The Story: The Ice Cream Churn
“I have been blessed, and I feel like I’ve found my way.” — Martina McBride
I don’t know why I started collecting things like this. Maybe because they feel too important to let go of, like they still have something left to say. This old ice cream churn came from a family who kept it in their garage beside the tools. It had stopped being useful long ago, but it had become part of their daily scenery, like the sink in a kitchen, or an old painting hanging on the wall for years, unseen, but somehow still belonging.
We all have things like that, don’t we? The overlooked corners of our lives that quietly hold our stories.
When I was cleaning out our first house, we had just brought our first baby home. Preparing to sell a home with a newborn, that’s a kind of endurance you only understand once you’re through it. My sister came to help, and I can still hear the radio playing while we worked. Funny how a house feels bigger when it’s empty, no furniture, no noise, just echoes of what used to be: late-night feedings, Christmas mornings, laughter over burnt casseroles, the rhythm of life lived together.
As I turned to leave, my sister stopped me. “Eliana,” she said, “don’t forget this.”
Hanging on the back door was a silver angel I must have placed there years ago and forgotten. She handed it to me, and I smiled through tears, a small piece of the life we’d built, the reminder of where it all began.
In that moment, Martina McBride’s “Blessed” was playing in the background. My sister looked at me and said, “Perfect song.”
And she was right.
This ice cream churn sits now as a reminder that even in what we’ve outgrown, there’s goodness still, the kind that lingers, waiting for us to notice.
Care Guide
Light: Bright, indirect light or partial sun.
Water: Lightly water when the top inch of soil feels dry; avoid overwatering as there is no drainage hole.
Placement: Best kept on a covered porch or indoors where temperature remains consistent.
Freeze Warning: This vessel must be brought inside during freezing temperatures. Unlike plants rooted in the ground, container gardens rely on us to protect them. When frost is predicted, move to a sheltered spot or indoors until temperatures rise again.
Encouragement: When you see this piece, may it remind you that nothing is truly ordinary once it has held love.
With you in the soil and the story,
Ellie
A Living Story Disclaimer
Each Restoried Garden begins its journey in my hands but continues its story with you. Every vessel has been cleaned, prepared, and planted with care; however, once it leaves my garden, its life depends on your unique environment and tending. Please note that weather, watering, and placement all influence longevity, and I cannot be responsible for plant performance or wear over time. These pieces are meant to live, grow, and change, a reflection that no story truly ends; it simply takes root somewhere new.
