Comments on: I’ve Fallen (Onto Your Couch) and I Can’t Get Up! http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/ Practical Lifestyle Advice for Homemakers and Home Owners Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:29:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LIAM http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-5122 LIAM Tue, 12 May 2009 23:18:39 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-5122 Keep up the great work Keep up the great work

]]> By: Never teh Bride http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-3029 Never teh Bride Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:30:13 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-3029 It's not just the Italian grannies, Erika! I've seen plastic covers on houses belonging to all sorts of people, though the one thing they had in common was advanced age. It’s not just the Italian grannies, Erika! I’ve seen plastic covers on houses belonging to all sorts of people, though the one thing they had in common was advanced age.

]]> By: Erika http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-3026 Erika Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:04:56 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-3026 Here I thought it was an Italian-American 'thing', since my Italian grandparents, mother, aunts, etc. all had plastic on their couches! But only on their living room couches - we were free to get comfortable in the family room. We only really used the living room on Christmas and Easter, anyway. :) Here I thought it was an Italian-American ‘thing’, since my Italian grandparents, mother, aunts, etc. all had plastic on their couches! But only on their living room couches – we were free to get comfortable in the family room. We only really used the living room on Christmas and Easter, anyway. :)

]]> By: Danna http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1846 Danna Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:04:15 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1846 Oh my, this brings back memories! When I was a kid back in the 60s, one of my Italian aunts bought new "good" furniture, upholstered in a heavy gold damask. And yup, you guessed it, she had plastic covers for the sofa and chairs, these were tight fitting covers that would easily slip on and off, and those suckers were meant to stay on. They weren't smooth plastic though, they had a little embossed pattern on them so in the summertime when it was hot and swealtering and you were wearing shorts, you'd be stuck to the sofa with sweat, then when you stood up there would be little indentations all over the back of your legs, like you had some horrible skin disease. She also had plastic runners over the carpet so it didn't get dirty. Oh my, this brings back memories! When I was a kid back in the 60s, one of my Italian aunts bought new “good” furniture, upholstered in a heavy gold damask. And yup, you guessed it, she had plastic covers for the sofa and chairs, these were tight fitting covers that would easily slip on and off, and those suckers were meant to stay on. They weren’t smooth plastic though, they had a little embossed pattern on them so in the summertime when it was hot and swealtering and you were wearing shorts, you’d be stuck to the sofa with sweat, then when you stood up there would be little indentations all over the back of your legs, like you had some horrible skin disease. She also had plastic runners over the carpet so it didn’t get dirty.

]]> By: La BellaDonna http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1841 La BellaDonna Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:40:54 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1841 <b>Christie,</b> believe me, it's not about making fun of folks who are poor. A lot of the Plastic Slipcover people are more pretentious than they are poor, and a good many of them have more money than I'll ever see. I think there is an element, though, of calling out the people who ARE trying to keep up with the Joneses across the street, because they <b>aren't</b> in the same economic bracket. Better to be the best Smith that you can be (and life in comfort with your furniture while taking care of it) than to be a cheap imitation Jones. You're not fooling anyone, and your legs are sticking to the slipcovers. Your belongings are supposed to make YOUR life better/easier/prettier/more enjoyable; you're not supposed to be living your life for THEM. That said, I'm all in favor of taking care of the nice things you have: dust what needs dusting, polish what needs polishing, clean what needs cleaning, ignore the cat hair, etc.; but stuff exists to be used -otherwise, why have it? I'd rather wear jewelry and risk losing it - and I have - than never wear it at all. OTOH, it does help to use common sense; I did see a baby carriage of some sort in the photo, I think, and it makes perfect sense to use pretty slipcovers to protect materials that can't be washed. Even in Jane Austen's world, wealthy folks as well as the gentry and the ordinary folks used slipcovers on chairs when there were no visitors, and "holland covers" (aka "linen sheets") when the house was closed up for a few months. Also, it IS true that light degrades and deteriorates textiles something fierce, so you may not want the zillion dollar silk and wool carpets in direct sunlight every day. (Sofas, chairs, carpets, hangings - all susceptible. Your Mom is right, <b>Little Red.</b>) When it's a matter of health, now, I understand needing the covers - yes, I too have received all those "cover with plastic" instructions from the asthma specialists - in addition to "get rid of excess [textile stuff]." Since I'm a textile junkie, that's not going to happen. If I die six months sooner, that's fine by me. And they can line my coffin with some of the extra-nice bits, too. And <b>Monica,</b> I am SO JEALOUS - I mean, "happy for you" - about your lovely embroidered Romanian treasures! Do consider washing them separately and gently, though, so the embroidery doesn't run. You may even want to use lingerie bags for them. I would suggest that you store lavender in sachet bags with them, or keep them in cedar chests, to discourage any pests, and shake them out regularly, if they're not used frequently. Christie, believe me, it’s not about making fun of folks who are poor. A lot of the Plastic Slipcover people are more pretentious than they are poor, and a good many of them have more money than I’ll ever see. I think there is an element, though, of calling out the people who ARE trying to keep up with the Joneses across the street, because they aren’t in the same economic bracket. Better to be the best Smith that you can be (and life in comfort with your furniture while taking care of it) than to be a cheap imitation Jones. You’re not fooling anyone, and your legs are sticking to the slipcovers.

Your belongings are supposed to make YOUR life better/easier/prettier/more enjoyable; you’re not supposed to be living your life for THEM.

That said, I’m all in favor of taking care of the nice things you have: dust what needs dusting, polish what needs polishing, clean what needs cleaning, ignore the cat hair, etc.; but stuff exists to be used -otherwise, why have it? I’d rather wear jewelry and risk losing it – and I have – than never wear it at all.

OTOH, it does help to use common sense; I did see a baby carriage of some sort in the photo, I think, and it makes perfect sense to use pretty slipcovers to protect materials that can’t be washed. Even in Jane Austen’s world, wealthy folks as well as the gentry and the ordinary folks used slipcovers on chairs when there were no visitors, and “holland covers” (aka “linen sheets”) when the house was closed up for a few months. Also, it IS true that light degrades and deteriorates textiles something fierce, so you may not want the zillion dollar silk and wool carpets in direct sunlight every day. (Sofas, chairs, carpets, hangings – all susceptible. Your Mom is right, Little Red.)

When it’s a matter of health, now, I understand needing the covers – yes, I too have received all those “cover with plastic” instructions from the asthma specialists – in addition to “get rid of excess [textile stuff].” Since I’m a textile junkie, that’s not going to happen. If I die six months sooner, that’s fine by me. And they can line my coffin with some of the extra-nice bits, too.

And Monica, I am SO JEALOUS – I mean, “happy for you” – about your lovely embroidered Romanian treasures! Do consider washing them separately and gently, though, so the embroidery doesn’t run. You may even want to use lingerie bags for them. I would suggest that you store lavender in sachet bags with them, or keep them in cedar chests, to discourage any pests, and shake them out regularly, if they’re not used frequently.

]]> By: Never teh Bride http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1838 Never teh Bride Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:03:59 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1838 Gigi: Sticky! Sarah: I always thought the covers came off when company came over. I've never heard of the covers going on when company arrived. Christie: You make a good point, but one that strikes me as kind of sad. I have the best furniture I can afford -- which isn't all that -- but I still use it. Unless someone has a lot of guests or a lot of kids, how much damage is that furniture going to take? I have six younger siblings, and my family managed to make un-plasticked furniture last a goodly long time. divya: Ugh, noisy cushions and pillows bother me. I can't imagine how crinkly that must have been... elayne: "I LIVE here, I don’t give tours." Damn right! Gigi: Sticky!

Sarah: I always thought the covers came off when company came over. I’ve never heard of the covers going on when company arrived.

Christie: You make a good point, but one that strikes me as kind of sad. I have the best furniture I can afford — which isn’t all that — but I still use it. Unless someone has a lot of guests or a lot of kids, how much damage is that furniture going to take? I have six younger siblings, and my family managed to make un-plasticked furniture last a goodly long time.

divya: Ugh, noisy cushions and pillows bother me. I can’t imagine how crinkly that must have been…

elayne: “I LIVE here, I don’t give tours.” Damn right!

]]> By: elayne http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1835 elayne Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:07:57 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1835 class-factotum, your post reminds me: I think it was Erma Bombeck who said, in her last months of life, that if she had it to do all over again, she'd ENJOY the things she loved, instead of protecting/preserving them. She gave the example (I might have the details wrong, so don't quote me on this) of some lovely rose-shaped and -scented candles she had been given, which she'd deemed "too nice" to burn, and too susceptible to collecting dust to leave out on display. She'd stored them in the garage, and after her cancer diagnosis, decided to get them out and enjoy them - but they had melted in the heat over several summers. I'm all for keeping things in such a way so that they're easy to clean and don't create so much work that they become a chore instead of a pleasure, and for protecting one's health (re: plastic covers to help combat dust allergies), but yeah - I LIVE here, I don't give tours. Keeping things clean and tidy is important to me (though you'd never know it by looking in my kitchen right this moment) (or my office, or my bedroom, or...) but what is the point of having things that are too "precious" to be enjoyed? class-factotum, your post reminds me:

I think it was Erma Bombeck who said, in her last months of life, that if she had it to do all over again, she’d ENJOY the things she loved, instead of protecting/preserving them. She gave the example (I might have the details wrong, so don’t quote me on this) of some lovely rose-shaped and -scented candles she had been given, which she’d deemed “too nice” to burn, and too susceptible to collecting dust to leave out on display. She’d stored them in the garage, and after her cancer diagnosis, decided to get them out and enjoy them – but they had melted in the heat over several summers.

I’m all for keeping things in such a way so that they’re easy to clean and don’t create so much work that they become a chore instead of a pleasure, and for protecting one’s health (re: plastic covers to help combat dust allergies), but yeah – I LIVE here, I don’t give tours. Keeping things clean and tidy is important to me (though you’d never know it by looking in my kitchen right this moment) (or my office, or my bedroom, or…) but what is the point of having things that are too “precious” to be enjoyed?

]]> By: SusanC http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1832 SusanC Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:51:54 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1832 I agree with Twistie- slip covers are fine and practical. Done well, their function may not even be obvious. I do wonder if any of the plastic-cover people also shop at Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel for "distressed" furniture. I recall seeing a "Provence" style dining room table with the same wear pattern hammered in various spots, no doubt by bemused 3rd world laborers. Or is that a different set of silly people? I agree with Twistie- slip covers are fine and practical. Done well, their function may not even be obvious. I do wonder if any of the plastic-cover people also shop at Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel for “distressed” furniture. I recall seeing a “Provence” style dining room table with the same wear pattern hammered in various spots, no doubt by bemused 3rd world laborers.

Or is that a different set of silly people?

]]> By: raincoaster http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1826 raincoaster Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:06:23 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1826 My father kept the plastic covers on his lampshades, until he went on vacation and asked me to house-sit. They were mysteriously missing when he got back, but it took him two solid years to notice! My father kept the plastic covers on his lampshades, until he went on vacation and asked me to house-sit. They were mysteriously missing when he got back, but it took him two solid years to notice!

]]> By: divya http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/comment-page-1/#comment-1825 divya Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:35:07 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/08/19/ive-fallen-onto-your-couch-and-i-cant-get-up/#comment-1825 usually, people who use plastic never take it off!!! I knew a woman who bought new cushions, put them in a plastic bag, covered them with beautiful cushion covers. Washed and changed the covers, but we could never rest on those rustling cushions. usually, people who use plastic never take it off!!! I knew a woman who bought new cushions, put them in a plastic bag, covered them with beautiful cushion covers. Washed and changed the covers, but we could never rest on those rustling cushions.

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