LIVING PAST HER PRIMESeveral years ago I happened up on this amazingly sweet, truly charming, one-of-a-kind Bench at a local street market. I flipped over the little wooden gal right from the start. Made from an old maple bed, my Girly-Bench was hand crafted and I believed her to be perfect for the little flower bed area we had created close to our porch. She came newly painted in a crisp snowy white and proved to be both sturdy and strong. In the Spring of 2003 she was young and fresh and I truly loved her.
My hubbs lovingly cautioned me about placing her outside...
"The bench isn't weather-proofed, Rebecca! It was made for indoor use and will eventually rot away if you don't care for it..."
But...being the stubborn person that I am, I didn't, wouldn't listen.
"She'll be fine!" I quipped!
And she was...for a long time.
WEATHERING THE STORMSTrue to my hubby's warnings, last summer I noticed my girl was beginning to breakdown. Optimistic that I (or Mr. AGPMan) could fix her up...I put off tending to her needs until Autumn set in.
"You'll be OK!" I softly said. "A new coat of paint and you'll be good as new!"
I brushed away the fallen leaves which blanketed her foundation believing all the while my love for her would sustain her. It could not. She had lived through her last winter. Our sometimes rough Oklahoma weather had taken a tole on my long-adored friend. No matter how often I repainted her, nailed her back together, she just couldn't withstand the frigid temperatures brought about by freezing ice and pounding rain. She wasn't made to weather such storms...
A couple of days ago, while tending to some shrubbery, I realized I had been too busy to notice that my girl had said her final "good-bye". The blistering Indian Sky had finally taken her from me...
Knowing of my sadness and my guilt over the neglect of my innate friend, my hubbs took pity on me (he is NOT attached to such things!) and showered me with endless mercy. In compassion over my loss he agreed to purchase a little metal beauty I had recently found at a discount store.
MY SWEET NEW FRIENDSafely ensconced in the same familiar garden, my sweet new friend stands proud. She's newly painted with the same fresh, snowy white paint and is equally sturdy and strong. I've PROMISED to take care of her and tend to her every need. I already love her...
...almost as much as her fallen sister.
Blessings to you as you tend to your life's garden and keep safe those things, that without care, are sure to whither away and die...Rebecca
34 comments:
LOVE THE NEW BENCH.. PLEASE TELL ME THE PILLOW WAS JUST FOR THE PHOTO AND THAT IT DOESN'T RESIDE OUTDOORS.... YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A PANIC ATTACK....YOUR PILLOWS ARE MUCH TO PRETTY TO BE PLACED OUTDOORS!
This brought to mind the song,
"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other one gold."
I have attachments to certain things. I too have had a little wooden bench for the last 15 years. Last year my SIL sat on it while holding his bulldog. It crunched! I couldn't toss it out, so my other SIL built it back together for me. Sentimental, I guess. Loved this post.
Debra
LOVE the new bench. SO pretty ♥
Mr. AGP man to the rescue!!!! Yay!! I love the new bench!!! Absolutely perfect!!!
Have a sweet weekend.
♥ Teresa
Good Morning Rebecca,
As always I so enjoy visiting you. Your new bench is absolutely beautiful, The workmanship is so stunning, and how sweet of your dh to get this for you. He sounds just like my dear one.
Your first bench was pretty too and I know she gave you much joy and pleasure, I have a tendency to get attached to such treasures and not want to let go. And this reminds,.... i've got a few things around here that i've been holding on to that I need to let go of. LOL
Thanks for sharing, hope your weekend is filled with much joy.
Hugs,
Sue
I feel torn for you as well...but I have to say I'm really liking the new bench...another great find. Yeah to your Hubby for getting it for you. Have a lovely weekend.
I have a little wood bench that has weathered much but when she started showing her age, I painted her RED, no, not pink, but red and threw a rose cover over her and brought her in from the elements and gave her a place of honor in my office here and put pretty pillows on her. She is my friend after all these years and I can't bear to part with her, lovely chick! Of course, I would NOT turn my nose up to a metal settee if I found one I liked for my front porch! Squeeeeeeeal!!!!!!!
xoxo,
Connie
she is truely a beauty as was her sisiter past..I get attatched to my special things too...
Your new bench is very sweet. Hope she enjoys her place of honor.
Good morning Rebecca, hopefully you were able to salvage some of the lost friend and repurpose her into something even better. I bet that looked beautiful in your yard. I do like the new one too. Have a great weekend, Char
I get so attached to my things and often do not show the care I should. This bench reminds me of the one on my porch which is in bad need of a good paint job. After reading your post I am definitely going to paint this week. The new bench is a very pretty addition to your garden.
Hi sweet Rebecca,
I love your new bench! Think on the wonderful years you got to enjoy the other little bench, she served you well.
Hugs,
June
Hey Reb -
Seriously? Men! My husband pulls that old BS line (his initials are BS, so apropos) on me ALL THE TIME - "it'll never last outside" - who cares?????...I'd rather have it for however long it lasts than not at all. Don't you think?
Funny, too - he'll squabble over a $5 bench, but loves to bring me my favorite gift of all, flowers, that everyone knows is the most extravagant gift - they last only a week if you're lucky.
Me thinks it has a whole lot more to do with loading and unloading the truck - the bum.
Happy Days -
Marsh
Love your new bench. Metal is the way to go in Oklahoma and Texas. The summer heat and winter cold is too hard on wood.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Pat
Oh girl, you brought a tear to my eyes as I read your post. I get attached to my pretties too. I love your new bench, Rebecca. :) Love following your blog.
Blessings,
Sandra
Rebecca,
Time takes its toll on everything doesn't it? Your new bench is lovely and I know you will keep your memories of you former "love" for, indeed, she paved the way and kept the spot ready for the new.
Blessings to you.
In Grace,
Marie
What a delightful little tale of woe! I love the replacement bench and it should last longer. Do you have any plans to salvage any of the wood from the other bench and reuse it for anything? Then you could keep a piece of her always, LOL!
How romantically 'she' dressed the beautiful garden by your porch ... fond memories you will have of 'her'.
And, now your new 'friend' brings eloquent grace to your landscaping.
Everything in its time ..... Hugs, TTFN ~Marydon
For those of you who asked if I was able to salvage ANYTHING from the first bench and the answer is NO. She was rotted all the way through! ( When we lifted her up she fell apart in our hands...
Boo Hoo....
Love my new girl though...
Rebecca
Ooohhh...I love your new friend!!! What great taste you have!!! She is perfect in her new home!!! She is so fortunate to have a friend like YOU!!! I know you will love and cherish her!!!
Aren't friends wonderful;)?
Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy
I almost did the same thing with a little old church pew my mother gave me. I intended to put it in the yard but, I actually listened to my husband this one time and put her inside and threw a couple of beautiful pillows on her. After reading about the demise of your beloved bench I am glad I did. I love the new metal one in your yard. I am sure she will offer many years of beauty in your lovely garden spot.
God Bless!
Marie
TY for popping over Rebecca ... may I ask you to share pics of your baptismal gown, I am sure it is breathtaking ... & will have a 'history of heirloom' in the making.
Hugs, TTFN ~Marydon
Hello Sweet ~r~,
Ooohhh LoVe your new sweet girl !! Looks perfect out in your garden..Can't beieve you found this at Ross !! Omgosh!!Finds like this, you know were meant just for you !! Just happened upon it too !! The best kind of treasures !!Hoping your day is going wonderful sweet friend !!
hugs for you ~tea~xo
Oh Rebecca....I so totally understand that "need" to put the little cutie exactly where you wanted her...I've done the same kind of thing myself. :-(
Oh....I would love to win YOUR little heart! Maybe we'll will each other's? :-)
Hugs,
Spencer
Good Grief.... You nearly had me in tears over your bench!! I'm sorry but I have to agree with your Hubs... I don't get too emotionally involved with furniture!!
The new bench is Beautiful. The metal reminds me of crochet!!
Love,
Marilyn
Oh Rebecca....what a beautiful post sweetie!!!! Your new bench is absolutely lovely too ~ thank you so much for your comment on my blog, it means so much and it's good to know that on this road we travel called "life" that we're not alone experiencing these feelings ~ wishing you a wonderful weekend, xxoo, Dawn
Hello Rebecca,I am Gracie, from a touch of grace.I have been out visiting folks for Pink Saturday,I came across you through one of them...I am so glad I did, what a welcoming blog you have. Your art work is so beautiful,I believe you have mastered the all dimensions of the rose, with your paintings...even the Lord would be impressed.
Even you music is lovely.
Blessings to you
Gracie.
Oh how sad for your sweet old bench, but she served her time so well :) How exciting for the new one! It's simply DEVINE!! You have your sweet memories of your old dear friend to cherish, but now you can make wonderful new memories with this precious new one :) Perhaps you can keep some part of it and use it in one of your wonderful "repurposed" items, hey? You take care!!! Warmest, Brenda (shabbycatsandroses)
So true. I too have allowed a favorite wooden bench weather and die. I enjoyed it in the special garden spot for many years and could not see the spot without it...until it was taken from my neglect.
I am more careful now. Lovely post.
Smiles,Pat
Wonderful story and wonderful analogy about your little bench and our own lives. Hope your weekend is a good one. Vicki p.s. Love your new bench! Looks perfect in your garden
Hi Rebecca, I love your new bench. I can imagine the old one in it's prime, fresh and white. Of course you had to have her, to appreciate the new one. Lovely story as always my friend.
Thank you for stopping by and your kind comment. You always encourage me and inspire me to be better. I love that about you, so thank you ever so much. Love the post about your sweet little granddaughter too. I feel vintage a lot of days. LOL!! Gorgeous new treasures in the middle as well.
Blessings always,
Celestina Marie
Lovely post how true that we sometimes neglect the things we love most! Love the new bench very pretty! Traci
What a lovely old white cottage bench but the new one is quite beautiful too! Like you, I do become attached to certain pieces that I'd like to think will last forever. I know you'll miss that old stand-by but you'll spend many peaceful moments enjoying the new one!
Also, I just now noticed that you have been published by Romantic Homes in several different issues! What a thrill to have your design and decor work showcased in these wonderful magazines! Your art and work speak to all of the thoughtful creative beautiful person you are, Rebecca! Congratulations! Thank you for sharing!
Im loved the story of your sweet old bench and how sad you were when she just fell apart. I, too, mostly do as I please, irregardless of the good advice of my great hubby, but, like yours, he is always there with soemthing to replace what I've lost and seldom says "I told you so"....just
comes in with a new and lovely pretty to sooth my heart...the things we love may not last forever, but the love of these sweet hubbies does!! We are so blessed!!! Hugs, Francy
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