Coffee Blog

Coffee Re-heated

Writing Sparkle
Mom and I about 13 years ago.

My coffee sits untouched in my mug. The smell wafts faintly around me reminding me that it is there but I am slow and distracted this morning. I have always found it interesting that feeling during a tragedy that time should stop and life pause, even if it is just for a moment, because as surely as I feel like life is ending it must be but it doesn’t. Time has not stopped and it stops for no one; life goes on. Slowly the smell of the coffee becomes a stronger calling and I cringe slightly when I try that first sip only to realize that the marching of time has now chilled my coffee. With a soft sigh I re-heat it. Yes, I said re-heat it. I think enjoying a re-heated coffee comes from the days of being a mother with young children!

Anyway, it was another long week with a few more challenging moments. The biggest one this week that I struggled with was my desire to call my mother on the phone for a little chat. It was one of those moments where I realized the value of something small that I took for granted. It did provide me with a renewed appreciation for all the talking that my children enjoy directing at me with the “mom, mom, mom…”

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I have a few projects started and a few pending the completion of these ones. Crafty projects are good for me and soothing for the emotions. So, I brought home a couple pieces of furniture from mom’s residence when we cleaned it out. These pieces of furniture were all special in some way and pieces that I remember from growing up. For example, there is a china cabinet that my dad gave my mom when they got married all those years ago. Mom was a smoker though so there is some smell locked into the wood. My projects are to sand down and re-finish these pieces. It’s a bit challenging because I am new to the re-finishing activity. Any tips or hints?

If we were having coffee I would thank you for all the support and kind words last week when we shared a virtual cup.

If we were having coffee I would ask you about your week. How was it? Are you working on any projects?

By Shari Marshall – 2020

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Eclectic Alli. I hope you have a chance to join us for a virtual cup: here.

11 thoughts on “Coffee Re-heated”

  3. Hi Shari,

    I did wood refinishing of a sort for several years when I lived in Washington State.
    In short you need to do some research to answer some questions.
    1) What finish is on the piece now? Is it a clear-ish solid that might be chipping off. Or is it smooth, allowing you to touch the wood but is aged and dry looking? Both need different first steps of preparing the surface for a new finish. If you have a cabinet refinisher nearby who would look at it for you, it would be worth the time and effort to secure his/her opinion and thoughts. Removing the old finish might be easy or tough depending on what’s there now.
    2) Decide if this refinishing effort is perhaps a one time thing, e.g creating a memorial piece that both reminds you of and honors your mom? Or perhaps you think this may become a hobby. Decide as soon as possible because there could be a substantial investment in chemicals, supplies and tools involved and the price of this one piece may be more than is reasonable.
    3) Are there stains in the wood you want to remove? Do you want to restore the original color or change it? Darker is easier and lighter is much harder.
    4) Think about what kind of finish you want. Some are best applied only by professionals while others are as easy as wiping them on with a clean rag, smooth and easy. The more gloss, or thickness you want, the more likely it is that you should consult an expert.

    Anyway, I found that I love refinishing but that I simply don’t need another hobby that requires a full kit of stuff that I’ll only be able to play with occasionally – you know, like fishing does.
    I hope you find a great balance in this effort and that you love the result.
    Blessings
    .

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    1. Okay, that is all good to know. Good news is that my dad might know since he built it all those years ago. I will have to reach out to him and see what he remembers. In the meantime I am going to work on a couple of chair that have a clear finish. I want to destress them so they match my table. Fun fun.

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          1. You can diagnose for sure by checking your hands and lower arms for strange-wood-colored blotches and sometimes your knees. Then if your reaction is anything from: “They must have been there since last Saturday when I stained. . .” to “Cool! So worth it!” then you definitely have it. The cure is far worse than the disease, replacing all your wood furniture with plastic functionally equivalent pieces, so you may be stuck with it.

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