Sunday, October 25, 2009

What's Up With Wal-Mart?

For the last 4 weeks, I have stopped at the local Wal-Mart every couple of days to see if they had actually gotten in a shipment of the base color paint I have needed to paint the rest of the inside of the house. Thanks to the "economic downturn" Wal-Mart is reorganizing a lot of their stores. They said originally they had intended on building a "bigger" store to take the place of this one. From the looks of the store, it looks like they are trying to convince people they are fitting more into this store by rearranging the aisles. But if you really stop and take a look at what they are doing, they have a whole lot less "stuff". The aisles have been broken up and are much shorter than they used to be. Rather than 1 long isle of something, they now have 1 short one and a noticeably smaller selection. This Wal-Mart used to have a nice fabric department with lots of sewing notions and crafting supplies. Fabric...Gone! Sewing notions...Mostly gone! Crafting items...down to one side of one very short aisle. Lots of stuff gone or severely reduced and yet, I cannot see where there is any new items or that any one section has grown. And lots of spaces are constantly empty-like they don't have enough stockers. I think it is because they don't have enough stock. Because has anyone ever known Wal-Mart to not have something(like my base paint) for weeks on end?

Anyway, I finally got the paint. I won't even go into what an ordeal it was to get it mixed correctly....Ugghh!

And this weekend, I have started covering the nasty seafoam green color. Forgive the clutter everywhere I thoroughly have the house tore apart-cleaning, painting and trying to eliminate "stuff"...



With a lovely beige. See the difference...


Initially, I had wanted to paint the living room and hall with the same khaki color I used in the bedrooms, but it was just way too dark and lighter shades of it looked too blahhh. The khaki looked good with the gray countertops, which the beige doesn't, but we are planning on putting tile throughout the house, so I'm hoping for new countertops too(hint, hint honey??) So I struggled over the color for quite some time. Finally, I said the heck with it and just picked out a bland beige color to at least get rid of the yucky seafoam green...
I just couldn't picture anything with that puky green color staring at me. The ceiling and walls are actually two different shades. I really like the ceiling color-it's called Oats...whoda thunk it right? LOL...so even if I eventually pick another color for the walls, that one will stay. Walls I don't mind painting...I hate ceilings.

I was pretty excited to finally get to put my Mongolian saddle up where I had always wanted to put it. But now I don't think it works there. The details are what's really pretty on this 100+ year old saddle and you just can't see them when it is waaayyyy up there...

My Honey brought this neat tidbit home for me from one of his hitches in China. He was touring one of the Ghengis Khan sites and he said when he realized the Mongolians were notorious horsemen and then saw this saddle he knew it was the perfect gift for my 35th birthday.

My goal is to figure out how to properly display the really neat things that MH has collected in his travels, throughout the house, without cluttering things up so much you can't appreciate each item. There is a lot. This poor little house is brimming and this is just MH's stuff. I haven't moved any of my stuff out here. We were joking about needing his/her houses. I suppose I will simply leave the vast majority of my things in SD and I'll just bring a few of my most valued treasures. I know society is all about telling people they don't need to hang onto "old" stuff anymore and that they should de-clutter their lives. But there is "clutter" and then there are things of sentimental or financial value that way too many people just get rid of. Sometimes the line is obvious...sometimes it's pretty fine.

Now that I have the house completely tore apart, I'm going to have to hustle to get things back together before MH gets back from his hunting trip. It kind of freaks him out if he is around when I'm working on these things, but if he is gone and it's done when he gets back, he always likes it. Maybe that is because I told him if he doesn't like something he has to be the one to change it back.;-)

19 comments:

Mrs. Mom said...

LOL WallyWorld is a freaking NIGHTMARE anymore. Ours has undergone some sort of surgery too, and is out of half the stuff we need, most of the time. I can honestly say, I *hate* WalMart these days. (Not to mention the creepy people in ours!!!!)

House is looking good!! You need a really neat display case for that Mongolian saddle. That is really really beautiful!!

cdncowgirl said...

Looks like you've found yourself a project - who'da thunk it? lol

Hmmm... displaying stuff. Maybe store some and display some. Then you can rotate what's stored and what's displayed.

Vaquerogirl said...

Love the paint color! And you got up to those hard to reach ceilings- I have some and I need to get up thre too- but I don'[t have a long enough ladder~

That Mongolian Saddle is the BOMB! I'd have Hunny make you a really nice wooden stand and put it the place of honor in your newly painted room. I have three saddles in mine:)

Paint Girl said...

That is one reason why I don't shop at Wal-mart! The first time I ever shopped in one, I hated it, and haven't been back since!!
I like the color you are painting your walls! It is a good color, and will go with anything!
I am with you, hate painting ceilings!!
That is one cool saddle!! I have always wanted a really old, antique saddle to display. Love yours!

Unknown said...

I think it might be your wal mart. The ones here are great though theres this one thats terrible. I think it might just be management.

You should get a cool table top saddle rack thing. I bet you could build one easily and stain it/paint it.

City girl turned Country Girl said...

All of our Walmarts have been undergoing reconstruction as well... It seems really bad at first because like you said they move things to half length shelves and nothing is where it's supposed to be. Oh and they did the same thing with our crafts/fabric area, but now that it's all done it works really well and they did get everything back including the crafts area!! I had the exact same problem getting paint for my J's room, it was they didn't have any tint left, and the manager wouldn't let them stock it...Whatever!! Glad you got yours and the color looks great!! Love the saddle very cool!

Chelsi said...

COOL saddle!!! Nice warm wall color (or colour here in canada) too. I like old things! My DB is the same way about making changes too...I can do just about anything I like so long as it is done by the time he gets home. lol

Oh and btw, my Mom has a paint color on her wall called "rodeo dust"...it is awesome!! Really warm light brownish/yellow/pinkish color depending on the light.

AKPonyGirl said...

If you think shopping at Wal-Mart is bad, try being a contractor for them. I had the property maintenance contract for the summer (mow the grass, pull the weeds, etc) and their management style is fear and intimidation. Can't handle that. Then when I billed for the work we did, they want to audit my timecards for the crew that worked! I told them the contract was for the JOB and didn't specify how many hours we spent to get the work done!

I only buy 2 things there: rice bran and 14% all stock. ANd that's because I can't get those products anywhere else.

Love the painting and the saddle. I have two Hamleys in my living room.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Same down here in the Ozark hills and hollers. Products that I have purchased for years, gone! The many choices I used to have, gone. EX. Starkist tuna is the only brand carried. My hubby was told many products are being stocked on consignment basis and if a company was not willing to do that, it's gone. Sad isn't it.

Ya'll have a wonderful blessed Monday and I sure hope ya'll find what your lookin' for!!!

Melanie said...

Hey there! You knew I would post and visit on occasion! Thanks for having faith in me...lol!!! I tried to skim over your last few post's so I have an idea about what's up with you. I am glad that Colorado is treating you so well. :)

Laura said...

I love painting and house re-organizing projects! Lots of fun and hard work, lol!

Integrating two lives into one is always tough - sounds like you guys have some really cool pieces - I love that Mongolian saddle - what a treasure!

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Ooooh, I love your saddle!

The upside to WalMart downsizing that I see is that it will allow small businesses to make a come back- such as craft stores and specialty shops. Hmmmm!

Michelle said...

That saddle is gorgeous! I have never seen anything quite like it, and I agree - you need a proper display for it. The walls look great too! Seafoam + walls = Not good.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

FV-I agree. When there is no other option, I used to buy fabric from WM, but there are a couple of fantastic fabric stores in Grand Junction and I much prefer buying from them.

Thanks for the compliments the saddle. I love it too. I like Sydney's idea of the table top display. It's actually quite small, so might look good on the entertainment center...now that most of the other items that were piled on there have been moved to new locations.

I didn't get everything done before MH got home...he looks a bit overwhelmed by the mess, but really likes what's done. I sent him to the bedroom to take a nap, while I finish up. LOL

Unknown said...

What a neat blog! So glad I found it! Love the old saddle!!

Callie said...

Seems that all the Wally worlds are doing the same thing! Wow! That is one really cool gift!

Leah Fry said...

That's bizarre about WM. What's up with that??

LOVE the Mongolian saddle. Your honey definitely picked the perfect gift.

Like the new paint color — MUCH better than seafoam green.

gtyyup said...

I'm so lucky to not have a Wal-Mart!! Hope and pray it stays that way too.

That Mongolian saddle is awesome!!! What cowgirl wouldn't like that as a gift...totally cool!

C-ingspots said...

The house is gonna be great, even if a bit crowded. A happy home is an awesome home. I totally hear you about Walmart! Ours is exactly the same way...less stuff, and more space, and no sewing stuff. I have to search to find things because they seem to be continuously reorganizing everything. Aargh!! I hate that because I'm always in a rush when I'm there.