Thursday, February 3, 2011

Shaker candlesticks.




Aude and Sylvie continue to work away on stripping and undercoating the old ceiling in the upstairs hallway. While they work, Wilf waits at the bottom of the scaffolding for a full fibre Ryvita. Manna from heaven. They think it will take another two weeks to finish off the doors, beams and rafters.

The builder came to knock down a horrid old concrete barbecue area by the terrace. Instead he knocked down the eighteenth century brick wall next to it.

Mid-morning and the landscape gardeners announce there is no more they can do until the trenches dug by the government cess pit men are filled in. As a parting gesture they cleverly unload an enormously large pile of gravel in the middle of the driveway.

Much moving of furniture for the decorators. 'The font' is delighted to find a pair of antique shaker candlesticks in the basement. Apparently we bought these in San Francisco thirty years ago and they've not seen the light of day since. Where we are going to put a pair of candlesticks five feet high has not been explained to me.

Wilf simply loves the thirty ton gravel mountain. He has clambered to the top and christened the summit no less than twelve, triumphant, times. Where I see a mess he sees fun. Or as a wise old PON might say " Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine ".

23 comments:

  1. Well that sure is an 'interesting' candlestick!

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  2. How fabulous that the mountain came to Wilf!

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  3. I am so sorry about the knocked-down wall and the pile of gravel but your descriptions thereof have given me a wonderful, laughing start to the day!

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  4. Wilf knows the trick is to turn your face to the sun, so any shadows (or sadness) fall behind you.

    My human was in San Francisco twenty-seven years ago, but she can't think of anything she stil has from that time so they must be very special candle sticks to have travelled around the world with you. Your upstairs hallway looks more than five feet high, so perhaps thier time to shine a light has come.

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  5. LOL - what words of wisdom! I adore that candlestick.

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  6. Those candlesticks would look great on my hearth !!

    I'm glad Wilf is getting sensible treats and not chocolate biscuits, however much he would love them......and thanks to Wilf for yet another memorable saying.

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  7. Better the gravel mountain than the cess pit trenches, Wilfy!

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  8. i must say that only the Pon seems competent......knocked down the eighteenth century wall?!
    Wilf has the right idea: go with the flow!
    xoxo

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  9. But how do you forget for 30 years that you had 5 foot candlesticks?

    P.S. - While sad to see the 18th century wall lose, so glad that Wilf knows how to enjoy King of the Mountain!

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  10. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Wilf are so right--You really have to get out of the shadows and see the sun shining--And I really hope that the pile of gravel doesn't end up becoming a 'shadow' for you!

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  11. No matter what situation presents itself to WIlf, he always manages to find happiness in it. :)

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  12. Wilfie: how cool you found a mountain that you can christen many times over!!! Keep climbing my friend.

    Zach

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  13. Amid the chaos and excitement of work being done around the property (sorry about that old brick wall, however) Wilf is demonstrating for us the following Shaker principle "You must not lose one moment of time for you have none to spare"

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  14. Just as well you've got a sense of humour, eh?!

    Wilf is sublime.

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  15. I'm not sure why the font has to explain where 5 foot candlesticks go. the fact that you have them should be triumphant enough! besides from the look of that hallway, i'm thinking those are 20-foot celings? how do you heat that place? (geeze, and i had to twist arms to get our builder to put in 10-foot ceilings in our CA home...)

    we had a garbage can that we lost in our 2nd move which was a whoping 8 miles in distance apart, but suddenly appear on our 3rd move which was thousands of miles in another country... too bad it wasn't a pair of 5-foot candlesticks tho. One can always use light.

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  16. Ah, yes! And Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.

    I'm sorry it's been such a trying day on the home improvement front! At least it can't get worse tomorrow. I think...

    I'm with Wild Dingo! Those candlesticks sound fantastic! I'd be elated to find them, too!

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  17. Lord, don't move my mountain, just give me strength to climb.
    It delights Wilf and it will eventually go away. Reminds me of his lemons and lemonade quote.
    The ladies must be working very efficiently to have a job that size, done by hand, finished in only two weeks. The wall! Can't even imagine my own anger! You know, "stuff" follows us around for a reason. The candle sticks are wonderful and will be lovely in this house. They chose to emerge from hiding to bring their happy memories on a day gone wrong. This house its a "meant to be" for you.

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  18. What fun for Wilf!! And isn't he a clever boy for waiting patiently for a Ryvita! Tasty things those are! Oh, and what joy about the find! Those candlesticks could be put anywhere and look fabulous! Keep going Wilf! Enjoy the Ryvita....

    With love from your Canadian pals,
    Dianna along with Tor, Willow and Tucker

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  19. Sounds like a PON amusement park. The candlesticks would make a nice ornament for the hallway, if and when it's finished.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  20. Wilf
    Once again you make lemonade whewe othews just see bittew lemons. I think youw house is going to be beyond lovely and wif those gwand spaces, I'm suwe you'll find the pawfect place fow those hooge candle sticks
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  21. Wilf atop the gravel mountain is a thought that makes me smile!

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  22. Oh Wilfee. You are truly too adorable. I hope the sun shines always on you darling garcon.

    Helen in Tarbes

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  23. I'm beginning to think the restoration of your farmhouse must be costing you well more than you paid for it!

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