Thursday, August 28, 2008

Note:

Please go here for continuation of this theme:

For the Love Of Benches Continued

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Bench at Mt. Rainier Visitors Center


CLICK to enlarge to see the bench under the windows.

We ate our Gazpacho (cold soup), sandwich and drink here for lunch before we proceeded to yet another area to hike another trail. There were many long benches all around the visitors center just like this one. Unfortunately, I got the dreaded sun spots in this photo but that meant we also had good weather for hiking that day, unlike the night to come when rains would drench our campground.

from Katney's Files


Recently, Katney shared this one with me. It must have been such a beautiful bench at one time. Now it is in a garden nursery with dirt dumped on it and flowers growing from that. I suppose it is better than tossing it out. I wonder what it was used for or where it was placed in its heyday?

Bench of online friend's journies

For a beautiful bench, go here: Linda She was generous to share it with us all.

After you enjoy the beauty of the bench from that angle, look below it and see the colored bricks!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Painted Flowers and Leaves Bench


At first, I thought this bench had blue and green dots painted on it but when I enlarged it, it shows painted blue flowers with green leaves and vines. The cement legs are also kinda unique. It was in a yard and I didn't have closer access to it so I don't know anymore about it.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Bench Found by Paul Nichols


These bench pics courtesy of Paul Nichols: http://writingfromthehip.blogspot.com
He tells me:
About it: I spied it while I was out walking in a neighborhood I'd never visited.
As you can see in the 1st pic, it is only a few feet from thepublic sidewalk,
yet there was no bus stop or anything like that.
Quite alonely street, in fact.
It fit in with a home's back yard but was about 200feet from the house.
I couldn't justify taking pictures from a distance
because of telephone/light poles and street signs.
It is the round arm rests that really captured my attention in the first place.
Thanks for the pics Paul!!!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Bench at Pandapas Pond

A bench at Pandapas Pond. One of my favorite spots to
sit and take in the wildlife.
I saw a Hawk there today and this is where
I saw my first Pileated Woodpecker. A very speical place.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Children's best pastime bench . . .


I know this isn't a people bench but a metal sculpture but I fell in love with it when I spotted it and there is a bench . . . even if it is completely occupied with statues reading!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Rattan porch bench


Saw this in the neighborhood where I go to take photos of the Kiggins House remodel. Even tho the porch looks old, it has a nice kept bench and beautiful surrounding flowers. Did you notice the little bells hanging from the welcome sign on the house?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Interesting but neglected bench


Saw this bench on one of my walks about town. Looks like no one has had the pleasure of sitting here for awhile. It has an interesting back and frame and I am glad I spotted it on one of my walking adventures.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Upholstered bench for one. . .


I fell in love with this bench when I spotted it. The shape of it, the wood grain and the beautiful upholstered seat caught my eye right away. The "bent" arms are beautifully crafted. I don't know if the wood was shaped to curve or if it was somehow "bent" when wet and dried in that shape. Whatever, skill or craft, it makes for a beautiful chair bench for one! CLICK on to enlarge for more detail.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Bench in the Woods

A bench in the woods on Deerfield Trail.
A nice spot to rest.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Neglected Home made bench


I bet it was a neat bench in its day. I think it could be fixed and still be usable. I like how the little arms and legs were made from small logs.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Rocker high bench


I didn't know what to call this one. It is definitely unique, made of thrown away metal parts. Notice the ornate sides made of artistic metal pieces, the step leading to the portion you sit on and the rocker bottom bar. Almost reminds me of a sled! These recycle inventions are truly inventive!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Snowboard ski bench


Probably one of a kind, don't you think? At least prettyinventive!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Decorative arbor bench


I liked the plain simple wooden bench even before they added the metal arbor and attached all the other "goodies" to the back and sides of the arbor bench. To see the details better , CLICK on photo.

Bench at Woodpecker Ridge Nature Center

On the 4th of July, hubby and I visited Woodpecker Ridge
Nature Center. This was the bench that welcomed us
to the gardens. A lovely place.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Recycled bench


Another bench at the recycle fair. . . not one I would enjoy having but it is a bench!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Dotted bench


This bench is also from the recycle fair. This lady paints dots on everything!!!!!!!!!! The bench is kinda like the two blue ones I had in my Kindergarten class but maybe a bit bigger in size. The seat opens to store things.

Monday, June 30, 2008

"Junk" benches. . .

Saturday when it was 102 degrees, I tried going to the park for the Recycle Fair but I had to give up and go home because it was just too hot to enjoy being out and about. BUT after church on Sunday, it was ten degrees cooler so I went back and am glad I did because I "found" at least half a dozen or more benches there. I will feature them one a day until they are all online. . . Ü You never know when you will stumble on another bench in this town!

This bench was thrown away at the dump and rescued to use again! People were allowed to "claim" FREE the things thrown away at dump but still useful and someone beat me to this one! Of course, I live in an apartment and couldn't take it anyway so glad I was able to take its picture! I can't understand why the owner didn't give it to a charity like Goodwill. It is a rocker/glider bench! I can imagine a nice cushion on it on someone's front porch!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Welcoming Bench

This bench is located outside a home in the neighborhood.
It looks so inviting!

Refreshing benches


I took this photo when people were not present because you would not be able to see all the little stone "benches" to sit on if it were a hot day like Saturday was. The cool water sprinklers are fun to sit on when the sun is shining bright and the temperature is near 100. This is one of the water places at Esther Short Park.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Beautiful but neglected bench . . .


I was out for a stroll in a neighborhood and noticed this bench in a much neglected yard. It even looks like the top of it is "broken" off the base. . . poor bench! It is so lovely in design and that yard is not worthy to hold such a beautiful thing!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bench in winter. . .


This is a bench at Dairy Queen last winter. I was walking around the neighborhood at 3:00 AM watching the snow fall. It is a cement bench that isn't very comfortable but nice when you need a rest . . . especially if it is a hot summer day and you are eating an ice cream cone!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Water fountain bench


You probably don't see this as a bench but on hot summer days, sitting n the ledges becomes a cooling bench! It is located in front of a banking institution's offices.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Kindergarten benches


Found these two benches with table at a thrift store and painted them for my classroom a few years ago. The seats open and I store tapes on books in one and the cassette players in the other one. When I retired, I kept them because I think they are so unique and practical.

Bench on Deerfield Trail

I found a new trail yesterday....and along the trail
was this bench. Located right in front of a creek...a perfect
spot for resting!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

A Child's Bench


This child's bench is near the sidewalk, looking out to the street BUT chained onto a big tree so it doesn't "walk away" I suppose. Look at all the animals on the back of it -- maybe it is a Noah's Ark bench?

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Iron Garden Bench


This is the third bench photo I took over at the Wood home this past week. You must CLICK on it to see the beautiful detail! IIt is against the wrought iron fence and hard to see otherwise. Mrs. Wood says she loves benches too and I can see why!

Another bench in the Wood's home


The ironwork is almost completely hiding under these pretty pillows. It is in a little alcove in the Wood's present home. Mrs. Wood told me she has an interest in benches also. CLICK on to enlarge.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Bench at the Wood residence


The family that is renovating the Kiggins House next door to their present house gave me a tour of their home Tuesday. They had taken an older small house and made additions and renovations and turned it into a beauty! It is for sale now and they hope to eventually move into the Kiggins home they restore before Christmas. Mrs. Wood says she likes benches too and allowed me to photograph this neat one on the 3rd floor veranda.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

A Welcome Bench

I called this a welcome bench because it's sitting in front of the Georgia Welcome Center on I-85.

Snow on benches around water fountain last winter


There is a little park next door to the apartment building I live in. It is surrounded by condos and business places. Inside is a water fountain leading to a brook and a water fall. Last winter they had three benches surrounding the water fountain. I caught this photo when it was starting to snow. They have moved the benches to other places in the park now.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Small blue bench for sale. . .


his blue bench caught my eye as I walked to the bank today. It was in front of an antique shop. It is quite small and in need of a new paint job. If I had the room -- like a balcony -- I would have bought it and removed the blue and varnished it.OR maybe painted it again. Anyway, I fell in love with it today!

Simple Bench

Nothing fancy about this one!
A simple bench located
outisde of one of the local elementary schools.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Rocking bench?????


I am not positive because I didn't see it in action but it looks like it could swing back and forth/front to back. . . otherwisw, why two sets of arms?

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Home made bench


When I spotted this bench, I fell in love with it. It looks home made to me with all the details. It is definitely unique. This is it on the porch.

This view is a close up shot so you can see more detail.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Another Angels Bench . . .



This bench is in the yard of the house next to where they moved the historical Kiggins House. The owner of that house is going to remodel the Kiggins house and live in it. They are selling their home where this bench resides. They will live in the Kiggins House once they restore it. It is 101 years old and this is the third home they have remodeled. CLICK on the bench to see the cherubs better!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Green bench outside retreat chapel in Oregon


I thought this green bench was placed in a nice meditating place. There is also a little white bench near the back of the chapel.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Bench with a Blue Jay

This combines two of my favorite subjects...benches and birds.
I guess this Blue Jay needed a little rest :)
Happy Wednesday!
(click on the pic to enlarge)

More retreat benches


This time, they are along the river, a beautiful scene to meditate, read or just pray!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Retreat Center campfire benches. . .


Our ladies group from church went on a retreat over in Oregon. It was a nice place to get away from it all. Have many memories of campfires during my lifetime.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Airplane Bench . . .


Today, I ahve a "different" kind of bench I spotted on my walk yesterday. I couldn't resist using it today although it is way off from our "regular" benches. As an added bonus, there are owls in the tree and a special sign too. (Enlarge if you need to to see them.)

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Bench at Bisset Park

This is a bench at Bisset Park in Radford Virginia.
There are many of these
located throughout the park area. This park has several miles
of paved walking areas by the New River and I'm sure
these benches are a welcome rest spot.

Vertical Slats Garden Bench


Another garden bench. This time a two-tone narrow slat back bench under a tree. The style is creative and not like any other I have ever seen here.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Two benches facing each other for company


I saw these two benches when I was walking in a new neighborhood last night. Don't they look inviting for at least two people, possibly four, to sit and converse?

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Homemade bench . . .


This crude bench is in a lovely setting under a huge old tree with rocks , bushes and surrounding flowering trees in someone's front yard. The only thing I didn't like about it was tht if faced the house instead of the yard.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Bench Under a Tree

This is a bench that is under a tree is someones yard
in my neighborhood.
I see that more and more...people adding benches to their landscape.
I might try it myself :)

City Walking Trail Bench


This stone bench is near the sidewalk of a part of the Discovery Trail, a trail that leads you around town to historic places and along the Columbia River. This lady was a great proponent of walking and having public walking places throughout the city. I love her words engraved on the bench. CLICK to enlarge and read them. I know a stone bench doesn't look too comfy but it is a nice flat place to rest IF you have been hiking and want a breather. It's also a nice place to people watch and being outside the city park where there is always something going on is a good people watcher place too.


I found this information on the internet about the person whose quote is inscribed on this walking trail stone bench -- see story of ancestors first and the last line about Dorothy.:

Jesse M. Langsdorf

Jesse Morrison Langsdorf established his reputation as a banker, but his descendants are known mostly for their legal endeavors.

Langsdorf already had carved out a colorful career before arriving in Vancouver. He had been in the military in the Civil War, worked on construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, then entered the banking business in Utah in 1869. He was involved in banks in Corinne, Ogden and Salt Lake City. He married his wife, Catherine, at Corinne in 1872.

For about a decade starting in 1899, Langsdorf was a banker at Salmon, Idaho.

He came to Vancouver in 1910 and organized the United States National Bank. This firm outgrew its building, and shortly before World War I the bank moved into a new home in what then was Vancouver's tallest building. It now is known as the Heritage Building.

Langsdorf's sons, Joseph S.G. Langsdorf and Jesse Langsdorf, assisted in the banking business.

The father died in 1923; he was the bank's president at the time.

J.S.G. Langsdorf died in 1927. Jesse G. Landgsdorf died in 1942.

A son of Jesse G. and Margaret Langsdorf, J. Guthrie Langsdorf, practiced law in Vancouver until World War II, in the firm Wilkinson and Langsdorf. In 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps, and he left the service in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel.

Langsdorf was sworn in as Clark County Superior Court judge in 1955, replacing Charles W. Hall. He continued in the positioon for 22 years, the longest for any of the county's Superior Court judges. Langsdorf also at times sat on the state Supreme Court as a justice pro tem.



Langsdorf's wife, Dorothy, former teacher and librarian, was leader in the efforts to build Discovery Trail in the Vancouver area.