Antique campaign bed… my latest Craigslist SCORE!
After I missed out on the urns/meaning of life… I was CONSUMED by loss.
I have not been so bereft since Mark Markson moved to Florida when I was fourteen. It was MEANT TO BE; and then I never saw him again.
It would seem that all life’s crushing blows come in the same format.
However. It turns out that ALSO, just like life’s crushing blows: if you can look past the fog of disappointment and certainty that you will never recover, you might learn something valuable.
Do you see it? Look past the urns… that’s a campaign bed.
After being on the losing end of mortal combat against silent assailant, I was left frantically covetous for a pair of medium-sized antique garden urns.
In the ensuing months of bitter urn-regret, I kicked up my search-terms on craigslist.
Eventually I found these urns and the urn troll was pacified… They weren’t really big enough. But they resolved the mania; plus I was tired of searching every combination of iron/garden/planter.
Weirdly, I never searched for a campaign bed… why? I don’t know. It’s useless and fancy, so I should have been all over that.
I don’t even remember what this pair sold for at auction, although apparently I liked them enough to take a photo.
Fast forward to now… I haven’t even been looking on Craigslist. Which is sacrilege and alarming, and the extent of my inertia and cement brain; and also to do with acquisition of Cleveland Bookcase/having everything I ever wanted.
But I got on Craigslist on Saturday, because Paul and I have been talking about buying a large chest freezer for kale armageddon… and I refuse to pay money for something boring and unfancy if I can get it on Craigslist for free.
I’m positive that you understand my strategic financial planning, but it was too sophisticated for Paul, who was saying something about killowats per hour.
I was like, um… no. Let me help you with this simple math:
Crap freezer = oohlala ballgown skirt.
Priorities.
Then he revised his original pitch for improved energy efficiency by pointing out that a free freezer on Craigslist has likely held either Bambi’s murdered mother, or a dismembered human body… possibly both.
At which point I was like— you know what? You are right. Let’s buy a new one… and clicked over to antiques.
I was just absently scrolling when the bed troll was like— HALT.
HALT!!!
Then I did that thing where you squint at the computer screen. Because logically you know that what you think you are seeing cannot be what you are ACTUALLY seeing because there is only one photo in the listing and it somehow provides no clarity at all.
Then I got a campaign bed for $60.
For comparison, here is (the only) one on eBay. (And also a fancy campaign lounge! And a folding chair.)
If you Google “campaign furniture” your results will mostly show you results from the British officer class. Reproductions of British campaign furniture are plentiful… but not really my style.
furniture designed expressly to approximate all the refinement of a proper British household inside the canvas tents of ranking officers afar, but also to break down and fold up fast for easy, compact transport (hence campaign furniture’s other appellation, “knock-down” furniture). — Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914
My bed is probably French. It’s iron. And HEAVY. Because I guess the French were like – we COULD make our camp furniture lightweight and portable, OR we could make it giant, fancy, unwieldy, and heavy as hell.
“Mobility was much less a concern than keeping up appearances.” — Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914
Which makes perfect sense if you think about it: what better way to defeat an enemy army than to BE FANCIER THAN THEM?
p.s.— Elvis is still here!
I have zero idea of what her plan is.
If you had asked me a year ago – if I thought that the thoughts/love/prayers/whatever you want to call it/of strangers on the internet would impact the lifespan of my most precious animal, I would have given you a very strange look.
But I am completely convinced that the reason she is still hanging out is because of this very thing. So, thank you. xoxo.
Her eating has gone further downhill… but she seems comfortable and still herself. She still enjoys a petting-induced coma, and sitting out on the front porch with us, so I’m just trying to enjoy this time… the in-home vet reminded me this is Elvis’s timeline to complete as she sees fit, and it is outside of my control.
I plan to hire him to advise me on all aspects of life, because he is very wise.
see all my favorite Craigslist scores!
July 12, 2016 @ 11:25 am
Great score! You have inspired me to pay more attention to Craigslist, but I guess people in my area (Tennessee) just don’t list things like the fabulous treasures you find! I’ll keep looking though!
July 12, 2016 @ 11:35 am
Adore the bed, what do you plan to do with it? Did you buy it specially for Elvis? I hope so, she deserves it. Still hoping/ praying/ thinking of Elvis, you will all know when the time is right xxxxx
July 12, 2016 @ 11:38 am
I always get a hoot out of your posts. Love the bed! Do you have any Habitat for Humanity ReStores near you. I posted from our weekend trip to our store. Dropped of a truckload from the current project and couldn’t resist a peek inside. I snapped some pics for my blog, showed my husband the one thing I thought he would like. I was right. Went back and it was still there! See if you can guess what it was…
July 12, 2016 @ 11:41 am
LOVE the new purchase! I was looking at this month’s edition of Romantic Homes and one article had a lady that had an old iron daybed outside in the garden, and I was like, THIS is what my life has been missing! What are you planning on doing with your campaign bed? I am sooooooo glad Elvis is still with us, and that our prayers are working! That vet does sound very wise, I wonder if he knows anything about antiques or remodeling ; )
July 12, 2016 @ 11:47 am
Yes, post more often! I love enjoying this stuff vicariously through you. And lucky Elvis, to have you.
July 12, 2016 @ 11:50 am
*hugs* Love the bed! But that’s secondary to hearing about Elvis and y’all having time together! xoxoxo
July 12, 2016 @ 11:50 am
First:
Oh Elvis! I’m so, so thankful to hear of stolen moments on the porch together and a home bet that you love. Still praying for all things…
Second:
The bed!! YES PLEASE! And such a great score instead of the fancy urns. There must be BIGGER urns out there waiting for you…
Third:
You always brighten my day. So I owe you a big mahalo nui ❤️
July 12, 2016 @ 11:53 am
I love you and your writing. I hope a book is somewhere in your future. Keep up all the fun so I can live vicariously through your adventures. Blessings
July 12, 2016 @ 11:56 am
On Elvis and eating, our cat Satchmo will be 18 on September 6 [if he makes it til then]. We’ve gotten a compound from the vet, via a compounding pharmacy that we squirt into his ears 2x a day. It is supposed to help with his weight loss as he has lost 1/3 of his body weight in the last 2 years. and despite his decrepitude he fights like a demon regarding pills, and his quality of life is the main thing. fingers crossed.
Regarding your Campaign Bed of Fanciness. How does bronze rustoleum, striped cushions set in your garden under a pergola/canopy sound? you could anchor the front opening with your Urns of Fantabulousness.
July 12, 2016 @ 6:52 pm
Fixitchick, we had to give this medicine to our Emma for his thyroid. He became sleek and fat and lived many happy years. Good luck and I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
July 12, 2016 @ 11:57 am
I’m so happy to hear Elvis is still with us. She’s such a great cat, and like her mommy, probably figures she’ll stick around to see what next fancy thing you buy. Maybe a gilded kitty dish?!
I love the campaign bed.
xo,
Karen
July 12, 2016 @ 12:04 pm
You’re back on the Holy Grail, BRAVO…. and the BESTEST news is that dear darling Elvis is still with you – what a star-lit bonne nouvelle!!!
About this bed; I live in France and never ever heard of this kind – looks gorgeous, love it with no reservation and it would look gr8 in our stone ‘mansion’ of 1920!
July 12, 2016 @ 12:15 pm
I adore the camp bed! What a score for you! I’m sure you’ll keep us posted when you get it all staged properly and ready for the field of battle.
In the meantime, it could perhaps be something wrong with my laptop settings, but your latest posts are displaying differently, and not nearly as well as when I first started following you. For example, no other content (including the photo of you, your “about” info, ad info) other than the current post is showing and all content is off to the extreme left of the page.
I’d be happy to send a screenshot if that would help. Am I the only one reporting this problem?
Thank you and YAY Elvis!!
July 12, 2016 @ 12:38 pm
A screenshot would be AWESOME. Thank you! (and browser/device you are using?)
[email protected]
I really appreciate it… I never know about these issues unless someone takes the time to tell me!
xoxo VEB
July 12, 2016 @ 12:52 pm
Although I adore you and your post about the campaign bed, your PS about Elvis made me smile, then laugh, then cry! I think we should all clone your in-home vet! Love to Elvis and to you and Paul!
July 12, 2016 @ 12:55 pm
Your PS made me smile, then laugh, then cry! Love to Elvis, you and Paul! And DO keep Mr. In-home Vet near forever and ever!
July 12, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
I too want to know, what are your plans for this gem?? I also realize that is really not a requirement when you are totally consumed with getting the thing in the first place, HA!
July 12, 2016 @ 1:15 pm
Love the bed. I was looking for an old daybed for my balcony but that camp bed would be even more awesome since I could store it easier for winter.
Beaming good thoughts Elvis’ way and also to Bones (a poster aboves sick kitty).
July 12, 2016 @ 1:50 pm
Tennyson and Bronte send baleful stares in Elvis’s general direction. Elvis shouldn’t take it personally (and wouldn’t bother, I know I know) because they spend all day sending baleful stares at each other. They’re all old and skinny and on their last legs. Yeah yeah. I think it’s a game, carefully played, strategically played. All three of them. But we LOVE THEM ANYHOW. =^..^=
July 12, 2016 @ 2:42 pm
Craigslist likes you back–sweet bed!
July 12, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
I tried. I really did try to read your witty and fun blog but the ADS would not go away. They blocked the text and pictures. Thank you Ad Choices. You are a POX on bloggers everywhere. I give up. But I bet it was a good read.
July 12, 2016 @ 3:03 pm
I was so delighted by your transparency this morning in how you described your disapp
ointment on the loss of getting the urns….this weekend I found a 700.00 painting in a shop I frequent when visiting in Victoria B.C. …it was reduced to a breathless 99.oo…I could hardly wait to go purchase it and getting my laid back husband to hurry is… is a lesson in patience for me! After the chair dancing ride down to Chintz and Co. to purchase my golden goose…we giggly open the door to the store only to have to hold it wide open for the clerk who was escorting my painting right out the door to the waiting vechicle of a very excited young couple….Woe is me!!! I spiraled down so fast my husband had to catch me….I started hyperventalting…..believe me I laugh at myself now…shame on me…..lolol….the lessons we have to learn!!!! I am an artist so I get to paint myself a big painting to hang where the lovely lady was going to hang….