The Old Garden Gate

Well, we knocked another task off the "honey-do" list this week.

[If the Husband is trying to impress me or something, 
he's doing a good job.]

When we moved out of our lake house, we took the vintage cow stanchion gate with us.

It was rescued from a barn that was being torn down and we installed it at the entrance to our garden lot.

We couldn't leave it behind.

It had so much character and history.

I loved the weathered wood,

the spot where cows chewed on it,

and the rusty strap hinges.

The screws were so old, they still had small squares of leather instead of washers.

For the last 6 years, the poor old gate sat behind the outhouse here at Heaven's Walk,

leaning against an old mulberry tree ~

waiting patiently for us to find a place to plant her.

I expanded the north garden bed last week.

[Which meant digging more sod ~ 

which of course is at the top of my "love to do" list. 

Not.]

The new bed is from the crab apple tree back to where I'm standing beneath the arbor.

A whole lot of sod was dug.
Square by square.
Wheel barrel by wheel barrel.

As I stood there leaning my tired, sweaty body on my shovel and gazing at the work I had yet to do,

I suddenly realized where that sweet old gate was going to find a home.

I couldn't wait to approach the Husband with my grand idea.

He was very receptive and willing to make another one of my visions happen.

[Ok...what's going on with him lately, anyway...?
Is he finally developing a shabby prairie chic heart....?]

Sunday afternoon,

under a warm sun filling an azure sky,

we lovingly nestled The Old Garden Gate between the lilacs and a dwarf crab apple tree

creating a sweet side entrance to the north garden.

We gave her a little face lift, too.

We moved one of her rusty strap hinges to a more solid spot, 

and added a couple of new ones to help hold her together.

She was then washed with some Behr's clear protective stain

to help her last another decade.

It brought out the rich color of the worn, vintage wood.

We stood back and grinned.

We practiced walking back and forth between her strong posts,

unlatching and latching the ancient, rusty hook;

hearing it click into place.

We could almost see her smiling...

There....

among the lavender 'Princess de Monaco" and pink Double 'Knock-Out' roses,
 the blush pink 'Sarah Bernhardt' peonies,
 the old fashioned purple and white lilacs
and the deep green pines;

standing proud and stately once again.

This is only a small portion of the 12 yards of mulch I've been shoveling over the past two weeks...  :)

Someday, this cool, shady area will be embraced by tall firs,
lush, fragrant peonies,

and colorful roses ~
creating a cozy, secret garden...

complete with a
sweet Old Garden Gate.

~  Blessings  ~

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