On Being Eight

A Thanksgiving pose.

What a happy day this was when Grandpa got to baptize our granddaughter.

Ben's Update

The prairie looks a little lonesome today.  Did Wyoming ever look this desolate?   North Dakota at minus 2 degrees this morning.  I get cold just thinking about it.  Ben should be returning in two weeks. 

Tell City 1940 Chairs

Close to 20 years ago, I acquired a set of well used dinning chairs, 6 side chairs and two end chairs with arms.  I loved everything about them except the nasty seat covering and the grime and dings in the wood.  Especially did I love the rose carving at the top back.  I did cover the seats with new fabric and scrubbed the grim with a rag loaded with ivory soap.  And every year since then, I have wanted to refinish the wood.  I even went to a local restorer to see what it would cost.  It was something like $150 for a side chair and $200 for an arm chair.  Needless to say I went no farther.

Until now.......

Well worn arms.

Legs were chipped and banged.

With some encouragement from Steve and Mary Lynn, I began undressing the wood, using a gel stripper.  My work station was the patio with lots of ventilation.  It didn't take long to understand the professional's prices, especially when it came to cleaning the carving.    I did the 6 side chairs first (it took almost 2 months) and thought I would save the 2 arm chairs for spring.  But knowing how I function, I knew it was either now or never.  I had come too far.  I must finish it now!

New seat covering

Perfect corners

 An idea of 20 years ago, became a pleasant reality.