Working With What I Have

Two identical pieces...three bucks apiece

Less expensive than buying the raw material.

Removing the bottoms

with my handy dandy tools.

The bottoms will find a new purpose.

Andrew's hats need dust proof boxes.

I score my heavy cardboard from between my art canvas

so I can bend and assemble them for box lids.

I have a plan...I always have a plan.

The box tops are covered with state maps of places we've visited.

The pieces are still identical but only shorter.  The boxes turned sideways will fit perfectly and all this will be used to organize a teen's closet.  Yeah, right!

This is kinda how it will look in the closet when the boxes are turned and all pieces a matching color. The two shelves on the end were the bottom shelves on my pieces. Stacked and secured everything's ready to paint or maybe, just maybe, they will go into the closet just like this.  Out of sight, out of mind.

This is my work area so don't go zooming in on my sawdust and box of scraps.  I see the end pieces on the left waiting to be re-purposed but I'm kinda tired of this project.

It's WalMart's fault!!  I saw a nice shelf with four boxes for only $149...boxes not included. Silly me, thought, I can do that.  The twin shelves jumped out at Salvation Army and came home with me. Shelves...$6, boxes...$15 for three...shoe rack...$8(a bad idea) and the idea was born,  Slowly, painfully, but born nonetheless.   So for a mere $29 I have solved a problem with the rest of the material on hand and I have two drawers.  Walmart's didn't have that!

I sincerely hope if I have any more grand ideas and you know about it, please, please stop me.

It's Not Every Day You Turn Sixty...

Just November 19th for me.  Yep, the big six o.  Hubby woke up and said, If you go to Walmart with me, I'll buy you lunch for your birthday.  How can I turn down a romantic invitation like that?

It's early so Walmart should be okay.  We head to the Walmart in Mountain Home. There are two or three closer but none of those towns have Salvation Army.  That was my first birthday stop.  I bought a wallet and a beautiful three tier basket for fruit and didn't even burn a ten-spot.

Next stop Walmart.  Wasn't so lucky there but hubby's paying so I bought two new skillets and a cutting board.  I don't get out much.

Visited with my nephew, Jason, and saw an old friend I haven't seen in years. My guess is if you stay at Walmart long enough you might see every one you know.

Bonnie needs a new collar, I hear.  Okay, what kind?  A big one.  Okay.  I search through the collars and find the x-large.  I hear, Bonnie likes blue.  Okay, how do you know Bonnie likes blue?  I just do. She won't wear another color.  She likes blue.  Okay, so my newly turned-sixty body is squatted digging through all the blooming collars looking for a blue one.  I'm not balanced very well.  Hubby has the cart to lean on so he's steady to give directions.  I, on the other hand, am having trouble finding a BIG BLUE collar and breathing and keeping my balance.  Each one I show him has to be adjusted to Bonnie's size so he knows it will fit.  Decision made.  Blue collar in the cart.

This was the next part of  my present...another job.

Hubby says he is replacing outlets

but I know who'll be doing it.

And you thought Mel's Diner was just on tv!

Had a great birthday lunch with Hubby and nephew, Toni.

I can't go to Mountain Home without checking out the gun shops, that's right, I dream of gun shops. I wait in the truck while Hubby finds some shells "we need". Notice the big rock out front?

You know I had to get a closer look!

My best birthday surprise is when he turns toward the town of Norfork, Arkansas and The Terrapin Trading Company!!!  Hubby asked if I had my rocks with me.  Yes.  He parks here and walks to the gun shop next door while I'm allowed to go wild. 

The owner knows my name!!!  The dog doesn't bark, she knows me.  Maybe Hubby should not have "allowed" me free rein in here, my favorite store.  I pulled out my little sack of carefully chosen stones and we talk design.  That's right.  The owners make silver jewelry.  I gave him some of my extra stones and he gave me a "pocket rock" of labradorite.  

I've already received the call.  My pieces are ready!

Not a bad birthday for a gray haired over weight sixty year old lady that doesn't bend as well as I used to...now I must get to these outlets. They won't install themselves.

They Changed My License Plate!

It has taken me forever to memorize the old one.  Now I have to begin again.  My old one was LCO AKA Loco or that's what I called it.  The one before was OldWildCrazy. Easy ones to check before you climb in the car. I am now labeled WGM.  WildGooseMadame?   WoefullyGoneMental?

I have to remember the number. Why?  Well, I don't have a modern car that honks and flashes lights and yells, "Here I am, idiot, right where you parked me!!!  So I have to REMEMBER where I'm parked. My car is very ordinary and blends well.

Do you know how many cars look like mine when I go to Walmart?  Just about a bazillion!

It's good that I am familiar with map reading because that has enabled me to develop my Park Find Fail Proof System or some days known as Park Fool Forget Pray Search.  I not only have a number but also a letter from the front of the store.like M (under Walmart or the m in pharmacy) 3 (the row number) is my location which I sometimes write down if it's gonna be a long time inside.

I have no idea what my problem with relocating my vehicle is but it exists and plagues me constantly.  Even when riding with Hubby I have climbed into the wrong black truck!  Thank goodness most people know me so they don't shoot.

Once when in the state capital I came out to my car (yep, MY CAR!) and was upset and ranting about how someone had mashed the side in...wasn't my car.  I figured that out when my key wouldn't open it.  Two rows over was my car still in fine shape.

I hang large items on my mirrors so I can peek in and not totally embarrass myself by not choosing MY CAR.  I have stickers on my windows.  I never wash it...all things which should help me with my car finding deficit.

I will say the Walmart Associates are very helpful.  On a day when I had postponed shopping until I could no longer scratch one more meal out of the kitchen, was using dish washing liquid for shampoo and laundry soap I had to go.

My cart packing is famous.  I use pizzas for side boards and I can pack that baby high and safe.  The only problem with that is when they put it in sacks, the items no longer pack that well.  So I'm through with TWO carts...did I mention I detest shopping?  I make it out the big automated doors with no alarms going off and I stop.  I stand scanning the parking lot because this was before I had my brilliant numbers system in place.  A very helpful associate ask if he could assist.  I answer, Trying to remember where I left my car.

A very serious elderly associate asks, "Ma'am, do you remember what COLOR your car is?"

I did not dignify that with a answer.  I thanked him and confidently strolled into the huge parking lot as if I knew where my car was.

I must trade cars!!!  I think it will be hot pink with purple stripes and flags on the antenna. When I do that you know there will be a bazillion just like my new car, too!

It Was A Walmart Day

and I love them so!  I postpone going until I HAVE to go and usually have two buggies of life's essentials...sea foam, dog food, the latest and greatest from the automotive department just to mention a few... always piled high with food stuffed every where.  Pizzas make good sideboards for the buggy so I can stack higher.

I was having my hair butchered at the local hair salon within Walmart's walls as Hubby walked.  My hair was horrible.  I do a better job cutting my own outside with the wind blowing the hair away.  Ended up going to another stylist to fix this one.  I look like Mark Harmon now...Semper Fi.

Hubby accidentally wandered into the contraceptive department, an aisle we seldom travel. When I'm through with my glasses (replacing lens) and my weed whacked hair do, Hubby catches up with me.  He whispers,  Did you know they have vibrators in Walmart?  He said It's made by some company called Trojan. Uh, no, I didn't know because there is no need for me to shop that aisle.  I said Same company that makes rubbers, remember them?  Hubby is actually embarrassed, God love him!

I really think we need to get out more!

It's Wal Mart Time!

Flying with husband is always such a treat.  The sunset was beautiful reflecting on the hood of his truck as he flew down the highway.

I mentioned that SOME husbands took their wives for a drive for the purpose of taking pictures.  He said, "...but you have to drive slow for that."  "Or stop," I said.

The sky was ever changing and a beauty to behold.  Hubby says, "You're taking that through the tint."  I said, "Don't have much choice."

"Oh, look!" I said.  He answered "Hmmm".   There was no slowing for the sun set as it changed in every turn.  That's the beauty of digital even when the photo ops are bad you don't waste film.

Oh, The Embarrassment....

It was a cool moonlit night,

 (I always wanted to start a story like that).

We arrived at the dreaded WALMART my list in hand we parted at the door.  Hubby asked, Where are you going?  I said grab your own cart and we will meet. 

 

I speed shop.  I had a list.  I don't dawdle I get it done.  Then I began to look for the lost males.  No luck so I checked out thinking maybe they were at the truck.  Wrong guess, you would think it would be.  I had the list they were just shopping.

 

I thought they would stay together.  Again I am wrong. Now both of these gentlemen have cell phones.  I don't.  I have pushed my full cart to the truck and no one was there.  I don't have a key so I push the heavy laden cart back inside.  No sight of them anywhere along the check out line.  I ask a employee if they could page someone.  Nope, can't leave this spot.  I said, OK, no problem but I bet my face said different words.  Shortly the employee asked the name again.

 

I spy Hubby looking lost, tagged him and he called Andrew on his cell.  Andrew said, "That was so not cool, Papa!!!"  Hubby is puzzled because he doesn't know what is going on.  I had Andrew paged!!!

It was so much fun I may page him every trip.

Yep, sounds like a good plan to me.

Thanks To Dead Presidents...

I had a holiday Monday.  I had so much Delta Blues fun, I didn't have time to report on my President's Day adventure until now...can't get ahead of myself.

It was Ki-Anne's appointment day.  No more puppies, ever...except for the one we kept!!!  We dropped her off and had time to kill.  So Hubby drove, thank goodness, I've had enough driving for a while.

Breakfast out at The Cimarron was a treat for us...but I honestly do not see how people can eat out every day.  One, the prices, the other reason, there's no place like home for a good meal.

Hubbs and I are both drawn to water.  We began in Ash Flat, circled through Cherokee Village to Hardy and back to Ash Flat.  This lake is in Cherokee Village.

This waterfall is in a downtown park.

The falls are crooked, not the photographer.

We circle through down town Hardy

and we met three trucks with tanks outside of town.

We found a bridge in the middle of nowhere.

I think it may be Spring River,

not sure if it's a bridge!

I asked Hubbs to watch the road,

not the water!!

We circle back from nowhere to Wal Mart and decide to check to see if Ki-Anne is ready.  We're tired, we bought ice cream and we wanted to go home.  Plucky Ki was through recovery and ready to go!!!

...and that was Hubbs', Ki's and my day out on a holiday.  Wish you could have been there!

Distracted By Shiny Objects

Visit A Tidings Of Magpies, she combines words and art in such charming combinations, it is impossible not to enjoy.

Her recent post, Beautiful Dreamer, pointing out that small things are the important things, caused my sick mind to jump to a WalMart story.  The cause for that was the question, "Do you remember where you parked your car?"

I put off my Walmart trips until I am out of every thing.  I am not a shopper and I always delay until I must go.  This was one of those times.  My husband tries any excuse he can to avoid these trips with me.  I think he may be a little embarrassed by the amount I buy.  He doesn't know that the more I buy, the longer it will be until my next required trip.  There is a method to my madness.

I can pack a buggy, or shopping cart for those who don't speak Southern, so closely and so precisely, the checkers can never get it into one buggy after it is checked.  If they would just let me pack it...back to my story.

I am pushing two buggies out the door, now one is hard enough, but two?!  I reach the sidewalk and am standing there wondering where in the hell I parked my car.  I am NOT pushing two buggies up and down rows looking for my car.  I have tried all the tricks, checking the number on the row I park, I forget it by the time I come out.  I line my car up with a letter in the big WALMART on the side of the building, you would think I would remember a letter, right?  Not me. I think I am going to decorate a commode plunger in bright colors with a flag and stick it to my roof next time I park my car.

Anyway, as I am standing there with my two bulging, running over buggies of stuff, a kind Walmart gentleman steps up to inquire if he may help me. I said, No thank you, I am trying to remember where I parked my car.

He smiles and slowly says, "Miss, do you remember what color it is?"

Do I really look THAT crazy????