Well, OUCH.

I was finally going to allow myself to get the little secondhand rug I've been visiting for almost 3 years...it's got that antique William Morris/Renaissance feel I love, subtle colors, a nature theme...lots of the soft greens I already have in the shed...I took these photos in December of 2010, so you can see how long I've been drooling over this thing!

It was $85 when I asked about it 2+ years ago, but I was feeling kind of snug...I decided to wait.

Today I decided I'd been working hard, the class was going well, and that was going to be my reward--if it was still there in the Olde Towne Mall.

It WAS...but it was owned by another dealer and they had to call to confirm the price.

I just called to find out.  $250.00 ?!?!?!

So no.  Not for a rug in a shed.

What was up with THAT??  Besides the price, I mean.

Fine, I'll just look at the photos I took 2 years ago and enjoy the rug I have.  The poor mall owner was really apologetic; she knew I wouldn't fib about it. Not her fault!

You know what they always say...if you see something you love in an antiques mall, get it THEN.  When it cost a quarter of what the owner wants now.

OK, I'll quit pouting now...

Warmer moves...

So still no insulation under the floor, and no word from the owner of the lovely rug I liked so much--the one with no price tag in THIS POST.  Meanwhile, we hit Costco the other day and they had these little inexpensive throw rugs.  I thought what the heck, at least under the desk where I work would be good!

I had no idea HOW good...it really, really helped, just that one layer of stuff, so once again I tried to rattle loose some response about the bigger rug...nada.

This is the rug Joseph brought with him from Virginia a couple of years ago...when we considered it this summer it really smelled musty, and I didn't think I could deal with that...so doused it with baking soda and let it sit for a few months.  It's a bit dark for the shed, and we're a LONG way from Zen simplicity now, with that crazy flowered chair, plaid throw, and ethnic pillow underfoot, but you know what?  IT'S WARMER.

It's 5 by 8', so it doesn't cover the whole floor, but it's a great help where I spend most of my time...

Meanwhile, our beloved old electrician (I thought he'd retired, which he did, but he's BACK!) came this morning with a bid on the new plug-ins so my lamp cord doesn't have to drag halfway across the room and across the bookcase, and perhaps we can simplify the spaghetti cords of the heaters.  I also asked him about more efficient heating, and he pretty much said what Joseph has all along...we've got it.  1500 watts is 1500 watts.  Oh.  Well, yeah.  OK. <:-D

And actually it's plenty warm once I turn it up, so I'll just hush now...

Chilly Shed Update

So...found a company to do the insulation under the floor, probably next week unless the weather goes completely wonky.  Almost $400, but it will save on electricity (and cranky, frozen Kate) in the long run.  The one that was going to call me on Monday 2 weeks ago never called, even after another contact, so I imagine how dependable they'd be to actually do the work.

(At this point, all but one of the rigid Styrofoam panels have let go and are lying on the ground under the shed.  Grrrr.)

Still planning to put a wool rug in there...this is the one I want, LOVE the Renaissance feel it has and soft sage green, but having trouble finding the owner of the booth to find out the PRICE.  Must be out of town...

Kinda like the goofy rooster, too...J. thinks I'm nuts, and it IS a lot darker than I'd planned to use in there.  I like checkerboard, though...and I KNOW how much this one costs (very affordable.)

I bought a cheap, small throw rug to put under the desk where I work, and the difference it makes is amazing.  Like between comfort and not.

Meanwhile the ground feeders and squirrels are much appreciating our bounty.  It was 45 degrees this morning, below freezing and snowing now...

And fooey, although it seemed as if the waterlogged board had FINALLY dried out and I put spar varnish on it, mentioned in THIS POST, this is now it looks now.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER USE RECYCLED MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT SOUND.

Brrrrr...

Winter DOES come to the shed...and it isn't even officially winter yet, but the other day it was 39 degrees when I got there.  With BOTH heaters going it doesn't take long to warm up, though, and today I go rug-shopping again.  Bare floor in the winter is nuts, especially when it's just 3/4" plywood!  I found one secondhand for $30, or we may trade out the one at the cabin...

Meanwhile my fleece robe, down comforter and heating pad keep me happy till the heaters do their work...

The birds have found the little platform feeder...nice to watch them crowding around...

Lovely working out there, though...ideas really seem to flow.