Grandma's Walnut Table

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but I've been obsessively working on a walnut table and a set of four chairs for a couple of friends of mine. When I say "obsessively working" I mean, I think I have grown horns and popped out 15 white hairs because I want to get this thing perfect. The thing is, it's not just my first bona-fide project to me, this table has special meaning for the owners. It was passed down from a grandparent, and I completely understand how important that can be. 

Lemme get a little personal with you....

I grew up with grandparents on both sides of my family, but I was closer to my dad's side than my mother's side. I loved my Grandpa and Grandma Z very dearly and have fond memories from my childhood of visiting them in Detroit. I abruptly lost my Grandpa to a heart attack the day after Christmas in '92, which was just two short years after loosing my brother to suicide in '90. Needless to say, life was rough back then and my attachment to my Grandma grew even more after Grandpa died. I grew up through my teens and 20's (I even lived for a short period of time in Detroit when I was 20) growing a deep love for her. We were two peas in a pod when it came to attitude and humor. In 2004 we had to move her down from Detroit to Missouri because her diabetes grew so bad that she lost both of her legs and couldn't take care of her house anymore. I loved visiting her up north and I didn't want to see the house go. I even considered buying it just so I could keep going up there, regardless if she was there or not. In the end we had to sell it for medical reasons which really tore me up. After she got here it was a slippery down hill slope health wise for her and we lost her in January of '08 at the feisty young age of 87.

To make a long story short... I've realized why this project is so important to me.

Grandmothers are so special. 

They touch our hearts with the loving kindness of a gentle mother yet they can discipline us on the same hand that they spoil us rotten. Every day I look at her 25th wedding anniversary ring, because it's my wedding ring, and it makes me think of her love and laughter. This table is just as special...it was passed on by a loving Grandmother. Because of this I grown horns when I think something is going to go wrong and I pace around it popping white hairs making sure it's completed correctly. I'm taking every step in restoring it very carefully with extra special patience and love because I know how special it is to my friend K.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be posting more pictures of the completed table and chairs soon.

~~~

"Oh thank GOD you guys are here... this hospital food is the pits. I could throw the biscuits at the wall and they would chip the paint. Susan... go get me a couple Coney dogs from up the street."

Miss you Grandma. ~ Susan ~