A big day at our house as I say goodbye to a dear old friend. Our well-seasoned leather couch (or as I like to call it..my potato patch) has finally become so tattered from over use by me that Linda was embarrassed to have people come over anymore. So it’s going to wherever exhausted sofas wind up.
My potato patch on sliders and ready to haul away. The love seat, which goes too, is at the right.
Much to my surprise, the Salvation Army said they’d be happy to take it off our hands figuring the rips are reparable and their non discriminating clientele won’t have a problem with the patina I’ve created from years of head resting against the puffy arms. The matching love seat, which is in pristine condition because I rarely have plopped my rather pronounced posterior upon it, is going too. Our daughter wants it for her basement so out it goes . I find the name “love seat” puzzling. I don’t recall anyone ever sitting there and become overwhelmed with the urge to get frisky with the person next to them.
Nope..they’re gone and our new big ass recliner arrives this afternoon along with a brand new sofa. (Is it sofa or couch?..checking Google..be right back) Well, now..here’s the rather surprising answer:
Derived from the middle French word – “Couche”, a couch is nothing but an armless piece of furniture that was popularly used in the Victorian period and was often addressed as the fainting couch. The couches were used in order to provide a place for the ladies wearing tight fitted corsets with restricted breathing abilities. Couches generally feature one arm or no arm at all and a tapered back. On the other hand, the term sofa is derived from an Arabic term – “Suffah” and is used for a description of a bench which has been covered with blankets and cushions. Sofas are known to feature two arms and a uniform back.
I’ll be darned; didn’t know that. When I was a kid, my mom always referred to our sofa as the “davenport.” (Shoot..I have to Google again..just a sec.)
Huh. It turns out that Davenport is the name of a series of sofas manufactured by the now-defunct A.H. Davenport Company. Due to the popularity of the furniture at the time, the name “Davenport” has become a generalized trademark and is often used as a synonym for “sofa”, especially in the Midwestern United States. Sort of like Frigidaire, Kleenex and Thermos I guess. When our relatives from Canada came to visit they called it a Chesterfield. I already checked. It apparently comes from the 19th century Earl of Chesterfield. But I digress.
Our new couch/sofa/divan/davenport will not have to endure the Doug stress test. No, Linda has not forbade me from using it but I have marked a new territory to occupy in the house.(And no, I didn’t mark it that way)
Yes, NASCAR's on. .Shut up.
We have recently transformed one of the kid’s old bedrooms into my own personal Man-Cave complete with TV, computer, recliner and day bed. (Which works nicely at night too when the snoring gets intense) The walls are covered with photos, paintings, TV and golf memorabilia.
Don't laugh..Mom's quilt
The bathroom is a few short steps away and I’m campaigning for a small refrigerator stocked with brewed and distilled beverages. But Linda says “no way” ..that I can certainly walk to the “Frigidaire” in the kitchen. And she’s right, of course, exercise is very important.
The trouble with getting this new family-room furniture is that now Linda is getting all sorts of ideas for changing things around in the house; replacing a few other old items that have seen better days. If you want me I’ll be hiding out in the cave.
