Little project: the red tool chest

This started as an incidental project while I waited for the mower maintenance guy* on a hot summer morning.

I was out in the garage anyway, so I decided to do round three (or four, I lost count) of cleaning out the red tool chest.  I bought this as a Christmas gift to Mark in 1982 while we were in college, and it quickly filled up over the years as he acquired tools.  When his mother died, he brought ALL of the tools home from her garage as well.  At one point, you could not close the top, bottom, or drawers.

(And there are smaller tool boxes in the garage that I will empty some day.)

I pulled things out, drawer by drawer and wiped down the insides of the chest and the handles of the tools with antibacterial wipes.  There were a lot of duplicate items, so I only put back what I wanted or needed to keep.

Then I organized it as best I could.

And there are things I will donate.  Like giant plumber's wrenches that I can barely lift. Multiple drill bits that match nothing I own. A belt sander I will not use. An extra electric engraver.

I access the top most often, so it had to be tailored to me and the things I use.  And it absolutely has to be able to be closed.

There are still things in here that one day will go - probably to my boys.  But for now, the bottom flap closes as well.

Mark's general rule of thumb was that if one was good, 5 or 6 was that much better.  If an item had any perceived value, he was going to hang onto it.  Most of us understand that if you cannot find what you need in the collection of things you do not have organized, it isn't as useful. Once you run out of space, its time to take stock.

More does not equal better.  You either need to adjust the amount of things you own, or the size of the place you are storing and organizing.  And unless you use them for work, how many hammers or axes do you really need?  It was a sticking point for us, to say the least.

My garage may not be beautiful to anyone but me.  But if you ask me if I have what I need and do I know where it is?  The answer will be yes.  And now there is room in this toolbox for me to adjust what I may need in the future for whatever project I am working on.

Gina

*And Mr. Berry spent less time counseling me about how often I need get the mower serviced, instead showing me how to do those things (cleaning the filter, changing the oil, making adjustments) myself.  I would say it was a productive day!

Little project: garage opener bulbs

I truly am trying to make headway on my summer bucket list - I would say I have at least a third of it done.  But along the way, these other mini "projects" keep popping up and I think, oh I can do that right quick. Case in point are the bulbs in the garage door motors. 

One of them is burned out, so I decided to replace all four and in the process discovered that the opener on the storage side of the garage actually works.  I could have sworn Mark told me that its motor was burned out.  But no, it opened smoothly and quietly - unlike the side I use all of the time.

These motors are 30+ years old and still going strong.  I do need someone to come out and adjust them, but I can change the bulbs and clean them up.

I hauled out my trusty ladder and unplugged them first. A YouTube video later, I had figured out how to open the lightbulb cover.

They were very dirty and had a couple of dirt dauber wasp nests in them.

(side note: do you know that people actually sell large wasp nests on Ebay? What a weird world we are in. Mine got tossed into the driveway.)

Things like this make me pause - why did we never have actual pull strings on the emergency release?

I found some paracord and a 2 knobs from my stash and put one on each door, making it long enough for my 5'3" self to reach.

You would think a simple project like this would take maybe 30 minutes, tops, but I also had to look things up, go buy the dang bulbs, and talk myself onto that ladder.  I also swept out the garage and set some stuff by the trash bins.  Plus, it was already climbing in the 90s here.

I'm gonna have to pace myself with outside projects in the summer...

Gina

Big project: repairing the garage screen door

I got a wild hair last week and decided to tackle a project that's been on my list of things to do for months - repair the screen on the door leading into the garage. (Actually it was more like a year and some change.)  I had all of the supplies for it except the spray paint but I thought "well, why don't I see if I can take the door down first?".  Just do the first step, no pressure.

Ok, well I could.  Then I thought, Oh man, this is also going to have to be sanded and repainted. And the hardware needs repainting, too.

That flat bar across the screen was to keep the kids from pushing directly on the screen and it did a great job until the screen part just wore out. (its a 30 year old screen door!) That bar will have to be removed and cleaned up.

I removed the torn screen and the hardware, then scrubbed the whole thing.  Sanded some rough spots.  Then taped up the remaining screen to prevent overspray.

I set it on top of a big leftover piece of plywood out in the garage. 

I taped off the door sweep - I had replaced that not too long ago. Then I stopped here because I had to buy paint. And lately, it works better if I divide these kinds of projects into manageable chunks.

The next day the hardware got a fresh coat of black paint.  Then I sprayed the door, let dry, turned the door over, sprayed the other side.  It was tedious, but we had a 93% humidity day and I knew that painting was going to be the most time consuming part of this project.  Could I have just replaced the screen without spiffing up the door and hardware? Yes.  But not really.

Day three I got out here and started replacing the screen.  I had a new package of spline and found the tool plus a small roll of screen fabric out in the tool chest.  Hooray for saving those two things.

The hardest part was being on my old lady knees on concrete!  I used a flat head screw driver to make sure the spline was deep into the corners.  Then I trimmed it all up with a utility knife.

A break for lunch then I will do any needed paint touch ups and put the hardware back on. It was so hot out here I thought I might melt.

Re-hanging the door was HARD.  But I was home by my lonesome and as we know, it doesn't take whiskers.  You just have to think out what you're going to do, then calmly proceed.  I remind myself often that Mark wasn't born knowing how to do these things, and he learned them so I can too.

The solid door got a good scrub and I even painted the trim around the screen frame with leftover paint from painting the garage.  So clean and neat!

What a difference painting out here made, not to mention repair of the screen and previous purging of all the junk that was sitting near this door as you walked out of the house.  The screen door took three days of slow and steady work, but I'm very pleased that this project is crossed off the list! 

Gina

5 thing Friday - garage, switchplate covers, bumpers, crystal, cooking

Yesterday I came to the final stopping point with painting the garage.

I have scrubbed or painted or organized every single part of this garage.  I went through ALL of the tools, camping equipment, kids boxes, fishing poles, scrap wood, and etc.  Cleaned the floor.  Scrubbed the inside of the garage doors. Left to do is: 

*get rid of that propane tank

*deal with some scrap lumber

*hang a piece of art created by The Girl

*help Bubbie move

*get the ceilings retaped and painted

*get one garage opener replaced, dismantle the other

*replace the locks on the garage doors

Once Bubbie's things are gone, the wall above will be empty and I could throw a dance party in here!  I will show more of this later, I'm sure.  I mean doesn't every single woman obsess over her garage? Ha! 

For now, only one garage opener works - the other motor has been burned out for years.  But all of these switches can stay, so let's make them pretty.

I ordered some switch plate covers with a Talavera tiles print.  They're like tiny pieces of art.  I want to order some pretty ones for inside of the house, too.

This week I also did a quick project in the kitchen - replacing the bumpers on the inside of the cabinet doors.

I had to scrape off several different versions of bumpers.  The cork ones fall apart and the foam kind don't have enough cushion.  I had also used felt pads at one point.

Hopefully these will stay put - they do make the door quieter.

I do enjoy my outdated kitchen, though of course there are things I would like to change in here.  For one thing, the cooktop exhaust fan went out this week.  Also, some day I would like to lose this wallpaper.  Change out the light fixture.

I can envision using this space a little differently, too.  Maybe a tabletop bar?  A place to set a portable record player?  Ideas, please.

Recently I hauled out some of the crystal that belonged to Mark's parents.  I've been using it to drink out of because why not?  There is a complete set of pink martini, iced tea, and wine glasses and there are clear cut crystal tea glasses.  If I have them, I may as well use them.

I haven't done loads of cooking this week, unless you count ramen noodles, salads, or pancakes.  But tonight I am making Maple Glazed Salmon bites with cabbage slaw, and will pick up a few groceries.  I will also make time today to read, nap, and do a pedicure.  TGIF!

Gina

5 thing Friday - work, coffee shops, garage progress, Spring, Friday plans

A co-worker likes to shove many spoons into my cabinet drawer.  It started out as him leaving me one or two plastic spoons (because for some reason they don't bring plastic cutlery to the breakroom), and now its full on drawer full of spoons.  I like my job and the camaraderie we all have, even if it gets silly.

Work has been very Ok lately - there have been minor tweaks to the schedule and everyone seems to be adjusting.  

 I've been going to a local coffeeshop, someplace different, every Wednesday morning. This one is very artsy and vibrant - a favorite of Scout's.   I sit and sip and think and journal and generally soak up the vibe and people watch.

Most people aren't there to socialize - a lot of them have their laptops open.  But it feels good, in a way, to be alone in a crowd of people just doing normal things.

I made my painting way around the corner of the garage and almost to the end of the wall just to the left of that red step stool. I went through the camping equipment, scrap wood, the kids' storage boxes, the fishing poles.  Moved a few things out of here (glass china cabinet doors, 2 quilts, boxes of mementos).  Then realized I needed some spackle for some areas near the garage doors.  

So I pushed the remaining piles further into the garage to make space.  To do: 

*spackle some gouges and caulk some gaps

*finish painting out the last 1/4 of the garage

*clean the garage door insides

*get wire clips or Command clips for wires to sprinkler system and garage door openers

*get rid of that FULL propane tank

*scrub the floor

*put everything back and add some fun touches

I stopped for the week yesterday - today is not the day for me to overdo it.

I loaded a box of camping gear and the collection of tents? tarps? into the back of Brigid.  That scrap wood is going away, as is the length of flashing or whatever that is.  The rest of the items in the garage, except for the propane tank, can sit if they fit.  For now.  I can envision me doing another purge next year.

There were still boxes of old photos and mementos out there that need to go to their new owners - namely one of Mark's nephews and nieces.  In the black case is the trumpet that belonged to his brother Harry from 1950.  We had it refurbished and bought a new case when The Girl was dabbling in jazz band.  It belongs to the daughter of its original owner.  These things cannot go back in to the garage!

I did a big chop on my crepe myrtle and the Ligustrum out front and they immediately starting budding out.  I treated the crepe myrtle again so I hope it will survive.  When I finish the garage project I can focus some efforts on spring yard and landscape items.

Today the plan is:

*move plants back outside and give them a good drink of water

*prep my lunches and do a bit of housework

*drop off those items at Habitat Restore

*Go to Umlauf Sculpture Garden for an al fresco lunch and unwind time

The weather has been so beautiful here - I definitely need some outside time today.  Happy Weekend!

Gina

Big project: painting the garage

 Well, this is not a reveal.

It is, however, a stopping point as of last Wednesday.  By Thursday morning I knew I had hit a wall.  I had gotten a little over half of the garage painted, and that also involved moving things off shelves, patching holes, painting, moving things back, and cleaning/storing my tools for the day.  Its a mess out there and I still have a ways to go.  I am committed to finishing this up, but I had to take a break.  Because along with it being physically challenging, it was mentally taxing.  The weather has been perfect here for painting, though.

Along the way, I managed to purge even more stuff.  (The Habitat Restore people probably thought I was off-loading stolen goods.)  Scout also came and got the last of the things for his apartment.  When Bubbie moves it will be that much more empty!  Its going to be the culmination of almost four years of trying to manage "the stuff" and make my home reflect my own philosophy, wishes, and values.  Its been both thrilling and terrifying, satisfying and exhausting. 

 And bittersweet to say the least.

So I have to rest a bit before I go back to it...

Gina

5 thing Friday - garden hose, letters, junk, garage philosophy, pillows

I've been seeing garden hose pots all over the place, and while they are pretty, I feel like they would make a great home for a snake, not to mention standing water for mosquitos.  We dealt with several snakes at Highlands,  and I'm not having it at my house.

So I ordered a hose holder from Lowe's that required minimal assembly and it works perfectly.  Maybe not as pretty as a pricey hose pot, but way more practical.

The backyard is greening up nicely and the fig has decided, once again, to live.  Just a couple more small projects out in the backyard and I will stop for the summer and go to mowing and watering only.

I gathered up all of the letters from Mom (2011-2023) and put them in order by date.  Then I took all of the ones I wrote to her, collected from her house, and added them in.  I read a few of them here and there.  For now, they are all in a binder.  The ones she wrote me from Saudi Arabia are in a separate box.  And the ones after she married Jim and before 2011?  I have no idea what I did with those.

The last few items from the never-ending garage clean-out went to Goodwill as no one wanted them in the Buy Nothing group.  Along the way I have had a realization that has grown stronger each time.  And I have gathered ideas from others, as well. So I put it all together and will post it in the garage, just to remind myself.

My Home and Garage Philosophy

I don't need “things” to be happy. True happiness does not come from accumulating stuff. I will have nothing in my home that I do not find beautiful nor believe to be useful. If I am sentimentally attached to something, I can make the decision to keep it for as long as it makes me feel happy to own it.

My worth is not defined by my stuff, or the stuff anyone left behind for me to deal with. And it is my choice and responsibility to decide what I want to keep. I don't have to live like everyone else. I'm not obligated to store things I don't want.

There is value in living within my means. Contentment comes from appreciating what I have. My donated items and excess stuff can bless others making generosity second nature.

Fewer possessions = more time to spend on people and pastimes that have value to me. I am in control of my life. The pursuit of more stuff will never be the reason I don't make a life for myself and make a difference in the world.

I will not store or organize stuff just for the sake of owning it. I have a choice in what I want to keep in my life. I can choose to purge my stuff, without asking anyone's opinion, any time that I see fit.

I will not leave a legacy of "too much stuff" to my family. It is my goal to empower my children to decide what things matter to them, letting the rest go.

******

Summer is here!  Time to freshen up some spaces in my home.

Two small throw pillows, a softer comforter color, thorough dusting, and a couple of feminine touches in my bedroom make for a sweet space to come home to each day.  Sometimes its the little things, right?

Gina