Living My Simple Life

One of my neighbors was tossing this chair after a yard sale last fall.

It was in great shape — no rips or tears to the caning and even the bright orange upholstery was perfect. But, really not my style….at all. It spent the winter in the garage and earlier this week I broke it out and took it apart. I painted frame and reupholstered the seat and back. And now, I have this:

A chair that IS my style and I’m so happy with how it turned out.

I love this chair. I’ve had it for a few years (yes, another John find). I wish the seat wasn’t so ripped up because I am crazy about the orange upholstery. For years, it sat in our bedroom with a sheepskin covering the tattered seat.

I decided last week to give the chair new life in our family room. I’ve been long considering reupholstering it but I’m daunted by the tufted back. I took the easy way out and made a slipcover. For $9 worth of fabric & $3 of twill tape, the chair is transformed.

Maybe one day I’ll be brave (or experienced) enough to do this chair justice. In the meantime, I think I’m going to like it like this.

This old sled was saved from a landfill last spring. It sat deep in the back of my garage until recently.

I have no idea if it would work as a sled — we don’t seem to get enough snow to try it out. Nor have I ever used a heavy one like this — a plastic one seems so much easier to lug up a hill with a kid on it. Even if this sled never again flies down a hill, it will continue to bring some glee to me as a front-porch holiday decoration. Merry Christmas to all!