"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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.)

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.

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?

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.

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.

Corner benches

Spotted these benches when I was walking downtown recently. I think they must have just added them since I walk past/ride the bus by this restaurant often and never noticed them before. I have always liked photographing benches but now I look more often for them! EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!