We pass through a little village called Ohaupo on our way from Papakura to Piopio and Struan Farm. There's a lovely antique shop called "Collectamania" on the main road. It has a few specialties, including NZ colonial furniture.
I often stop in to browse and have a yarn with the owner Jane. Over the years we have purchased a few bits and pieces. One day when driving by I noticed a beautiful wooden church pew in the front window, the kind that everyone envisions in her front hallway with an interesting needlepoint seat cushion and/or pillows. (I'm sure this isn't only me?)
Now I don't go buying furniture without consulting John. So I suggested that he have a look at it when he was passing by next. And since he kept forgetting, I kept reminding him (and reminding him). I'm not a nag, but I wanted this pew for our home at the farm. I could see it there.
One Sunday about a month later we were driving back from Piopio together, and I asked him to stop in Ohaupo so we could check out the pew, which was still in the window. I'd been keeping my eye on it. I also had a birthday/anniversary coming up.
Of course, as fate would have it, Jane had sold it that very day. But the buyer wasn't able to pay for it on the spot and committed to pay her by month end. I asked her to call me if by chance the sale fell through, but felt we'd missed out, just. On closer inspection we learned that the pew was made of rimu, and had rails for prayer books at the back. And to make matters worse, it had been reasonably priced.
To make a long story longer, the sale fell through, Jane rang me, and the pew is ours. It turns out we were meant to have it after all.
It's now in our hallway at the Homestead & Knitting Studio, will either stay there or end up in the hallway of our new house. I asked local Piopio artist Jo Gallagher to print a canvas of her colorful flax designs, that I then had transferred onto handpainted needlepoint canvas thanks to The Needle Nook of La Jolla http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com . At some point I will finish two long needlepoint seat cushions, having spent three hours in La Jolla one June picking out yarns in a multitude of colors with lots of help.
What's especially interesting is that a kauri table I'd purchased from Jane had also been owned by the same man who'd owned the pew.
So those pieces were meant to stay together. I just now have a wee bit of stitching to do.
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