Retiring the Blue Star Flag

Today my son Neil retires from the military. Army, National Guard, Reserves. Some 25 plus years ago, I was not happy that he joined, and I can say more than once I hung up on recruiters (any kind) when they called the house and asked for my boys. I had issues dating back to the My Lai Massacre, and who knows what all. Had I been a boy, my birth-date for the draft was the 5th one called, and my sister Michelle's was 6th.

Years passed and I resigned myself to the idea pretty much, until January, 2003, when Neil's unit was called up to head to Iraq at the beginning of the war.  He spent 15 months with "boots on the ground". He was a lieutenant at the time and made captain on returning. I'm sure he has some stories I'll never know, but one I did hear involved an ambush from an overhead bridge, and his gun jamming and unable to return fire. Another story, tells of a comrade killed in a dust storm.

I couldn't comprehend the conditions there; driving in 140 degree heat with the air conditioning off and windows down so that they could be aware of any sound that was "unusual", climbing into a sweat soaked cot that someone just crawled out of, and hoping to sleep, drinking 13 liters of water a day and producing 'no pee', wearing dog collars so they wouldn't get sand fleas.

His job there was not to fight, it was to transport, and turn sludge into potable water. While  there, he saw Sadam's torn down palaces and statues, walked in the Euphrates River, and in the ruins of Abraham's stone abode. He came back. Changed. But, He. Came. Back.

I'll take my Blue Star Flag down tomorrow. It's faded and the stick is broken, glued and held together with a fat, black paper clip.  I'll miss it in my window. As disappointed as I was when he joined, as uneasy as I was when he left, I was So Proud. So Very Proud.

Two of my 5 boys joined the military.  Maybe it was to be all that they could be, or pay for college, or see the other side of the world.  I know they represented well, both their family and their country. Well done.

[This 50 caliber ammunition box I picked up in Columbia Station. The lady said it was her father's from the Korean War. Flowers/weeds courtesy of my garden.]

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A couple of weeks ago, when Therese visited for the Communion, we made it to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, and this was one of my (her) purchases. It cost $2.00 American money. Two hundred pennies. I saw in my head the bones of a really good shelf/coat rack/cubby hole thingy. Yes, it is sitting on my unfinished Boat For Sale sewing table. I promise it will be completed by next weekend. Sort of promise.

I picked up a 1x8 and sectioned off the cubbies and built the illusion of a finished top piece.

My inspiration for this was in Ana White's Handbuilt Home (shown). Next I patched all holes with Bondo.

A couple of coats of Stealth Jet while watching Season 6 of Dexter.

The reclaimed wood was from pallets I picked up from a factory in Cleveland.

The wrought iron numbers and verdigris faucet handles were half price at Hobby Lobby.

I wanted to extend the knob for hanging a jacket and was looking all over the house for some tubing to cover the long screw.  I found some plastic tubes that cover gutter spikes and cut them to size. Perfect.

Pretty proud of this salvage. A similar one retails for $299.00 American money from Pottery Barn. I spent less than $10.  [No longer available]

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My friend Sue comes through for me all the time. Just look at these treasures. Her father who was a dentist made these old camp boxes decades ago.  Wait til you see what they will become in future posts!

The blue one I just sort of scrubbed and oiled.  I'm always concerned about the thought of lead paint.  Not that anyone would be chewing on it, just taking precautions so that it can't flake off. 

Not sure if blue is finished, just wanted to show you that I don't spend all my time napping. (I wish!) [Update: This box will be come a Memories Box for retiring kindergarten teacher and friend, Miss Lucarelli]

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This table was a gift from Ken. It had sort of a wobbly chair rail-widow's walk fencing on both ends that had to go. I filled the small holes with Bondo and sanded well.

It really only said Union Jack to me, so I taped out the pattern.  It's not exact, like the dresser or my little wood flags, because of the elongated shape of the table.  There is a definite arrangement of the 4 red corner stripes that are not accurate on this project, but a lot closer than some I've seen and field conditions prevail.

It's been sanded and distressed, glazed, but still needs a coat or two of poly and then will be heading for a little girl in Parma who LOVES One Direction!

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I had a bat in my house the other night. At a very inopportune time. [Spoiler alert: The next few paragraphs are references to Dexter.] First of all, the DDK was about to get his due, secondly, I only had my crutch for defense, and third, well, this place is a minefield for having to chase anything that has the upper hand of being airborne. I recalled being a 3 or 4 year old living on a farm in Minnesota and sitting in a rocking chair on our porch. A bat flew in my hair and was pulling me off my seat.  My dad came to the rescue and hastened its demise with a baseball bat.  Having no access to a boat for burial at sea, we buried it under the barn. 

I began to practice my high pitched sounds to drive him off. Maybe when he saw me pick up the electrified Harbor Freight bug exterminator he felt he should visit elsewhere. I left the front door open while I re-watched the episode.  He may have left because my screaming was even beyond his pitch. Perhaps he thought he was no match for my WSD (weapons of single destruction). But I think he realized that I entertain serial killers, and he definitely fit the 'code'.  I haven't seen him since.

~.~.~.~.~

Be back soon,

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

The something I can't describe....

That title is way more provocative that the actual subject.  I picked up an indescribable piece from Ken that worked its way to the head of the class for attention and production. I mentioned it last week but couldn't really say what it was. It is definitely handmade by someone with skills. The fold down front is off kilter and maybe it was planned so.  Here is a Before look:

And here it is after. My daughter says it is the color of her cousin, Meredith's eyes.

It is a prettier blue than shows up in the photo. Both drawers open easily and the front snaps down.  It is sort of a cabinet/bookcase/file something or other.  Heavy duty.  Will snap a photo tomorrow of the front down against the brick wall in a more natural light. It will be reasonably priced on Craigslist.  

I am working on a Union Jack coffee table.  Only partly painted then comes my favorite part-the distressing.

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Time for hot malted milk with vanilla bean ice cream, a little Boz Scaggs' Memphis, and la la land.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Pretty little Communion girl

Little Caroline was radiant as she received her First Communion today at St. Ambrose.  Above she is posing with Fr. Bob Stec (who is celebrating 25 years as a priest next week). It was a very intimate with only 6 kids sitting with their families rather than in the large group setting.

Here she is practicing ahead of time with Mom minutes before she received....

Beautiful day, party, relatives and friends, great food.

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Time to get planting this week

I didn't realize this posted.  Was not finished putting down thoughts about the kids paying Ed to fill cracks and seal the driveway for Mother's Day.  It was done yesterday while we celebrated, and looks amazing even though he ran out of sealer 10 feet from the finish line. Of late, I have been doing the bare minimum when it comes to house maintenance, yet the kids who have left home years ago and are raising their own families, take notice and save the day. I soooooo appreciate all of you and your sacrifices for mother dear.

Brunswick schools are closed this week due to a norovirus going around so the twinks will be around on Wednesday.  Hope it is just a precaution and not an epidemic.

When I lamented the short post in a text to Bethy (a paragraph ago), she wrote back...."Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Be sincere, be brief, be seated." You nailed it."  That comment leaves me to think I am normally long winded and long in the tooth.  Will try to be more succinct, hence forth.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Little Bed and file cabinet

Miss Kate had a birthday last weekend and her request was a doll bed that fit her American Girl/One Direction/New Direction/Bigger than a Barbie-smaller than a baby, bed. The aforementioned are 18" plus allowing for a growth spurt, fat hair, fuzzy slippers, and bed-covers, I made it 22" on the inside. Just to be clear, I am not a carpenter. I can saw wood, hammer nails, and screw screws. This thing was a leap of faith. You Tube gave me some ideas if I wanted to listen to a really boring (but loving) dad, or make a bed out of cereal boxes and duct tape. Instead, in keeping with my logo, hope and salvage, I salvaged wood from my air conditioner platform and hoped it would appease a little 6 year old. Seriously, I think it is strong enough to stand on even if I were a Sasquatch.

I painted it in a mixture of colors that matches her new room.

I cut the platform out of the back of a dresser, lined it with batting and stapled a nice, koofy, microfiber that Ken found on a curb for me (laundered of course).  I made the ruffle out of one of the prom dresses that I altered, out of the same fabric. I've seen it more next to Kate's face than near any doll. 

Ana White of The Handbuilt Home, surely would have done a nicer job, but she has better tools, another set of hands, and from what I've seen, pretty good knees. Happy Birthday Kiddo!

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Now that I have my new aluminum 'wheels', I should be back on track for finishing projects.  Last week or so I posted a photo of a/an unique file cabinet that Ken gave me.  It was painted kind of an Army barracks green, and instead of having two drawers, had a bottom drawer and a lift up top.

For an unknown reason they had the handle on the top, for a drawer that had a lift top and no handle on the bottom for the drawer that opened.  I still want to play with getting some better hardware, but I really like the piece. Therese will be in town tomorrow and I will have her move it to a better lighted location for a new photo.

There were no "guts" other than the wooden file front shown. Office Max should carry something to make it more functional, or do as I do, just put them in without it.

I stripped the top, inside and out, and all the panel pieces, which I sanded, stained and poly'd.

It isn't oak, or pine, maybe aspen, or some combination.

See how this wood has some grainy business to it.

The file plates are wood, as is the handle.

I kept the Army green-could have spruced it up, as I have a nice deep olive, but wanted to keep it more vintage looking, so just lightly sanded and glazed with a dark oak stain.

Looks a hundred times better in person.

No contrast because of all the wood background.

Before-1950's file cabinet.

After-refurbished.

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I have a bunch of things in the hopper right now...the cedar chest (3/4 done), a Union Jack coffee table (half done), a Pottery Barn coffee table (2/3 done), the boat table (1/2 done) , the basket floor dresser (7/8 done), a buffet (half done), the beach coffee table (2 hours from finishing) and something that I cannot even describe (1/10th done).  It is a piece of furniture with no discernible function. Oh, and I picked up some free handmade drawers that will fit nicely into an old radio cabinet to become a linen cabinet. These are only items that I have started, not the hoard stash in my garage/studio.

Busy, 1st Communion weekend, lots of cooking, baking, ReStoring, and partying. Be safe!

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Stairs-knee collapse-PAIN-hospital-crutches-meds-rehab

How do you spell relief?

DAUGHTERS.....

ALISA  ~  BETHANY

ahhhhhhhh

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

As ev......La V

h&s

Running off to bed with a book and hopeful thoughts

I found this darling little infant crib/doll bed the other day that was perfect the way it was...sturdy, nicely finished, and just how I loved things....castor'd. It looked dated though, and had only one slat on the bottom and no mattress. Nothing like a little home improvement.

First, I mixed a color as close to Annie Sloan's Old White with my secret chalk recipe, and distressed it.

Next, I had a friend cut some plaster lath for slats, painted and clear coated them.

Sorry for the sideways photo-cut a 1/4" bottom board and notched out the corners for a tight fit. Cut a 2" foam mattress with an electric knife and stapled some grey naugahyde to it.  I took a look at JoAnn Fabrics first and couldn't justify spending $24. on white when I had perfectly usable grey at home-you know-the whole salvage thing.

I thought it needed the padding in case someone uses it for a little human.  I will make some crib sheets to fit it also.  I feel a little quilt coming too. Measurements are 24" tall, 31" long, 18" deep.

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This simple, dusty pine bookcase (circa 1940?) deserved a better life. It is small, child-size, dimensions are 37" tall, 24" wide and 10" deep.

I liked the ridges across the top and down the sides, reminiscent of  a movie marquee. The shelves are movable.

The color is sort of a mustard seed, then distressed and with a red sienna glaze and several coats of poly acrylic.

I can picture this in a kids' reading nook.

Next to a couple of rocking chairs.....

A view of the interior, sort of rustic.

...sort of carmel, with butter brickel

On Craigslist.....

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I picked this up this afternoon from my good friend Ken's house (along with many other treasures). It is a painted oak filing cabinet. The secret is the way the top "drawer" opens.  It has hinges and lifts up! Even the handles and name plates are made of wood.  I really hope to work on this tomorrow. 

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Please pray for all the runners tomorrow at the Pittsburgh Marathon-the city of hills and bridges. Daughter, Alisa, and her friends, Bryan and Kathy are running it, and Bethy and Claire are their cheering section.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Helping hand weekend

From start to (it's not over yet) finish it's been GOGOGOGOGOGO... I was heading to the Medina Airport to pick up sister, Cheryl and husband Mike, who were flying in from West By God.  When I say flying in, I mean, coming in on their recreational vehicle,  hand on the controls, constantly checking weather, filing a flight plan, gassing up, tying down, making sure the intake panels are covered and wheels chocked. Who knew Medina had 2 airports and I had Googled the wrong one.

Their grandson made his First Communion, so church and party time.  Beautiful event.

They only had a short window to fly back as a storm was heading in from Kansas. Half an hour after they landed, their airport was closed due to fog. 

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There is a missing photo here, because it wasn't taken, but, Jen, Andrew and the Jake came over to rake and cut grass after the Communion. There had to have been close to 20 of those large Kraft bags filled with yard waste at my curb.  Jacob's job was to pick up all the pine cones from the border pines and put them in his little cart. He had to have picked up a hundred. Then one by one emptied his cart into the bigger cart. He was a cute little muddy mess.

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This was also the weekend of Jen's Mom's Relay for Life Breast Cancer fundraiser. Great turnout, fun time, Bethy won several door prizes.

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Speaking of...Bethany (below) loading salvaged wood into the van for me. It was raining and we had to watch for nails everywhere. The other photo is on a relaxing day holding one of our many newborns. It's either Emilia, Grant, Jacob or Adam. As a grandmother, I suck. They are all beautiful and all look alike.  They are related you know.

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This photo is of the little kneeler-footstool I snagged from Restore last week.  I only had a fraction of a second to work on it, but wanted to see what was underneath the carpet. No serious sins.

An ever so quick rub with steel wool and acetone showed some pretty, aged oak wood. I feel I should still give it some padding and upholstery fabric instead of leaving it naked. This is begging for someone's grandmother's tapestry to put on it.   Hope the rest of the wood is as nice.

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I have a couple of pieces coming up that I hope to match to this antique piece of my friend, Gloria's.  We'll see if I am the crafts person I think I am.

My favorite sander bit the dust the other day.  It was only a year old, but hard to find as it is an older model that big box stores have long emptied their shelves of.  I may have to find a back roads Ace Hardware to replace it.

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The last of the prom dresses will get completed and handed off tomorrow-then back to restoration. I work from the bottom up, and the shiny skirt is hem # 6 on this gown.

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It is only 8 something, but I watched kids last night, and after school, and lifted and carried and tugged and sawed and wheeled and cooked and toted for the last several days, and I am SHOT-in a good sort of way (meaning not bleeding). My knees are screaming and pretty soon my "walkin' won't be workin' " Having some hot chocolate and turning in.................

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Oh, and those of you that were looking for a Sunday song, will have to settle for a Monday song instead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFJLUBwpSY

As a nod to my siblings and children, a little memory of Mom. As she would rock us to sleep she would sing George Gershwin's Summertime and we were slumbering big time (in no time).  I did the same for my kids and some of my grands.  Looking forward to a time when the living' is easy (er)! Here is a little Sam Cooke.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage