The Paint Department

In some stores they have a discounted section of returned paints and stains.  Strangely, but not really for me, I check this section in every store that sells paint.  Through the years I've found some bargains.  I've acquired stains, interior and exterior latex and even Dry Lock for sometimes a quarter of the original price.

I'm not sure of the return policy for each store regarding paint. I thought if you chose it, bought it, and opened it, you were stuck.  Not so.  A stranger's dissatisfaction becomes my bargains such as the latest Rustic Red (five gallons) exterior stain for under ten dollars a gallon.

Recently I have gathered pieces of cans and mixed all the latex.  Green, lavender, and red makes this color!  Quite a pleasant color and will soon be the painted shelves in our basement...or maybe the floor.  It is a partly finished basement that was Mom's laundry room, the food storage room and the storm safe room when needed.

My oldest daughter, Melissa, is gonna hurt me for posting this photo but had to show how well the Dry Lock is going on the block walls.

Big difference!  Melissa is cleaning every thing with vinegar and a wire brush so there's a nice healthy underlay.  The walls were painted pink long ago when it was built.  We even have the original pink and gray tiles in stacks.  I think we may just paint the floor.

The ceiling is tongue and groove pine from who knows how long ago. It will be clear coated after it's deep cleaned.  The wood is too pretty to cover.

As for my waiting Rustic Red...we'll just have to see what it tells me to do.

Good Fences, Good Dog

I was down in the creek and Bonnie was looking around

She may have even dozed a moment or two

but something got her attention.

For Good Fences at The Run*A*Round Ranch

Chestnuts Roasting In An Open Fire

Wednesday was my day to rake and burn.  It was partly cloudy and sweater weather for a while. The sun popped out and the sweater was shed.

We had a chestnut tree rubbing on the roof of the shop and the lean-to.  Been on our list to get it cut since we cleaned those two out buildings.  The day finally came to get it started.

Kubota bucket to the top of the lean-to.  First some repairs had to be made.  Andrew and Hubby knew what they were doing.  So did I.  I stayed on the ground and was the official go-fer. 

Andrew choked up on the hammer handle but he got the job done.  Tin nailed and secured.  

Grape vines and chestnut tree

both had to be trimmed drastically

and they were.

A cleared repaired roof line oughta last a few more years.

Finish work and complete clean up tomorrow.

We'll have fire wood and wood for crafting.

Only a million more jobs to go.

Changes

had every critter scrambling to get a meal before the weather worsened.  The valley was full of crows but they are more alert than me.  Not one picture was good.

The Cardinals were busy gathering nuts in December

Lots of activity in the old pecan tree

and the rain began to fall

Birds blended easily

and this guy decided to hide

Want to know the weather?

Just watch the animals and they'll tell.

I Love Ironing Boards

not because I love to iron but because of the wonderful promise of an empty canvas. I'm not talking about the wooden ironing boards your great grandmother had.  No, save every one of them and cherish them. I'm talking about the ugly metal ones we cover with fire proof pads to help the iron glide while we're breaking our backs.  I personally try to avoid using one at all costs.

I've never heard of one breaking.  Luck came my way.  My daughter had a broken one and was going to throw it away.  No, no, no!  There's a lot of potential in that piece.

There's always a good use for holey flat metal so I took it to the shop.  I beat and banged and twisted until the broken legs were removed.  It could become a tool rack for the shop, a pan rack for the kitchen, hold thread and supplies for sewing...endless uses but I settled on one and began to play.

With paint and brushes I began.  

You can tell the notes aren't true but bear with me.

The term abstract saves me again and again.  Back to the shop I hammered in a cabinet handle then I decided it needed some bolts.  I threaded nuts onto three different funky bolts that fit into these holes and tightened them in place by adding another nut to the back side. So far so good.  Abstract.

Old drapery hooks clipped right into the holes and it became a jewelry keeper (the black circle off the board is a necklace, not paint off the board).  The bolts became a shelf.  A small hidden rolled piece of duct tape keeps Stevie Ray Vaughn's photo safe in a music loving teenager's room. A big bonus is magnets work too so keepsakes can be added and changed.

I added this little display on another wall. The worthless cd's hold the collector albums in place without damaging them.  The entire album with cover can be slipped out when needed.

He may start locking his room!