When I first moved to NC, I had a trunk from college, two end tables I bought a yard sale, a bookcase and the bedroom set I had as a child (which my parents graciously gave me). A friend of Bobby's gave me a couch and I scrounged money for several months to pay for a slipcover to go over it. Bobby's brother had gotten married the year before, and in consolidating households moved a lot of furniture into storage. They gave me the kitchen table and chairs they weren't using, and I've gratefully and thankfully used them for the last 11 years.
Bobby's nephew got married almost two years ago. I don't know why neither of us ever thought about it before, but for some reason last month it finally crossed our mind that they might want the kitchen table that Sammy's parents had while he was growing up. So we asked them, thinking they'd say no, they already had furniture, and we're surprised when they immediately said "YES! We've just bought a house and that would be great!"
So the last month I've spent a good chunk of time (as has Bobby) looking at CraigsList, looking at photo galleries on the web, and discussing what we would like/need in a kitchen table. We checked into having someone make us a kitchen table from the wood of the tobacco barn we tore down a few years ago, but that fell through. Meanwhile, several tables we really liked sold on CraigsList, and one we liked but were uncertain about kept reducing its price. Last Monday I went to measure and make sure Bobby could fit his chair under it and that the chairs were comfortable, and brought it back to Mrs. Bryan's barn. The boys came Thanksgiving afternoon and loaded up our faithful and comfortable table and chairs to take to Sammy & Jess's new house, and unloaded our "new" set for us.
I absolutely LOVE the detailed carving on the skirting of the table.
And the carving of the chairs match, and I think they are absolutely gorgeous. Even though everything is oak, the stain is dark enough that I think it matches the cherry cabinets in our kitchen. AND...included in the detailed carved on the top of the chairs is acorns and oak leaves...how cool is that?
And here's what the complete table looks like. The leaf doesn't match the inward angle of the grain in the table, but it does complement nicely. (Bobby can't fit under pedestal tables without a leaf in them.) I'm just thrilled that we not only found something that works AND we both really like, but we also got a great deal out of it!
And here's the biggest kicker: while I'm talking to the owner, she was sharing with me that her parents gave it to her almost ten years ago as a wedding present, and that her Mom bought it at an estate sale with the understanding it would make do until she could afford what she wanted. Her husband is finishing seminary and they are getting their own house, so they're finally getting to purchase their own furniture, too. In the process of this conversation, she said something about her family being from SC. I asked her what part, telling her about my older sister living there, and in that conversation found out we both have friends and family in Alabama. I told her I was from Cordova, thinking she would have never heard of it (as most non-Alabamians and even some Alabamians haven't), and she immediately not only named a couple from Cordova, but IT WAS SOMEONE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH!!!! Misty graduated with my little sister; we were in band together, and when her family had to move up to Southeastern for her husband to attend seminary (they lost their apartment and school during Hurricane Katrina), I was able to visit the hospital when their new child was born. This lady had lived next door to the Alexanders while their husbands were in seminary, and her husband and Ritchie still talk on the phone almost weekly! How bizarre and yet how neat that I would drive almost an hour away for a gorgeous, non-expensive dining set, only to find out the owner and I both know the same people?!? Is that not crazy?
So who knows? Maybe by the time I hit my 50's I'll have finally replaced all our donated furniture with furniture that we've actually picked out ourselves. We're 99% there in the living room, and now totally there in the kitchen! WHOHHOOO!
And here's a sample of the Jesse tree done with paper and paper ornaments:
AND, there's also a book, published in 2005 that details the whole concept in a story form:
If I had children, I think this would be an awesome way to teach the fulfilled Messianic prophecies of Christmas. Here is a link to the devotion schedule for the Jesse Tree, as well as a more detailed explanation: http://www.jesse-tree.com/jesse_tree.html If you choose to do this with your family, let me know if you post pictures and I'll mention you on my blog!
