Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Transformation

Last week my husband finished the patio table he's been working on and we put it in place in the backyard.




The table top was constructed of wood salvaged from the firewood-heated "snorkel spa" we inherited with the house.




I've previously written about the snorkel spa (here).  We used it as a spa a few times but it was more trouble than it was worth.  It took about 2 hours to heat up the water and, if too long passed between uses, it had to be drained and refilled, which was hard to justify during a drought, even when we used the discarded water in the garden.  I used it for awhile to store patio furnishings.  We disassembled it in January (as described here).

Re-using the wood to construct a patio table involved more work than my husband (or I) had anticipated.  Some of the wood had warped and some panels weren't in pristine condition.  He ended up re-planing the wood before putting the table together.  Sanding and finishing it using a marine grade varnish was also time-consuming.

Delivery of the finished table required rearrangement of the backyard patio.  I expect we'll juggle things some more but here's what it looks like now.





The chiminea was relocated to create space to move around the table.  It's now on the other end of the patio with a collection of pots, most of which I had before.




I stuck a plant in the top of the chiminea, which we've never used to burn wood.  It's an ailing Cordyline 'Renegade' that formerly occupied one of the pots by the front door, which I recently changed out.  It was small enough to fit the space but I think I'll eventually replace it with a trailing plant, maybe Lotus berthelotii (aka parrot's beak) or Russelia equisetiformis (aka firecracker plant).




The pot formerly in that space moved to the spot previously occupied by the chiminea.




I also spruced up the seating area on the north side of the house facing the dry garden.  I'd like to replace the disintegrating wicker chairs there but, for now, I made do with cleaning them and replacing the seat cushions.  I also refreshed a couple of my succulent pots.




So now I'm ready for whatever summer throws my way.  After the heat we had last month, we're currently experiencing the "June gloom" that usually shrouds the coastal areas of Southern California in clouds and fog for half the day.  It's actually a welcome change - we'll take our moisture in whatever form it comes.




What are you doing to prepare for the summer season?

23 comments:

  1. That table is lovely, and looks great on your patio. I bet it is a sweet spot for sitting and enjoying the garden.

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  2. Nice work, you're very creative in the way you've rearranged things. And that table is great! The finish is so good can even become an indoor dining table. Even more impressed is that its a reincarnation of the snorkel spa!

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  3. OH my goodness Kris! That table is gorgeous. And what a lot of work to convert from the wood from the spa. Kudos, what a great job you've done. What a fantastic view you have too.

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    1. The kudos belong to my husband, Deanne, but thanks.

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  4. What a great use of a former eye-sore.

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  5. When I saw your shiny table, I thought you got rain!
    Good with recycling, it became a nice table.
    Mariana

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    1. I wish we'd get some rain. At least the early morning fog is back.

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  6. Wow, he certainly turned an eyesore into something beautiful and functional! Summer is here in Austin, and my prep work has been done. Now it's time for hunkering down in the A/C or pool, just keeping things watered as necessary, and waiting for cooler gardening weather to return in October.

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    1. So far, June has been more pleasant here than May was but I'm very sure the heat will be back on here soon too, Pam.

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  7. Great work on the table. I have a question, are the chairs in the third picture really outdoor chairs? They look so comfortable, I've been looking for ages for something comfortable but everything I see looks great but you wouldn't want to sit on them for long.

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    1. Yes, they're outdoor chairs. They'd belonged to my in-laws who had them in the backyard of their home for many years before we inherited them. My husband insisted on bringing them here because they are so comfortable (and they swivel). I have no idea of the make, though, and the tags have been removed.

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  8. Wow is right! I tried to imagine the finished product when I first read about the pending table project. I was expecting something a lot more "rustic." I'm really impressed.

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    1. I was expecting something more rustic too but the carpenter is never satisfied by leaving things simple, Eric.

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  9. Wow! Your garden looks terrific. I especially love all the sitting areas. You can pick a different spot each day! I'll bet you have a much more pleasant (and cooler) summer than we have here in Houston. Happy Gardening!
    David/:0)

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    1. Thanks David! As to the prospects for our summer, we can only hope. I'd love to get some of the rain (monsoonal blast or not) that you get during the summer months.

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  10. Wow! What a wonderful why to transform your not-very-attractive spa into a beautiful piece of patio furniture! Kudos to your husband. -Jean

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  11. Your husband is very clever making such a beautifull table. The garden looks fantastic!

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