Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Back to Peruvian Gillian

Oh my, it has been awhile hasn't it?

Awhile for a lot of things-

Awhile since I've been in Lima.   Awhile since I've spent the night at the Lima airport.  Awhile since I've made it through customs with a green button of victory.  Awhile since I've spoken Spanish.  Awhile since I've gotten a Peru stamp in passport and awhile since I've been home.

I landed tonight in Lima a little before midnight, and even though it's different, it's the same.  My heart feels at home again.  I'm only a few mere hours away from seeing Jamesson after a year and a half.  This trip has finally become reality, despite all the times when I was convinced that time had honest to God just stopped completely, this trip has proven that time was in fact marching on.  Perhaps not as quickly as I wanted it to, but it did march on, and I am finally going to see him again and we're finally moving forward.

I'm so excited to be back in Trujillo, back near Huanchaco, back with good friends, good food, and fantastic weather.  More to follow on my trip for sure, but for now, I bid you a restful night and sweet dreams of cuyes dancing in your head.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Weekend Project

About a year ago I found a wonderful table in a wonderful little antique store here in Denver.  It's the perfect size for 2-4 people and then has a built-in leaf then is the perfect size for 6 people!

The only drawback to this table was that it didn't have any chairs with it.  I didn't think anything of it at the time.  I thought it would be pretty easy to find chairs that I would like to complement them.   Only two little problems with this -  First, It took me a long time to pick out what style of chairs I would like.  Second, the chairs that I like were way out of my price range.

Thus began my search for dining room chairs.  I checked Craigslist constantly, I was always on the lookout  at vintage stores, thrift stores and any other type of stores that might carry affordable dining chairs.  I had all but given up on finding chairs and was juuuust about resigned to the fact that I might need to expand my budget.

And then the pieces all came together last weekend.  As I was driving to run errands, I saw a sign spinner advertising for a new thrift store that had just opened up.   I stopped in on a whim and then I saw them.  6 cane back chairs for 50 bucks.  And thanks to my wheeling and dealing, I sweet talked them down to 40.  The cane back was in great shape and the structure was good.  The upholstery was nasty, but my creative spark ignited the fire to take on a new project.  New foam, great fabric (on sale) and a little paint and voila!  I have dining room chairs.  Results below!