I am invigorated.
There is a feeling of excitement around here
that is substantial,
and the weather is beginning to
give way to signs of autumn.
It is the time of year when thoughts,
for me, turn to practical situations.
Yearly doctor appointments are over and done,
with positive outcomes,
and something is buzzing,
something that gets me up off the couch
and itching to get to work.
Housecleaning, after a long hot summer,
is once again a thing of pleasurable necessity
and it seems as if a season of hope is within reach.
I have said, in the past,
that when it comes to my painting obsession,
three little words are very important:
practice, practice, practice.
Whether I really wanted to believe that or not
it seems to be true.
When I first started, I couldn't draw a straight line and had to trace all my subjects.
Now, even though I still can't draw a straight line,
I have been able to draw and paint
the above porch scene.
I know it isn't perfect and more practice and time
may not make it so,
but I admit that the process is easier
for me than it was,
and I feel better about the outcome.
I painted this sign on the back of
my Christmas quilt square board.
At least two seasons can come and go
without having to try to find storage for it.
For whatever reason,
I had a strange desire to paint it green
and when I put it on the shelf over the couch
it just looked horrible against the blue wall.
I can hardly wait until we repaint those walls.
Believe it or not,
the Captain thinks this plate is
the best thing I have painted.
Here are a few more of the little folk art pieces
that I have been working on:
I just couldn't help myself.
I started some fall decor.
I have been watching some YouTube videos
and have gotten into the spirit.
I ordered some autumn scented cleaner and candles
and can't wait to try them out.
------------------------------------------------
The next part of this episode
is the time when the screen fades to black
and the heroine wakes up
and realizes that while she was counting sheep
her dreams turned into nightmares.
Da, da, ta, da!
______________________
That beautiful and amazing fall-like morning
that I woke up to on that day didn't last very long.
The next morning had turned into 50 shades of gray, and I mean that in color only,
and brought with it pouring rain and soggy spirits.
The candles came that I ordered, and the scent is wonderful and definitely autumn
but the cleaning supplies did not,
so I put off another day
that which I should have started.
As each day passed and the supplies didn't arrive,
even though "Alexa" kept saying
that was the day that they would,
the sun came out once again
that has come to be so familiar this summer,
and I "waited one more day" to get busy.
I am still waiting.
As I was changing throw pillows on the sofa,
I saw these disgusting brown spots and peeling leather on the back cushion.
I swear I don't know how long it had been like that
or how it got that way.
It is only on the side that the Captain sits on
and we have racked our brains to think of something
that he would wear that might cause it
but can come up with nothing.
This sofa was not the most expensive one but it wasn't cheap by my standards either
and the rest that gets as much wear as that spot
is in perfect condition.
As luck would have it, I also added an insurance policy that would protect us
if something should happen like this.
It was good for 3 years
and we have had the sofa for 2.
So, in all good faith
I called the company, Allstate, that held the policy
and Wayfair, the company of purchase.
They both were easy and hopeful to talk to
and both said they would do what was needed to be done to fix the problem
after I sent photos of the damage.
Allstate got back to us and said they would call us
to set up a time to have someone come to the house and look at the sofa.
Then a few days later, we get an email from Allstate stating that the problems we were having,
discoloration and peeling leather,
were not covered under our policy.
They listed everything else except the kitchen sink that was covered but not this particular problem.
I was so mad at that point
I really didn't listen to what was actually covered
but it all sounded to me
just like what was happening to this sofa.
I asked for them to cancel the policy
and give me my money back for the remaining time
but they said that was Wayfair's problem not theirs.
Long story short, Wayfair canceled the rest of the contract and will be sending the money back
but I fault them also
in using their website
to promote this insurance company and for selling an inferior product and not standing behind it.
I tried to find a place
to leave a comment on Wayfair's site
but they must have discontinued this particular sofa.
Be very careful
of ordering leather products from Wayfair.
Some might not be of the best quality.
I have made the decision
to not order from them again.
I have done business with them in the past
and have always been satisfied
but this is too large of an issue to disregard.
Now, as I write this,
I take that first sip of the caramel latte that the Captain got for me this morning
and I guess Starbucks forgot to add the caramel,
so that must mean another day to sit and contemplate the injustice of it all.
As you probably have figured out it doesn't take much to set me off these days,
I guess, once a Cottage Witch, always a Cottage Witch.
Well, today is a new day
and the blue skies and gentle breeze again make me think of Autumn
so, I might be getting back on track.
I managed to tuck a small bit of fall into the parlor so that is always a good sign.
Light a beautiful, scented candle
and enjoy the end of summer.
Candle is from Amazon, Better Homes & Gardens, Farm Apple and Pumpkin, $11 and change.
A great price, smells wonderful and long lasting.
Until next time,
...xxoJudy...
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Love Your Creativity Link Party #269 | Life and Linda
Judy, your paintings are fun and so whimsical. I love the fall decor. I am so ready for fall after that miserable hot summer. So sorry about your couch. It does make you wonder about the insurance they want you to buy and then it doesn't cover the issues. Happy September. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Linda. Wayfair themselves only have a 30 day warranty on the product so I guess that shows how much they have faith in the product they sell. xxoJudy
DeleteThanks so much, Linda. It is a good thing I enjoy the painting because I have a lot of them!! I'm so glad that fall is on the way...It's funny that I am now getting tons of ads for couches from Wayfair. I found a place to add my two cents worth to them so am curious to see if I get a response..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteYour painting is beautiful. I love that you enjoy painting. That is horrible about Wayfair selling inferior insurance to cover your sofa. I believe in this world and what we have been experiencing there is no customer service and no one really cares to help. So sad. Everything cost so much more and then they do not want to do what they should do to make errors right. I am sorry they will not fix your sofa and found a crappy excuse why they are not paying. Maybe we should all write and bring it to Kelly Clarkson that represents Wayfair and sells a lot of her furniture on this site!!!!! Have a good week. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kris. I love your answer about getting in touch with Kelly Clarkson. That is something I didn't think of and even laughed at, then I wondered why not! I googled her and came up with an email address so I sent her a note!! Seriously, I did. What are the odds that I will get an answer?? When I get my new couch, I will be sure to credit you! xxoJudy
DeleteHi Judy! So happy to see a post from you in my feed. I love that picture of the witch. That's my favorite, you are are getting so good and developing a real style of your own. I'm sorry to hear about the sofa. I've been there and decided to not buy the insurance or the warranties anymore, because everytime I went to use one, the issue I had was, very predictably, never covered. I hope you can find a fix for the leather wear...and I hope you get that caramel! Happy {early} fall my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim. It is so maddening and I agree about the warranties. Kris suggested I should get a hold of Kelly Clarkson which I laughed at but then gave it a try. Believe it or not I got an email address from Google so I did send her a note. Do you think I will hear back?? Will keep you informed! HaHa xxoJudy
DeleteSeems like there is always some fine print in a contract that does not cover something. So sorry to hear they would not cover your sofa replacement. Your paintings are just so lovely. I could never paint as good as you. Love everyone you did. Great job. Janice
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Janice. O my goodness I appreciate your compliments, but anybody could paint better than me, although I hope they would have as much fun! I did see a picture of a cover that would look good on the couch so will see if I can afford it!! xxoJudy
DeleteHi Judy! So nice to touch base with you again and get back into blogging, although I have nothing new up yet!! I love your paintings!! Your style is there and you are building on it with each new painting. Some of them remind me of Charles Wysocki. My late sister had many of his works. Keep up that terrific work!😊. I'm so sorry about your experience with Wayfair. I'm wondering if another approach might work. Sometimes companies will try to make things right in other ways-its worked for me. Wayfair sells goods from other manufacturer's such as Birchlane, Pottery Barn, etc., Maybe you can find out where the sofa originated from and if it had a warranty and even if it's not effective now, bring it up to customer service for leverage. In the past, when I've run up against a wall with a customer service person, I
ReplyDeleteremain very easy going and ask them to reconsider or if they could speak to their manager. There is always wiggle room. I once had Wayfair waive a $250 shipping charge on a large piece of furniture when I pretended to cry that I couldn't afford it! If anything, you can ask for a store coupon, voucher or credit for your time and trouble as you've been a good customer and would like to continue to shop with them. It really is amazing what power these customer service people have...they just dole it out as they see it. I noticed I aways get the nicest people late at night. They must be bored!! Good luck Judy!
Thanks so much, Jane and it is good hearing from you. I maybe should have you be my advocate because my husband and I both tried everything we could think of to no avail. However, I did google Kelly Clarkson and got an email address for her. I sent her a note so will see if I hear back anything. xxoJudy
DeleteThanks so much, Jane and it is good hearing from you. I maybe should have you be my advocate because my husband and I both tried everything we could think of to no avail. However, I did google Kelly Clarkson and got an email address for her. I sent her a note so will see if I hear back anything. xxoJudy
DeleteLove all your paintings, and yes, practice and play does help. My project this week was insane, or I'm insane, not sure. Have a great Fall season..still very hot here...and dry! Hugs, Sandi
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sandi. Still much practice needed! xxoJudy
DeleteI do love your new style. It fits you, your space and it's so very pleasing. Doesn't it feel easier when you finally discover what you are "supposed" to do, meant to do? I'm sorry about the sofa -- that's a pity. It does make me wonder a bit about Wayfair. We're having a burst of late summer but fall and September are working at quite a pace. Behind before I started!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jeanie. I watch a video of someone painting and they are so loose just wiggle that brush over the paper and come up with a beautiful painting, I am all hunched over and hanging onto the brush for dear life! I am now practicing that style . I'll try anything. We have bought other items from Wayfair and have always been happy. Last resort I e-mailed Kelly Clarkson, like I say, I will try anything. xxoJudy
DeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the sofa....I would be so mad too!! I adore your paintings and your talent...I am not an artist by any means and came barely draw stick figures but my great nieces submitted several of their painting to the Bloomsburg State Fair here in Pa. and both came in with first, second and third prize awards in the categories that they submitted their art work to!! I finally finished my Fall deep clean of the downstairs and am decorated for Fall and Halloween...I took my time this year and really enjoyed the process....I hope you and your hubby are well!!
Hugs,
Deb
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