Sunday 20 September 2009

Phew!


Wow! Such a lot of you RSVP'd to my invitation that I ran out of scones and had to dash in and bake some more! It was lovely to see you all - we must do it again sometime. Later today, when I cannot garden any more because my back will be aching, I shall answer all your comments individually - it was such an enjoyable day.

Now to today's theme - and it is Patience. Have you got any? No, I'll re-phrase that - have you got any to spare, because I am totally lacking in it. If there is anything needed doing around here I want it done yesterday. The builder, who is fitting us in between golfing, holidaying and grouse shooting, has been very good for teaching me patience - the alterations have gone on for quite a long time and on the whole I have contained my impatience.

But the farmer! Now there is a model of patience for you, if ever there was one. You see above a photograph of our very old back door. It has been a back door for thirty or maybe even forty years. The builder suggested a new one. But the farmer has two maxims - never throw anything away until it is absolutely done for,(he uses a morth earthy word!) and if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well. So I have to tell you, dear readers, that he has spent four days (yes - days - not hours) rubbing this door back to the bare wood. And yes, since you ask, we do have a sander, and no, since you ask again, he did not use it. He used glasspaper wrapped round a small block of wood with the addition of what we call around here "elbow grease". For four whole days (minus coffee and lunch breaks) he worked diligently upon this door. On the fifth day he stained it.

I think it has come up magnificently and I am full of admiration for one who can spend that amount of time. After four hours I would have thrown in the towel (or in this case the glasspaper) and gone out and bought a new door.

So five stars for my wonderful farmer. Have a good day - hope everyone is ready with their poem for TFE's Monday meme and their rotten photo for Derrick's meme too.

25 comments:

Dominic Rivron said...

Looks amazing - but not the sort of thing I'd have the patience to do!

Totalfeckineejit said...

Please do not ever mention sanding doors in my presence Weaver,the very thought of it brings back stark nightmares of back-ache, blisters,bad temper and lost weekends-hundreds of them.Our first home was a small victorian terrced cottage with large DOUBLE doors between the kitchen and living room.The whole house was a work in progress but Mrs EEjit was obsessed with getting these doors right and in the 5 years we spent in the house their colour changed probably 15 times but always were rubbed back down to the plain wood when mrs EEj didn't like the colour.Aggghhhh! Agghhhh! I need to go for a walk, or a lie down ,or have a drink ,or all three now. AAAgggHHHH!!!!
Ps The Farmer has done a wonderful job there, now leave it be for the next 30 years please.Incidentally I knocked myself out cold on the frame of those doors once when drunk, I wondered if I could leap over the sofa into the kitchen.Mrs EEj never let's me forget that one!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

The door looks so inviting what with all that elbow grease used upon it. Patience is not my forte.I admire those that have such patience.

BTW the tea and scones were delightful.

Crafty Green Poet said...

It looks wonderful. I'd like to think that i would have the patience to do that, but no, i doubt i would....

mrsnesbitt said...

What's the photo meme?
I've done my poem!

Elizabeth said...

Patience definitely is a virtue when it comes to home improvements!

Hildred said...

Weaver, your dear Farmer sounds like a combination of my father and my husband. "If a thing is worth doing it's worth doing well!!! - my father's favourite saying, - and out in Charles' garage and general supply 'shop' there is something to fix anything, - and probably two of each. He is the despair of the younger generation who believe new's best...I think it is a generational thing and I do admire these men who are afflicted with it. Hurrah for the Farmer.

Jinksy said...

Not so much patience, more determination... Must admit, when I get a bee in my bonnet, I'll struggle on to the bitter end with a seemingly everlasting project. But on another occasion, I may chuck in the towel and go for the 'new' option after five minutes! Does this mean I'm fickle?! :)
My husband once told me, he was taught patience by an old boy with the wonderful name of Perry Caunter, who used to get him to help weed a field of carrots by hand. Hubby would have loved to be a farmer too...

Golden West said...

This summer saw the installation of new windows in my home - which have been sitting, waiting in the garage for 8 YEARS! So, yes, I have a lot of patience!

Your door is splendid and the time to save it definitely well spent.

Pondside said...

Patience, he must have lots of, but vision too, because that door is really quite beautiful.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

The Farmer has incredible patience and look at the outcome..an incredible door!
Lovely blog...so glad I visited!

Jane Moxey said...

"Patience is a virtue, Virtue is a grace and Grace is a little girl who wouldn't wash her face!" What a beautiful job on the door and what an elegant door it is! Kudos to your patient farmer!

steven said...

it's a funny thing that isn't it weaver that in a relationship there needs to be one with patience and one with admiration for patience.
lovely door - lovely!! steven

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

Three cheers for the farmer! I would not have the inclination, let alone the patience, for sanding the door. Good job some folks are. Look forward to seeing your pic(s) tomorrow.

Heather said...

I thought your door was looking particularly smart Weaver - but four days! But when you think about it, a lifetime of farming would teach anyone patience. I think using a computer would either teach one to be patient or have the opposite effect!! Machine embroidery is very similar. I'm all ready with my poem for tomorrow.

Leenie said...

The door is beautiful A lot of things that have survived decades still have a lot of heart. Your farmer has patience.

There is nothing like a remodeling job to teach you more about that principle.

Eryl said...

I agree with the farmer and his maxims, but that just means I have a lot of knackered stuff waiting for me to have time (or energy) to deal with it. I do admire his tenacity!

TheChicGeek said...

Ah, patience paid off...looks BEAUTIFUL!

Michael said...

Pass my admiration on to The Farmer...patience goes with the farm so to speak, I imagine.
I have a decorator who is currently deciding if he will grace me with his presence this coming week.
It's not as if I'm asking for the Sistine Chapel or some such........just a splashing of Dulux Matt in each room.
Many thanks for the scones and tea.

gleaner said...

Lovely door - now whats going in the pots on either side of the door?

Amy said...

I am totally of the belief that each person you meet in life you can always learn something from. I never use to have patience until I worked with a now ex-colleague last year, boy did she each me patience.
Unfortunately patience at home is another matter while I wait for my dh to help me sand all the windowsills around the house *sigh*

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

He's a keeper, no doubt about it. That's a beautiful door and I'm so happy he restored it!!

The Weaver of Grass said...

These comments are so interesting to read through - seems some of us have patience and some not. I think you can learn patience - I am certainly learning it with the builder here - there really is no need to do everything in a rush, is there? I do keep telling myself that - one day I might even believe it! Thanks for the comments.

BT said...

Oh I'm sad that I missed out on the tea and scones, my very all time favourite! It must have been when I was away.

What incredible patience the farmer has and how grand the old door looks. It's a bit like Jim using the window from the cottage to make a door in the barn! 'It'll come in' is his maxim.

Teresa said...

Sounds like Farmer deserves the Blue Ribbon! The door looks beautiful... when the post first came up I thought you were going to say that you have a new door....