The chair

I have several old rocking chairs in the basement, one from my mom's side of the family, and one from my dad's.  They both needed work to be sat upon, and they've both been down there for years.  One of them needs to be re caned--which I will learn how to do one day.  Really.  I have the cane and everything.  The other had the original oak splint woven seat, it was just cracking around the edges.  I hated to take off the seat (because it was original!), even if no one could sit in it without worrying a bit.

Well, the other day, I was cleaning in the basement (Karl has great plans for organizing the back room), and I was feeling overwhelmed by too much stuff.  Stuff I liked and couldn't use (the chairs...); stuff I'm too attached to get rid of, even if we don't need it (my old lovey animals); and way too much stuff that we don't really like or use, but just throw into the basement because it's too hard to decide where it needs to go.  (You should see the Goodwill pile down there, mounding out of the boxes and threatening to trip innocent passersby.  And my basket reed.  That trips everyone, too.)

Anyway, I saw those chairs, got my basket cutting shears, cut that seat right off, and then threw it away.  Just like that.  I brought the frame upstairs to see if Elise wanted it in her room for a reading chair, and then stuffed it onto the porch until we could find enough ties cheaply to weave a new seat.  (Neckties cost $1-$3 at our local thrift stores, and we probably needed a few dozen.  I had to find a bag of them at a garage sale or something.)  So it languished on the porch for a few weeks, until yesterday. 

Yesterday, we hit the mother lode of necktie heaven at our local Dig N Save (the thrift store's thrift store).  We filled a basket with ties--so many...interesting...patterns.  I could hardly be pulled away, but Elise said we had enough.  Last night after the local Holiday Lighting and Chili Supper at the Senior Center, we worked together to weave a new seat.  She put all stripes going one way, and various patterns the other.  There were probably four or five all silk ties in our pile (some which we wove in, others we are saving).  I find them all absolutely fascinating, and I want to go back and buy the rest of the pile first chance I get.  After all, we paid $3.17 for the lot.  (Elise also found a fabulous old iron.  It has the old fabric cord, but it is heavy duty--it would put quite a dent in the floor if it falls off  the ironing board.)

Speaking of the chili supper, we did get Albin to come with us, but he left soon after eating.  (More alone time at home!)  Elise stayed until the bitter end, making all kinds of crafts, and asking to be an elf helper next year.  I brought my knitting, and had a chance to have a conversation with an acquaintance I only run into at these city events.  All in all, a lovely evening.