Rolling out the red (mostly black, with earth tone highlights) carpet.

Oscar Sunday is as good a day as any to roll out a new carpet. There was a brief period of almost-warm-oh-my-did-I-see-crocus-leaves weather today, so we decided to do some pre-spring cleaning. And after scrubbing the floors Cinderalla style, I finally got around to laying out our new runner.

We picked it up at a home store in Asbury Park (Robert Legere) that twice a year marks everything down 50%. I usually pick up super fancy Christmas ornaments at the January sale to use as favors at my cookie party, but this year no ornaments. I was too late to their party.

The runner is replacing this one we got at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago that was a big fat fail. Jute - pretty to look at, impossible to clean up after. I loved the thickness and texture, and the color against the dark wood floors. But it created tumbleweeds larger and more invasive than anything that's ever rolled off our dog during peak shedding season. I would vacuum, go out to dinner, and come home to jute dust. Everywhere.

Speaking of the dog, someone thought the new runner was her new bed.

Maggie's quite good at making herself comfortable. This is how I found her when I woke up this morning:

Looks like someone had a rough (ruff?) Saturday night.