This Old Bench

It's been on our front porch since there was a front porch. But it got its beginnings in the barn where we camped in '73 after buying the land.  

(Elizabeth and Sam's early days in OLD WOUNDS and their life in the barn are, of course, influenced by our experience.)

John cut a window in the eastern end of the barn and built a little shelf/table under it to give us a place to eat. This bench was made of an oak plank that was lying around the barn. John removed the nails that were in it and hammered them straight for reuse. 

He had just a few simple hand tools with him but was able to make nice mortise and tenons to secure the stretcher between the two legs.  

Various dogs have chewed on the little bench over the past half century. 

There was once a Magic Marker black bat on the seat, courtesy of Ethan. It's faded away but Josie has left her mark--a little puddle of glue and glitter.

Just an old bench and not much to look at but oh! the memories!