Forgive me for being a bit indulgent here, but I had to dedicate a blog post to a wonderful, faithful friend who is no longer with us: my old, run down fence.
Sure it had it's flaws, like rotting fence posts, or needing a new coat of paint. But it sure was the perfect place to hang quilts for blog photos, lending its rustic charm.
This fence has been a happy part of our lives this past year. And in some cases, the absence of our fence was an even happier part of our lives.
So here's a little behind the scenes story for you. Summer of '08, after 16 years of faithful service dividing two backyards, the farthest back panel of our fence started to lean in a somewhat scary fashion. While we and the neighbors decided what to do, we just removed that panel - which turned out to be the coolest thing our children had ever seen. Now they suddenly had a 'secret passageway' to our neighbors' backyard. So we left it that way. Because we had the world's greatest neighbors.
Well, Spring of '09 the rest of the fence dividing our yards starts to tip due to rotting posts and one day we came home from church to find a gusty storm had blown some of the panels over. So we had to take the rest of the panels down while we decided what to do. And in the process we created one huge yard. The bad news was my favorite photo spot was removed. The good news was I could sit at my sewing machine in our downstairs family room and watch my children play in the neighbor's yard (which they much preferred to our own.)
The downed fence created a golden, memorable summer. There truly is nothing better in the world that having wonderful next-door neighbors. The kind who make life better and you don't want to share a fence with.
But alas, we both had weird, dysfunctional houses (not neighborhood, mind you) that we'd endured and been frustrated with for years and the night I went to deliver this quilt, we mutually confessed that we were each looking for some place new. But during the drama of finding the right new house we enjoyed our shared yards and dreaded the thought of knowing we were going to have to repair the fence before either of us could move.
To the right is where the missing fence belonged.
Don't you love that mountain?? I miss that too.
The night I watched the final fence repairs in August I was melancholy. And when I woke-up the next morning and went into my nicely fenced-in yard I felt claustrophobic and full-on depressed. I knew it was the beginning of the end of that sunny period of our lives.
But isn't that the secret of life? Enjoying what that space of time has to offer and opening up our hearts (and fences) to the great people God puts in our path? And now I have a snazzy new fence, with no rotting posts (but no place to shove thumb-tacks either.) I know that after we settle in, we'll find new places to take pictures of quilts and new people to open our hearts too, but I'll always treasure the memories of the summer we lost a fence.
Kim Walus
What a great story Amy. It brought back such wonderful memories of my childhood. Thank you. We live in a neighborhood here in Highland where there are very few fences and I love how it feels.
Trisha
Great post! I must say that I have previously admired your new, white fence. Our backyard is fenced in on three sides and all the fences are different. How's that for wacky!
Lisa @ Life with 4!
I really enjoyed reading this post, Amy.<br />So sweet and memorable!
Kimberly
Sweet post! I wish we had neighbours that we'd be willing to ditch a fence for! Our last backyard neighbours delighted in pulling weeds/sticks off their yard and depositing them on ours. (Our little clue that it was them was that the rubbish was on top of the snow in our yard) And it's funny - or not so much - we seem to be noticing that same traits in these neighbours too. Hmmm... maybe
Sherri
Love the ode to your fence! I have to say...I love the pictures of your quilts on that fence...we have such a plain, boring block wall that isn't good at all for quilt pictures!
The Quilt Buddy
Very well said!
searchfamilies
What a lovely post i enjoyed seeing all the quilts they are lovely<br />Hugs Janice
Nedra
I will never look at fences the same way again. Thanks for a lovely post.
Terresa
"the summer we lost a fence" -- that could be the title to a best seller. It's that perfect. As is this post.<br /><br />PS: Thanks for your comments on my blog. They always make me smile. Didn't realize you served in England! What areas? (I'm jealous, although I served in Uruguay which is, for me, on par with England in it's coolness.)
Leslie
it is good to have a open gate, open fence policy with your neighbors...i am sad for you. that is a beautiful view.