Reusing Our History

When we moved from the farm to up here on this place we left a home full of memories. Everything the wife and I created, even the kids growth chart was still marked on the wall. Almost every detail that took a half a lifetime to build was left. Not by choice, but just because we couldn't take it all.

Last year I started making trips back there and tearing down the old house and I have been able to save a lot of good stuff I can use again, even my old front door.

In it's hay day, the old place was a gem. We built an old west town and park behind our house with a working blacksmith shop, saloon, general store, outdoor kitchen, eating pavilion, park and was starting on a church to hold weddings in. We had pony rides and catered parties when we could. Even the house was going to get remodeled to look like a hotel. But, plans change and life goes on. Sometimes when I look back I wonder why I am not still there and why I am up here. Life was a lot more simpler back on the farm.

My front door came off a horse stable. I cut it down to fit the doorway and the thing was so heavy I had to rebuild my door frame to hold it. I kept the old time locking and latching mechanisms and even the hinges to keep it authentic.
The wife said she wanted to reuse it at our place somehow and after bringing it up, it sat for several months.

I also brought up an old picnic table frame we had in the park area behind the house. This thing is about twenty years old, in bad shape and all the wood has long been rotted off. I was just going scrap it out and use the metal for something or another.

This weekend I added some bracing, new hardware and new wood to sit on for the benches. Then added the door for the top.
After staining the door I reinstalled all the old hinges and handle to keep it looking like a door. I think it turned out good and we will have many more years if use out of it.

It's just a door right, but this old door kept us safe by holding back the wind, the rain and even a critter or two for so many years, it's the least I could do.  

It was the wife's idea all along to use it as a table. I just needed to get tired of looking at it sitting there to make it happen.





Before I go I wanted to say howdy to a couple of new Modern Day Redneck Family members.
Here's a Redneck welcome to PinkyDiva and Ginger In Progress. Thank y'all for being a part of the group. If you need anything just let me know.

That's all I got for now,
MDR