The Mennobrarian

An unconventional (and lively) hope chest

11:50, Wednesday, November 28, 2007 .. Posted in Homemaking .. 3 comments .. Link

When my husband's great-Uncle died recently, we were gifted a large cedar chest that had been kept in the family for many years. It was built by either my husband's late grandfather or great-grandfather (no one is sure whom) and it was clearly made for the builder's mother. We know this because across the lid in large wood block letters is the word MOTHER. There is just no mistaking who this trunk was intended for! We got such a kick out of the "bold design". You can almost imagine a very young man with very new carpentry skills lovingly creating this trunk that would see much usage before spending forty years an attic.

When we brought the trunk home, it was so dirty that I actually had to vacuum the dirt and cobwebs off of the outside of it. I was particularly excited that it was a cedar trunk because our first few months in the house were an all-out moth spectacular. I did nothing but worry that every textile we owned would be devoured by winter. Unfortunately, the chest turned out to be made of white or yellow cedar, not red, which is the natural moth repellent. Also, both hinges were broken, and the construction of it was, uh, rustic. So, of course I lovingly scrubbed it down and cleaned it up the best I could, and wheeled it into our "housewares" room. This is the room that stores many of our belongings to keep them clean and safe until the day we are no longer in the throes of construction. I packed the chest with quilts, and afghans, and curtains, and so many other lovely things that were wedding gifts, or selected by me to one day decorate our little home. It is a "hope chest" in the way that I hope someday we will be able to have a normal happy life and not live with the constant dirt and upheaval caused by the work we are doing on our house. And of course, I one day hope to put up nice curtains, and set a table with a nice table cloth, and maybe not worry so much about moths.

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Awesome

12:15, Wednesday, November 28, 2007 .. Posted by TheGoodLife
I am soo thrilled that the chest has a new home to be loved in.

Wouldn't it be nice if the chest could talk & tell all the stories of it's owners.

Love Leanne NZ.

Leanne- You read my mind! I thought the same thing, and then we could know who made it, and who placed items in it...I forgot to mention they was an old pair of black shoes, a hat, and two handbags in it when we opened it. Monica

Edited by Mennobrarian on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 04:05

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12:55, Wednesday, November 28, 2007 .. Posted by homesteadinthemaking
What a wonderful gift.
Blessings,
Trixi

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12:45, Thursday, November 29, 2007 .. Posted by rildapeel1
It sure is a treasure. Someone put alot of love into it. It is beautiful! I love to see something as this being used. Now you will give it a story. Thanks for sharing!! *U* Rilda