Yesterday my husband and I took a little jaunt into Toronto to visit a couple of wood supply warehouses. These places deal with reclaimed wood from old barns, old warehouses, etc. One guy had the luck of collecting some old wharf planks that were unearthed along the waterfront recently. The wharf had been buried under landfill, and when developers dug down for the foundation of yet another condominium, they discovered this entire wooden wharf and they sold it off. The wood store guy was thrilled with it, but he learned that the wood is actually toxic from all the pollutants in Lake Ontario, and you could only use it for certain projects. He also had a ton of old stable doors taken from the Royal Winter Fair barns and auctioned off. We left with only a small purchase of this interesting maple slab for a tray or to maybe just hang on the wall because it's so pretty. The pattern is created by worms that got into the live tree and caused the tree to go through some distress. The tiny black dots are the holes where the worms went into the wood.
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| One side |
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| The other side |
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| Just the right size for a tray! |
I keep seeing lots of people joining Sunlit Sunday lately, and just this morning I had taken some photos of the sunrise. I'm joining in with Karen of My Little Home and Garden for this new-to-me meme. We've been having some beautiful sunrises and sunsets lately ... unfortunately the sunset photos get far too many hydro wires spoiling the view. The sunrise shots are through the backyard. This beautiful display was over in a quick 15 minutes, but it was gorgeous while it lasted!
I didn't get much decluttering done yesterday what with driving in and out of the big TO, but here's a little pic of something I have put in the "goodbye" pile ... my son's little hiking boots from when he was about 4 years old. I like the worn toes on them from riding his little car down our driveway. The toes on his shoes and boots were often worn through as he pushed along with his feet and dragged his shoes along the pavement. I have loved keeping these little boots, and it's killing me to get rid of them. But this is the kind of stuff I'm dealing with, and I thought I'd take a photo as a reminder of those happy days ;) I now have my kids' little baby things down to one outfit each and one pair of shoes each. Yes, I have an even smaller pair of shoes for my son, and they too have the toes worn off ;)
Happy Sunday Everyone!
Wendy
Need a little sunshine in your day?
The wood is gorgeous. I don't know if I could part with those boots. Many years ago parents use to have their child's shoes bronzed and keep them for decoration.
ReplyDeleteHa! I have my husband's bronzed baby shoes!
DeleteThe slab is indeed beautiful. If you have not thrown away the boots yet, why don't you put succulents like hens and chickens in them for the patio or garden? Won't be in your way and can still bring a smile when you glance at them.
ReplyDeleteThe wood really makes a lovely tray. Your sunrise images are lovely. I'm with allthingzsewn ... can't you make something with the boots??? Lovely post. Happy Sun Lit Sunday!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty Wendy!!! You captured the colors in the sky amazingly! That wood shop must have been so cool!!! Love the piece you found! I have missed visiting you here!! Lovely week to you friend! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeletePapa here is a wood worker and loves being out in his wood shop busy with projects . That wood is beautiful . Lovely post and photos . Thanks for popping by my blog , I always enjoy meeting new blog friends. Yes the sun sets and rises have been brilliant and the sun rises earlier every day and sets later every evening now to and I like that . Thanks for sharing your neck of the woods . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating piece of wood! It's really beautiful even though of course I'm sorry for the tree bothered by worms. :)
ReplyDeleteThe sunrise images are lovely. Thank you for sharing and have a great week ahead!
If you have not tossed those little boots yet-I would turn those into flower or plant pots for your outdoor gardens-allot people do that with all kinds and shapes of boots. cactus types do well too.
ReplyDeletewhat a cool theme for photos-yours are really pretty-and I always love reading about business' that reclaim wood etc-awesome love your piece
The wood is really unusual Wendy it will look great as a wall hanging, your sunrise pictures are beautiful :) xx
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed Sunlit Sunday for however long Karen has been hosting and it is one of my favorites. Some great photos here. I do not get up early enough to get a shot of the sunup so yours gave me a good feeling. That is what blogging is all about. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThese sunrise photos are magical and just look at the rosy hues.
ReplyDeleteWe have been having some nice sunrises and sunsets too, finally I am out of the city and I can finally see them!
Your weathered wood find is very interesting and the History that goes with it, makes it all the more intriguing.
Little folks shoes always break my heart-I even have a pair of my sisters wooden sandals that Dad brought home from the Philippines during WWII. You see how I save things....
Jemma
A beautiful piece of wood! I am sure that your husband will make it into something lovely which will be a new treasure to replace many of those you have let go. You really are deep into things now with the shoes and so on that you are letting go. I can totally see why you have the emotional attachment! Beautiful skies!! xx
ReplyDeleteI see lots in that beautiful piece of wood. I see leaves of all sorts, and even see a fish on the flip side. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you about getting rid of little treasures like the boots - so hard.
Ahh,..beautiful sunlit photos. Love that maple slab your purchased...gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou'll find my sunlit post here http://happywonderer.com/2016/01/24/friends-touring-san-francisco/
Beautiful slab of wood! And thanks for the reminder of Sunlit Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHello Wendy
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you have joined us at Sunlit Sunday!
Your sunset photos are amazing - created by the greatest artist of them all.
So many memories for you attached to your son's darling hiking boots.
I'm trying to de-clutter at the mo too - it's a long process!
Following you now
Happy January days!
Shane in New Zealand
Aah Wendy you're doing so well with the decluttering, I know we shouldn't help you veer off course but I too would use the boots as little planters in the garden, they are a lovely chunky sturdy size and shape.
ReplyDeleteJillxo
Hello, gorgeous sunrise captures. I think the idea of using them in the garden is cute! I love the your new wood tray, very pretty. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteGlad to visit you through Karen's Sunlit Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYour sunrise images are amazingly beautiful! I wish I could take photos like that. Your wood tray is pretty!
Have a good new week!
Glad to visit you through Karen's Sunlit Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYour sunrise images are amazingly beautiful! I wish I could take photos like that. Your wood tray is pretty!
Have a good new week!
beautiful wood tray and to think it was from a parasite on the tree to make such a nice pattern! Gail x
ReplyDeleteThe markings on the wood is amazing! What a great find! The sunrise photos are gorgeous. It is very sweet that you have even a smaller pair of shoes for your son. The photo you took of this pair is beautiful.
ReplyDelete-Soma
You captured the sunrise beautifully, Wendy! Your maple slab tray is also very cool!
ReplyDeleteThe sky is full of such gorgeous colors, Wendy! Great shots! Those little hiking boots are the cutest things. But now you have a photo to remember them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece of wood, Wendy, and a stunning sunrise. There is endless beauty in nature. We just have to stop and look.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Beautiful pictures, Wendy! It must have been very painful getting rid of those precious little boots. It made my mother's heart hurt a little bit for you.
ReplyDeleteI love the tray! I volunteer at our children's Scrapstore and we share our premises with a wood recycling yard. This week I went in to see about getting them to source me some new shelves for my utility room. They had the most lovely cedar just in, so they are going to make my shelves from that. I so enjoy spending time in their warehouse!
ReplyDeleteHello, Wendy
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining in with Sunlit Sunday this week. I enjoyed reading about the reclaimed wood and seeing the beautiful piece you purchased. Some people have such an eye and gift for creating beauty. The vibrant colours in the sky shots are gorgeous and I found the story about the tiny hiking boots very touching.
I hope you're having a lovely week.
Karen