The Park Side Table

A few years ago the family that lived next door to us pulled up in an empty enormous moving van. My boys watched as they went back and forth up the ramp lifting heavy boxes and moving furniture. We offered them our dolly and our help, but they declined... they had a crew. And they had a ton of stuff. They did it a little bit at a time and on the second move day I could see the men start to scratch their head, then look inside the moving van and then back into the house. I'm sure quite the puzzle fitting task. This went on for quite some time.

Several hours later as I was pulling out to run to the grocery store and I noticed the moving truck was closed up but their SUV looked something out of a IKEA commercial. All sorts of things were tied up there. I remember giggling. Not in a making fun sort of way... just a I hope he earned his Boy Scout Rope Tying Badge sort of way.

I came home a short time later with my groceries and saw something on the curb. Something made out of my favorite substance... wood. It said, "FREE". I love free. I looked left and then right wondering how many other neighbors might be headed for this same eye candy. But I was alone in my drool. And before anybody else could swipe it, I went in for the kill. My frozen stuff could wait.

Apparently, they had room for their cook books, but not this. It was a wide square Henredon side table. It was heavy and awkward to carry but I shuffled my way into the garage with it. I couldn't believe how good of shape it was in. Minus the nail polish. If it would have been in perfect condition, I wouldn't have done a thing to it. But, the nail polish wouldn't come off. So, I chose to refinish him in Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan in French Linen. And walllaaaa there he was. Except, I wanted to see something sparkly. So, I added a glass knob. And then he became a she pretty quickly.

Carrie || Thirty Eighth Street