Dan Antion

Another Feel Good Moment

the coffee table has found its new home.

About a year and a half ago, I was finishing work on a new coffee table for my office. Earlier this year, I shared some pictures of the finished table for Jesh’s “Made from Trees” prompt. Both posts prompted questions about what would happen to the table when I retired. At both points, retirement was too far in the future for me to worry about it. I knew the table wasn’t coming home. We don’t have a place for a coffee table, and our cats would destroy the “live edge” in about a week.

There was no shortage of people interested in taking ownership of the table.

I wasn’t interested in selling the table. I wasn’t interested in holding a lottery for the table. I just wanted the table to go to a good home. I had a few options. It was a hard choice, but the table has a new home. The new owner is taking the whistleblower approach. The person’s identity is being protected. Everyone is happy.

The Connecticut River is seeing a lot of traffic today as a regata is underway.
Just in case, these guys are ready to roll during the regata.
Tools of the trade.
It’s ready to roll.
Last day in the office. The table has left te building.
Hi Smokey.
The sun is rising later, so we get to see some nice light and shadows as we walk.
I finally got one of these shots that I really like.
the coffee table has found its new home.
Yeah, this doesn’t really fit. We have ordered a larger size. Maddie did appreciate the extra warmth.
Mulberry slab. A little trim and I’m sure we can find a coffee table in there.
It’s been cold. Irish Settles don’t get a winter coat, as they have no undercoat.

92 comments

    • Hahaha – I love that, Heather. bubble wrap is the most fun you can have while packing. I’ve been trying to get a photo of that sprinkler for years where it appears the way I see it. This one is the best one yet.

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  2. 🍻👍🏻👏🏻🥁🎉🎁Congrats at last Dan! That is a beautiful table as I’m sure the next one will be. Enjoy the freedom. You and Maddie stay warm on those walks. I still am having trouble commenting using my ipad so this will be brief. I am not sure notifications for my posts are even reaching everyone. Anyway woohoooo….!!!

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  4. A lottery for that gorgeous table, and you didn’t include your blogging community? I just don’t understand that. :-) I’m guessing you made the whistle blower really happy gifting that gorgeous table to him/her. I will look forward to future posts about the new one. Have a great week, Dan, and Maddie should be good this week because the temps are a little warmer.

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    • If I had had a a lottery, I would have included the online community, Judy – this was a private, off-hours, no witnesses kind of deal. I’m sure if I see another slab, there will be more tables in the future. I’ll let you know. We are looking forward to some warmer days, but it looks like rain.

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  6. One more step in the retirement process…finding a home for the things you can’t take home. One lucky person gets a Dan Antion original! And this has me thinking about what I am going to do with my stuff next year. Need a peace lily or two? Or a few knick knacks for the cats to knock over?

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    • I still have a few Mondays Val. We’re not sure how Maddie is going to react. Monday is her chill day, After a long weekend, she mostly sleeps. I may have to fin a Monday-only part time job ;-)

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  8. Feeling your joy at retirement! You’re getting that cold already? Darn–I wish we were. We continue breaking heat records down here. It’s ridiculous. Mulberry wood?! I’ve never seen that kind of wood–looking forward to the finished product.

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    • We’ve had four. The first had a bit of Golden Retriever mixed in. The others weren’t interested in sitting outside. Maddie doesn’t get cold walking or playing in the snow, but she starts to shiver after a little while just sitting.

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  12. I’m glad I didn’t get that table. I hate to think of what damage I could do to my shins on it. I can bump into furniture that hasn’t been built yet, so I know those corners and live edges would eat me alive! It’s gorgeous, though. I’m looking forward to your sharing your retirement projects on here.

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  13. Dan, I’m so glad that beautiful coffee table found its “forever home”!

    Yep, Maddie definitely needs a larger coat! Murphy has the undercoat, and I can tell you combing/brushing her is a major project…..daily!! And she still needs her coat in cold weather. Maddie looks so cute sitting there waiting for her deck to be finished before the first snowflakes fall!!!

    LOVE the picture of the sprinkler in action. Perfect in every way!! This one deserves to get printed out and framed!

    And that bubble wrap!!!! Why do we love to pop those bubbles? So much fun. Like blowing bubbles. Didja ever see some poor kid trying to wrestle the wand away from an adult who won’t give it up? Lol.

    Rain in our forecast too for this week, but we need it. Enjoy one of your last “work weeks”!
    🐾Ginger 🐾

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    • The person who now owns the table is the perfect person to have it. It was unanimous decisions be me, the Editor and Faith, so we’re all good. I do love this sprinkler shot It’s only taken 6 years!

      I did damage a few sections of the bubble wrap :-) so much fun. And, for the record, I eventually gave Faith the bubble wand. I just needed to be sure she understood how it worked.

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  14. I like the whistleblower approach, Dan. We do not have space for a coffee table either, although I would appreciate a small one. We have a great salvage place here that often has live edge slabs. Maybe I could talk hubby into making me a small one. You could post a video on YouTube as a “how to”. Might be a new retirement venture for you.

    The photos are great. More to come in your retirement future I hope.

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    • “Hairpin” legs are back in style, and you can buy a set, screw them to the bottom of a slab, and you’re good to go! Just some sanding required. Lots and lots of sanding.

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  17. I had to chuckle at the photo of Maddie in her new coat. When we first moved into our new house a couple of years ago, I realized I’d have to walk the dog until the yard was fenced in, so I went online and ordered her a raincoat and booties. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to measure a coat, and Cody in hers looked just like Maddie. At some point, I probably should get her a larger one, one that would actually reach her tail and provide some protection. As for the booties: they’re a great idea, but tough to get onto the dog until the dog is trained for them, and in our case, Cody lost one halfway out the door into the yard. That was the end of that.

    PS – Glad the cherished coffee table found a good home.

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  19. Tell Maddie that I have the same problem when I try on clothes after they have spent a few seasons just hanging in my closet. I swear someone snuck in without my noticing and somehow took the seams in an inch or so. Lovely picture of the sun hitting the sprinkler!

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  22. Hi Dan – that’s excellent news … I love the look of the little table and am so glad it’s found a happy home – and one you and Maddie approve of … and which those delightful purring wonders won’t be able to travel to – to enjoy their natural instincts of sharpening their claws. That’s great – one thing off the list of winding down to retirement … cheers Hilary

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    • Thanks Hilary. This was one of the harder decisions to make. It was a close contest, I might have to make one more next summer for the runner up. MiMi would have destroyed the edges of that table.

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  23. I’m glad the table has found a good home. Does it feel odd to let one of your masterpieces leave the nest, so to speak?

    I’m sure all new retirees face the same initial challenge – what to do with all the stuff that came home with you!

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    • It’s funny, Joanne. It feels so much better giving these away than it ever did when I was making furniture for a living. An exchange of product-for-money can’t compare to giving a gift.

      I don’t have much to deal with when I leave. A few framed pictures/groups of pictures and some books. Oh, and several coffee cups. Yikes, we already have too many of those :)

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  24. Aw, so nice you found a proper home for the coffee table. The photo of the tree with the sprinkler in the background is stunning, nice job! Maddie doesn’t look impressed with her coat – Copper looks the same when we put his on him too. I didn’t know Setters don’t have an undercoat.
    Congrats on taking one more step toward retirement in style, Dan!

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    • We will protect the privacy of the table owner. Maddie is very comy on her cot, and I think the new coats are going to make her happy. Feels a little weird, but as long as it works for her…

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  29. That’s so nice :) I’m glad the table will have a good home. My coffee table is 15 years old and it’s one of my favorite things. The only thing I truly love in the living room. It’s good for furniture to be loved.
    I am glad Sadie has an undercoat and lots of fluff, because I don’t know that I could be bothered to coat my dog. Too much like toddlers for me, I suspect. I must keep this in mind if I adopt another dog. I have a friend with a chihuahua mix and he needs a jacket, and sometimes, a sweater and a jacket. Poor lil guy. Not meant to live in Indy.
    Mentor’s youngest son recently colored me a picture of a giraffe with hearts. He wrote, “Golen, have a grate day!” and it’s the only ‘personal effect’ in my office. If I leave, I’m taking it :) Oh! And my coffee cup. And my favorite pens. And my Tide pen. Well you know, that other stuff’s not art. Your table is art.

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    • I like the idea that the person who has the table really likes it. I can’t explain, but it’s such a good fit. Maddie doesn’t get wrapped up to go do her stuff, and we usually don’t take her for a walk on days that are too cold. Even if we do, she seems OK when she’s moving. But, I noticed her shivering one day when it was in the low 40s and the sun went behind a cloud. She loves to sit, so much, that she doesn’t care. I think she’ll like the coat. I guess I need one, too.

      You haven’t been in that office too long. You accumulate more and more. I must have a dozen coffee cups. Oh, and Faith’s junior prom picture – she’s probably hoping I forget to bring that home.

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  32. My first thought was that tables like this could be a source of retirement income, but giving it away to someone who loves it has value, too. Creating for the love of creating reinforces the security of abundance, or something like that.

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    • I’ve thought about making them for sale, but they take a long time to get right. They do sell for large amounts of money, but I think I’d rather make one now and then. It seems I’ll always be able to find a home for them.

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    • Thanks Audrey. I am very happy with where the table ended up. Sometimes, it’s just a good fit. I’m glad you like the sprinkler shot. I’ve been trying to get that forever.

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