So last night I had to take Astro to the doggie emergency room.
He was choking and wretching and otherwise making me hysterical.
Fortunately, the wonderful vet at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital figured out almost immediately that the boy had eaten burdocks.
Those are thistles, essentially, that had caught in his paw and beard. He and I went for a long hike in Kennedy Park Saturday afternoon, so I am sure he got them there. Bad Mom. I did not even see them. They kind of blended in with his shaggy dog coat, and I am not a helicopter dog-Mom.
As a result, I did not get time to finish this post. I had loaded in the photos and was sitting in front of the computer about to start captioning them when all this drama started.
Now I am whipped. I think I will have a drink. Seriously.
Aren’t these 1976 sofas and loveseats and chairs and interiors from Kroehler an absolute gas? I welcome reader comments and captions expounding upon them. As all I can think about right now is Season 3 of Dexter on Netcast and a long tall cold vodka and orange juice.
To view the gallery, click on the first thumbnail … the image will enlarge on your screen … use the arrows below to move forward or back … you may start or restart at any slide:
Shane Walp says
I like the setup with the floral couch and the oval braided rug. I’m looking for a rug like that. I have tried that place that makes them, but they don’t have quite the right colors of a vintage braid. We had one exactly those colors when I was growing up – my parents bought it in the late ’50s or early ’60s so it had been around a while when I made the scene.
pam kueber says
Estate sales: I see the ALL THE TIME. Cheap.
Gavin Hastings says
Google:
Thorndyke Mills Braided Rugs. They make those colorways and the rugs are actual braided wool strips, not yarn covered cords. Lifespan of at least 100 years!
pam kueber says
Great find, Gavin! Goin’ on the blog, for sure. And so close to us! Road trip?
Karen says
Oh Pam I hope Astro is doing better and the post is fine. I love the furniture. Especially the chairs with the skirts at the bottom. Brings me back to birthdays parties in the basement at my parents house!
christi Harris says
Image 4 is totally a LOVE PIT. Sexual liberation for everyone!
Suzy Massey says
I was going to call it Romper Room….
Diana of Mt. Lebanon, PA says
So glad to hear Astro is ok!
I know what you mean about the doggie ER at 9 pm. We had a similar experience with our dog Boo when she swallowed a wash cloth while we were bathing our 1 yr old son. I felt so bad for the other animals at the ER when we arrived. It was horrifying! Anyway, our dog Boo recovered since they induced vomiting (gross) and the wash cloth came up. We decided to throw it out after that :-). But we learned a lot about not leaving anything on the floor that Boo could somehow swallow. And, I hope I never have to go to the doggie ER at 9 pm again on any day of the week.
I find that 1976 crib couch in crushed velvet very interesting, but what would one use a crib couch for?
pam kueber says
Before my narrative turned to doggie drama, I was contemplating how to politely position a discussion of The Pill, Women’s Lib, and Free Love as the explanation for the crushed velvet crib couch and several of the other photos. Wink wink nudge nudge.
Gavin Hastings says
The center pieces get moved around the room for additional seating.
jane says
Blushing about memories of evenings spent on a crib couch……………ahem, yes Pam, the pill, sexual liberation, come on, use your imagination. I certainly wasnt sitting around looking at pictures of couches on the internet back then. : O
pam kueber says
hehe, wild saturday night!
pam kueber says
Well, sorry I was not more clear on the outcome of the burdocks. Dogs are renowned for eating these… the burdocks scratch their throat and otherwise are extremely uncomfortable going down… hence all the gagging and wretching. Apparently there are no long term effects, just discomfort for a day or so. Also he swallowed a lot of air during the gagging and wretching so he was hiccupping and burping and breathing funny. Ultimately, the burdocks just get pooped out, all ready to flower again next spring. This is their method of propagation and spreading! My boy is part of the circle of biodiversity! He is still coughing a bit this morning, but seems 100% fine. Also, I have to say, that the doggie ER at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night is another story altogether. Talk about surreal. THEY need a reality TV show. Hmmmm. P.S. Vodka is Good.
Diane says
Now I need to know–how did the vet get the burdocks out of his throat? I hope that he’s home and burdock-free now.
Sidney says
I am sorry about Astro, but love his name! And this post. Your trauma inserted between these couches with such traumatic fabric is classic!
But isn’t that the point?
pam kueber says
tee hee
Gavin Hastings says
I am sorry you had to race to the Vet- problems with pets can be downright heart-breaking.
The older I get….I miss well done 70’s rooms with sofa #2. “Fern Bar” style. Some exposed brick, Jane Avril poster and a corn plant. A strip of track lighting.
“The Eyes of Laura Mars” is free on Comcast this month. Great living/bedroom. The best 70’s rooms are starring in “Shampoo” w/ Warren Beatty.
Why is it that flowered sofas look awesome in the showroom, yet when you get them home it is: “I can’t believe I bought a flowered sofa!” ?
Magnarama says
Oooo, thanks for that reminder, Gavin. I’m going to set up a double bill of both those films for a night this week. Haven’t seen them in years, but remember both as having great set design, and also being good movies. Plus I miss Raul Julia.
Shane Walp says
Yes no doubt! Back in 2000, I bought a couch from Sofa Express that was beige and had big floral print of magnolias all over….same thing. When I got home…YUK! LOL
ELS says
Gavin – If you like the sofa / conversation pit in pic #2, check out Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ Dr. Pitt set. IIRC, they sell the pieces separately, so you don’t have to have the middle completely filled in with ottomans, but you can.
John says
Hi Pam, hate to say it but the 70’s decade is my least favorite. It’s looking all to, what’s the word you used, Greige-ee.
Glad to hear your dog is ok.
John
Jeff says
Personally I prefer the sets from “High Society” by Cedric Gibbons (which I saw last night) to these 70’s creations.
I will admit we did have the leather patchwork Kroehler sofa set in the lead photograph, and lots of copper and exposed brick in our giant family room.
Good memories, but I think I’ve moved on- backward, most likely!!
Judi says
This is one of the best posts ever — reality TV meets retro renovation blog. Hope Astro — and you — are recovered.
As for the furniture: A month or so ago, I bought a love seat for $10 at Goodwill for my kids’ apartment, covered in what might be the same fabric as shown in photo #3. Kids at first said the fabric was so awful they were going to cover it with a sheet. Then they decided they liked it, and they’ve left it uncovered. It certainly provides some oomph to their rather beige apartment.
Lately I have been on the hunt for a sofa in the style of photos #5 and #6, preferably in a tweedy fabric rather than a print. But I could handle a small plaid. I’ve gotten rid of a sofa that was the bigger, bulkier shape made for today’s bigger houses, that was just too big for our living room.