Drawing, plant leaves

work in progress.

Porch railings

Porch railings

            The cool weather has made it an ideal time for scraping and sanding the pinewood railings that frame two sides of the porch in Torrefarrera. I’d stripped and re-varnished these close to ten years ago. Now, working the wood again is like meeting up with an old friend. The interior faces were in good shape the first time and still are, except for the occasional blister. Longleaf pine (called melis in these parts) is very resinous, with straight grains. As you work the rails the tarry odor of the pine has its effect. You lose yourself in the feel of the wood under the blade of the scraper, then under the sandpaper, and again under the dustcloth. I wear a wet tea towel folded like a bandana over my nose and mouth to keep from breathing in the dust.

            If the weather had been hotter I might have hesitated to start this job. I don’t know. Why do we choose given moments for anything? What is the context that chooses us or causes us to choose? In any case there really is a wu mind state involved in hand scraping and sanding old wood. I think you become methodical and see your task in sections, in portions.

            Now my next portion is to apply the varnish—when the weather forecast gives us two or three days without rain.

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