Thursday, July 7, 2011

Beauty and the Aarrrgghh! (and Front Doors)

So, homebuilding sort of out in the country has tons of advantages...
but, it has one tiny little disadvantage. 
It is a hike to go supplies shopping...about 45 minutes to either of the 2 towns nearest us.  My little husband left at 7:15 this morning to fetch supplies.  I made lunches and went out to Shangri La Ti Da to wait...and do some creating.  It was quiet and beautiful there early in the morning.   Ahhhh.   :-)
Little husband? Not so much.  I was expecting him back about 9:30 and he finally made it about 11:30 after having to go to several stores and getting about a third of the way home and then remembering something he needed to go back for....aaarrrrggghhh!  He was chewing horseshoes and spitting nails.

Here's what I got done this morning~beauty....
Two sweet owls to be and...
two sweet necklaces to be.


I had a visitor while I was sitting and stitching...look at those blue - - - eyes???? 
Really, click this bigger and see what you think.
Of course, I had to track her down under the arm of the chair for the photo....

And this is what my little husband did this morning ~ arrrggghhh...

Shopping!  All over Morgantown...not his favorite thing.



But, with our supplies we got some more work done and I graduated to a power tool!  Woohoo...
Oh, wait...a battery is power, right?
I know...but my back is stronger than my knees...really.
I figured out that you can tell if you are going in straight
by the way you make the very first contact with the board...full circles!
Yea, me.

Armed and so hot I can hardly even smile...hot and humid here today!


So, it struck me recently that I need to know what kind of doors I want so that we can leave the holes in the stud walls to fit the door.  Driving to Wellsburg for family 4th of July we go through an old village, West Middletown, PA ( I know, right, is it west or middle of town?), and I found the doors I want. 
Don't you love them? 
 
Now, I need your help to know how/where to get them for my house...
All suggestions welcome...
Thanks...I know someone out there knows just the place.

15 comments:

Donna said...

Tanna, I got your message...thanks.

no spring chicken said...

If batteries aren't power, my pride just went out the door! That's the only power my husband lets me near...

I strongly suggest seeking out your local re-store, like Habitat for Humanity... When you are building your own house (designing your own holes) you can make the holes fit the doors. Therefore, all of those great old fixtures the rest of us wish we could use but don't fit in our existing frames, you can use!!

Have fun!!

Blessings, Debbie

no spring chicken said...

Oh, I forgot. No, I didn't make the banner. Hillary, my oldest daughter made it for me. She surprised me with it when she showed up for the weekend! Of course, the rest of the banner finishes out the line America, America... God Shed His Grace.. On Thee... And Crown Thy Good... With Brotherhood... From Sea To Shining Sea. I love it!!

D

Melissa Plank said...

I love the owls and of course the flowers, can't wait to see the finished pieces. Your house is going to be fantastic! In our area, if we are looking for old architectural elements they can be found at a salvage company or many times in antique shops. The good thing is you took that picture in your area, so chances are you will find some just like them from a salvage company.(Plus, I bet you discover a bunch of other goodies too!)

Donna said...

Debbie and Melissa, thanks for the suggestions. I am going to try architectural salvage places first...gotta love the
internet when you live in the boonies.
It is a soft, quiet, rainy day here, so no homebuilding, but I think I will get the owls and necklaces done!
Tell Hillary she needs to do a tutorial on how to make the banners...I can think of all kinds of songs/sayings...

W-S Wanderings said...

Okay, first I need to shake off the squeamish feeling I have from looking at the spider in LARGE. Yeah, thanks for THAT suggestion. Okay, my utterly uninformed guess is eyes.

Next, the owls and necklaces -- I'm already in love, and they're not even finished yet.

And power tools ROCK! Well, the less intimidating ones, anyway. I was out playing with my scroll saw for the first time this evening, and oh my, SO much excitement. Eldest, who has great interest in woodworking, had to get in on it, and tried to cut a play sword out of wood. But her imagination was SO darn strong that the saw blade thought it was taking on metal, so it broke. Sigh. Now I have to wait until I can do the 45 minute drive to town to get a replacement blade. Yeah, the long drives are maddening.

Donna said...

I didn't take you for a squeamish sort...all that farm living and kids and chickens and such. :-)
I think a scroll saw would be a lot of fun and I totally feel your pain on the drive "to Town".

K said...

I don't know about the eyes. But Chaz would know. I'll have to ask later. Power tools: batteries count. I've been thinking about if I use them? But I do - I have a tiny lathe. And I've used a compressor driven drill and nail gun. But I hate the big saw. I love what you're learning to do. And I love hole saws, whatever size. And the doors. The transom for light. Down there, you should be able to find something very like at salvage. But you might try on line, too - and here's what I've done sometimes: you can have the doors built, brand new with strong materials and modern safety things - by a cabinet and door shop. The french doors in the new bedroom were made to order for us by a shop. I like new because of the strength.

Oh - yeah. Power sander - I own one of my own. And band saw. Or scroll saw. I can never remember the diff.

And now I'm off to church. After I brush my teeth and get up my courage. Somehow, today, I can't see myself standing in front of the congregation, much less singing -

K said...

WAIT! I forgot to say about the owls and flowers. LOVE!!!

Donna said...

But you are glad and refreshed after your time in God's house, right?
You are a power tool pro, sounds like...wait til you see the next post with the BIG hammer drill!
Is there anything I can help you with in your busy life? You need cupcake toppers for the wedding gatherings? Pretty soon, that will be something to happily check off!
I have several projects that are getting pushed back until rainy days...I was supposed to teach a Woolie class for kids this week through our Arts Council, but I didn't push it and no one signed up and I am glad. I am helping with VBS this week in the evenings and having a little stress about that.
After all those years of daily multi-tasking in a classroom full of possibilities, I just want calm.
Have a couple of possibilities for doors...
Thanks for taking a few minutes to check in here.
OH, and I'm glad you like the owls and flowers...both are gifts to be going.

K said...

I just have to get through all this stuff. I am sitting here on the couch, getting ready for bed, and M has his sad head in my lap - Laura's in London for a month, and he is really, really sad.

And yes, even though I never want to go to church because I have to hold still for so long - I ALWAYS come home energized and grateful for the discussions and the love and the music and the chance to teach and learn.

Donna said...

Kristen, enjoy your last bits of time with your Murphy. How sweet it is that he is so in love with his Laura.
I enjoyed teaching and helping with VBS last evening...not enough to commit to it long term yet, but enough to get me thinking that I could write VBS curriculum someday....hmmmm.

Karyn said...

MY OWLS!!!! I love love love them! They are the perfect birthday present. I cannot thank you enough. I saw them on this blog when I read it the first time, but I didn't know they were mine. :D You are sneaky. haha...

Karyn said...

btw, when I had to type that strange little word to post that last comment, the letters were "joysi". No lie. Joy, si? Yes, please. :D Only you would understand my delight.

Donna said...

You, Karyn, are one of the most joy-full people I know, so si, joy for you! So, glad you love your (and Lydia's) owls! Makes my heart full of joy, too!