Grandma’s Table: Current Project

working on Grandma’s table

In talking with my sis a few days ago, I told her about working on the backfill for the retaining wall: loading 3 5-gallon buckets of dirt half full and carting them over in the wagon. She laughed, and said, “Yep, me, too. Grandma method.” I see a lot of my Grandma in me! My project for the moment was cleaning up the front porch, tearing off the railing that was a #didn’t know what he was doing job by the guy who “remodeled” the house. Eventually, we will build a deck out from the porch, with a ramp as well as box steps, but that still is on the back burner for now. It cooled off late yesterday so I headed out to the porch to start sanding the table. I have no idea where or when Grandma got this table. At some point, my dad put a new top on it for her, and it was covered with a skirt and used as a bedside table. I rescued it from the trash pile and used it as a bedside table also. Given our limited storage, it was great for stashing items on the bottom rail since the skirt would hide them.

first pass at sanding off the old paint

It has been on the screened porch for a while now (due to the great kitchen renovation). I plan to glue the leg where it split, and paint it for use on my front porch. I want to open up the porch by removing the railing that does not belong on a house of this style. I will close the opening to the former screen door onto the screened porch, also a gift of #he didn’t know what he was doing. Like Grandma, if I want something done (other than electrical and plumbing) I had best be prepared to git ‘r done myself. I put on my N95 construction mask, turned on the fan to force any dust away from me, and set to work. I will do the second sanding later today after it is cooler and the front is in shade.

removing the old finish begun!

I bought solar lights to cap the post rails at the bottom of the steps, and purchased the paint for the sealer/primer coat also. When the world is in chaos, I find structure and calm in physical labor, where I can at least see an outcome while focused on the task before me.

more purple is my happy place!

Time to get back to work!