Saved by the Bell…
My elegant early warning system; more of a ga-long, ga-long, than a ding-dong, ding-dong.
My kitchen nook and home office are one in the same. I face south toward the cottonwoods and a large moss-covered maple pondering the start of my day and the words for this very blog. Just outside my window, a relatively new fenced-in area keeps Boz and Gracie out of the way of indifferent UPS and FedEx drivers and off of the limbs of dear neighbors who walk with a cane or visitors who find no charm in cheeky bulldogs.
Mom’s mystery bell, not sure of its origin or purpose…cowbell, perhaps?
For some reason, I rarely hear when a visitor opens and walks through the gate, up the stairs, through my mudroom to the interior kitchen door, which is usually open. Trouble is by the time they reach that point, I’m usually trapped in the nook sporting boxers and a spaghetti-stained t-shirt, or standing at the stove singing along to Merle Haggard or Aretha Franklin. Not a pretty sight for the uninitiated (or initiated for that matter).
I must have mentioned to my mother how I don’t hear approaching visitors, because this week she sent me a handsome solution to being caught off guard: a bell for my garden gate. What looks to be a cow bell, enjoys a wonderful patina and hand-hammered pedigree. Two hooks later and the bell was tested for sound. Whether opened gently or with purpose, the gate now shares the action audibly in the form of a bass-based clunk, a ga-long of sorts. Success. I am now safe from impromptu scrutiny and remarks about by sartorial choices, or lack there of, and my visitors from being bowled over by two beefy bulldogs. Thanks Mom!
Thanks for the visit; oh, and please, don’t forget to close the gate.
And just in case you want to hear what to bell sounds like, click image below.
Your mom is a gem! You are too. Frauline and I talking coming to see our favorite garden speaker at the Vashon Garden Tour!
Xoxoxo!
Deb, the Vashon garden tour should be great this year, some kick-ass gardens, and great speakers. Excellent!
Love the new gate. Thanks, Mom. Looks very inviting and I would love to be floored over by two bulldogs!!!
Thanks Susan, a love of bulldogs is a sign of high IQ in my book. 😉
I love the gate and the bell!! And Boz.
Thanks Erin, Boz sends his love.
Tom…well Boz may not be impressed but I sure am…I love your gate bell. What a lovely Mom you have. And your gate looks great too!
Yes, Boz could care less. I LOVE the bell. How sweet!
Hi. I’m new to your blog. Found it a couple weeks ago, just sat down after sanding front door for a break, thought I would read your blog and poke around.
At .57 on the bluebell flower tour, there are some tiny white flowers, what are they? Would it be possible to get a close up of the bluebells?
I’m a transpanted northern californian living in cool air starved phoenix, and I am enchanted with your garden.
Love the gate pattern. And I just took my Christmas lights down this morning. LOL Great minds Tom. 😉
Hi Janine,
Thanks so much for the visit and introduction. My bluebells are now kaput, but here is a link showing a close-up of the little florets: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/medias/sys_master/8797670342686.jpg
As for the white flowers, the smallest are called snowdrops or galanthus, and there is also a later flowering cousin Leucojum, or summer snowdrops as some folks call them. Both bulbs naturalize nicely but I fear Phoenix would be too hot for their growing needs. From one great mind to another ;-)Tom
Love that bell and all your posts……but Boz oh Boz!!!! You are adorable.
Boz sends his love SC. 😉
Tom, is the gate made of 2×4’s? I LOVE it.
Hi Gina, the gate is made from cedar, 2 x 4’s. Thanks!
Boz is not impressed by the look of it, but we are,..the sound reminds me of the cow’s bells in Switserland!
Wow! What a cool gate and bell! Why didn’t I think of that : ). Loved your swarming post. Happy Summer!
Love love the gate and the bell.. And the new look of your blog.