Gazebo

Nov. 9th, 2005 09:02 am
dancerjodi: (Default)
[personal profile] dancerjodi
Before my Papa died he bought a gazebo for my grandmother. She had always wanted one in the backyard for the two of them to sit in. Soon after he was sick with lung cancer, though he'd sit in there from time to time. He liked to look at it out the dining room window, all lit up for the holidays. Gram's brother Bob would decorate with greenery, white lights and a nativity set. Years later Bob would get older and more frail and Brian and I took over gazebo duty. We entered it into a city decorating contest and won 3rd place the first year, honorable mention the 2nd. Gram would get all excited about the gazebo starting in the summer and be on our cases about decorating immediately after Thanksgiving. Here's an old pic from 1999 (but basically, it looks the same each year) http://www.diabolis.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=106&pos=2 . Gram would look out at that gazebo remembering Papa, their love, and his final days.

I just realized this morning that we won't have to decorate that gazebo this year. Gram will spend her days looking out of a Nursing Home window instead of her old dining room. I can't begin to imagine how that must feel. Each year she's faded and seemed less and less excited about the Gazebo. Each year my family grumbles more and more about having to assist in decorating it (it just goes much faster if Brian and I have some help in it). Each year, the two of us are the only ones that don't complain - for Gram and all.

I'm going to give Gram a mini gazebo for her room so that she's still got some piece of home with her. I'll wrap it with mini greenery and mini white lights. I'll put a mini round picnic table in the middle with a mini nativity set on it and a red table cloth. Who knows, perhaps I'll even get mini pointsetta plants to put into the mini flower boxes on the bottom of each side.

This will be a challenge, but I think she'll really appreciate it. Any idea where I can find a mini gazebo? One to accompany a dollhouse may work. I've found some bird feeders that just don't seem like they'll work. Ones to accompany train sets are too small. I figured, with the crafty bunch that reads my LJ, some of you may have suggestions.

I always tend to get myself into these projects where I'm collecting obscure goods to pull it off . . .

Date: 2005-11-09 02:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jasonsmyr.livejournal.com
Can you post a picture of it? there is so many styles out there

gazebo

Date: 2005-11-09 03:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com
"Can you post a picture of it? there is so many styles out there"

I already did :P

Re: gazebo

Date: 2005-11-09 03:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jasonsmyr.livejournal.com
Doh..

But hey cool.. it is not all that a complex one.. Can make that over at Danger Planet fairly easy and on the cheap too.

In making building for gaming.. we have gotten the art of making roofs like that pretty down pat.

The lattus on the side is only 'hard part' and may even be able to just use some 'found bits' at homedespot or a craft shop.

I have literally thousands of sheets of 13 x 13 styrene sheets so just would need some dowelling mostly and away we go

How big are you looking at?

Re: gazebo

Date: 2005-11-09 03:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancer.livejournal.com
I'm looking to guy the gazebo itself somewhere (I know they exist for fairly cheap, its just a matter of finding). Getting the teeny bits to decorate are what's going to be more of the challenge I think :)

Date: 2005-11-09 02:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] developer.livejournal.com
There are different sizes for train sets, you might want to see if something like garden scale has what you are looking for.

Date: 2005-11-09 02:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] futurenurselady.livejournal.com
That's a wonderful idea!

I think you should try AC Moore. They have lots of little wooden things for decorations and such, as well as dollhouse items. Also they likely have all the trappings you'd want as well.

http://www.acmoore.com/ is the website, but they don't list every product they carry online.

You might have to paint it, but it's worth it for the enjoyment she'll get out of it.

Date: 2005-11-09 02:30 pm (UTC)
tiamatlady: (Default)
From: [personal profile] tiamatlady
There's a Michaels and an XMas Tree shop near Ikea, if you don't find anything before then we could stop in? There's also an AC Moore within 10 minutes, and I have a 20% off coupon.

That's a very nice thing to do, I know how much that gazebo means to you, as well.

Date: 2005-11-09 02:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tisana.livejournal.com
Awww... That's sweet.
And a great idea.
A craft store is good, and AC Moore actually has a really good supply of different scale dollhouse accessories, so I'd try there. I know there's one in Natick, I don't know if there are any closer. I've had a lot of luck finding random mini props there.

Date: 2005-11-09 02:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] christmasjedi.livejournal.com
Wow, Jodi, you sound like an awesome granddaughter! I think you're right, and that it will totally make the season for her. I agree with the others, that A C Moore, Michaels, or the Christmas Tree Shops are probably your best bet. I did find one online though, and several sites seem to have it, but here's one: http://imaginetoys.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_G1457

Date: 2005-11-09 03:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wench33.livejournal.com
You are so sweet. What a lovely idea.

Date: 2005-11-09 06:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rubicat.livejournal.com
It is so hard to witness the aging process, with all of the changes and the loss of lifelong memories with it. The decorating of the gazebo was such a beautiful thing to do, and you are wonderful to continue the tradition on a smaller scale. This goes beyond thoughtful! You rock.

Date: 2005-11-09 06:44 pm (UTC)
alonewiththemoon: Drumlin Farm Banding Station 2016 (Default)
From: [personal profile] alonewiththemoon
I was looking through lawn ornaments on eBay (xmas shopping, I want to find a loch ness monster for a friend :) and I found this gazebo. Not sure if it would work or not since it isn't really the same, but thought I'd pass it along...

Date: 2005-11-09 07:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] protogeek.livejournal.com
What a wonderful idea! I bet it'll make her really happy. Please post a picture in LJ when you're done.

Date: 2005-11-09 08:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] padawan.livejournal.com
If you are really into a do-it-yourself kind of project, Michael's sells all kinds of individual wood pieces you could make your own mini-gazebo from. I've made a few model train buildings that way....nothing spectacular, but I bet it would look excellent after you decorate it with lights and stuff.

Date: 2005-11-10 04:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missplatypus.livejournal.com
just to add to the list
http://www.hearthsong.com/searchform.asp

it even comes with mini planter boxes and I think a picnic table too

Date: 2005-11-10 04:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missplatypus.livejournal.com
poop when you get to the site serch gazebo

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