"What a cute little house!"

I was leaving yesterday and a nice couple out walking their dog remarked what a cute little house I have. I wanted to tell them it has a blog at mycutelittlehouse.com. I obviously picked exactly the right domain name.

Meanwhile, I've been selling my old furniture on Craig's List and buying other people's old furniture that would be more functional and appropriate for the space I have now.

It's been a fun adventure. I've met lots of interesting people and heard their stories. I love that. And I've gotten some really fantastic pieces in exchange for what I think is my junk. And I've got everything delivered and assembled for free by folks who were happy to get rid of their things for the cash.

Strangely enough I seem to be breaking even. But I feel like I'm winning.

First up were the dressers. Now I've been looking everywhere for white dressers for my small bedroom that would be roomy enough for my massive clothes collection. I was willing to buy new as well and I just looked and looked and didn't find anything.

Even on Craig's List, I was searching "white dresser" daily and not finding even a poor substitute for what I was imagining. And then one day, in-between carpet and moving in, there they were.

Two huge white Scandinavian dressers, exactly the right size, for a reasonable price including delivery and assembly from a lovely couple who lives in my neighborhood.

I thought I was lucky to find exactly what I needed exactly when I needed them, but it seems like there's a lot of that going on Craig's List. Everyone I've dealt with so far seems to be finding exactly what they needed exactly when they needed it.

Patio sets are on an end-of-season sale in a lot of the stores right now, but I've found that when I get there, whatever I wanted is gone. I got really tired of chasing down sales only to come home empty-handed.

There's an abundance of patio sets on Craig's List, so I was taking my time.. since its just turned cold the last few days and I won't really use it probably until next spring anyway. The more I looked, the more I got into the idea of Adirondack Chairs.

When I saw this set of two, including a table and 2 ottomans that take up space roughly in the size and shape of my patio, I was interested. As soon as I had enough cash in my hand from selling my stuff, I sent the guy an email telling him I wanted them if they were still available.

Within an hour he called me up, told me he was on his way to my area in his truck anyway in a few hours and he'd bring them right over.

When he got here he told me he was so happy that this order came at exactly the right time. Not just because he was headed this way, but because he's got some friends with an anniversary coming up and he didn't have any spare cash at that moment to buy them a proper gift.

Told him I was glad I could make that happen for him and also get these chairs at the same time. He was about to leave when he explained to me that he actually makes these chairs. He makes them to order when folks ask for them, but since he needed cash and the timing worked out, he actually brought me his set, that he sits on in his workshop. And that he'll make more for himself later.

I've similarly been getting rid of furniture that is exactly what people need exactly when they need it. We all win. It's kind of awesome.

I'm kind of bummed out that I'm running out of things to buy and sell now.