This post is about two benches.
I am 61, the red bench (below) is probably at least as old as I am, maybe much older. My mother says my paternal grandfather made many of them. I wonder how many are still in use, loved.
The red bench, in my kitchen, serves several purposes:
I set grocery bags there to unload.
It keeps my husband from kicking the dogs’ water bowl, which is actually a huge problem.
We pull it up to the end of the kitchen table when we have a crowd.
It is a safe haven for one of the puppies.
That is a puppy with a fresh haircut. She loves to lay under the bench.
A woodworking neighborhood came and looked at the red bench and I also sent him photos.
He made a second bench for middle’s new house, six feet long and slightly larger scale.
The 6’ bench is made with a 21’ long 100+ year old board stored in his family barn. The board looks new because it was planed and sanded. Middle plans to paint it.
The 6’ bench is made with pegs and the legs are inset with dado joints. So in other words, the new bench is made with very old wood and is constructed with old school techniques like the red bench.
Middle is very pleased. And my guess is she is the only great grandchild, of that Grandfather, who knows of and loves his benches. He died in 1982 at the age of 66.
