It’s been a while since something was too big for the stairwell and had to go up to the roof… *VIDEO*
This post is sponsored by Paul’s patience. All opinions are my own.
After the kitchen-bookcase-misappropriation, I excommunicated Self; denying her Craigslist access and banning her from a position of power.
I said – Self, that was the last straw. You can no longer be trusted… as punishment, we are NEVER buying anything ever again.
Self whispered – I think we should buy something else RIGHT NOW.
I said – NOTHING. EVER. AGAIN.
Self said – or, we could drive directly to the bank and take out all of the money… have you considered that option? Then we can get this mirror.
This sounded like a better plan, so I went and showed Paul. I asked him – if I get a good price for this mirror, will you get it up to the second floor?
Paul said – no.
He said this casually… as though he had never met me before.
I consulted Self to see how we felt about this, and she said — this is why Paul married you: to save him from making horribly erroneous mistakes in life.
So I bid on it.
I won.
$200.
Self said — congratulations! WE ARE A WINNER.
I had to go pick it up by myself, because I hadn’t yet figured out how to tell Paul that I had decided I didn’t like his answer… and rather than have a conversation about it, I had chosen to take a page from his book and act like WHAT?
ARE YOU SURE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS?
I DON’T REMEMBER THAT.
YOU MUST BE WRONG.
I was excited to see how he liked this version of language exchange which some-people-named-my-husband enjoy substituting for conversation.
I was also excited to consider that I may be approaching a time when I operate independently of constraints such as: what is my husband’s opinion?
I mean, it’s even possible that I might eventually graduate to: THERE ARE NO RULES NOW.
Why have I not thought of this before now?
On the way home, I calculated how many people I would need to help me get it upstairs… just incase Paul refused to be involved.
I decided I needed one Paul. Or ten, non-Paul regular people with some moving skills.
Sadly for Paul, I only know people who are idiots like myself, so he had to help after all.
Before we can mount it to the wall, I have to order some corbels… I haven’t decided between fancy or extra-fancy.
To understand how we’ll support the mirror from below, read this post… to understand how I’ll use the corbels, look at this post/ fourth photo down.
Kay
October 28, 2015 @ 11:13 am
Great video! Thanks for including sweet Elvis. Glad to see he can still leap.
On another note, I get these horrible pop up ads that stay on the page even when you tell them to go away. They actually cover part of your content. Is this something you can control (as in specifying that ads cannot cover content), or is it something I can deal with by some means I know nothing about? It happens on very few sites, yours being one of them.
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
October 28, 2015 @ 11:19 am
UGH!! THANK YOU for telling me!! I’m forwarding your comment to the company that handles my ads… NOTHING is supposed to pop up or play noise or otherwise be obnoxious, but sometimes they have tech issues with blocking stuff and not everyone SEES the same ads, so I do not even know what other people see… I’d like to have NO ads, but it costs me a surprising amount of money for hosting fees.
IF you have time, and could tell me what you are seeing an ad for (or a screenshot, if you are tech-savvy) it would be greatly appreciated!!
Kelly
October 29, 2015 @ 8:50 am
Adblock Plus is my BFF: https://adblockplus.org/
Di
October 28, 2015 @ 11:19 am
Victoria, you are one of the few designers where is Less is Definitely not More:
The phrase Less is More, is often associated with the architect and furniture designer Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe (1886-1969), one of the founders of modern architecture and a proponent of simplicity of style.
Ludwig obviously had not met you! Go xtra xtra fanciful!
Lisa
October 28, 2015 @ 11:20 am
I am respectfully requesting a small sample of Paul’s DNA for cloning purposes. I seriously need a man like that in my life.
Terrie
October 28, 2015 @ 11:35 am
With that mirror only extra fancy will do!
Julie
October 28, 2015 @ 11:47 am
Not criticizing, just curious – how many mirrors do you have in this house?!
cathy wright
October 28, 2015 @ 12:07 pm
Not enough! You can never have too many mirrors!
Jennifer
October 28, 2015 @ 11:50 am
Maybe you could put a want ad on Craig’s List and ask all those within a certain radius of you to contact you when they have Big Beautiful Old things to get rid of. Then it all comes to you, like gifts! You never turn down Big Beautiful Old Gifts, esp. if they are perfect- for your vision of your home/life. Paul is a very lucky man to have you keeping his life so full of beauty and excitement, not to mention exercise is good for you/him too. 😉 Stunning mirror! (Do you think it was originally gold under that paint?)
I used to love big things. But then my hubby had open heart surgery. He’s not to be straining over big things any more and now that my son’s are old enough to move big things they have made it clear that they don’t like to move big things. There was the time I brought home a fab workbench with solid steel legs and a cool heavy wood work surface and the coolest tiny drawers down one side- it was the drawers I fell in love with. Took four people to get it up to my studio. As things evolved, I had to remove it but took it apart so it wasn’t so traumatic taking it out- keeping the cool bit with the drawers. I LOVE DRAWERS! I am taking my studio apart again to rearrange it and even now my son talks about that workbench. Poor thing. He may need therapy.
Now I just stack smaller things to create big things, full of interest, and drawers of course.
Keep up the good work! You brighten our lives and inspire us all.
Has Hollywood called? Or PBS, because your Big Beautiful Things are mostly historic and that would suit those PBS folks. A “reality show” be a real hit! Of course you would have to find MORE awesome things and perhaps Paul wouldn’t want the world to watch him hauling stuff through a window every week.
Garden, Home and Party
October 28, 2015 @ 11:53 am
I love the mirror and think you had to have that. I’m happy Paul figured out how to get it upstairs. Elvis is looking pretty healthy. I hope she is healthy and spry for many years to come.
xo.
Karen
Kristin
October 28, 2015 @ 11:56 am
This mirror makes me sad. Sad that it isn’t mine. You remain my hero of all things fancy and magnificent.
kristn
October 28, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
do you think you could clone Paul. I really, really need a Paul to help with all my treasure moving. I would even be will to just rent Clone Paul by the day, so you could share him with everyone else here. You’d probably make more than enough to pay for anther new mirror.. Oh I mean kitchen.
cathy wright
October 28, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
Definitely the EXTRA fany corbels!!!!!!
shar9n
October 28, 2015 @ 12:22 pm
Miss Barnes, once again your AUDIENCE comments are the BEST!!! Loving elvis. And those MIRRORS!
Amber
October 28, 2015 @ 12:33 pm
Definitely the extra fancy!!!
Melinda
October 28, 2015 @ 12:45 pm
When you win, you win big! Love the way you are building your house on the inside with these lovelies that need a good home…
Cyn
October 28, 2015 @ 1:00 pm
You continue to be invaluable to my mental health. Thank you from the bottom of my hesrt.
judy
October 28, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
Oh…this was nigh on perfect except for the dancing….way too little…and while you’re at it could you do different styles of dance..I know you two know all that ballroom dancing stuff.
I always see you and Paul in Spanish costumes,masked and in red and black-he as the robber in that poem that always made me cry,memory fails but I think its The Highway Man? AnyHoo you have one of those flamenco dancer get ups and you do that thing with your hip you do in your Wedding Video. Does this suggest that I’m way too old and with way too little to do? Too Too True…Sob.
The mirror is un-plucking-believable and Elvis flies again. Thank the Kitty Kat Gods. This is way TMI but geeze Louize the flowers!!! The House!! Paul your own resident genius…and much more malleable than you let on…………Beautiful..
I just pretend you lead the perfect life and it makes me happy… If you don’t ? keep it to yourselves I need some illusions/delusions? right now cause mine is literally in total melt down. But here’s hoping for the………………………………………………. “Sun’ll Come out tomorrow.” Best Blogger ever!!
Siouxzie Q
October 28, 2015 @ 1:27 pm
Total crazy pants…and my hero.
Nancy
October 28, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
You brighten my day in the fanciest of ways! I hope, hope, hope you are saving all these stories in a big fancy antique trunk with gilded edges that you will soon deliver to an astute publisher of fine books. You, Self, Paul and Elvis will then spread your unique giggle glitter all over the world. It was meant to be.
Melissa
October 28, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
You are delightfully hilarious. I so enjoy your posts, and your thought processes!
Sharon
October 28, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
Victoria:
Re: Corbels—Go extra fancy or go home.
So glad to see Elvis being spry.
The adventures of Victoria, Paul and SELF are endlessly entertaining, and your home will be a showstopper once you are done. Needed the giggle. Thanks.
Betsy Roush
October 28, 2015 @ 1:54 pm
Oooooh, I love your ‘get it to the second story’ method better than mine! I usually wrap the item in moving blankets, tie it up with rope and haul the item up. The mirror is gorgeous. You and Craigslist keep me motivated…thanks! And when are you going on Dancing with the Stars?