet hugs, Diane
Poppy says
Beautiful swirly rug for your dining area, Doreen. Cannot believe those pesky mosquitos! Who cares what you look like – you need to protect yourself! You and Fisherman have already done a lot of work outside, judging from that pile of wood. The immediate area surrounding you looks absolutely gorgeous!
Good luck at the RV show; hope you find some great treasures and fun folks!
xoxo
Poppy
Feral Turtle says
That rug is gorgeous!! Those darn biters. They have a way of ruining summer. I think that’s why I enjoy winter so much. I am excited to follow along with your yard renos! I do love to see what people do with outdoor spaces. Hope you have a blast on your first RV trip. Looking forward to all of your pics
Doreen says
Thanks Karen! I really appreciate your stopping by and commenting. So glad you like the rug too!
The outside is such a mess, no matter what we do it will be a huge improvement. lol
Enjoy your week!
xxx
Jane says
You have such good taste in rugs, Doreen, I really love this one. Buying online is only hard for me when the color is different from what it looked like, but that’s a given. Florals seem okay but solid colors…my gray rug in the bedroom is more blue. Still, the selection online is so great.
The weather is wonky here, too. We have 80’s til Wednesday and it’s so humid I have the air on. Then we can take a break. I’m making a dent in the flower planting in between the rain. The stump with the lightpost is so cool! I can’t wait to see what else you do!
Have fun on your first trip in the RV!
Jane x
Doreen says
Thanks Jane! I agree with you about the solids vs florals. At least with the florals there’s more flexibility, but if the solid is ‘off’, well, you’re pretty much stuck.
I think the weather this week will be more springlike, and believe me, we could use it! We started planning for the small stone wall today and I can’t wait to have that behind us. I think it will neaten up the front a lot, which we desperately need.
xxx
Pat Cable says
I didn’t turn off my comments but it sure was off. So I must have. Some how.
At the moment I have 2 tables in my living room. I already had a tall cafe table and tools I bought when I was living in a small apartment. After I moved into the UC my mom gave me a round table similar to the one you have. I had planned to paint and sell the table but now looking at yours on the round rug, I want to keep it. Now I don’t know which I want to keep. I like the cafe table but it really doesn’t fit in with rest of the cottage. Hmmmmm!
Cindi says
I love your rug!
I agonized over rugs last year. I wanted to try an indoor/outdoor one because of the critters.
I finally found one and someone immediately vomited on it so me and my niece dragged it outside and hosed it off.
(it’s a big 8 x 10 one) then the next week, my old blind dog got confused and peed on it. Outside it went again.
Now it’s rolled up and I might just stick it in the basement! LOL!
Love your lantern, GREAT idea.
OMG, that pig. Awful.
Good luck with all your projects!
Doreen says
Am I terrible for laughing out loud at your rug misfortune?! Vomit, pee, what next??! I’d say indoor/outdoor rugs are a must have for you Cindi!
Dewena says
You’ve accomplished so much already, even with your bite wounds! I love the lanterns on the tree stump and can picture how it will look surrounded by plants. Lovely rug too! You must be so happy to have it all turn out the way you wanted.
I hope the Memorial Day weekend trip is fun. Is this the first real trip you’ve taken with the RV?
(And yes, Doreen, I’ve watched Midnight in Paris so much that I need to replace it! The light treatment in the film is how I imagine Paris would be, but surely it couldn’t possibly be so beautiful as that.)
Doreen says
Yup, it’s our first trip with this RV, but our second if you include the trip to the Cape we took in the Fall with a rental. It was much smaller than the one we bought, so we are a little nervous, but excited too.
I’m not surprised you like that movie, but you’re right…lots of ‘smoke and mirrors’.
Pinky at Designs by Pinky says
Love the rug, perfect size and style! Now, I NEVER would have thought to put tulle around my head!!!!LOLOL!!!!!! It looks like Spring is taking it’s sweet time up your way. BOO:(:(
Cathy, 1929 Charmer Cottage says
It’s perfect and love that its round the right size too! I love that it’s round and adds softness to the room. So glad you’ve got the May flies in your area because I’m dealing with the Possums! I so want an RV and hubs is fighting me on it, gosh I just want everything i want!
Doreen says
I’m surprised your hubby doesn’t want one Cathy! Usually it’s the husbands that lobby for one. Maybe rent one for a few days and see if he likes it?
Vicky Hunt says
The rug is absolutely perfect for your dining room. Love it! Your yard is shaping up…and it looks like you have lots of wood for the fireplace. Have fun on your first RV trip! It sounds like fun! Sorry about the wasted trip to the Elephant’s Trunk. How disappointing! I have always thought it would be a great one. TV has a way of making things seem so though. Have a great week!
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
The rug looks great, Doreen! You surely have your work cut out for you with all of your outdoor projects! We have some big ones planned, too. Kind of can’t wait to get started, and kind of dreading them at the same time!
Pattie @ Olla-Podrida says
I have shopped online for rugs way too often. I have been happy with about 75% of my purchases, but the other couple rugs, well, I have no idea what I’m going to do with them. I have a long hallway and need about two and a half runners from one end to the other. Yeah, try to find HALF of a runner. Not easy. What I have succeeded in doing, I think, is making my entryway a bit frightening.
I love the rug that you have chosen here. Bravo!
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Hi Doreen! The rug looks fantastic and like you said it’s the perfect size. I’m sorry about the flies. Can they fumigate for those? They would drive me crazy. It’s like the mosquitos here after dark, ugh! I can’t wait to see the yard once it’s done! 🙂
Doreen says
Hi Vashti! Oh,I only wish they could be prevented,but there’s nothing anyone can do. They’re relentless. Even covering your body with bug repellant doesn’t work for long. I found Tea Tree Oil works as well as lavender oil. As the months progresses, they get fewer and fewer and in a few days they will be gone. It’s funny, it’s like clockwork. The first of May they’re here and by the end of the month they’re gone. I think they have a calendar that they refer to ;).
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Well, I know not to visit you in May. 😉 Ha, ha!
SharonFromMichigan says
Oh you poor girl – being bitten by the bugs! It’s been so rainy in Michigan lately that the mosquitos are beginning to look like small birds and they love my ankles. Hopefully may fly season doesn’t last that long for you!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Those May Flies sound awful!!!…yes, Mother Nature seems to be playing tricks on us lately…from these awful rains to the snow on Memorial Day in Colorado….You always seem to have such great projects going on…the fire pit sounds wonderful.