I took my damask napkin and a scrap of fabric, sewed the clothesline into the scrap like it was the boxing. The messy stitching at the top of the pic is from backstitching when I inserted the cord - the "right" side was the bobbin side and it's not pretty. Laid the damask down right side up, placed the "boxing" with the cord to the left , matched seam allowances, put the "right" (outside) of the scrap (boxing to the right of the damask edge. I put the zipper foot on the left, put the foot right on top of the cord and slowly sewed right along the cord. The stitching still shows on the boxing, but this got it close (bobbin side) to the seat. Then, just for giggles, after taking these pics, I went back and folded the free edge of the "boxing" over the cord again and stitched as close as I could, forming a fold on the underside (the part that will be inside the cushion). This hides the (double) row of stitching on the edge of the welting, but may catch dirt. Probably would look really nice pressed, but would be a bear to do on the second edge since by then the seat panels top and bottom would be attached and I'd be folding the entire (let's say bottom seat panel is the last to be sewn on, then I'd have to fold the top) seat cushion and boxing over to fold it. Maybe I would do this just on the top, and either do no welting, or let stitches show, on the bottom of the boxing? Only place anyone would see those stitches would be bottom edge of front gusset. What do you think?

Patty, I have to laugh! If my cellar wasn't so piled with chairs that II have found great buys on, I'd take a picture! There is NO secret, and this one was just a relative quickie as it needed no repairs, and I didn't have to strip and re-do the finish. I did my first chair a year ago, and have gone nutty having so much fun with them since. I snuck this one in between the leopard and the grain sack one, but I only have the after pics of the $5.00 chair on this laptop. I call it the 'manly' chair. The back and welt is done in faux leather from Barn Fabric that I paid $3.99 a yard for on their last sale. It sells on another site at 3 yards for $135.00!!! Foxes, with your hubby, you have a perfect partner to find one and make it totally YOU. I used AS chalk paint on this one, but did make my own for the leopard one, so that brings my costs way down. With the sample pots from HD or Lowes, and INCREDIBLE buys on fabrics from eBay, I just can't help myself. I'm a newbie 'upholsterer, but I love to help anyone who wants to try this, as it's the perfect way to get a custom piece for very little.

I would have gone and talked to the owner behind you before it showed up as listed -- both to reduce the competition and to possibly make it easier to negotiate, but I still wouldn't rule out making an offer now. Let them know the listed rent is more than your parents can swing and that you can add something to it to make this work for everyone, but not what they are asking. Tell them you were hoping that the $1600 they mentioned might make it possible to work something out. Make an offer that is either the max or close to the max you can do with you chipping in. If it is the max, let them know that. You know they have some flexibility because they talked about listing it for less. If they don't need max dollars out of the home, they may have the flexibility to take the $1600 or even less (asking $1600, they might have been looking to get at least $1450 or $1500 -- or they might have been firm at $1600). Some folks are only about dollars and some situations require anyone to focus on dollars, but sometimes other factors weigh in too. Doesn't hurt to let them know your DH passed and your situation is a bit more limited than it might be otherwise. Let them know you will be there to make sure everything is well cared, that your parents need help and you need them to be closer, but you having trouble finding the right solution. Tell them what a blessing it would be to have your parents hem so close at this time in their lives. It's okay to yank their chain a little. It may or may not work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Whether you talk to these folks or not, you are going to have to be proactive and stay on top of things. I looked at rental listings that are online and even a couple of senior apartment options last night. There ae not a ton of options that appear to be very close to you that are near your price range (only a couple of homes that showed active and in Kingwood - looks like there are more in Atascocita and Humble, and I don't know if those are close enough to meet your goals). But the ones that look best are aleady pending. Are you working with an agent to help you locate possiilities and to jump on new listings? You need to be getting some networking on your side to find things as they open up and to get a sense of where there may be flexibility. If you are working with an agent and they are just showing you what you see online and ask about, they aren't working for you. If that is the case, I'd find another agent. This time of year is likely to have fewer new options, so you want to jump on anything that looks good. There may also be fewer people looking to move this time of year, but it only takes one to snap up that perfect place before you do, so don't be too lax. Also, be assertive. You have every right to ask for anything. If it is reasonable or well presented, it will likely be considered. You may not get it, but you are guaranteeed to get nothing if you don't ask. Put yourself in the shoes of the landlord or seller and tell yourself all the reasons why you and your parents would be good tenants or buyers for them. Convince yourself so you can convince them. Get that agent to work with you -- they are used to seeing the needs and wants on both sides and should be able to help you make your best case. Are you the only family member? Are there others, even if out of town that can lend support and help you with all this? It's a lot harder to act and make decisions when you have the emotional involvement with your parents, they have issues that ake it more difficult and you are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. If you don't have family or friends to lean on, at least you have this forum. Use it -- and get a good agent working for you. And I talk too much. Sorry it's so long.

- He’s caring - He’s fairly attentive - He’s practical - His family is wonderful and is accepting of me - He reminds me often to slow down when I’m stressed - He is honest - He is trustworthy - He would NEVER cheat on me (My frist serious relationship of 3 years I came to find out my ex had cheated on me with NUMEROUS women so this is a big one for me) - He is moral - He is ver patient in some ways, but not all. *********************** There are women who would kill to have a guy like that. *********************** I suppose I’m looking for suggestions on how to help him: Be more positive: How can he be positive when you're listing his faults? 2. Learn to love himself: Are you on him about that too? 3. Find his passion: Some people don't find it until middle age. I was 40 years old when I discovered mine. Some people NEVER find their passion, and that's why surveys find almost 70% of people don't like their job. 4. Get healthy: According to whom? You? What is so bad about his health? Does he smoke 3 packs a day like I did? Does he drink too much like I did? 5. Live in the moment: He is. He's happy just as things are right now. You're the one who isn't happy. 6. Be content alone: He grew up in a large family. He was never alone, and that thought can be frightening. 7. Be open to bonding over something other than TV: He HAS bonded. YOU haven't. 8. Not allow his negative feelings to upset me or make me feel inadequate: This last one is YOUR problem, not one of his faults. This is why people DATE and not move in after four seasons. You are realizing you're not compatible. Your personalities do not mesh. You have become rigid and he's laid back. Under normal dating circumstances you would just break up. But now you have property (things) that must be divided so you can go your separate ways.