Wooden Ladder Decorating
Decorating with a Vintage Wooden Ladder
It's the second Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for a Thrifty Style post from me and the rest of the Thrifty Style Team. For this month's post I'm sharing how I decorate with a perfectly wonderful vintage red wooden ladder. It's perfectly wonderful because it's something that belonged to my Father and his Mother before him. It's falling apart and is covered in paint spatter from over a half a century of paint from houses, rooms and DIY's.
I hope to someday display this ladder inside my house but there's no room for it right now so it sits in what is actually one of my favorite rooms....my sunroom.
Each step of the ladder holds a happy memory - I'm a memory decorator 😉 There are small wooden birdhouses that I crafted with my youngest son when he was just a wee one...
There are plants that I got on a warm summer day at my favorite greenhouse after a farm restaurant breakfast with my husband and sons.....
The top of the ladder holds an Ampersand.....my ode to being married {Mr. & Mrs.}....and on one side of the ladder is Lola, a potted plant I have had for years....some of her long, long tendrils are wrapping their way around the sides of the ladder waving hello to the other plants as she passes by.....
There's a vintage strainer on the bottom step holding some hardy succulents - a post from Mother's Day past.....
and a small lantern from Ikea that I've had for far longer than I care to remember 😉 that has been lit with real candles....and battery-lit candles on nights when just one of the boys and I decide to have some quiet time together in the sunroom talking about memories....the present....and the bright and wonderful future....and there's the turtle....oh, the turtle.....
After my Mother died my father came by to visit almost daily....I loved it. If he dropped by and I wasn't home I always knew if he had been there....the turtle would be moved. The turtle's regular spot was out in the front of my house by the fountain. If I came home and didn't see him by the fountain I knew Daddy came by....the turtle would take a journey, albeit small.... and would find himself sometimes tucked in a flower pot, sometimes on the front door stoop, sometimes sitting on a lawn chair.....it always made me smile and the day the turtle stopped moving was one of the saddest days of my life.... the turtle now sits on a step to the ladder that my Dad stood on so many times for so many tasks around the house. My turtle hasn't had a journey in such a long time.
For now and forever the little red wooden ladder will be indoors....no more winters outside holding homemade birdfeeders....
Thanks so much to listening to my long story about a ladder....and some plants...and a turtle....be sure to check out all of the other lovely Thrifty Style posts by the beautiful ladies below....
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I just love your ladder of memories Mary Beth!! The possibilities for it are endless!
Thanks so much, Vanessa!
Beautiful! I love how you said you are a memory decorator. There is nothing like being surrounded by beautiful memories in your home. I love what you have done with yours!
Thank you very much, Carrie!
Love your "red" ladder and the memories that it shares. Your father sounds like a cool guy. I could feel your smile talking about that turtle.
That's so sweet of you, Rhonda. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Looks great, Mary Beth! I love an old ladder in homes... the chippy finish, the lines... always so pretty. This is terrific!
Thank you, Charlotte!
What a beautiful ladder, and a beautiful story too! I love the fact that your dad used to move the turtle around. That's so sweet! I love it when decor has a special meaning or sentimental value, so I'm glad to see you still have the turtle. 🙂
Thank you very much, Erin. I'm glad I still have the turtle, too. 🙂
I love your sweet memories... especially the one about the turtle and your dad. What a special dad. {{hugs}}
Thank you so much, Diane! xo