hey, watch that judgement, ms./mr. "my child will never...". this dumpster was on the small side so the boys were in the lines of vision for both parents as we guided their pilfering and warned them about rusty nails.
oh, really??? well, they're more likely to be up-to-date on their tetanus than we are, so...
anywhoolahoop, here's some of the loot. (advanced apology for the jaundiced tone of my studio shots....still working on that darn interior lighting-thingy. jenn??? you there?? help.)
our 10 year old boys had a plan and set to work immediately bickering over who started with the power drill.
we pressed pause and switched their channel to "project planning" 'cuz we know that 10 year old boys bickering around power tools and sharp objects can lead to blood in a blink.
now, our children hang with me in my tornado-hit perfectly organized basement studio quite a bit--usually "helping" me or, with a particular curious cat, methodically opening each tool drawers, pulling out any potentially deadly tools to "test" on my scrap wood, usually droning over and over inquiring:
"mom, what's this for? mom mom mom. do you think this tool is for taking this stuff off? mom mom mommy. would it hurt if i did this? mom mom mama. can i saw this off? mom mommy mom mom look look look look. did you see that, mom? mom mom...."
sometimes it's cute. sometimes my teeth almost crumble to dust from my clenched jaw. but they do know their way around a workroom.
moving on.
tools were gathered and daddy macguyver offered suggestions to frick and frack while i fine-tuned the finish on the piece formerly-known-as-brown-blob-buffet.
 |
| my stash of sticks |
 |
| plenty o' tools |
 |
| and oddities |
 |
| frick in action |
 |
| frack puttin' his weight into it |
 |
| you see where this is going???? |
 |
| taa-daaa! a double skateboard!!! perfect for the hill in front of the house. |
 |
| wha?? you're worried about this? |
okay, keep your pantaloons on and tell child welfare you were just checking on 'em.
see, my kids--thank my lucky stars--were given a heavy dose of their problem-solving-papa's genes. they saw my dollie problemo and decided to solvo it.
 |
| current dollie...useful but lacking |
 |
| note the tilt... kinda awkward...and dangerous. |
 |
| helpful for moving but creates some hard to reach places. |
taa-daaa! (for real this time)
 |
| a perfect, STABLE fit. |
 |
| see what i mean? |
no, you can't have it.
i'm sorry you hate me but i'll get over it.
of course, i appreciate it! oh, yeah, them, too.
yes, they can make more. for me.
the wood was stolen free and the beat-up-but-perfectly-spinning-casters were $4 from a renniger's hardware hoarder.
anything else?
yes, they will wear their hockey helmets when they test drive it down the hill.
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Sundays
Posts
.JPG)
17 comments:
I guess resourcefulness must run in the family? Hey, if women can dive into dumpsters with their children looking for coupons they certainly can do it for a perfectly good piece of wood ,right? I would. Love the dresser too...do you have a plan for it yet?
This is awesomeness I want to do this all of the time but haven't been able to. I have found some great things beside the road.
Please come share at:
www.thezkids.blogpsot.com
Oh it is in my plans to build myself a bigger dolly too, mostly for putting furniture on while I work on it. Love using that kid labor. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Holy pooppie...been meanin ta ask whur is that dern brown blobbity... what the heck are you doin wid it?
Kid labor... yup..they;re really good fur dismatlin' pallets...
need ta git my dumpster divin b.u.t.t. back in gear...
ho.ho.ho....
Fun post...and you made something useful from free stuff - Amy, you da bomb :)
Need to put my girls to work in the trenches too! Do you have twins? I do! Another thing we have in common!
Kelly
Too neat! My readers would love you. I believe it may be because our humor is very similar ; ) Love finding you! I would love for you to share this post at my "Meet Me Monday" linky party! I think you will find out how similar we are. Can't wait to look around! Love, Me www.youaretalkingtoomuch.com
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/2011/11/meet-me-monday-12.html
Awesome! Looks like you are teaching your children well!
Haha, what a fun way for your family to work together. They did an awesome job with that. Looks like it fits the bill perfectly.:)
You are hilarious....my kinda friend. I'm a new follower so stop by and follow if you like. Happy Diving, Lori
you are so smart- and i can't wait to see what happens with that chifferobe! i will be sitting here..... waiting... while others eat and give thanks i will be waiting for the reveal.
I like that you considered whose tetnus vacc was most UTD. And by age 10 if they can't make something on their own now and then I am sure you would go nuts having them offer to assist you on projects. Besides, we know kids that age know so much more than we do, right?
I applaud you giving them values and skills.
as always, you got me laughin'!! :)
Where did you get that dresser? It looks so much like one I had my eye on at the Salvation Army a while back.....it was a 1930's dresser.
Love your resourcefulness and the way that the kids love it too. My sisters and I used to swipe wood scraps from the new subdivisions going up and we would "build" tables at my dad's house. We used them too!
the tall dresser was on the side of the road by our house for a few days before my kids and i stopped by to load it up. of course, we knocked on the door to inquire about the missing drawers first!!
yup, no pride over here!
OK, glad to see that you are spending quality time with the kids. Together time is really important. I'll have to check out the grand kids tetanus shots, I have plans for them. The tall dresser is so neat, great piece. Thanks for sharing over at Sunday's Best, we love seeing your creative ideas, and what the kids have been up to.
Thank you for the laugh! ANd how great to have such helpful and resourceful sons. I bet that will just keep getting better and better. Dumpster diving has been a source of many a (free) wonder for me! Long live the DIve!
Post a Comment
you want to comment? really? you know what that means, don't you?
yep, i'll probably hunt you down and comment on your blog and then follow you and then comment on your blog and then reply to the comment you left on my blog and then... i'll forever stalk you.
still here? okay...good luck to you, my new best friend!