For the love of Grandma Polly

Actually, my Great Grandma's name was Beatrice Wildish, but when I was little I couldn't say it so I called her Grandma Polly and she loved it. When she passed away several years ago, my Grandpa honored me by giving me her dresser. I had planned to refinish it myself even though I had never had experience. About a year ago, I bought some chemicals to strip the paint and went to it out in our driveway. I started with the mirror and after the surface layer came off I could see that the color went way down into the grain of the wood. Nevertheless, I tried and tried, my hands stung from the chemicals, I made a huge sticky mess and ended up in tears. Had I ruined my treasure? I cleaned up my supplies and put it back in storage not knowing what to do. I had been told it was such an easy thing to do. 

For my birthday this year, my dear husband asked me if I wanted to have a professional look at it and maybe refinish it for us. I was thrilled. When Mr. Crosby came to look at it, he said it is from 1850! Wow! I had no idea. He also said it is made from walnut. That, combined with the type of paint it was and how long ago it had been painted meant that not even he could get the paint off. He said he would have to repaint it. What a relief that was to me. He took it home with him and told us to pick a paint color. We picked one as close to the original as possible. He brought it back to us today and it is stunning! It fits perfectly in Ella's room and we can enjoy, for many years to come, this treasure that held my Great Grandma's treasures so many years ago.