House of 40 Chairs (TOP Is Off Today)

TOP will be off today whilst* I take care of some pressing life administrative details.

Why not check out a recent post you might have missed, such as:

Epson P800 review (and its companion piece about why you might want to use Printer-Managed Color instead of custom profiles)

The Publishing Project of the Century

Shared Photographs: sharing is a two-edged sword

Using custom modes on your camera effectively

TOP interviews a man of wealth and taste (National Geographic and the Devil)

New 35mm lenses

Why you should make prints

Or yesterday's post about good photo-education books.

Is that enough? You can find more in the Archives.

P.S.
And a brief update: they say that when people buy a new house, they tend to overcompensate for the shortcomings of the old one. As I was scanning through these older posts I noticed that back in September I wrote:

There is currently no comfortable place in the house to sit, which, although temporary, is a shortcoming. I have dining-table chairs—no dining table yet; it's being built by the Amish—but no couches or stuffed chairs. The famous orange couch from my last new house was midcentury-modern style. It worked well in that house but would not have looked right in this one. I gave it to Xander, and it is now occupying the living room of his rented group house back in Wisconsin where he goes to college. Before winter gets here, I am probably going to need some furniture.

But there is still time. I will work on it.

My old-old house in Waukesha was not set up for visitors. There were almost no chairs even for Xander and me. The lack of seating was symbolic of a reticent, semi-reclusive, closed-down life, I'm afraid.

I'm happy to report not only that the new Mennonite (not Amish) made-to-order mission-style couch is here, but that my new house, when it's finally all outfitted, will have FORTY places for people to sit. Four-oh. That includes no fewer than twelve chairs outside. (That does count three per couch, which is not typically how people use couches; a couch or sofa should ordinarily be counted on to seat two.)

Is that a photogenic couch, or what? Quarter-sawn oak and "paprika" leather. And a superb bargain, as well. I got it from Horning Chair Shop in Penn Yan (1657 Stiles Road, Penn Yan, New York, 14527, 315/536-2042—no website, but c'mon, they're Mennonite—they often travel by horse and buggy!) and thanks again to the unidentified reader who tipped me about them (it was in a comment, and I can't find it now). Thanks as well to Alvin and Andrew. Horning Chair Shop has been great.

I love the rug, but it's a $100 Lowe's special and it's aging before my very eyes. I fear it might not last as long as I'd like it to.

Well, now I appear to have written a post, despite intentions. Well, okay, then, so I'm going to have to take the rest of the day for personal business. See you tomorrow.

Mike

*Ailsa loves it when I try to speak English. She heaps scorn on me for trying to be a bloke.

Original contents copyright 2015 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

David Miller: "Your use of 'whilst' is perfectly good English, Mike, but blokes don't say 'whilst.' Chaps say 'whilst.' (But keep at it, your efforts are admirable.)"

Ailsa: "Careful, Mike, or I'll start accusing you of bolloxing things up...."

Mike replies: That would leave me gobsmacked.

 

Comments

[Robert Roaldi]

When people come visit, you'll be able to say, "Have a seat", and mean it.

[Roger Bradbury]

The nephews will be arriving soon. They take opposite ends of the settee, while I sit in the middle. Their mum sits away from the action in the armchair.

At one time we could all fit on the settee together but they became too big and the wrestling, prodding and general congenial abuse we three lads share was taking up too much room.

My first requirement for a settee is that it is long enough for me to comfortably go to sleep on. That means that no settee shall enter my home unless it is a (nominal) three seater.

[Scott Campbell]

Ask Ailsa who wears the pants in the family and see what kind of a reaction you get! ;-)

[Marty]

That's a handsome couch.

[Don Daso]

Well, that certainly IS a fine-looking couch!

Amish & Mennonites are often confused; I grew up
in that part of the world in Ohio. Mennonites often brought/bring Amish workers to jobsites in their car, always an interesting experience.

But to the point...what did said couch cost?

[Mark Muse]

I have the same couch but with fabric instead of leather. Had it for several years now and love it. With the back cushions removed it makes a good spare bed, too. You should put it out into the room... the back is just as beautiful.

[Rod Graham]

I almost hesitate to call that couch a "piece of furniture"----what an artistic expression of a "couch". Somehow very fitting for the environment it finds itself in.

[Earl Dunbar]

Damn that looks great! I love mission style, yet I have no mission pieces. Go figure. You know what this means, right? I'll give you a ring before I arrive to test out that spiffy couch. :)

[Scott]

I think I was the one that mentioned Horning (I misspelled their name, which may be why you can't find the comment). They built me four bookcases and a dining room table, all in cherry. They really do make gorgeous stuff.

[Thank you Scott! Great tip, very much appreciated. --Mike]