Friday, July 10, 2015

POTTERY BARN SELLS SUCKS.....and their Customer Service is even worse!!

Isn't this lovely.....
Our back deck...beautiful hanging ferns and
such a lovely seating area...
This is Palmetto outdoor wicker from every one's favorite
The Pottery Barn....
we started buying this when we moved in to the new house
in August of 2011 and over the years we add new
Pieces until we now own 13 pieces of this stuff....
I won't even bring up the bad umbrella's they sold us that
had to go in to the trash...they rusted...the wood swelled up
they were basically Crap...
Now we are not one's to cheap out on everything we buy....
Just some things...I am the frugal one in the family
The Boss....not so much...
He loved this stuff and after all it was
"The Pottery Barn"....
Talk about a PR team who makes all of America think this is
the end all be all of furniture...
Think again people...
We must have spent in excess of $10,000.00 on this stuff...
Not counting the two sofa's the various tables and our
kitchen table and chairs...
That figure is well over $20,000.00
But let's get back to this crap....
13 pieces....not counting the various cushion
replacements....
our patio looks like a
Pottery Barn Outlet store...
The Boss' motto is the more the better...
But no longer I'm afraid....
Actually I am kind of glad....since I have known all along
that the stuff they sell is totally overpriced and
not your best quality....
But I didn't expect this one....
While sitting recently lounging in the sun on the
chaise lounge on the right I noticed it coming apart...
I don't remember how much exactly this piece cost since the Boss is in charge of all furniture purchases and after

45 years of marriage I don't even ask anymore.... But
certainly over a $1,000.00 not counting the replacement cover
which faded the first season..... the new covers are over $100. a piece....
We used to have a PB umbrella in that spot but as I mentioned
It turned to crap after one season and so this year I went to
the Old Time Pottery here in town and for a mere $37.99
picked up these great metal pole crank umbrellas in nylon
and they are holding beautifully....
This is what the chaise is doing....popping wicker....
I was very incorrect about the price....
Checking their website this piece sells
at a cost of $2500.00 for the pair....
this is what Pottery Barn says about it...
"Crafted of a rugged synthetic that captures the beauty of wicker, our chaise can be left outdoors year-round. Click to read an article on recommended care."

Can be left outdoors "year-round"?????
Dear God....what would it all look like if we followed PB's
instructions....all this stuff gets shlepped in every fall...
They have the entire U.S. fooled....
Do you know anyone who doesn't love the PB....
So to sum this all up...this is what happened when we called
their Customer Service line to see if someone from their
repair service could come out to maybe glue that stuff down...
I never asked for a replacement or to return it...
I just wanted someone to come fix it...
I sent photographs and they were also able to see all the
"crap" we have bought from them...
So they were fully aware of the money we have spent...
Let me mention the bad sofa that was perfect the day we had it delivered....purchased as a floor sample it was flawless...
After using it it turned in to Crap....the back cushions basically
disintegrated.....their answer to that was...
"It was an "as is" sale..." no returns, repairs or adjustments...
Now I understand when you buy something off the floor
and it's damaged in some way that you are buying it
"As Is"...
understandable....
But if the item you purchase is in perfect shape when you get it home...and it falls apart after a short period of time...
I do not consider that to be As Is....
I consider that Crap...
Okay... I went off track for a minute...back to the
Chaise...
I got back this lovely e-mail from the women at CS saying this....

"Good Afternoon.....
The Manager of the furniture team has reviewed your photos and says that the breaks in the wicker are consistent with normal aging for outdoor furniture as old as yours.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to replace or repair your chaise.

You might want to look up a company called Furniture Medics on the internet.  They have many franchises around the country and do excellent repair work."
Nice huh????
I love that it's "consistent with normal aging
for furniture as old as yours..."
It's less then 4 years old!!!!!...
and let me repeat...
They cost $2500.00 a piece...
I don't know about you but when I spend
that much money on furniture I expect it to
out live me!!
Does no one take pride in what they sell anymore...
PB should be ashamed of themselves to 
make that ridiculous statement...
Needless to say they have seen the last of
the Adivari's money....


Monday, July 6, 2015

PEACHES AND CREAM!!......a pie to make you forget about Dieting!

It's that time of year again when I like to post one of my
All Time Favorite Summer Pie Recipes...
It's Peach season down here in Georgia and although
Georgia is the "Peach State"
I prefer South Carolina peaches...they are fabulous...
This is all you need to make this great tasting pie....
Forget about Chocolate and Strawberries...
Chocolate with Peaches is an unexpected and delicious
Combination....
Here's what you need....
One Oreo cookie crust
one package of instant vanilla pudding...
I discovered Hershey's puddings and they
are very good...
one 1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream
About 4 to 5 good size ripe peaches...
These sat on my counter since last Friday and by today
they were perfect...you want the peach to be soft to the
touch...don't use a hard peach it will not be sweet...
also...buy "freestone" peaches...easier to slice....
Whip the heavy cream in a medium size bowl...
refrigerate while you do the remainder steps...
Mix the pudding with just "ONE" cup of cold milk
until thickened...
Fold the Whipped cream into the pudding...
peel and cut up the peaches...
save the perfect slices for the top....
put some slices on the bottom of the pie crust...
the imperfect ones cut up in to small pieces and
blend into the pudding mixture..
Pour the pudding mix on top of the crust and peaches...
 arrange the rest of the slices on top...
This takes all of about 10 minutes to make...
And you will get rave reviews...

I happen to have extra peaches to spare so I decided
To be Sandra Lee for the day....
I had a box mix for blubbery muffins but since we
have a peaches theme going for tonights dinner
I set aside the little can of blueberries for a later time...
Maybe...blueberry pancakes for breakfast in the morning!
 Instead I added some diced peaches...
I prefer 6 jumbo muffins instead of 12 smaller ones...
 I always add coarse sanding sugar on top and
a little Honey to make them shine...
 

There you have it....
Peach Muffins without all the work...
 Just as good as anything from scratch!
We have a friend who's wife is out of town and he
is joining us for dinner tonight....
On the Menu...
Peach glazed BBQ Ribs...
Au Gratin 3 cheese potatoes....
Baked Beans
corn on the cob....
Garlic Texas Toast...
and the Peach Muffins...
I just hope the poor man doesn't hate peaches...

It's Peach Season....
So from the Great State of Georgia.....
(let's not mention South Carolina again)

ENJOY!!