My First Cottage Project is Underway!

When I was a kid back in the 60's, one of my favorite things to look forward to was the long trips we used to make to my Grandfather's farm in the summer.  That farm is one of the reasons I think I feel a pull to living in the country and trying to replicate a more simple time of life. The memories I have of that old farm are still very vivid, and very special. 

When we'd arrive at the farm, one of the first things my Grandfather would do would be to hook up an old wooden trailer to his tractor.  We'd all pile on the trailer for a ride through the fields and the woods, and finally down to a creek on the other side of the woods.  All of us kids would bounce around in that old trailer, hanging on to the wooden slats on the sides, and screaming everytime he'd hit a rut, or go down a hill.

When we got to the creek, we'd all line up for what we thought was a huge treat.  My Grandfather kept an old tin cup hanging on a tree branch that we'd all use to get a cool drink of water out of the spring fed creek.  We'd each patiently wait our turn, and we'd pass that tin cup to each other as if that creek water was the best thing we'd ever tasted!  That same old tin cup hung on that tree for as long as I can remember. 

We'd all play in the creek until we were soaked, tired and cold, then we'd make the long ride back to the house.  When we'd get back, our parents would have a picnic lunch ready for us on the porch.  Sitting on my Grandfather's porch is still one of the memories I draw on when I need to remember a calm, safe, and peaceful time.  I've thought about it many times in the past few months.

He had an old porch swing on one end of the porch that the other kids would all fight over to sit on, but my favorite place to be was on one of the old metal chairs that were off to the side by themselves.  These 4 chairs were mismatched, rusted, and well worn.  My Grandmother and Grandfather had used them well over the years.

Sitting on those chairs I would make up stories of what I thought my Grandmother would be like if she was there with me.  She had died when I was very young and I don't have any memories of her at all.  So I would make up memories, and talk to her, while sitting on those old chairs where I knew she had spent so much time.  A silly little girl's game, I guess. 

I've always had so many sweet memories of those old rusted metal chairs. They remind me of picnics with cousins, aunts, uncles, and of course my Grandfather, on summer and fall afternoons.  They remind me of picking fresh strawberries and blackberries; they remind me of pumpkins in the fall; they remind me of the old tin cup at the creek, and a Grandmother I never knew.

So now I've set out to recreate some of those old memories with my own old chairs.  After searching estate sales, yard sales, and auctions, I finally found 4 old, rusted, mismatched, metal chairs I'm re-doing to use on our porch.  (My husband doesn't get this part - he thinks if you want brightly painted chairs, you buy brightly painted new chairs.)

But, I've decided I want to know someone used, and loved, my chairs before I found them - I'd like to think someone made some memories of their own in the old chairs!

I started by first using a wire brush to get off some of the rust, then I used a product called Naval Jelly, which took off most of the remaining paint and rust.  I also had someone tell me oven cleaner would do the same thing. 

The Naval Jelly seems to take it down to the bare metal, and makes the primer coat go on smoother.



After sanding, sanding, and more sanding - the first one was ready for the white primer.

I may have taken on more than I can finish this week - but - I'm determined I'm going to have my chairs finished before I move!  So, I'm off to Hobby Lobby for paint............



We'll see how it goes from here!