It has taken three years in the making, but now my new coffee table sits in the middle of the living room for all to admire. David Nickerson made it out of Birdseye maple and cherry wood. It is a replica of a table we found in a book of antique furniture from Canada, specifically Eastern Canada. The table was first made in the early eighteenth Century, and now a copy resides in my living room. Actually, we kind of changed the dimensions and transformed it from a dining room table into a coffee table so it looks a bit like the original in miniature. But it is a lovely table and David is proud of his work. He is such a skilled cabinet maker but he is so slow and meticulous that he can barely make a living at carpentry. I have three pieces of furniture he has made for me, all replicas of antique furniture copied from a book. Now he will repair an old table that I use when our dining table is too small, and I have chosen two small end tables from the same book that he will build next. I expect them to be finished in three years.
Gill first asked David to make her a dining table out of birch and she gave him the dimensions for the table she wanted. He thought the proportions were too long so he made s shorter table. It looks lovely and does fit the space, but we entertain each other all the time and her table only seats twelve, so five years ago, she commissioned David to make a drop leaf table that would extend her table for large crowds. David was very slow to get started because he did not really understand the concept. Three years ago, I took the book to David, along with pages and dimensions, for the three tables I wanted made for me. He was excited to make the tables because it takes ingenuity in order to figure the whole thing out. Gill was with me and we both made it clear to David that Gill's table comes first, followed by my coffee table and end tables. Finally, the table for Gill was completed last fall, so David has been working on my table ever since. Now it sits in my living room in all it's splendour. Now, I wonder how long it will take us to fill the top with books and magazines. Soon we'll only be able to see the legs and stools. Oh yes, in addition to the table, he made four stools that fit under the table to be used by the little ones. I am very pleased with the new table.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
July 5, 2009. Western Head, N.S. The Cottage.
We love our little cottage, even when we are working there to get it set up for the summer. Yesterday Ken and I took all the belongings from the garage here that we store over the winter out to the cottage. We spent all morning putting the place in order, both inside and out. Organizing the cottage pleases me and I am not sure why. I like putting everything in it's place and putting clothes in the dressers, placing the outdoor furniture in the right spot and the food in the pantry and refrigerator. In the afternoon we got lucky and the rain poured down cats and dogs, so were required to drink a cup of tea and read. Later in the day, the sky cleared, so we finished our outside work, then sat on the deck by the water and watched for loons, who never appeared. But drinking a glass of wine watching the clouds was delightful. Now the little cottage is ready for the summer.
Today, Ken and Vinal were to install the dock, a very complicated task. Ken suggested that Bobby, a young friend of Vinal's, might like to help install the dock, so he came too. Gill and Mary decided to help too, so Cliff, Betty and I supervised from the chairs on the deck, while the other five installed the dock. By noon, it was almost completed. Of course, Gill fell in fully clothed, and Bobby fell over up to his neck. Ken had figured out a new system for installation, that did not require him to wear his wet suit and work out of the water. It worked well, except for minor glitches. He used the raft to install all the other parts of the dock, working from the raft, rather than standing in the water. Betty brought lunch for all, so all eight of us pooled our resources and ate a hearty lunch up on the deck by the house. Next we must put the raft in place and install the boat sling, but we will do them after the water falls a bit. At the moment, the water level in the lake is very high and Vinal is fearful os falling in the water as he can not swim. The rest of the cottage and dock is ready for action.
Today, Ken and Vinal were to install the dock, a very complicated task. Ken suggested that Bobby, a young friend of Vinal's, might like to help install the dock, so he came too. Gill and Mary decided to help too, so Cliff, Betty and I supervised from the chairs on the deck, while the other five installed the dock. By noon, it was almost completed. Of course, Gill fell in fully clothed, and Bobby fell over up to his neck. Ken had figured out a new system for installation, that did not require him to wear his wet suit and work out of the water. It worked well, except for minor glitches. He used the raft to install all the other parts of the dock, working from the raft, rather than standing in the water. Betty brought lunch for all, so all eight of us pooled our resources and ate a hearty lunch up on the deck by the house. Next we must put the raft in place and install the boat sling, but we will do them after the water falls a bit. At the moment, the water level in the lake is very high and Vinal is fearful os falling in the water as he can not swim. The rest of the cottage and dock is ready for action.
Friday, July 3, 2009
July 3, 2009. Western Head, N.S. Privateers Day.
It all started yesterday, and will continue until Sunday night, when a long fireworks display is held after dark, signally the end of Privateers Days in Liverpool. I walked all around the waterfront today, to see that the vendors and the rides are all ready for the people. The Queen's Own Orange Rangers have set up their camp sites and are in period costumes, pretending to live as they would in 1787. Sunday morning they re-enact a fight right in town, where the British always win over the U.S. even though all the service men drank together all night, finally winning when someone got sober!!. Privateers Days in Liverpool is always held close to July the 4Th. and is a big deal in town. The place is hopping. Tomorrow there is a parade with the bands and floats and old cars marching all over town. Last year, it was so hot the bandmaster keeled over after the march over the bridge and up the hill. This year is not expected to be hot.
Ken and I were in Liverpool for the first time, eating lunch at Lanes Privateer's Inn. Knowing nothing about Privateers, I asked the waitress what a Privateer was all about. She looked very embarrassed and could not give us an answer, but directed us to Fort Point lighthouse, where the story is told on plaques all along the shore. So we read all about it and determined that a Privateer was nothing more than legalized pirating. The good folks from Liverpool made a lot of money being a privateer. Simon Perkins, who was the richest man in town, made his money as a privateer. His very own home is now a museum in town. Every day, his diary is turned to another day. He kept a diary for many years, and you can still see his very own diary for today's day. It may be the most interesting thing in town. This weekend, the eighteenth century is alive and well in Liverpool. Now if only the rain would stop, the show can go on. Actually, the show will go on in any weather. A little rain would never halt the good folks of Liverpool.
Ken and I were in Liverpool for the first time, eating lunch at Lanes Privateer's Inn. Knowing nothing about Privateers, I asked the waitress what a Privateer was all about. She looked very embarrassed and could not give us an answer, but directed us to Fort Point lighthouse, where the story is told on plaques all along the shore. So we read all about it and determined that a Privateer was nothing more than legalized pirating. The good folks from Liverpool made a lot of money being a privateer. Simon Perkins, who was the richest man in town, made his money as a privateer. His very own home is now a museum in town. Every day, his diary is turned to another day. He kept a diary for many years, and you can still see his very own diary for today's day. It may be the most interesting thing in town. This weekend, the eighteenth century is alive and well in Liverpool. Now if only the rain would stop, the show can go on. Actually, the show will go on in any weather. A little rain would never halt the good folks of Liverpool.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
July 2, 2009. Western Head, N.S. Attitudes.
The friends from Texas who were visiting Susie and Jeff looked old. On the way home after we first met them, Ken and I felt they looked older than us, and probably were 75 or so. Last night in conversations with them both, we discovered that they were the same age as Susie and Jeff, who are 64. In fact, the husband and Jeff went to graduate school together at Duke, and the wife told me that she had just turned 64. I was stunned. She mentioned to me that she had retired because she had some health problems, but her husband was still working. Being basically nosy, I asked her what her health issues had been, and she proceeded to give me great details about all the serious issues in her life. Actually, she told many more details than I needed, for the next thirty minutes. It was clear that the most important aspect of her current life is her health issues. I suspect that this has been true all her life. She tends to dwell on the past, and everything in the past that has been a problem for her and her family.
It is one of the problems with being retired. So much of the conversation from retired people centers around what they have done, not what is ahead that will be done in the future. Really, I am accused of always planning ahead and trying to figure out how at work we can get ahead and not rest on our laurels. With health issues, I want to get through them, then never talk about them again. When I am asked about my health, my answer is always "I am fine", and certainly would never disclose to strangers any serious health issues in my life. I want them behind me and never back again to my conscious thoughts. In other words, I do not want my present attitude to be impacted by problems in the past. This poor lady from Texas is dwelling on her health issues so long and hard that she has made herself into an invalid. I was a good lady, and did not tell her to get her past behind her and get along with her future life. Perhaps I should have passed this bit of wisdom on to her, but I was too polite. But I surely am pleased she has gone home to Dallas.
It is one of the problems with being retired. So much of the conversation from retired people centers around what they have done, not what is ahead that will be done in the future. Really, I am accused of always planning ahead and trying to figure out how at work we can get ahead and not rest on our laurels. With health issues, I want to get through them, then never talk about them again. When I am asked about my health, my answer is always "I am fine", and certainly would never disclose to strangers any serious health issues in my life. I want them behind me and never back again to my conscious thoughts. In other words, I do not want my present attitude to be impacted by problems in the past. This poor lady from Texas is dwelling on her health issues so long and hard that she has made herself into an invalid. I was a good lady, and did not tell her to get her past behind her and get along with her future life. Perhaps I should have passed this bit of wisdom on to her, but I was too polite. But I surely am pleased she has gone home to Dallas.
July 2, 2009. Western Head, N.S. Celebration.
I was so busy celebrating Canada Day that I forgot to write my wee web log. How soon we forget when we are having fun.
Last evening we said farewell to Susie and Jeff who must leave our fair shores for Delaware, where they live most of the year. Two friends from Texas were visiting them here, so as is our custom, the last night before a departure, we all get together for dinner to say a fond farewell. Last night we had dinner in our home. Sixteen of us sat down together to dine. Actually, we were not really celebrating Canada Day but we did celebrate the fact of all of us being together, from such unlikely distances, and enjoying each others company. Our only local friends in attendance last night were Walt and Mary. All the rest were transplants from other places. Connie and Tojo, who celebrated their wedding here three years ago were here for dinner, along with their baby Claussen, who was eight months old, had just arrived for two weeks, staying in their parent's home. With the Mary and Cliff and Gill and us, along with the Bond's and friends, we had a full house. Oops, I forgot that the Winters, who live here full time, were here too. John is going to a folk festival at Canso, leaving today.
The evening was lovely and the dinner easy. I have ceased serving any appetizers at dinner. We just serve cocktails and wine for a bit, then dinner, which last evening was chowder made by Betty and thawed from the freezer. With three types of bread served with the chowder, followed by a large salad, the dinner was delicious and easy. I intended to serve cookies for dessert, but Mary McDonald made a carrot cake and along with ice cream, brought it along for dinner. She knows my desserts are always pathetic, so even when I tell her not to bring anything, she often will arrive with goodies in tow. The conversation was lively and fun. One interesting sight I observed was Jeff looking at each piece of our art, slowly and carefully, all over the first floor. He finally asked me some questions. He even looked at all the pictures in the bathroom, which meant that someone was thinking he needed some help!! One unusual aspect of dinners her is that about half of the good folks drink real coffee, so we always make real coffee and herbal tea and serve them, after dessert, never with dessert. At home, no one drinks coffee that late.
Traditions come easily. This tradition to get together in some ones home to say goodbye is a good one, because we are really discussing when we will get together again. This is a very happy thought.
Last evening we said farewell to Susie and Jeff who must leave our fair shores for Delaware, where they live most of the year. Two friends from Texas were visiting them here, so as is our custom, the last night before a departure, we all get together for dinner to say a fond farewell. Last night we had dinner in our home. Sixteen of us sat down together to dine. Actually, we were not really celebrating Canada Day but we did celebrate the fact of all of us being together, from such unlikely distances, and enjoying each others company. Our only local friends in attendance last night were Walt and Mary. All the rest were transplants from other places. Connie and Tojo, who celebrated their wedding here three years ago were here for dinner, along with their baby Claussen, who was eight months old, had just arrived for two weeks, staying in their parent's home. With the Mary and Cliff and Gill and us, along with the Bond's and friends, we had a full house. Oops, I forgot that the Winters, who live here full time, were here too. John is going to a folk festival at Canso, leaving today.
The evening was lovely and the dinner easy. I have ceased serving any appetizers at dinner. We just serve cocktails and wine for a bit, then dinner, which last evening was chowder made by Betty and thawed from the freezer. With three types of bread served with the chowder, followed by a large salad, the dinner was delicious and easy. I intended to serve cookies for dessert, but Mary McDonald made a carrot cake and along with ice cream, brought it along for dinner. She knows my desserts are always pathetic, so even when I tell her not to bring anything, she often will arrive with goodies in tow. The conversation was lively and fun. One interesting sight I observed was Jeff looking at each piece of our art, slowly and carefully, all over the first floor. He finally asked me some questions. He even looked at all the pictures in the bathroom, which meant that someone was thinking he needed some help!! One unusual aspect of dinners her is that about half of the good folks drink real coffee, so we always make real coffee and herbal tea and serve them, after dessert, never with dessert. At home, no one drinks coffee that late.
Traditions come easily. This tradition to get together in some ones home to say goodbye is a good one, because we are really discussing when we will get together again. This is a very happy thought.
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