After yet another weekend without power, subsequent minor flooding of the basement, lack of hot water until this afternoon, and an early afternoon off from work after becoming sick from lunch — I became weak. I bought new curtains for the dining room. Anthropologie has these on sale for $49 per panel online:
I’m hoping to install a 7-8 foot curtain rod in front of the little alcove in the dining room, shown here (two year ago right after the first round of priming):
I can’t find a current photo from than angle, but the current look is better illustrated here:
I’m fairly confidant they’ll look great — but if not, I can always put them in my office upstairs. 
