Sunday, May 13, 2012

Gift for my mom...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had an enjoyable Mother's Day.  I did some work out in the shop today and then I went to my parents to spend some time with my mom.  The first thing I did for my mom was to buy and plant flowers in her raised brick flower bed.
 They will look much better when they adjust to being there and grow a bit.  But it's a nice start.
At this point, Mom thought this was her gift.  But I had to borrow the pick-up truck and head back to the farm for the second part of her gift.
 This is what I made for her for in front of their house.  It is made entirely out of reclaimed/recycled cedar.  I didn't spend a penny on this.  The reclaimed cedar was in the barn (thank you Grandpa for saving it) and my brother moved it to my wood shop (the old wooden corn crib) about 6 years ago.  I've used some of it to build my sister-in-laws bench but I've been saving all of it for something really special.  I decided to use it for my mom since it was from the farm that my mom grew up on.
 I added the birdhouses to the end posts since my mom loves birdhouses.  The back looks like an old picket fence, but it wasn't.  I got the cedar boards from my aunt and cut them down to make this. 
 The seat is made thick and solid.  It's an actual 2" x 13" piece of board.  They don't cut them like that anymore.
 The birdhouses are removable so they can be painted a different color then the bench easily.  I didn't drill the hole completely through either since my mom doesn't want a bird to try to move in.  It's just indented so she has a place to glue the nesting to.
And here it is out in front of my parents home.  I gave it to her unfinished because I didn't know how she would want to finish it.  I didn't know if she'd want to stain it or paint it or what color.  I think she's going to paint it to match the front door.  And then paint the birdhouses a different color.  So I'll have to wait to show you the finished product.  And I can't wait to she how she finishes it.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
Catch-as-catch-can-74 @ MyRepurposedLife

7 comments :

  1. What a wonderful gift for your mom! Can't wait to see the bench finished! You really do such a great job on wood cutting and design!

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  2. That is beautiful! Your mom must be very happy. The birdhouses add a nice touch.
    Great job!

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  3. This is soooooo gorgeous!!!!!!
    You are a rock star I'm telling you ... you work is so fantastic....
    I am in awe!!!

    LOVE IT!
    Carri

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  4. Ohhh, holly! the sweetest bench you've built! :) what a great gift for your mom.
    I spoke to Rose on the phone earlier and she was telling me how pretty this bench was. I had to hop over and check it out. (I'm behind in my blog reading AGAIN!)
    thinking of you all!
    gail

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  5. This is so cute. Found you over at Gail's MRL!

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  6. I love that. Then again, I'm partial to picket fences and birds. Add the two together, and you have a surefire win, in my book! By the way, I just found you through a linky party! Oh, and, I'm your newest follower, yay! I would be so appreciative if you would follow back! Thanks, and have a super weekend.

    Again, love that bench. And, I have to agree with you, it is very fitting that the lumber came off the property where you mom grew up. Perfect!

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