to sleep perchance to dream

I have been on a mattress quest.  I currently have a queen bed, and with the alert that my grandmother and my aunt may be coming to visit in the next few months, I have decided to buy a king bed to move the current bed into the guest room. 

Truth number 1 about shopping for a mattress:  It is insanely fraught with too many options.  Memory foam, latex foam, pillow top, double-sided pillow top, individually wrapped coils, quilting, regular or low profile box spring, firm, medium, soft, plush, double plush, double dutch plush. 

Geez.  I just want a bed that makes me feel all warm and squishy and sleepy.  Which bed is that? 

The search has been doubly complicated by reading online reviews, listening to the advice of friends, and stumbling on this whole world of luxury mattresses that I never knew existed.  I thought the Westin Heavenly Bed was irrationally expensive with its $2,400 price tag, including frame, a mattress cover, and delivery.  Then I read about the Shifman, the Hydro, and all the mattresses that are hand sewn, cashmere covered, gold dipped, and stuffed with hand spun wool from the most beautiful and delicate of wool-bearing animals in the whole world.  Crap. 

I have discovered that some people pay $5,000, $15,000, even $30,000 for a mattress set.  Do they give you that much better of a sleep experience than a regular mattress?  Do they last forever?  Do they appreciate in value?  It is best not to even attempt to try one of these mattresses.  If they are better, a million times better than a regular mattress, then I will just be depressed that I will never own one.  Even if I won the lottery, I don't think I could bring myself to pay that much for a mattress. 

In my current economic downturn, I cannot imagine affording a mattress on the low end of the high-end mattress universe.  If I did buy one, I would expect it comes with my own personal on-call masseuse.  FOREVER.  And the masseuse would have to also do dishes, change my 8,900 thread count sheets, and shave my legs for me.  Seriously. 

So, maybe I will go on a mattress-trying excursion this weekend.  I am sure that actually trying a mattress is a better strategy than shopping online and reading mountains of mixed reviews. 

I am sleepy just thinking about it.

The First Christmas

This year Bhodi, Myrtle, Sombra, and I celebrated our first Christmas in the new house.  Technically, Sombra has had Christmas here before since he was the former owners' cat, but I imagine this was a little more dog-centric than he is used to. 

Thanks to Deirdre, I had a miniature tree with all the trimmings. 

Thanks to Sarah, I have more ornaments for future miniature trees, and I have a festive table cloth for my borrowed dining room table. 

Thanks to Grandmama, I had egg on toast with homemade salt risen bread for breakfast.  It was so good, I had it for lunch too!  I also have fun Christmas decorations that G send me years ago. 

Thanks to all my friends and family, I had lots of calls, cards, and Christmas wishes. 

Thanks to Bhodi and Myrtle, I had a great Christmas walk and Christmas nap snuggled up on the bed. 

All in all, the first Christmas was a nice one, even if I was far from home. 

So, goodnight all.  So ends another Merry Christmas. 

I have accomplished something....finally. I have procrastinated other things...as usual.

This weekend I decided to take a trip to the Ace Hardware, purveyor of all things needed for home repair.  Seriously, if you haven't been to an Ace lately, GO THERE NOW.  They have stuff you didn't even know you could buy, including the best shower head ever invented.  I mean it...the best shower head ever!   

I also visited the Allison Moore Garage Extravaganza Blowout Sale.  The previous owners left all kinds of things in that garage:  paint, nails, tacks, screws, latches for screen doors, hinges, and so many other things. 

My first amazing find was at Ace: beaded chain and a connector so I could fix my pull-switch light in the kitchen. That's right...that little chain you see on lamps, ceiling fans, etc...  They sell it by the foot for almost nothing. 

Another Ace find: Bathroom sink drain cover.  Now there is no more threat of toothbrush falling into the pipes. 

My last Ace purchase: Handsaw that cuts circles, angles, etc...:  Everyone needs one of these. It's like the saws all without a motor. 

Garage finds:  a straight cutting hand saw for bigger jobs,
plywood that will serve as the door to my hot water heater closet. 
trim pieces that will serve as the frame for the door.
A screw-in hole for my screen door hook. 

So, for about $8, I fixed a screen door latch, the light in the kitchen, and I am all geared up to replace the door/frame for the hot water heater as soon as I stop procrastinating and get that thing up.  I have a mental block about putting in that door.  As soon as I see my first horrible rat monster living in there, I am sure I will get right on that project.  I will even be able to paint it a color similar to my house color and will decorate it with the words "There is a hot water heater in here!!!"