Is this thing on?

Okay, I am sure you have assumed I died, was maimed, moved to an island with no internet or worse! However, I am alive and well. Alot has happened in the months since I was a routine or semi-routine blogger.

It's feeling like SPring in Indiana so I am cleaning out the garage, sprucing things up and generally getting back into fixing up the house, so I might have some things to share.

For today I share that I found a lovely peice of Junk: An old Door!

I had a few ideas of what to do with it, which color to paint it and dragged it home. Then I just liked it's old patina so much I have left it for now. It isn't a door, or part of a project. For now, it is a peice of art, history in and of itself. I like it. The problem is that all the "ideas" still want a door, so now i have to find MORE of them! :D

Dumpster diving

It was a finial sticking out of a pile that drew me in...I thought it was a headboard, it wasn't...I have that item to, I will show you later. Then I found this. It is the sheet music holder from a piano. I thought I would pull off the applique for my mantel, but I kind of like it as a picture holder. I am trying to decide what color or if to paint it...but for now...I like it. Whaddya think?

Working on the workshop

As I mentioned Monday I went home to work in the old Barn. It was very cold and I have decided that a summer chore will be to frame off a portion to be 'heatable'. Sadly the old windows of the barn are/were dead when we moved, so I have to reframe boxes and windows....wanting to find OLD windows to do it.

Anyway, on to the PROGRESS....

I literally walked into the shop...snapped this picture and tried to not be too ashamed. :D I the got to work, sweeping and picking up. Here is one of those 'dead' windows...note...the cardboard held in by scrap wood...what workmanship I have! :D I took this picture, because tonight I have getting four new table tops from a guy who does table advertising. I will be building my potting bench here and intend to have the sun shining on me when I do....picture it....

Notice though...my floor is now swept and ready for said table...

Now...here is the closest I have to 'after'. After is going to require money I don't have in my 'blow money' envelope....and it will wait. I do have things sorted and off the worktable. Notice...piles of like items. When I go to dollar tree today (with said blow money envelope) I will get a small container for 'electrical stuff', plumbing stuff, miscellaneous screws, miscellanious nails etc... Then they can go under my worktable. Notice all my power tools are put away...except the Circular saw, as I was using it to build....

little shelves and hanging rail for my painting supplies. Wow, I have alot of painting supplies!That coffee can farely gasped at the thought.

A few things I love about my workshop:

1. It is mine!


2. That SUNOCO blue workbench was made with the time-worn hands of my Grandfather over 30 years ago...and he happened to WORK for Sunoco! He also WIRED it...which means it is plugged in and has a plug in for my tools...GO PAPA! :D


3. My windows overlook my horse pasture


4. The barn is OLD


5. and behind that old blue workbench, I have my free trelis pieces that are pretty..and a great place to hang my hammers etc... Sadly I didn't get the hammer in the picture.


6. I am making it mine with my own sweat and blood.
   
   

It is a workshop in progress, to be sure, but I made a dent...and feel more like getting out there and working...if only it would get WARM!

Oh yes...vote for my makeover here! :D I forgot I wast joining a linky!

Too proud?

Well, I won't win any builders awards, but on Monday I got fed up with my hens living in a dog crate during the night. My hubby works retail so his help was unlikely if not laughably impossible. I built a hen-hut, by myself. I used two FOUND doors, scrap lumber and all different size nails/screws as I found them in my still unpacked 'tools'.

First I put this lovely roadside door and attatched it to the beam in the old barn lean-to, then affixed this strange left behind green wood to that and fixed the 'hole' where there is a step down in the lean to.

At this point I ran out of nails and went for my screws and came back to the girls checking the place over.

After they had approved the plan and reccomended some upgrades (heat, plumbing) I called my union rep, they called their lawyer..... I was able to get back to work.

I added a nest box put the top half of the side on...added a hinged door on the other end, I called it quits for the night.

They happily slept there the first night, but Tuesday night I found them in their crate. I dragged them out and put them to bed. Paris lived up to her namesake and was as dramatic as could be. Lucy took it like a lady and Pearl fairly enjoyed me holding her, even letting Duncan pat her while I had her.

Here they are on thier roost below their nest box. They are wondering what kind of sick paparazi takes flash photos at eight pm, they threatened a call to the lawyer, but I tricked them. No phone in their new house!

I still need to put a 'predator' roof on. I am going to use an old storm door so they get maximum light. I am also going to put a 'lip' on that cabinet (trash) turned nest box, so they don't roll their eggs out on the floor (Thanks Daryl for reminding me)

I hate to admit how proud I am of myself. It isn't perfect, it isn't going to win any design competitions, but I did it MYSELF!

What have you done to be proud of this week?

Hopefully, I will get to enjoy the last little warm snap this weekend and take my horse out for a gallop.

Exciting day!

Today was a busy day. I had clients all morning and then was invited to a Fall party. The party was thrown by a family who will be my neighbors in a few weeks. They asked for our information and invited us already. How great is that?
I also finished a project I started Thursday. I found the following poor, sad and neglected framed mirror at Goodwill. I nearly walked away, b/c even with paint I didn't want him on my wall. Then when I found NOTHING else I came back to him. I sat him in the little basket and stared until I pictured him covered in candles (and of course white paint).
So home he came and I quickly removed the mirror, cleaned everything and then painted the frame. Something still wasn't 'right' so I just stuck some pumpkins in him to make him feel like he was loved. :-D
Then last night I tooled around trying to find some 'feet'. Everything was too big or too fussy for the size of this project so I ended up getting those wooden buttons you put in furniture to cover holes. It doesn't make it tall, but just gets it a little off the table. I will keep my eye out for better feet.
Here it is with just candles on it. I like it
Here it is all decked out for Halloween, complete with shelled Indian Corn and some various squash.
I also did this quick project with a simple glass vase, Indian corn and a candle.
Then to add YAY to a great day I got a package from a good groomer pal, D'Gaye. She sent me several things I will show more later, but for now the cool pumpkin below and the doily (especially for Grandma's drum table). I am going to find some cool coordinating Indian corn (whole) and other stuff to make that little pumpkin shine.

Then......on my way home from the party and the barn....I see sitting by the road....................

Yes, yes that is right this was FREE on the side of the road. Jealous? How about if I tell you there was a PAIR? LOL

Yes, a pair of wing back chairs with Queen Ann legs for FREE! The fabric isn't in bad shape, they are comfy ad how pretty will those legs be painted? They may earn some slip covers or maybe a reupholstery down the line. For now they are going to get a good cleaning and see where they choose to live in my new house.

More new house pics soon, I promise, but SOOOOOOOOO much excitement today who can add any more pictures?

dumpster diving

A little work, a little sweat, but FREE!

I board my horses at a barn in Gasburg, IN and on Sunday I saw they had thrown away a gazebo. From what I understand the top had been damaged in a storm. I saw it and pictured the 'panels' in my home/garden. I couldn't figure out whether I wanted them. SO after a day of pondering and picturing the projects I could do I went back out to get them. OF course, I learned that you should get things EARLIER. I better LOVE these things. There was more trash on top of it....lots actually. So I had to drag out all the 'bags' of trash and shove other stuff under the leaning panels. There were bits of long posts trapping them and such. I figure I spent an hour in the sun dragging, tugging and fighting to get out the parts. Then I used a pair of pliers to take apart the remaining frame straggles.

There are EIGHT panels, each about 2 ft across and eight feet tall. I have about FOUR ideas. First, create an entire 'outdoor' room in a part of my yard that is currently yucky. Second use it it a few different areas as a 'divider' of garden areas to come. Third part in the house as a room divider and part outside as trellises and maybe build a gate and arbor with three pieces.