Oh good, Connie. Keep that mood going.

Scrappy, that's such fantastic news. And for me, it would sweeten leaving a place I'd worked to make home to know people really wanted it, enough to write letters, and bid for it.

We finally got around to putting bookcases together and rearranging the furniture to accomodate them. There are three six-footers (only two-feet wide), two of which bracket the entertainment stand, which was built to fit in a corner. There will be a low unit between one of those uprights and the third. We got the big heavy print positioned between them, rehung the smaller painting between the windows, and centered the large painting in the vacant wall space on the end wall. The furniture has been totally scrambled, and for those of you who remember the contention over the catcher's mitt recliner, on his own bat, H confessed it has always been too big to be really comfortable for him, and a neighbor with a truck is taking it to Habitat.

It's laughable. Neighbors have dropped by, and boggled. "It's all--*different*. I don't know where I am!" Who knew they were so invested?

But this is one instance where change is good. Tomorrow I unbox the books, and at some point call on the volunteer community librarian to cull through for anything they can use. The rest will be shelved, or donated. All the dvds in one place!

I need to investigate book steps, so I can double-shelve and still see all the spines.

Oh and while I'm here? The inventor of scoots deserves a medal. And cheesecake.

Yay, bookshelves!

Yay, offers!

I need someone to offer compelling reasons not to buy this painting [link] .

I've failed you, Windsparrow. I have no reasons not to, compelling or otherwise. Do you have a place picked out to hang it?

ETA: One should always be receptive to revelations. H picked up one of those glider chairs made for the nursery. There was no matching footstool, but he has always wanted one of the chairs, he thinks they're *so* comfy. I hated the thing. It faux "Early American" oak finished wood, with the faux Boston rocker top rail, and spotty flecked midrange boring blue cushions. Haaated. During the furniture waltz, he parked it beneath the planets painting, and suddenly, against the starfield, the chair's upholstery looked right at home. I still don't find it attractive, but I don't actively hate it, now. (And it is actually pretty comfy)

Do you have a place picked out to hang it?

Thinking about just carrying it around with me everywhere I go. It's not large or ungainly, at 9" x 12".

You need someone to screen it on a pretty light jacket for you, or a white silk umbrella. It's very cheerful, I see why you like it.

It is quite a charming picture, I would not be able to muster an argument against it.

That is fascinating, Bev. Aesthetic combinations are often so surprising, when they work and when they don't.

I caught up on lots of tv: Elementary, Grey's, Criminal Minds, and almost caught up on AoS.

Still have a lot I am behind on.

Just emailed a car dealer & told them what I wanted and what I was willing to pay. Attached a printout from Consumer Reports. Yikes.

Why can't I buy a car the way I buy a book?

Now if I can just find one from 2010+, with all wheel drive and manual transmission. Is that so much to ask?

Options to look at are the Jeep Renegade, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Mini Countryman, Subaru Crosstrek, and Subaru Forester. All of those were available with AWD and a manual transmission. They didn't sell that combo in huge numbers, but they were available, so you may be able to find one.

Here are a few Jeep Patriots in your area. They weren't the most popular Jeep model, but it means you can get some good deals on low mileage models.

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