Cam and Lily designed and built a new bench together this week. The inspiration for this bench was a bit puzzling but the final product really turned out beautifully. Lily had wanted a bench to be used for herself and her brother in front of the fire pit in our yard and Cam wanted to build a bench to make it easier for the kids to use the counter. Saving the chairs from being pushed all over the place. I ended up putting the bench at our back door for the ease of putting on and off shoes.
Anyhow the bench was made from a black walnut tree that Cam cut down from a friend’s yard and milled with his chain saw mill in our backyard. It was originally milled to be made into the double kid’s seat for my Xtracycle but was proving too heavy for the job. It was a good exercise for Lily to see the tree that was cut down go through the process to become a bench having seen every step along the way. Hammering the nails was particularly enjoyable as was the sawing of the wood for both kids. It still needs to be finished with oil but I really wanted to share some pictures.
I love Cam’s creations and that’s so cool that he made it from parts of a tree that the kids actually got to see. Way cooler than store bought wood!
It reminds me alot of that (HEAVY!) table I got to borrow for 8 months. I loved that table and can’t wait to see this one in person. I too appreciate door side benches for adding or subtracting shoes.
Was that table heavy? Oh wait- yes, I’m remembering now. It was a bulky thing. All function and little beauty and it was too tall for a eating table! :D
No, it was perfect! But without Zak’s help I’d never have been able to use it. I was so sad to give it back when I left. I’ve given serious thought to making one myself but you should see our collection of tables! And I really want to limit how much “stuff” we have. Moving is so much easier without it (and you know I won’t stay here forever).
Why did you give it back? Did we need it? We ended up just putting the cat duplex on it where it succumbed to the winter weather. :( You should make a beautiful one and then declutter the rest!
I like your way of thinking! You should see our sorry ensemble of tools- it will make it all the more interesting! Why save all the nice things for when we have the dream house, I should make them now!
And yeah, I don’t know that you guys wanted the table back but if you remember, I didn’t even have room for juicer between my dad’s van and my old musty. I wore my pa out with packing that weekend!
Maybe the next time you’re here you should build one- even in parts and take it home with you to finish? No shortage of tools here, that’s for sure.
That is GORGEOUS Annie!!! What an amazing task to do with the children!
I’ve tagged you over at my blog! I just couldn’t help myself!!
That is an amazing bench….
I wish I had a handy man sometimes.. lol
I love this bench. Kris sometimes talks about possibly getting into woodworking, but we don’t have the tools or much time so it hasn’t happened yet.
That bench is so gorgeous. What a fabulous learning experience for Lily. Score one for the unschoolers.
Thanks everyone! I should update the photos because Cam oiled it and it’s so much more beautiful. You can really see the detail in the wood now.
Cam’s on the lookout for more free wood. I’ve handed him some designs (ha) for a narrow desk/side board for a computer and I’d also like to finally have the kitchen table of my dreams. Well closer to it anyway. He’s probably going with friends to a remote location via boat with his chainsaw mill soon. He’s so excited about it.