Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Story of the Step Stool

Step Stool
We painted our living room and kitchen recently.  Our painter and my friend, Mike Gates, was using this stool for something and I asked him not to use it because the joints were not solid.  He offered to fix it and we took him up on his offer.  It just came back yesterday and I am reminded of what I know about the stool for anyone interested.

Step Stool
This piece flowed into my consciousness during my child hood.  I do not remember where it came from.  I thing that originally it was a natural finish.  My mother painted it green I believe.  The treads were scraps of the linoleum floor covering from the kitchen at the farm house.

Wall Phone (Photo courtesy Google search,
It set beneath the phone on the wall by the kitchen/dining room door.  That phone was the only such device in the house.  Phone calls were very public.  There was NO privacy.

My Uncle and Grandmother lived just seven miles away but calls to them were long distance.

3 Minute Egg Timer (photo courtesy Etsy)
The egg timer was also near by because the long distance charge was for three minutes.  You tried to use it all but not go over.  My grandmother wound hang up mid sentence when the sand ran through.

Using the Phone (Photo courtesy Google search, http://bit.ly/1E9HZ73)
As I matured into adolescence I became interested in girls.  Mother always seemed to be in the kitchen when I made my calls.  She observed that, after my phone calls, I would go out and ride the scooter up and down the lane.  Once made aware, I found that is exactly what I did.  I don't know the reason.  We did not call girls if it was long distance.  I would sit on the stool if the conversation stretched on.

Step Stool Detail
My friend, Mike, glued the joints and reinforced them with screws.  He them plugged over the screw holes.  I think that he did a great job!

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