The back 40

It's been a busy week around here, and not just for me. The daffodils are bursting, the lilacs are budding and all kinds of plants are poking up their heads, looking around to see if spring could really be here this early. Our weather, until today, has been amazingly warm. I spent all day Wednesday and Thursday working in the flower beds, and even though my muscles ache and the tops of my ears are sunburned (there's always one spot where I forget to put sunscreen), I'm happy as can be. I can only think our collective mental health would be greatly improved by long stretches of working outdoors. I know mine is.
 
I also think we'd be happier if we had dogs with us at all times. Maybe not this dog, though. This is Ferris, the neighbors' dog, who thinks he lives here. This is an uncharacteristic photo of him. He is almost always up to no good. He's scratched the paint off our side door, trying to come in to visit Carson. He rummages around in our shed and steals things. He pesters Carson no end when they're both outside. Sometimes Carson enjoys his company. Yesterday, though, Carson decided to go back in the house rather than put up with Ferris one more minute. If Carson could talk, he'd have said "M-o-m-m-m-m. Make him stop chewing my e-a-r-r-r-r." 
 
Anyway, with all of this gardening and such, I haven't done any thrifting to speak of. That doesn't mean I don't have junk to show you. What I'm about to show you is something that even my closest friends and many of my family members don't know about. It will horrify some of you, and it may make others of you extremely jealous.
 
We have a junkyard on our property.
 
It's a classic, once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-farm-here junkyard, complete with the obligatory large piece of farm equipment hauled out back and left to rust. Fortunately, the junkyard is at the back edge of our land, so we never have to see it. Much of the year it's covered with snow (it's in a spot where the snow drifts and so stays covered longer than most other places), and usually the snow has no more than melted than the grapevines and scrub trees start greening up and conceal it. This year's early spring, however, has allowed for an extended period of junk viewing. Is this exciting or what?
 
Here's a tractor seat that has seen better days.

Some wheels sunk so deeply into the earth that they're almost like stepping stones. If I thought for one second the American Pickers guys would want any of this, I'd be on the phone to them. Unfortunately, I think most of it is too rusty even for their taste. I have thoughts of getting this cleaned up some day. Without the junk, it's kind of a nice spot. There's what I'll generously call a stream that runs along the back. It's probably more of a very substantial drainage ditch. At any rate, there's water, and plant growth, and all kinds of frogs, so I like it.
 
Ferris likes it, too. The soundtrack of my visit to the junkyard sounded like this: sploosh, sploosh, sploosh (Ferris wading through the water), crunch, crunch, crunch (Ferris climbing up the bank through the brush), shake-ake-ake-ake-ake (Ferris drying himself, always while standing as close to me as possible.) And then he'd do it all over again.

There was also a sweet, faint perfume in the air - not something you'd expect at a junkyard. It was the result of a light, dry wind carrying the scent of thousands of white violets growing in clumps on the opposite bank.

Of course I couldn't leave the junkyard without poking around to see if there might be something of use to me. (Despite the many years we've lived here, the junkyard is largely unexplored.) And I pulled this out of a tangle of grapevines: the rusted base of an old sewing machine, which I think will make an excellent base for a rustic garden stand.
 
Can you make out the words on the pedal? It says "The Free." That's so perfect on so many levels I can hardly believe it.
 

 

  
  
 

 

Comments

[HeidiAnn]

A rustic garden stand sounds fabulous!! Perfect.
And "The Free" - I love it!

[Martha]

The shed is looking very spiffy with daffodils in her front yard ... and I can't imagine living in a place where there are still places left to be explored (and stuff to be found).

The Free sewing machine base is awesome and will make a great plant stand. I have seen a a Free machine before (it was very pretty with lots of gold decoration), but never a base. Here's a little info I found:

In 1895 the Illinois Sewing Machine Co was founded using assets from the former Royal Sewing Machine Co of Rockford, Illinois. Will C. Free became the president by 1910, and organized a parent company - the Free Sewing Machine Co. Production continued in Rockford until 1958, when it relocated to Los Angeles, California. Manufacture finally ceased about 1969.

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

I can't tell you how happy that junkyard makes me! It reminds me of northern Wisconsin, and all of the abandoned farmsteads just loaded with rusty treasures. And that sewing machine base. Oh my, what I would give to find a pedal like that to hang on my porch. I'm going to look on Ebay right now, because you can find anything on there! Barbara, you are indeed living the good life!

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

I found one! 9.99 and 10.70 shipping. I think this would make a lovely Mother's Day gift.....

[bettyann]

oh cool...the sewing machine stand would make a fab base...have fun...

[Tina]

You must make something out of that sewing machine base!! I think the Pickers would take it if they showed up at you house.

There is always a kid (or dog) like Ferris in every neighborhood!

[Julie]

Wow how cool is that (by the way, Ferris looks quite the character). I'd be out there looking for all sorts of garden art (much to my hubbies disgust). And to find something sewing related....SWEET!

And I'm jealous - when I opened the door this AM there was snow (YES SNOW) here - but forecast for the 60's next week - what a weird spring don't you think! Hi to Carson from G&G who are probably no better behaved then Ferris (but don't chew ears)... Jewels

[laurie magpie ethel]

I wish I had a back forty junk pile like that...the best I have is a little path between garages with no fun treasures. Ferris sounds like quite the companion...I think I'm glad he lives in your neck of the woods and not mine!

[Mrs. Cozy Home]

That...is...so...COOOOL!!!!!

[sandy]

I like Ferris,I have a dog like Ferris you know I think everyone would be better off with a dog like Ferris.

[georgiapeachez]

This early spring has been so fabulous. How interesting to have a junk yard on your property. I have a typical suburban yard, small and surrounded by neighbors. However that doesn't stop some of them from trying to have a junkyard on their property. Or in their frontyard because I do consider a dozen resin yard statues from Walmart junk.
Luv that rusty sewing stand, perfect for yard art(junk). xo, suzy

[susan]

how cool is that? i think a garden stand is perfect, please show us what you do! have a nice week! susan

[Kerrie]

I love finding your kind of "junk"! so much fun and nostalgia. I had the base of an old treadle sewing machine and we painted it black. Hubby made a beautiful wood top for it and now my daughter has it and uses it to sew her quilt pieces on. Love your blog! Kerrie

[Lena]

All those white violets! What a fortunate woman you are. You live in such a beautiful place. My son would have loved poking around your property when he was small. What an adventure. I love "The Free" as well, and it will make a wonderful garden piece. I'll look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[Jenn]

I love that sweet faced Ferris....and even more so because 'he is almost always up to no good'. Great post!

[Wendy]

I think that's kind of neat! I like that big wheel and even the rusty tractor seat.

The sewing machine piece is a great find!

[MissAujahAcorn]

I love the Junk pile!!!! Not sure if I have ever commented before but this is the time! Love it!

[barb]

got a good chuckle about Ferris.
I have a 3 month old chocolate lab who is enjoying digging holes and "helping" me garden....

[Rebecca]

Ha, trying to cut back on commenting? Your blog is far too interesting!!

That sewing machine base is amazing. We have some friends who live on an old farm (yes, the ones with the baby goats) and junk is constantly surfacing after it rains. Apparently, some hoarders who ran a dump (no joking) owned the house a long time ago and would keep anything they thought was interesting... the barns are full of old metal junk!