Author: peterb51

25th November 2017

So this is my last full day, and the news from the market was good. We had sold the round dining table, the chairs and Fido’s coffin!!! and this was before eleven o’clock. I was working in the garage scrabbling around trying to get things finished. I had laid up the wood for the back panels to the Fifteen bucks piece, but there is no timber left to cut the battens to fix them in place, so this will wait until my return.

There was one last piece that we managed to complete. I had made a new infill part for the top, and brought to life another interesting cabinet.

This didn’t stop us from making one last visit to Goodwill, but pickings were slim. We then went to another thrift store and she found an iron bookcase that folded flat. This would go straight to Hudsonville. I found a Herman Miller “Scooter ” for three dollars fifty, it was virtually brand new, no marks on the base, it was a bargain. We looked on eBay and, I’m sure we could get eighty to a hundred bucks for it.

We had a wonderful dinner at Pereddies as usual.

24th November 2017

So it’s Black Friday, a day of retail madness, fortunately I was spared the agony of the crowds.

It was my final trip to Hudsonville, and I was excited to see what had sold this week as Kelli was Vendor of the week. The booth looked exactly the same, very little had sold in the week. My candle holders resisted people buying any, so remained exactly where we had put them.

The apocalypse cabinet looked good in its new place, and the new items fitted in well.

There is eager anticipation that Saturday with clear the place out.

I did more work on the Fifteen bucks cabinet, but I don’t think I will finish it this time, which irritates me, I don’t want to rush it, and am pleased with the progress I’ve made on it.

Dinner was bangers and mash with sauerkraut, good simple food.

23rd November 2017

Thanksgiving day, so everything is closed except Meijer. Kelli was preparing a vegan feast to take to her parents where the family celebration is held every year. The meal of nut roast, roasted sprouts with cashew nuts,stuffing with roasted bread, sage and onion, and gravy was fabulous.

The only thing missing was a nice glass of wine, which is forbidden in the house. I had to imagine what it was like whilst sipping water.

Even the pilgrims fathers celebrating the first harvest would have been munching on their potato thinking ” this would go nicely with a glass of wine”

The day ended like every Thanksgiving day should, by a visit to A&E.

Greer, Kelli’s daughter had been suffering from a hacking cough for a few weeks, but as we were out in the car she started coughing, and squealed in agony holding her side. Taking no chances Kelli drove straight to the hospital.

Within an hour they had signed her in, checked her insurance, saw the nurse, saw the doctor, up to x-ray, saw the administer, double checked her insurance, saw the doctor again, he suspected she had a strained muscle around her ribs, so he handed us a prescription, and off we went to Meijer to get the prescription filled. There was an issue with Greer’s details meaning we had to pay a part of the cost. Kelli, gnashing her teeth was not happy, I guess someone at the insurance company will get an earful tomorrow.

22nd November 2017

Today is Kelli’s dad’s birthday, so it was out looking for a suitable gift for him.

We went to the chocolate shop that we had visited recently, and picked up something delicious.

There was no work in the garage today, most of the projects have moved indoors, where it’s warmer, for painting.

There is one project left to finish, I want to get the woodwork finished then Kelli can paint at her leisure.

This evening is Dave’s party, so big helpings of carrot cake is in store.

21st November 2017

Frantic day trying to finish everything before I leave. I had a fire going to keep warm and to burn the wood off-cuts, so I smelt like a kipper.

There is a lot to cram in, but there will be things that Kelli will be able to finish.

There is already things building up for my next trip.

Kelli’s created a wonderful meal from the scraping of the fridge, after forgetting the vital ingredient to the one she had planned.

She also painted the Apocalypse unit ready to go to Hudsonville on Friday.

This project has taken a long time, and consumed much of a Scandinavian forest. Realistically I should not have wasted my time on it, but I am glad I did.

It started out as a water damaged ruin.

All the damaged panels were cut out leaving the door, the drawer and the front frame.

Each side was replaced with new wood.

Now it’s been repainted and lightly distressed, it looks amazing.

We also crammed in a visit to Goodwill (how could we not?), and found some more unusual things.

Yes, they are trees made from twigs, and they are so cool, whoever made them must have had the patience of a saint.

20th November 2017

It’s my birthday!! 66 years and never been kissed by an American sailor . However being in America the chances of that coming true are much more possible.

Instead we went to Hudsonville to re-stock. I was really disappointed that none of the reclaimed wood candle holders had sold, I would have been excited by selling one.

The day was sunny, and a really good omen, or so I thought, we had sold a few things, so not a total loss.

Birthdays for me are times of reflection, but this time was a lot different. There were cards, presents, cake and wine, a perfect combination.

The cake ceremony was held at Kelli’s parents where all the family gathered to join the feast.

Kelli had made a strawberry chocolate tart, which was fabulous, one slice was not enough.

Tomorrow is another day, I need to switch gear to finish the outstanding projects.

19th November 2017

Time is desperately running out on this trip, and the number of people I have wanted to meet up with have been few. So today we met up with Steve and Cathy again for brunch in Grand Rapids. I enjoy their company, they have lived an interesting life, and the chance to listen to their stories enriches my own.

Afterwards we stopped off at both Goodwill stores in Holland to hunt for more things. I have spent so much time in these establishments they should give me a loyalty card, or an old person’s discount.

We looked in the window of the lakeshore store to see if any of our furniture had been sold on Saturday, because again, there was a interested person with “100%” chance of buying it. However it was still there, and most of the other stuff hadn’t sold either.

There is often a difference of customer numbers between Hudsonville and Lakeshore, with small items moving faster in Hudsonville. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern in either of the places, it is feast or famine, not good for forward planning.

There was a healthy collection of things ready to go tomorrow including the small drawer unit made from old cheese boxes. Doing a bit of research we discovered they were from around the 1900’s and quite collectible, so we have high hopes for this.

18th November 2017

Well it’s been an interesting day, it rained, and we had a list of things to get.

Kelli had an email from Painted Farmgirl to say that the place was very busy, and to be prepared to re-stock. This word sends shivers down my spine because it means Kelli will go into a tail spin looking for new items. So desperate for product she even started priming the apocalypse piece that had been waiting in the wings gathering dust. A trip to Goodwill resulted in a few finds, some needing no attention, and a few some small rectification.

I have been working with wood most of my life, and enjoy seeing the results of a finished piece. I pride myself that I can tackle most things, and the last few weeks have proved that, but today I was handed one of the most challenging, making a new beak for a wooden bird.

Kelli had found these in a bin at Goodwill, and grabbed them, so a piece of oak and some “Bondo” and I was away.

And now the re-beaked version.

Whilst we were out, we visited a hardware store that already had its Christmas display on show. We were looking for decorations for the tree, I wondered around looking for inspiration. It was fun, the displays were bright, and reminded me of the Christmas’s of my childhood.

17th November 2017

The one main job of the day was to make an in-fill panel for a small cabinet. It used to have a fake leather top panel that had to go. I had laid up the wooden pieces last night, so I was all primed to make a start. The first step was to mark out, so I grabbed the adjustable square and marked out the cutting line. Just as I prepared to mark the second line it fell to the floor. When I picked it up I knew something wasn’t right. The part holding the scale had broken, rendering the thing useless.

The only option now was to drive up to Dave’s place and use his kit.

It took about fifteen minutes to do everything I needed to do, but then a little voice from the other part of the basement beckoned me.

“Another wheel has broken” sure enough another wheel had failed. So repeating what I did yesterday, I replaced it.

I got back with my bits of wood and applied the stain and oil to the in-fill panel, and set it aside to dry. I also assembled the centre box for the Fifteen bucks project.

16th November 2017

Whilst I was slaving away in the garage, Kelli was in Hudsonville drumming up more sale in what seems to be a bumper month. However with more sales comes the need for more stuff.

On her way through she delivered a newly finished dresser, this was the one that fell apart when we collected it. This had been re-built, painted, and looked really good.

I spent the afternoon with Dave visiting one of his friends called “Cricket”. I asked how he got his name, adding, if it was the noise he made when he walked, but that fell on deaf ears, and I never did get an answer.

I had a tour of his barn that was full of small tractors, outside there were many more, it was like a tractor heaven. Everywhere there were machines of all sizes and condition. Cricket was a tall man with a loud voice, he was dressed in camouflage gear, ready to go into the woods hunting.

When we got back, I had to repair a mobile table that Dave had in his workshop. One of the castor had disintegrated, making it impossible to move. He had a box full of heavy duty castors, (his basement is an Aladdin’s cave of everything. If you needed parts to rebuild a Zeppelin, he would have them). I managed to find two five inch wheels buried deep among the many different types and sizes.

With a little modification, and a bit of friendly persuasion it all fitted, much to my relief.