I told you that my home is on a corner, and I shared this post about the original-covered-patio-only-usable-entertaining-space back patio area here. This patio is actually behind the house, and you get to it either by going through the kitchen and laundry room, and then out through the back door of the garage, or by coming around from the new side yard area I shared yesterday.
Completely confused about the layout now?
That's okay. Just know that my home has multiple outdoor areas tucked around the outside of my home that can be used for entertaining or gardening, or whatever.
And it's just one more thing I love about this home.
So, the story about this little covered patio renovation is full of meant-to-be items (or God things as I love to call them) starting with this solid steel to-die-for vintage workbench-turned-potting-buffet-table.
I originally saw if on my local Craigslist, at the bottom of the screen, where they show you "items in nearby locations". It was over an hour away, in the tiny town of Stayton Oregon of all places, which seemed to be a God thing in itself, since my daughter and son in law live there. Woo Hoo! This would mean I could have my daughter run over and look at the long table, and load it in her truck to then get to me shortly thereafter. Here is the original photo from his ad....
I called on the workbench, and had to leave a message. Six days went by with no response, and I was both disappointed and annoyed. Of course something this awesome was most likely already sold, but they guy clearly just hadn't bothered to remove his post.
Ugh.
I found a different workbench for my patio and bought it....
On the seventh day, I got a call from the guy in Stayton with the awesome cool workbench. He never received the voicemail until then! Yes, he still had it. He said it was heavy, but he and his wife were able to move it, so we should be fine.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I had my daughter call him and set up a time to go look at the bench. She called me from his house and said, "First of all, it is exactly what you want."
(I could hear a "butt".)
Then she said, "It is so heavy that I cannot even lift one end of it, and I have no idea how on earth we would get it in our truck and to you".
My heart sank.
"Well, that seals it. We can't move it, so tell the guy thanks anyway, and sorry, but we will need to pass."
The smaller wooden bench would just have to do.
Fifteen minutes later my phone rang again, and it was the workbench guy in Stayton. He said he and his son were coming into Portland Saturday and they would be happy to deliver it!
I was shocked and thrilled and disappointed all at once.
" We will not be home then. We will be in Stayton of all places, watching my grandson play little league baseball then".
"Well, if you want to trust me, I'll deliver it to your house. Just put a post it note on the patio where you want it, and leave my money there too."
(See? Doesn't that sound like a God thing to you too?!)
Yes! Yes, yaaaaaasssssss please!
He delivered the heavy workbench, and it was even more perfect than I had pictured. (The other workbench is in my booth space now for sale, if you are local, and like it!)
Next came my oh-so-fabulous plant stand. I was working in my booth one day, and a fellow vendor set this plant stand just outside my booth space, as she was re-fluffing as well. I told her how much I liked it, with it's perfect shade of green and all. She then informed me that she was lusting after a vintage folding table I had in my booth that I was using as a base for a display.
Mmmm hmm, we swapped pieces, and I think we were both pretty tickled about it.
(Another God thing?)
Okay, one last little bit of interesting happenings....Another friend, who was a former booth space neighbor to me, gave me a bunch of her overflow junk inventory. Among the items was an authentic vintage sign board, where you put the letters on it and spell things out. It. was. fabulous. I wanted to keep it for myself so badly!
I walked through my house no less than 54 times, and could not find the right space to hang this fabulous board. It was not meant to be mine I guess. I put a patriotic quote on it, put the letters in a cute mason jar and took it to my booth. A fellow booth friend fell in love with it, and was thinking hard about buying it.
I told her I had had my eye on her vintage rusty green postage scale for some time now, and ...can you guess?
We swapped.
Somebody pinch me.
(God is in the details.)
While I always feel like everything is a work in progress, and always evolving, I am quite content with how my back patio has come together. A perfectly sweet little sanctuary, where I can enjoy my flowers, and my raised strawberry garden, and I feel extra blessed to have each and every piece of charming old junk out here!
