To the Rescue!

Ahhh, the merry month of May! This month seems to put a spring in our steps and beckon us outdoors…the days feel easy-breezy! If you stopped by the farmhouse today, you’d find the windows open and see the old tobacco cloth curtains gently swaying back and forth. What a joy to feel that breath of fresh air…almost as if it’s blowing all the stuffiness out of a home that’s been tightly buttoned up against months of Winter storms. 

And on that breeze, two of my favorite scents are drifting inside…the sweet aroma of just-mown grass, and the earthy scent of freshly-plowed fields. Yay, Spring has sprung!

May seems to stir in us the need to tidy up both inside and out – it’s time for a fresh start! Inside we’re chasing dust bunnies, while outside we’re fussing over flowerbeds. And if we’re looking for a little something to spruce up our nests, it’s officially the season of Yard Sales, Barn Sales, Junk Sales, and Garage Sales. They’re absolutely some of the best places to find bargains on oodles of things…as the popular saying goes: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! 

By the way, if you’d like to listen to a little catchy chorus or joyful jingle as you read, might I suggest a song called, “The Best Things in Life are Free” (I’m a fan of the snappy 1947 version by Jo Stafford). And that song is what brings me to this month’s topic…FREE things!

Sure, we all keep our eyes open while traveling, but sometimes there’s more to discover than meets the eye – it’s my version of Search & Rescue! So this month, I thought I’d share a few “freebies” I’ve found along the way…on the back roads, the dirt roads, and the gravel roads.

Like this chair…

Yes, It looked like it had been painted at least twice, and needed a little love, but after passing it several times as it sat on the edge of a country road, (which in my hometown is as good as a sign that reads:  “Free to a Good Home”) I decided it was mine. There was also a vintage metal chair next to it – you know the kind, those wonderful old springy chairs? And while it had several coats of paint and was peeling in spots, c’mon, it was a retro metal chair…in the car they both went!

A little scrubbing, a little brushing to remove the loose paint, and then three coats of spray paint. Ta-da, new-to-me chairs to relax in while sipping lemonade or stargazing.

This wicker chair was spotted at the end of a driveway by a garbage can. I had passed it several times throughout the week, and I finally decided, if it’s still there on my way home, I’m stopping to pick it up.

Well, it was, and I did! Again, a little brushing, then a fresh coat of white paint and it was like new. A cheery little chair for sitting by the herb garden.  

A little more primitive, this chair was in a giveaway stash, and definitely past it’s use for safe sitting. However; it made a perfect chair to dress up my garden.

Now this is one of the best finds! My daughter and I were out for a little drive and passed a “FREE” sign by some furniture. At first we passed it by, then we both looked at each other and said, “Hey, that little table was nice!”

And so we turned around, went back, and found that the little table was really a heavy-duty White 651 sewing machine in a lovely wooden cabinet. The farmer came out, in the pouring rain to boot, and offered to put it in the car for us. I’m so glad he did…it probably weighs 50 pounds! Possibly from the 1930’s, it has a lever that lets the sewer raise and lower the presser foot with her knee, freeing up hands for guiding the fabric…this was something completely new to me! 

This next freebie was a gift…how could I say no to a wonderful farmhouse cupboard? Tall and oh-so roomy, this corner cupboard is just perfect for my little cottage foods shop in the milkhouse. Again, with just a little brushing to remove loose paint and a quick wash with gentle soap, soon it was all ready. I love the crackle finish, so I just gave it a facelift with a light wash of paint.

Lastly, this retro fireplace was headed for a dumpster. Well, I just couldn’t let that happen – it needed a home, so in no time it was loaded into the back of the truck. I have no idea how old it is (any suggestions?). Not wooden, but maybe Bakelite, it has faux logs, a little heater underneath, and rotating tinsel in the back so it looks and sounds as if a fire is burning. 

Now, the old milkhouse is chilly some mornings, and while a working milkhouse certainly wouldn’t have had a fireplace in it, I thought this might be just right for keeping me a little warmer on those frosty mornings. 

It had a few spots of damage, so again, a coat of paint came to the rescue.

Or so I thought…this was how it looked after the first coat. I began to worry, but I was too far in now, I had to keep trying. 

After three coats of paint, the color evened out nicely (whew) and it was ready for the milkhouse. The little heater warms me up a bit and I love the sound of a crackling “fire” and the “glow” of logs. 

We can also find some clever giveaways without ever leaving home – call it a little search & rescue! 

Old work boots that are too worn for use get a new life in the garden. 

A leaky enamelware pan is just right for holding cheery blooms. 

And when a twig chair broke and couldn’t be mended, the chair back became a handy support for fall pumpkins and flowers. 

You know, a freebie doesn’t always have to be something I can bring home to spruce up. If I look around, there are freebies all around me.

The happy surprise of volunteer plants that pop up unexpectedly in the garden, 

and the beautiful farm scenes at harvest time.

A striking sunset.

The Northern Lights that were visible last year…unheard of for our area, and absolutely magical.

If you look closely in the center of the photo below, you’ll see C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas. A very long name for a comet that passed by us last October. What a freebie…it won’t be back for another 80,000 years!

And lastly, this rainbow after a spring shower…not often are we able to see one end-to-end.

Sometimes the freebies only need a little TLC and a splash of paint, while other times, they’re right in front of our eyes.

Now it’s your turn, what are some of your rescues? Maybe you’ve created something new out of something old, found a keeper alongside a gravel road, or merely paused to enjoy the simple things. I’d love to hear! 

See you soon, with more “tails” from the farm,

Mary