Forward - Along the Road

My Christmas present was brought inside the house this morning!  Eric Chupak was kind enough to come by on his way home from work and help Dwayne carry it up from the basement to inside the house.

Now - mind you - all this was going on before we had managed to even have a full cup of coffee.

But it all did go down - after - dogs were rounded up - leashed up - and dragged outside - their little heads thumping on each of the steps on their way down - to a soaked yard - to do their morning business.

Alright - so, Zucker ran out to the yard - on all fours.  I carried Carlie.  Actually - it was just easier than dragging her.  And this photo is telling a lie!  It looks like I colored my hair - again.  And let the gray grow out about two inches.  But that is not the case!

I'll have you know I have wacked off every strand holding Ms. Clairol - and proudly fight with the ever-so-natural hues of - salt 'n peppa !!!!

Dwayne and ' Chupak ' brought the table up by way of the French doors at the back deck porch - not such an easy task.  This table is now - without a doubt - the heaviest piece of furniture in this house.

And that's my favorite coffee cup sitting by the computer.  It has a note printed on it - written by Toto - to Dorothy.  You know - The Wizard of Oz.  The letter says - " Dear Dorothy, Hate Oz - took the shoes.  Find your own way home!  Toto! "

I just love the work Dwayne did on the leaves.  The natural beauty of the grain and the knots in this old barn lumber offers so much to the beauty of this table.  It’s just absolutely gorgeous.  Photos can’t seem to do justice.

I love the concept he used of the arms that secure in tongue-and-groove fashion for supporting a leaf on each end. ( Dwayne had been vacuuming the hidden pocket for storing the leaves and supports. )

Dwayne put the perfect finish on this piece!  I’m not one that likes that shiny look on wood furniture.  I’m just too much of a woodsy - natural kind of girl - I guess.

I’ve always believed - if you’re gonna make something out of a material from nature - then - it should have a natural finish for appeal.  What you do with that material should result in simply enhancing and magnifying its own God-given beauty.

And for another little winter task - we aimed for our French doors and the window over the kitchen sink.

This is a photo provided by the previous owners. The topper over the kitchen sink window has gone from this -

To this!

 

 

This was a shot taken in 2008 - during our first Christmas here at the house.  The French Doors have gone from this -

To this!  Can you tell that I'm taking most of these photos while the work is in progress?  Dwayne was - still -  dismantling the hardware for the vertical blinds.

The placemats for the dining table are next - as well as window treatments for the Living room.

Little by little - we keep moving forward - along the road!

Planes and Old Barns

I can just imagine what the barn will look like - once we get it torn down and relocated to a spot where it will be much happier.

One particular part of the barn will make me much happier.  Even happier than I am right now!

If these photos look grainy - they’re not.  It’s dust.  Sanded oak wood - floating in the air - floating - everywhere!



I'm telling the truth - there really is a gorgeous satin finish under there!  See the rectangle of darkness on the left?  And there's even a layer of dust over that area!

And all my wonderful Husband was trying to accomplish was - completing my Christmas present!

Only two leaves!  He only wanted to make - two leaves.  Okay- and the arms to hold them up, as well.

My gosh - just look at the dust!  Layers and layers - and - LAYERS!  Whouldda thunk?



For now - a temporary compromise.



That particular part of the barn.

I can’t wait!

But I must.



Those leaves for that beautiful piece of love will look just as gorgeous as the main table.

It will be so worth it!



Amazing!  All made by the hands of the Love of my Life!



The things he can do with wood.  Ohhhhhhhhh, Myyyyyy!



Even old barn wood.



I am just the luckiest girl in the world!

Look at My Gorgeous Christmas Present !!!

Good morning and Merry Christmas, everyone!

I just have to share photos of the Christmas present my husband made for me this year!!!

Now - he did not get to finish - yet.  But you'll see why in the photos!

 

My husband made my Mission-style Farm Table for our Dining Room!  He made this by hand - with reclaimed lumber - from our old tobacco barn that has been on our property and was built June, 1920.

The table as is - stands 5' long.  The two slots you see on the end of the table will hold two arms that will support a leaf.  This is done on both ends.  The table will extend out to 8' long with the two leafs.

Guess where the two leafs will be stored!

See the two pegs/handles on each end?  They slide toward the inside.  He carved them by hand.  They slide into the legs for securing that door... yes... it's a door!

The door falls down to expose this pocket under the table top - storage area for the two leafs!  How cool is that!

Isn't it gorgeous!

You cannot find solid oak lumber from trees cut fresh today that have all the incredible character embedded.  The worm knots - the burl - the natural cracks and crannies.  It's absolutely gorgeous!

By this morning the table was still waiting for drying before another coat of sealant goes on.  The two leafs will be made next.
After that - you should see the two Captain's Chairs and the four side chairs that Dwayne will be making to go with the set!

He was so upset because it wasn't ready for Christmas Day.  I told him - about a week ago - that it didn't matter if it took him another three months to make whatever it was that he was making me.  What mattered most was that he was making it with his own hands - and it was coming from a historical piece of this property that we now own.

He wanted it ready for this Christmas so we'd be able to enjoy our Christmas dinner on it this year.  LOL

I told him that the way I see things is - now he's got until next Christmas to make all the chairs so we can enjoy having dinner on it NEXT Christmas!

And maybe - just maybe - all those chairs will have a butt warming them up when dinner is served!

The Depths in the Planes of Love

My poor husband.  I love him so much.

He has spent almost every free moment down in the basement over the past week - building my Christmas present.  Most of the time - he hasn’t given up for the day until around midnight.

It takes hours to plane down one of those long boards - from an old 1920 tobacco barn.

Just when he begins feeling like he’s making progress - he grabs the wrong board - to cut in half.

To be here and witness his efforts throughout this entire process - is to know that just the thought of laughing at him would be totally cruel.

I have no doubt - even some of those male coworkers would get quiet for a while - prolly head out to the back porch - light up a cigarette - and wipe a tear away - as soon as they made sure nobody was looking.

I will - without a doubt - find a way to save that gorgeous piece of lumber.

I love him as much as he is showing his love to me right now - even more.

I refuse to let any of his efforts go down the drain in vain.  The hardest part will be - simply - trying to make up my mind.