May 28 – “Projects Day”

We determined that yesterday should be a day of accomplishing some projects.  But first, we had to make an errands run, some of which were related to the projects.  First stop was not Walmart.  Walmart wasn’t even on the list, actually.  Oh, no.  This was a special projects day, remember?  First up … Home Depot.  There we got a board and some paint for a shelf project.  We also checked there for some replacement hanger chain for a hanging plant flowerpot.  The old one rusted away.  No luck on the chain, but all else was loaded successfully into the car.  Check. 

 

Next stop was a quick one – gas for the car.  Fortunately, we got a twenty-cent per gallon discount at Randall’s.  That’s the one good thing about needing all these expensive medications.  Gas … check.

 

And finally, we went to Academy to make an attempt to return my shoes.  We just bought them in January, and the top is separating from the bottom (what else would it be separating from?).  The Sketchers website said the shoes should last for at least a year or more.  We honestly didn’t expect them to accept the return, but we figured why not try.  As it turned out, the manager was in a good mood.  She instructed the salesclerk to allow us a straight return for the same shoes or else take our chances and let them enter the code int the store computer and accept whatever store credit might come up.  Of course, that might be nothing.  It would be a real gamble.  I liked the shoes, though, so we opted for the swap.  And of course, they didn’t have the exact shoe.  I tried on two different alternates – one was a size too small.  The other was the right size but was made for double-wide feet.  Chris finally located a pair in the right size, but a little different color.  Close enough.  Shoes … check.

 

Back home we decided to divide and conquer the two initial projects.  We hauled down from the deck the table and chairs, and Chris elected to spray paint them with the anti-rust stuff.  Of course, we live in Galveston, so everything metal will eventually rust.  This is the third time we have painted this table and chairs set, and it will be the last.  The table may not last through the summer.  So, if you find yourself on our deck … don’t sit on the table.  The chairs look fine, though, so … be conservative.  I went to the garage to work on my project – the shelf.  Chris had a brainstorm that we could put a shelf up over the closet in our bedroom.  And on that shelf could go … stuffed animals.  Great idea.  So, my project was white.  Her’s was black.  I know.  We have gotten boring in our old age.

 

My second coat was drying when it came time to return the furniture to its perch on the deck.  Chris had already managed to get the chairs up by herself, so I was just notified in time to carry up the table.  I gave her “the look” for not calling me sooner, but she didn’t see it.  There is a slight possibility she was intentionally ignoring me, although I can’t imagine why she would do that.  Oh, well.  Furniture in place … check.

 

Next, we tackled the shelf – the Critter Shelf.  Easy enough to hang.  One nail and each corbel slid into place.  Of course, one side didn’t hit a stud, so we can only hope it will hold.  Chris brought out the three huge tubs of animals and dumped them on the bed.  Immediately she realized that our poor little shelf wasn’t going to make a dent in the pile.  We did our best, though, and soon the shelf was populated.  Critter Shelf … check.  Now, after some careful repackaging, we only have two huge tubs (and one little one) full of critters.  Not sure what will ultimately become of all of them.  But in the meantime, they are available for grandkids to play with when they come visit Nani and DadDad.

 

Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

Father, thank you for sense of accomplishment we felt after the projects got done yesterday.  Please keep us safe today as we tackle some more outside stuff in the heat. Amen.