Creating – One Day Wonders with JBK

This man of mine is so resourceful. Dave had me in mind, planning to build a bookshelf. I don’t deserve it and had not requested it—but he knew I would love it. The cabinet appears to be built in, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling, and I could not be happier with the outcome.

The project took the bulk of his summer. Thought, planning, editing dimensions, drawing and more drawing went into it before the work began. It takes a lot of brain power and heart to devote this much time to an endeavor of this magnitude. Each morning, he was at it, taking few days off to recoup.

Bottom line, the room is so ‘me.’ For several years this space has been my quilt room. Since I have begun writing, quilting has taken a back seat. I sit in awe with so much joy. It will take some practice to call the room by its new name. Lady J’s Lair. If you are interested in knowing how the name came to be, read my blog Intermission IV.

Both of us were amazed at how many books were gathered from the nooks and crannies of the house. My fabric stash now resides with book roommates. Space even for some of Dave’s favored reading, as well as some treasures of mine. The flag on the top shelf was given to me at my father’s military funeral. The newspaper bag is not prominent but hails from our son’s days of delivering the local paper many years ago.

Intermixed with these projects Dave has made—another awesome event took place. I met Jesus. That too, puts me in awe. Jesus had a hand in creating the world we live in. It took a mere seven days without any breaks—considering the work of his hands good. It was we humankind that muddied things up. Jesus let his creation realize this world was no longer perfect. However, he had a plan. Jesus made a way for us to live with him in perfection.

Currently Jesus resides in heaven, but had a thirty-three-year stint here on planet earth. Evil men, not fans of Jesus, determined to end his existence, putting him on a cross to die. Jesus was well aware, only his plan extended to beyond the cross. He rose from the dead. That sounds unbelievable, but each spring we see plants come back to life.

Know that Jesus is capable of anything and did not stay dead.

Much thought went into this, he had you in mind. When he returned to heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to give us hope and encouragement. It is there for the asking, but you have to want his help. Ask for it—even if you feel you don’t deserve it. Jesus’ love and forgiveness is greater than any wrong humans can commit. Sit quietly, in awe and enjoy all he has already done for you. It is finished. Jesus said so himself.

Too bad I didn’t get a before picture. You can see the after here. What you can’t see is all the between. This is a pie safe.

Back in the day before kitchen pantries were a thing, women had a pie safe. Probably it was before bakeries and air conditioning, when more windows were open for air circulation. Women baked breads and pies. In order to keep flies off the baked goods, they put them in a pie safe. It wasn’t intended to be airtight, hence the punched tin.

Today antique buffs like to utilize them, mostly for the quaint appearance they give to country décor. That is where I am at.

As my husband constructed my current computer desk, it became apparent I was going to need some storage. We contemplated a wall unit with a cabinet base and shelving above. Some shelves open, others behind closed doors to hide stuff. We all have our stuff don’t we?

He being a builder, it would have been impressive, and more than meet my needs. Probably his first choice too, because it would fit in with what we have in the rest of the house. He likes stylish well-built furniture.

But me, nooo.

I was going through his woodworking magazines, destined for our garage sale. Oh look! A pie safe. You know I’ve always wanted one of those. The rest is history.

My pie safe started out in life as pallets, used to deliver all manner of lumber for the new homes built nearby. They sat out in the weather for quite some time as we mulled over all the potential they held. Finally, I inquired if they would be used again. Their days were numbered as they were headed to the dump. We rescued them before that happened.

Now for the in between. Dave lugged them home to dry out. He then took them apart, sorting them by the size of the boards. After that, he de-nailed them. The next step was running them through the planer down to a smooth board.

To give the finished product more character, he glued the boards together, then cut them to the specified ¾ inches. Yes, he built boards! At long last he was able to construct what you see here, complete with his hand punched tin. Truly, it was a labor of love. It was his desire to please me.

Our Creator did likewise. Designing human-kind was a labor of love, specifically made in his image. Our capacity to love, anger, forgiveness, laugh, cry; all come from him. Mind boggling, yes? It was a labor of love.

More than anything, he wants a relationship with us, and to please us. The trick is for us to want for ourselves what he knows is best for us. Like any loving parent would.

Just for the record, the pie safe is well built and blends nicely with the house too, because we have a fair share of antiques. Likewise, with our Creator. He fits things into our lives that blend perfectly with our character.

Tag: Creating

It. Is. Finished!

A Labor of Love