My Man on the Beach . . .

I tweeted this the other day, and then later was able to put my tea on this

and my feet up on this

which, as you can see, also offers itself up as a handy spot for a palette

just as the “side table” is handy for resting a book on

 The newest member of the suite, a near twin to the side table pictured above, is the one Paul carved on the weekend, and is currently waiting for its newly applied surface to cure.

My footstool/coffee table though, I wanted left in the rawest state, to fully manifest some of its history. The rings testify to its years growing in some rainforest within reach of the Coast, while the pebbles driven into its rough ends record its escape from a boom on its way to a mill, as well as mark its years on beaches like ours. Like the feet that will rest on it over the next decade or so, it deserves some time in the sun.

 You can see that its desire to become terrestrial again has been quickly perceived by some accommodating grass seed (Click to “embiggen” if you can’t sit that sprightly green sprig). Perhaps it will sport a dandelion by this time next year.

Meanwhile, have a peek at its “mineral deposits”:

Beauty abounds in the world, doesn’t it? Simple beauty. Restful palettes. Let’s embrace all of it where we can, shall we?

19 Comments

  1. LPC
    8 August 2012 / 3:32 pm

    Just beautiful. I love the more polished orange against rough wood. Nice work, Paul!

  2. Unknown
    8 August 2012 / 3:40 pm

    Looks terrific with your Eco friendly chairs!
    Great job by your husband…lucky you…my husband isn't allowed to be near power tools for fear of disasters and maiming.

    • materfamilias
      9 August 2012 / 6:42 pm

      Funny! Mine is reluctant to have me near knives . . . for good reason, really.

  3. Hypatia
    8 August 2012 / 5:13 pm

    lovely!

  4. Pondside
    8 August 2012 / 5:17 pm

    That is truly a piece of furniture that reflects its roots in the earth and the sea. Well done, to your husband, who could probably make a killing selling these in Toronto or NYC.

    • materfamilias
      9 August 2012 / 6:43 pm

      Yes, I suppose they'd be attractive for infusing a bit of the wild and natural into big-city life! West Coast life, eh?

  5. Susan B
    8 August 2012 / 5:25 pm

    Oh yes, so serene. I love the palette and textures of your newest piece of furniture.

  6. K.Line
    8 August 2012 / 8:59 pm

    Fantastic! Talk about handy!

  7. Unknown
    8 August 2012 / 10:08 pm

    Lovely! I love the texture and rustic feel.

  8. Raquelita
    9 August 2012 / 1:11 am

    Wow! I really wasn't sure what to expect when I saw your tweet the other day, but these pieces are fabulously interesting. I envy your reading by the seashore.

    • materfamilias
      9 August 2012 / 6:44 pm

      These seaside reading days are numbered, sadly . . .

  9. That's Not My Age
    9 August 2012 / 2:56 pm

    That is impressive! And that's a lovely chunk of trunk. Ah the beauty of nature.

  10. materfamilias
    9 August 2012 / 6:44 pm

    Thanks, all! I'll pass your compliments on to my guy.

  11. Miss Cavendish
    10 August 2012 / 1:01 am

    Gorgeous! My manly man apparently worked as a carpenter helping to build "whaling mansions" on Cape Cod one summer between ugrad and grad school. (His specialty was the roof.) But I believe he left all of those skills in his toolkit because the only evidence I have are the stories that he tells and tells and tells. No coffee tables; no renovated bathrooms or whatever.

  12. materfamilias
    10 August 2012 / 9:01 pm

    Paul's building skills are pretty rudimentary despite having a father who held tickets in 4 different trades and a brother who's a good hobbyist cabinetmaker. These tables are obviously very rough and ready, but they do the trick.
    I can imagine that your guy has some good stories — after all, you had me at "whaling mansions" and "Cape Cod" . . .

  13. Glennis
    11 August 2012 / 4:44 am

    I love these!!

  14. Patricia
    11 August 2012 / 3:48 pm

    I especially like the simple sculptural look of the first one – well done Pater! P.

  15. materfamilias
    12 August 2012 / 12:22 am

    Thanks, Aunt Snow & Patricia — I'll pass your compliments along. Patricia, you should know that the large hole is not Paul's invention, nor of his making — this was cut from a log that would have been part of a log boom, so the hole was drilled long ago to accommodate a large chain.

  16. Mardel
    16 September 2012 / 2:34 am

    Those are just gorgeous, and I love their rustic mineralizes combined with your lovely cheerfully painted chairs.

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