My Latest Garden Project

I get a free magazine called Living the Country Life. (They also have a web site if you’re interested – http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/ ) There was an article in the June issue called River Retreat featuring a Georgia acreage owned by Joan and Andy Coval. Besides landscaping, Joan likes to create original crafts and artwork out of natural and found objects. One photo that caught my eye showed a stick chair that she had made. I’ve dabbled in making stick objects myself (a few trellises and a garden ornament) so I decided to make a chair. I have to tell you it was a LOT harder than I thought it would be to get that chair braced and sturdy enough it would sit up by itself. (Note to everyone: Don’t ask me to make furniture!) When I get in the mood to do something, I want to do it right then. Consequently, I’m always starting something and don’t have exactly what I need to do the job. I also found out 4 hands are better than 2 when making something like this so Jim was drafted to help hold while I fastened it together. (This is only fair since I helped him put a new muffler on the riding mower.) I ended up doing part of it then letting it go until the next day while I thought about how to finish it. The chair in the magazine photo was all wood but I elected to use grapevine to make my seat since I have lots of wild grapes. I then hung a gourd on the back and sat a potted ivy on the seat. What do you think? The 'model' is my mama cat, Chuck.