I ordered a kitchen faucet from Home Despot, and also an actual "deck box" to replace the tatty plastic tote that lives on the front porch and has magic marker instructions to the postie written on top. While the faucet isn't my ideal dream option (which doesn't exist, apparently) it seems to meet enough of my criteria, and after months and months of looking I remind myself that done will be better than perfect. Progress on my goals for this summer is proceeding.
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~ a distant memory ~
At some point when I was young there was assorted Strombecker dollhouse furniture. The images I've seen of various pieces of this distinctive wooden furniture are peculiarly resonant, though I've no idea when I played with them, or where they ended up over distant years and many many moves. There once was a table lamp similar to this one, but with a green base, so when I found two for sale on Etsy at an affordable price I clicked "purchase"... ~ a distant memory ~
Unfortunately the interface had already sold them to a different buyer but didn't tell the seller, who was most apologetic, and offered me this yellow base one instead, at a discount. It was in "as-is" condition, and it was obvious on arrival that the lamp base had at some point met up with teething, either a puppy (or maybe a child?)
My first stage repair was to fill in the multiple divots with wood putty, and once that solidified, carefully sand it back to smooth with 400 grit abrasive paper. While I was originally going to repaint it a solid color, it is tempting to just leave it as is; the variegated color reminds me of a large pottery lamp we had back in the 1960's
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Today began the process of spray painting the mailbox dark bronze. Every exterior side has been sanded with fine sandpaper, washed, and dried, as per the 0.7mm tiny instructions on the back of the can of Rustoleum. The mailbox has been removed from the wall and is currently attached to the clothesline next to the chain link fence and propped in place to allow each surface being painted to be vertical.
Astonishing how something so quick makes such a difference. It still needs at least a second coat all around, but the hammered finish dark bronze is already so much more attractive than the former patchy appearance. The second coat should deal with the one spot where I touched the paint before it was fully dry; I'll spray it in situ (after the mail is delivered tomorrow) instead of removing it to the the side yard, and tape up plenty of newspaper around the area to protect against overspray. Then it can sit there overnight until truly dry.
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Still mulling over the 7in7 earrings challenge since #7 has not been made (and I also missed #1). This afternoon while chatting with Mischa I remembered bells! I have two different tiny sizes, stored for some reason in the in the drawer of washi tape?! that might be perfect components for a pair of dark brown earrings. Hmmm...
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August SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 2 Talenti shelves | Talenti shelf up | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | acorncap earrings | 2nd pot lid rack | recycle bin |
| 3 | teaspoon earrings | painting mailbox | - |
| 4 | glass button earrings | - | - |
| 5 | poppy pod earrings | - | - |
| 6 | red cube earrings | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- chainmail pot scrubber, also can hold paintbrushes to dry vertically
- Home Despot has free home delivery
- homemade kombucha
Time of Isolation - Day 2220
