Ask and ye shall receive...

A couple of weeks ago, as my gardener was clearing away the invasion of weeds and returning my yard to nearly bare-bones status, I thought about the pair of redwood chairs I bought my first summer here, 12 years ago. Two women in a pickup pulled over while I was gardening, the younger one pointed to the load of redwood chairs in the back and asked if I wanted to buy one. Reflexively, I said no - then - "how much?" - then "ok, 2 and an end table." The chairs were $25.00/each, the table (as an add-on the the chairs) was another $10.00. Even 12 years ago that was amazingly cheap. At the time I couldn't really afford it, but reasoned that I couldn't afford not to, since much cheaper chairs would cost at least 2X as much.

Mom stayed in the drivers seat while she explained that she and her mom made them themselves. Fast and business-like, she unloaded almost at a run, while I went inside for money. The chairs were rough and unsanded but pleasing: sturdy despite being nailed together instead of being screwed, and until now they've been pretty solid. I noticed when I was moving them that they are no longer so sound, though still useful. Not bad for 12 years in sun and rain. I'd never seen her again, and occasionally, while balancing my iced tea on the broad arm, I wondered if she really did make them in her shed up there in Humboldt County, as she said, or if they were stolen. They were, after all, so very inexpensive.

Last week, working in the yard I wished that I could buy new ones, but I had no idea who she was, or where she lived. Anyway, after 12 years, what was the likelihood that she was still making them?

Today I heard feet on my front stairs, and nearly ignored the doorbell, expecting an evangelist and rehearsing mentally which excuse I'd use to close the door again, quickly but politely.

Instead, there was a still-young woman on my porch, asking if I wanted some redwood furniture that she'd made herself. Again, I said no and closed the door, but then went to window to look. Yep. A different pickup, and mom no longer at the wheel, but the same carefully interlaced stacks of chairs. I called out the window "How much?" then asked for 2.

I asked.... "have you done this for years? I bought chairs 12 years ago, when I bought this house: and now I'm leaving - new ones will make the yard look nicer for the sale. "

She smiled, nodded. "This house faces two streets, right? I remember. Last time I came to the back. My mom and I make them ourselves."

"You've changed the style. I like it." And at $40.00 /chair, I love the price.