Drat, I mailed my glasses

Last night, I was at the North Royalton Post Office at closing time.  I mean, AT CLOSING TIME.  5:00 on the button. The sentry was already posted to unlock the door and let people out, one by one, as they left, but not cast a glance at the outside of the door, as though those people do not exist. I had a letter that needed to be weighed, and I needed stamps, neither which of those services is available OUTSIDE of the locked door after hours. I could have gone to a number of PO's but chose my hometown, thinking Global, but acting Local.

Fast forward, because I couldn't buy stamps, I peeled out my checkbook and over-guesstimated that my last 4 stamps would be appropriate. I had my cane in one hand, my purse across my chest, and my envelopes and glasses in the other hand that I tossed in the stamped mail bin.  YIKES, I just threw my glasses in the mail bin!  BUT, it was CLOSING TIME, and the sentry was not being paid to see people on the OUTSIDE of the door!

I called the NRPO this morning to see if they had found them. They weren't even sure if the mail had been collected, but they gave me the number to a Mr. Cary Eady's office, which comes under the heading of "Loose in Mail". Mr. Eady must have been pretty busy today, because he didn't get a chance to return my calls, so I drove down to the Main Post Office to see if they could be located.  The nice lady that sold me the stamps (remember I used them all up last night) tried calling 3 numbers to check on the glasses' status, but couldn't get anyone to answer.  She advised that this was pretty early in the investigation to actually put one's hands on the glasses that could have been back in my hands last night. But, protocol is protocol.  Fortunately, I had an old scratched up, stretched out pair that would qualify as prescription lenses in case I get stopped by the po-po.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Good News! I finished a set of dining room arm chairs that turned out pretty sweet.  Here are the BEFORE pictures.

Yep. Plastic covered naugahyde. Beautiful lines.

And the AFTER:

Slate blue welting front and back.

Commissioned pieces.  Not for sale.

I wish I had a camera that would zoom in for a better look at the finish and the fabric.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Next project is a re-do on another coffee table. I have 2 delightful BEFORE photos:

And, an in-between picture, when I thought the piece was going to be mustard color.

By Friday, it should be a luxurious color of distressed Beluga.

~.~.~.~.~

Monday, Inauguration Day, my sister Therese of Baltimore, and cousins Kathleen and Larry from New York, were in attendance for our family.  Here is her account: 

"There is a lot to tell.  We did pretty good getting into Union Station on the Metro.  We left my house at 8so we missed the crowds.  We walked a mile by Larry's estimation to the Longworth Bldg, for a reception.  Same food from last time.  I mean the same food.  Rick had been there but we didn't get to see him or any family.  We had tickets with seats in the blue section, so it was an adventure getting to our spot.  We got there just as the program started.  It wasn't too long or too cold.  The crowd was in a celebratory mood that was pleasant and positive.  James Taylor sang and played "Oh Beautiful.."  Very mellow.  The president spoke well and crowd cheered except for one fool who kept ranting about abortion and who knows what.  He kept on long enough to be annoying.  We couldn't see him and I think he was far enough back so I'm hoping the president didn't hear him.  I thought it was disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of people who made great efforts to be there.  We saw several elderly and disabled people using walkers and canes and wheelchairs.  He finally stopped after the band drowned him out.  

We left during the poetry reading per Larry, and because all of us were hungry.  Note to all:  No eating establishments in walking distance to be found. We got directed to Union Station but the wait was one and a half hours and the food court seating was packed.  Kids were sitting on the floor with their pizza slices. We finally decided to get a cab and have them drive us to a restaurant.  No empty cabs.  We finally found a Quiznos, where we could sit.  The have a prime rib sandwich, by the way.  Then we took a long cab ride in a circle to the McGrann's, of which we did not know the house number, only the street name. The cabbie was pleasant and he finally got us there.  Traffic was inching along and some streets were closed so it was expected.  Cinni had a great spread again, and half the people.  We sat by the fire again and had a great time telling more stories.  We stayed a little longer than we would have, waiting for Rick so that Larry could get his knife back from the swearing-in. But he gave up.  Al Franken was there when we got there.  I spotted him right away as he was standing by the beverage table.  Larry was the one who went up and asked for the photo op.  He was very cordial, and it was quick and painless.  I didn't say anything about Stuart, just nice to meet you.  So that's all that it was.

We saw the guy Andrew who helped with the fire last time. We were asking around for somebody who might know how to get a cab. He said he was leaving too and going our way, so we could ride with him in his Town Car. The first time I ever had a driver named Thomas, or any driver for that matter. We went to Union Station in style.

We had a great time together, but I can watch it on TV next time."

Love, Therese

~.~.~.~.~.~

That's all for tonight folks.

As ever,
La Verne
hope&salvage

Rockin' Sunday night church

We have the best music director, Tom Bonezzi, and when he rocks the house on piano, accompanied by drums, sax and violins, you could swear you were "knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door."  People stop in the aisles out of church while the young FIAT singers and musical accompaniment play out to a jazzed end.  Often times there is applause!  Tom also directs the diocesan singers for the years FEST.  We are blessed to have him/all of them.

As I walked out tonight, I continued to sing "Lead me Lord" (Tom Becker) all the way home.  I couldn't find a worthy YouTube version, so I am giving you a pretty good version of "You are Mine" (David Haas-although it is not him singing it).  Sort of my sharing of church with everyone on Sundays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgm9lkTNQmc

Have the best tonight, tuck yourselves in warm, and realize that someone out there is trying to sleep in the cold.

As ever,
La Verne
hope&salvage

Gathering wood day

Wasn't today beautiful? I probably wouldn't have been out in it if not for my son's warning that by Tuesday it will turn bitter cold. The kids are already hoping for several snow days.  The wood on my deck may last the month of January, so I started to prowl Craigslist for some free bounty.  "Get what you asked for, get to pick again."  I recognized the photo in the ad immediately.  Michael had given me wood a few months ago from an almost 100 year old attic floor he was tearing out at his new (old) Cleveland home.  It was actually 'sister wood' to the stack on my deck.  Some of the turquoise painted lath boards were used in my flag project 'as is' for my Sweden flag. Some of the boards I did not cut as they will be used to replace the floor I had to tear out two weeks ago due to the frozen pipe.

Michael makes messenger bags for cyclists, out of old parachutes and wallets out of men's old suits.  He is quite inventive and all his items are custom designed and made by him. He reminds me of son, Pete, who cycles everywhere.  Visit his website below. And, thanks, Michael for the heat! (and for loading my van!)

http://www.forestcityportage.com/forestcityportage.swf

The rest of the day was spent sawing up the wood and piling it into waterish-proof containers. They are really over-filled garbage cans with big clear plastic baggies over them.  I laughed immediately as it reminded me of something else.

There will be no work out of me tomorrow.  Every muscle aches, bone hurts, and the half hour shower sitting on a shower chair relieved none of it.  I was surprised to find a huge chunk of wood sticking out of my arm that I never even felt.

I am grateful for the Vitamin D today, Lord, while I finished my task.

~.~.~.~.~

While waiting for my Naproxin to kick in I was scanning a few blogs I follow, and each was talking about what they thought should be the word of the year.  Everyone's was different as to their circumstances.  I thought about what word/s I would choose, and settled on "Lightness" and "Trust".

Trusting you will all have light thoughts when you rest your heads on your pillows tonight.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

The coffee table with the checkered past

My friend, Ken, scooped this beauty up for me on a curb in Lakewood.  I could kick myself (rather someone else, legs already in pain) for not getting a BEFORE shot.  This thing was painted a myriad of colors, almost like a clubhouse initiation decor.  The numbers '237' and some undecipherable symbols were on it. Very colorful.

Paddy spent major time stripping it for me.  In his good clothes.  I encouraged changing into something already bearing paint colors, or turning them inside out, but you know, kids know best.  In his defense, he did a great job, and the outfit was spotless.

This is the closest before picture I could come up with, after it had been stripped BARE, then I playfully added a couple of coats of paint colors that I love.  One is of course,  Glidden's Dark Olive and the other is, "------ Sapphire, also by Glidden.  I can't make out the first part of the smudged off name of the blue color, that was the weekend of the paint-spill-on-the-carpet-fiasco!

Kind of Bohemian looking, starting to feel its former vibes.

The wood beer box and the stained glass lamp were helping.

Then, I finally dry brushed a Driftwood sort of a mixture on and it started developing a personality.

Nicely sculpted lines.

Wish I had a better camera for detail.

Hints of the blue/olive undertones.

The legs really give the piece swagger.

Nicely feathered.

The dimensions are 46" x 19.5" x 15.5" tall.

The details look like something out of the DaVinci Code

This will be in my family room showroom, if anyone is interested.  I'm liking it more every time I see it. Will take more photos in the morning when there is better light.

Angels on your pillow,

La Verne

hope& salvage

A post with no name

A final look at the nightstand I've been struggling with (sorry, Dad, for putting the preposition last).

I stripped the top again and removed the varnish brush hair, then went through all the finishing steps again.  I used the same poly so it would match the base, but I think that's my last use of it.  Brand new gallon, but much too shiny for a 'satin'.  Minwax has consented to send me a new can and test the old batch to see what the problem was.  I tried to dull it with #0000 steel wool, but it just looked scratchy.  "It is what it is" to quote a friend.

Notice my FAVORITE emerald sweater as a backdrop!

~.~.~.~.~.~

Tonight, I am final coating a coffee table with an interesting past.  Will post in the morning.  I'm excited about a new book that just came out called The Power of Habit.  I'm on page XVII of the prologue. Worth a look-see.  Finished The Tragedy Paper.  It's a cross between an MLA paper and A Separate Peace.  

Lately, I've been switching radio stations constantly.  Each have their good and bad points.  The Lake had something on that caught me by surprise today.  They have sort of a joke teller on several times a day whose voice is reminiscent of the late Chris Penn. He's unloading bags from the market and comments, "Look at all this alcohol we bought, are we......shopaholics?"  In print it doesn't look funny at all, but I cracked up.

See you tomorrow,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Minwax bye-bye

How can a company that you trust for 40 years let you down so badly? Happens all the time.  Trust: a commodity that one so takes for granted, scuttled in an instant because the other party feels no debt owed, no responsibility, not my problem, don't care, more allegiance to the other side...  I tried to go online to find out why their Minwax poly was sooooooo disappointing.  Sent 3 queries and finally got a form letter that said "did you stir it"?  Not the first time to the dance.  I probably have 30 Minwax products in my dining room right this minute.  They are a branch of Sherwin Williams-not too happy with them lately either. Make the trip to the store during a sale and guess what? No product, try another store. When loyalties are broken - there is no repairing.

Win by a hair, lose by a hair

The end was in my cross'hairs', but alas, one was also embedded in the top of the nightstand. DO-over!  I had to strip the top and take it back to the beginning.

I tried to just sand and steel wool it out, but no success, the hair stuck

My 'go-to' stripper (makes a pretty good hair remover for legs and underarms if you can stand the pain)

I was quite happy that most of the previous stains had disappeared

Tip for working with a sander: Always apply duct tape to the back of the sandpaper before you use.  It will extend the use of your sandpaper a hundred times, especially if you are a rough handler.  

Here is the nightstand before the top re-do.  Waaaaay too much sheen for me-will try and tone it down.  It is nothing like my usual Minwax poly coat.  Although it says satin, if I were to lay it down, the reflection could see up someone's skirt. I just used up a gallon, and its satin was satin.  I feel a letter coming.  Dear Minwax:

This piece distressed nicely just with a damp paint rag.  I just wanted a subtle look, along with highlighting the crevices with a deeper shade.  I mix my own colors so I could give an approximation of what I used, but I am not the chemist who could decipher exactly.  More later...

~.~.~.~.~.~

I got through 1 disk of Eudora Welty's unabridged (probably will not go to disk 2) and am switching it up to Elizabeth Laban's The Tragedy Paper.  Will let you know if it keeps me good company, along with my chicken rice soup that has been simmering all morning.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage  

PS  Next project is a set of dining room arm chairs, followed by 2 coffee tables, the checkerboard table (Rule #3), followed by the farm house table.  BTW, still no information on where it came from. I did rule out one source though. So far, I stripped off the tiles and lightly sanded the adhesive (will need some 'hair' remover to get it all), and took off the flaps.  I have to cork a hole in the top and add some molding strips before I can get to the fun stuff.  It looks like oak, and is shorter than a regular table.

Anticipation....is making me....

Crazy.  Remember that old commercial where the ketchup takes forever to slide out of the bottle?  That's where I am right now.  All day I've been waiting for Minwax polyurethane to dry and cure, and, it's just NOT.

My blog is HOPE & SALVAGE.  My quest to to find pieces of furniture that are worthy of redemption and reclaim them.  One of my absolute favorites has been the project I am working on right now.  It was purchased at a Goodwill for $5.00, and had some serious top issues, like many drink rings, finish worn off, dark spots, and some sort of shellac smudge. The 'bones' are great. Architecturally symmetrical with classic lines. There are dust boards between each of the drawers.  The client wanted the top stripped to a natural finish and the body of it done in grey tones, with pewter hardware.  It was a dream to work on, except for, the friggen poly-coat will not dry. It's a brand new can, stirred, not shaken; the kind I always use. You will have to wait another day for the reveal, but here is the BEFORE:

Beautiful curved lines

Rugged edges

Abused top

After acetoning, sanding and bleaching

Veneer strips missing

Part of the process-heaters blasting

Had to dry drawers standing up or they would ripple

Find the hardware

Some detail work

The closest I have to an AFTER photo

Time to call it a day.  Knees are barking and the pillow is calling to me.

Be well, and keep chugging the chicken soup.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Oh the people you meet....

Is there anyone out there that doesn't know that "I LOVE CRAIGSLIST?"  Love it.  The people. The bargains. The keeping stuff out of landfills. This weekend, I had a laundry list of items to find for a friend who was filling her house after a long distance move.  The cheaper, the better as she has a tight budget.  Within an hour I had located most of her wish list.  Some items needed to be tweaked, painted, touched up, vacuumed. Still others are on the "when can you get to it" schedule.  More tomorrow on that.

Some very interesting people were part of this weekend's scavenger hunt.  First, was a doctor from the Clinic who is moving his family back to India to serve the village where he grew up.  He was selling off all of his furniture to make the move.  "America has plenty of doctors, my village, none."  That is a noble pursuit, to uproot teenagers to live in a land of not so much.  Godspeed.

Another person we came across was the owner of Miss Jackie's Sweet Treats, who last year started a home bakery and ended up selling 270 dozen cookies during Christmas in her one oven kitchen. Please visit her website.  http://www.missjackiessweettreats.com/

Tonight, an unexpected hand came from a neighbor I had never met. He guided the moving of many hundred pound armoire with Herculean strength, and his story that unfolded let me know that angels create a path for me to follow that is so tailor-made and obvious, that I hear God speaking my name.

Forging a new path or finding the road less traveled, the journey needn't involve a map, just a desire, and a destination.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Accidentally Happy

For the past year I've been pretty much a grouch.  I think one day I figured out my Life Crisis Points for that time and it amounted to almost 500 points.  A lessor person would be pushing daisies, but I'm too ornery. A letter has been writing itself in my mind every morning as I awake for the past 7 months.  I tried to temper it, edit out the vitriol, but the next morning, just like Groundhog's Day, it's back again.  Well, I finally papered and sent it.  The relief is strictly in my own mind as often happens, because the 'writee' is self-absorbed, and when blind-sided by the truth, their usual reaction is "Who Me?"  My family has been known to sit around the table while I read past letters that I've composed and sent, starting with the guy who said he "wasn't a crook."  By the end of a session the table is usually laughing and crying, and incredulous that I have the kahuna equivalent to actually send them.  I didn't say I was smart, just right!

I just finished a book on tape called, Saving CeCe Honeycutt. For giggles, I looked up my library card just now and saw that since 9-28-09, I took out 857 books, videos, books on tape, toys (yes, the library lends toys) and CD's.  That's a crap-load of education.  Not saying I read every single one.  Sometimes the 1st paragraph tells me it isn't a winner, but, if I didn't read past page 97 of Steig Larson's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I would have missed a heck of a good read. Likewise, the City of Thieves.  In Saving CeCe, this young girl who has been dealt a horrible life, digs in and her best life evolves.  She finds herself "accidentally happy."  I'm getting there....

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I know I've been AWOL for a week, mostly finishing up some projects, planning others, being a C'list scavenger for people, digging out from the flood, writing letters, making an 8" snowman, and doing a lot of #4.  Well, I'm back, not pain-free, but back.

I made this charming little guy yesterday and today he was gone.  Just like Frosty.

Tomorrow, I will have a pretty decent post. Check back.  I promise.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Do as I say....

....not as I do!  How many years was I married to a plumber who could be guaranteed to leave to fix someone's water line that burst in the night? Answer:  Enough times to know better. I am so used to having a wood stove or occasional space heater provide warmth, that it didn't occur to me to leave some form of heat on while in DC.  Fortunately, the line did not break until yesterday afternoon as the house re-warmed. The upside (and there are only upsides) son-in-law, Larry, his dad, Larry, Alisa, Ryan, Bethany, Andrew and Jen came over to put me right again. My pipe got fixed, wet things got thrown out, carpet gone, Christmas stuff put away, basement cleaned, dishes done, floors swept, commercial blowers and dehumidifiers on, all because I said, "Help!"  Thank you, all.

For a while now I was hoping to put a salvaged pine floor in this room. Appreciate the expediting, God.

This is a new, rubber, pressurized fitting that fixes a copper line break where the edges have flared and a coupling does not fit over it to solder.  Howard would have loved this invention.

This powerful blower that rotates had the room dry in no time.

~.~.~.~.~

When my mother was asked what she wanted for Christmas or her birthday, she always answered, "Good kids!"  We in turn thought that to be a terrible answer.  Not so. Good kids is the perfect wish to pray for, hope for, and be thankful for.

As ever,

La Verne/Mom

hope&salvage

How do you spell AWESOME?

We returned last night from Washington, DC, where my cousin, Rick Nolan, was sworn in as the 8th District Congressman from Minnesota on January 3, 2013.  Every part of it was amazing, from the reception in the Rayburn Building, family gathering and picture taking on the Capitol steps, watching CNN and other news-feed outlets interview him, experiencing Homeland Security up close and personal, navigating and finding parking spots in Washington, chatting with his welcoming staff, photos in his office that overlooks the Capitol, the Chili Reception at the McGrann's that was McGRAND, the photo ops with Sen. Al Franken, former Sen. Chris Dodd, etc., the cousin's backyard-bonfire-laugh-fest, the "whose up for Chinese?", the overall DC experience, the Capitol tour with back stair tour by Cousin Rick to the room the President uses as his office while in the Capitol (also the location of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation), Captain Dan's Seafood (to tide us over til the next beach trip) lunch, experiencing "going the wrong way" while watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and reminiscing on the drive back to Ohio.  All of it was AWESOME!

Congressman Richard M. Nolan, Minnesota, 8th District [Class Act]

{photo by Jeff Hage}

Rick has a very rich resume and is coming back to Congress after a 30 year hiatus.  He started off as our guitar-playing, fish catching, water skiing cousin, in Brainerd, Minnesota. He became a teacher and then served 3 terms in Congress in the 6th district, leaving because of disenchantment in getting bills passed.  Other highlights have been as Senator Mondale's personal aide, President of the World Trade Center in Minneapolis, pallet factory and sawmill owner, and much more that I could not begin to list. He ousted a one term Tea Party candidate to win this seat.

Rick will be interviewed by Alex Witt this afternoon on MSNBC, and Sunday morning on CBS's Face the Nation, with Bob Schieffer.

First Cousins, Kathleen, Rick, and Cheryl

Pete, Angie, Emilia and Adam (second cousins to Rick)

Rick and Aunt Katie

Rick in the President's Room with family

Rick with Alisa, Claire and Ellie

Therese with Rick, Kathleen and Larry

Larry (with tongue extended, Auntie Kate, and Bethany

[Courtesy of Bethany Muniak]

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I did not have a camera so all of the photos I submit are borrowed or purloined, except these two, which I had no business even having a camera in my hand.  Credit is given where known.

Cheaper than a penny to attend, but a priceless experience.

Photo of my mom (front right) and four of her siblings including Rick's mom, Mary, (in white) taken in about 1928.

FUN FACTS:  Rick initiated National Peanut Butter Day, back in the '70's which is celebrated on January 24th.

I wish more of the cousins could have attended as it truly was an unforgettable time, and as Aunt Katie said, "Not at a funeral."

As ever,
La Verne
hope&salvage

Gift on my doorstep

Yesterday, I came back from an appointment and found an old farmhouse table on my doorstop. There was no note and I can only guess where it came from.  Aside from the asphalt tile glued to the top, it seems pretty sturdy and will be quite lovely when it's restored,

The child's barn is something I drove to Lorain in a snowstorm to collect free on Craigslist. It is a phenomenal  piece of Americana and beautifully crafted.  Painted on the side it reads"Max and Lou's Farm, Minnesota. I hope to customize it for grandson, Jacob, whose mommy grew up showing horses with 4 H.

I appreciate the workmanship and can't imagine that it would be dispatched to a stranger.  The family giving it away was combining households, but still....

Often the furniture I get is covered in children's stickers, as is this barn.  

Unless I run into something unexpected with the table top, I hope to have both of these pieces completed by next week sometime.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Study the next photo and see if you can guess what it is.  Leave your guess under comments.  There will be a nice gift for the closest to guess.

It was put together by my good friend Tom, and is used every day.

Began the new year at Lynn and Tom's last night, with friends, playing games, praying and ringing bells.  Our discussion on what we were grateful for in the past year and what we hoped for in this year was so engaging that we missed the stroke of midnight. Check off #2 on my NYRL.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage