Chickadee Home Nest: rocking chair

Showing posts with label rocking chair. Show all posts

Thursday, February 27, 2014

My Baby-Rocking Rocking Chair

When I was expecting my first baby back in 1977, one thing I wanted for his/her nursery (back then we didn’t get to know the baby’s gender in advance ) was a wicker rocking chair. Visiting my then-in-laws one day, I see THE rocking chair of my dreams on their neighbors’ front porch. I told my then-MIL about it, and she immediately called them to see if they would be interested in selling it. Yes! They were! I think for $70, which seems like a lot for that time, as I look back! But that rocking chair has brought me such joy that it would be impossible to put a dollar value on it.

So when One Kings Lane invited me to do a post on a “statement chair,” I zoomed right over to their Home Décor Resource Guide (https://www.onekingslane.com/info/#.UwwKZGJdWSo), anxious to see what was there. Wow! What wealth of information, not just about wicker, but about a huge array of styles and periods and materials used in furniture making. And it’s broken down in so many easy-to-use categories: Style Overview; Period Overviews (dating back to pre-1600!). I encourage you to visit soon so you know about this great resource!

The stories of baby love that this chair could tell! I have a sweet memory of happily sitting in this rocker in the baby’s nursery, listening to a teddy bear’s music play The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. It’s where I rested when my back, tired from carrying those extra baby pounds (the first weighed 8 lbs., 8 oz., and the second a whopping 9 lbs., 6.5 oz.) begged me to stop arranging and re-arranging baby clothes in anticipation of their respective arrivals. And, of course, it’s where I rocked restless babies to soothe them back to much-needed sleep (for me!).

I never really put this chair away between my own babies and our next set of babies—grandbabies, that is. It’s mostly been in guest rooms, until that precious day when Baby Love visited our home for the first time, when she was only a few days old. Oh, the joy of holding her and rocking her in the chair where I once rocked her papá and her uncle! And then the others!

Here she is! In the babies’ room at our house.

Because we now live in a one-story, “she” probably has gotten more use in the last six years than in her first go-around in our family. This is “Ata’s chair,” where they sit on my lap to read some of their papá’s and uncle’s old books that I saved, such as~

The Giving Tree

Love you Forever

Bible Stories

Dr. Seuss

My Spanish Dictionary

The Missing Piece

Where the Sidewalk Ends

and our other “special” books.

It’s where I have the great joy of just sitting to watch them play, or rocking them to sleep. Isn’t there something so beautiful and touching about a baby asleep in your arms?

And, now that the two older ones are a getting a little big, when I hold Middle Chickadee at bedtime when they spend the night, I skooch the chair close to the bed and drape a soft blanket over my lap and the arms of the chair, so his little legs can rest over the arm of the chair and on the bed. Here, we say our prayers, talk about our day, and sing and rock and drift off to sleep {together :)}.

When babies aren’t here, she’s usually charged with keeping their bears and “bankies” safe—Baby Love’s Big Bear and her “flower” bankie; Middle Chickadee’s Ellie (the elephant :)), and Tiny Chickadee’s “Quejito”—a special Spanish name for a bunny. And she’s also my quiet place, where, in the comfort of their room and their essence, I find peace.

Now, mind you…she IS starting to show her age…after all, she wasn’t exactly young when she came into our family some 37 years ago.

Even if she was only about 20 when we acquired her, she’s getting close to 60!

And yes, a few little fingers have helped her aging process with a few breaks here and there…

But she’s STRONG…she’s good for another 37 years… I often wonder who, of our babies, will want her and will rock his or her babies there, knowing the love that her history holds. Now, isn’t THAT what a STATEMENT CHAIR is?

Do you still have the rocking chair where you rocked your babies and grandbabies? Did it live on to the next generation? I can’t wait to hear!

A big THANK YOU to One Kings Lane for inviting me to share my beloved chair! I wasn’t compensated in any way to inform you about their awesome Home Décor Resource Guide (https://www.onekingslane.com/info/#.UwwKZGJdWSo). I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I’m thrilled to know you stopped by, and I’ll always visit back and comment too. If you like what you see, I invite you to follow me (I promise to follow back), and please—Pin away and follow me on Pinterest too! Thank you!!

NOTE: Some of the items I use in my posts are in my Etsy shop, but many are not, simply because I haven’t updated my shop. If you see something you like and wonder if it’s available for sale, email me at coral5252@gmail.com and let’s talk!

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Thursdays at http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Fabulously Creative Fridays at http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/

Design it Friday at http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/

Friday Party Junk at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/

Friday at Redoux Interiors at http://www.redouxinteriors.com/

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Simply Sweet Fridays at http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/

Fridays at Imparting Grace at http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Saturdays at http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/

Spotlight Saturdays at http://www.classyclutter.net/

Saturdays at Be Different, Act Normal at http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/

Sunday Showcase at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Sunday at It’s Overflowing at http://www.itsoverflowing.com/

Sunday Creative Home and Garden Hop at http://creativehomeexpressions.blogspot.com/

Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesdays at Our Home at http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays at The Scoop at http://www.stonegableblog.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Inspire Me Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

Wednesday DIY by Design Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Saturday, August 10, 2013

A Summer Rain—from the Porch

On a Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago we woke up to [more] rain, but it was a hard-enough-to-hear rain that makes you want to stay in bed all day and just listen to it. I admit it…I did do a little bit of that, but then I was anxious to get out to the front porch to enjoy it in a different way.

One of the good things in life is having a front porch—with a swing—and sitting on that swing, warm cup of coffee in hand, listening to the rain and watching as the drops hit the ground and make their own little splashes.

Listen….do you hear it?! Do you hear the quiet??

Yes, siree! It was some awesome sort of summer rain! No thunder, no lightning, just sweet, sweet rain.

My wellies, jacket, and umbrella at the ready, in case I decide to venture out for a walk. Do you have rain boots? If you do, what do you like about them? Do you wear them often? I love mine! In fact, I find them kind of freeing—I can walk anywhere, through anything, without getting my feet or pants wet or the back of my pants splashed!

One of my favorite mugs—from Starbucks—was perfect for my morning on the porch.

And as I enjoyed the rain, I enjoyed our porch, taking the time to enjoy the little “vignettes” that are often overlooked.

This old crate that I’ve had for so long and use so often. Not a clue where/when I got it, but it sure has been enjoyed!

I’ve already mentioned this geranium this year—it’s been absolutely beautiful! It’s hard to tell in the picture, but the red is a black red; the flowers look almost like velvet. The wicker table? A fabulous auction find!

And the “painted” geranium—see how it looks like each petal has brushstrokes? Another favorite this year that I’ve mentioned before. I’m going to try to keep them over the winter in the garage. We’re in Ohio—any advice on how to do that? I would love, love, love to have these again next year.

P.S. After this sweet reprieve on our porch my husband and I ventured out in the rain—yes, I in my wellies—to a nearby town that has wonderful antique shops. Before wellies I may not have been too interested in that, but have wellies, will go out!

Are you a rain lover? Do you venture out in it? And if you own rain boots do you love them and wonder why you didn’t buy them longer ago like I do?!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! And if you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to Google+ this post or pin it on Pinterest too! Thank you!

I invite you to follow me. If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.

Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

DIY by Design Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Wednesday at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Thursdays at StoneGable http://www.stonegableblog.com/

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/