Where do put 50+ years of........ ?

Boxes and boxes...and more in the barn ! Before Xmas, work in the library cleared away about 15 boxes so that there would be space for Vicky, Christopher, Ben, Ollie and Leo to bed down. Actually that was a jolly good excuse for getting down and doing a long overdue tidy up. With all the celebrations over, and the Xmas tree out, it was time to start work on the pile of boxes scatttered about downstairs.

To the left of the door to Gabriel's room. Along with creating storage space it was also a way to incorporate Dad's favorite Window mirror, that had been displaced when the organ got moved, into a new unit.

Gabriel is most understanding as I lug in wood and supplies from the barn, leaving an icy blast to follow me, and not at all phased by the smell of varnish, not to mention the hamming, drilling and sawing. Aside from the two vertical side panels and some trimming everything else is recycled. The shelves in the top half come from the basement at 259, and the shelves in the bottom half from the laundry cupboard at 259.

It is most satisfying to trudge off up to the Main Barn ( I have kept a path cleared) and bring down useful lumber. The two windows in the bottom half, with pebbled, frosted glasss, made perfect doors. Come better weather I'll remove them and refinish them outdoors. Too cold to do in the barn, and not a good idea to do in the basement .

Earlier on this afternoon Gabriel decided she would take a picture of "work in progress".

Well,this isn't working at all the way I wanted it ! I'm going to have to read up on formatting, placing pictures and all those other things, which are normally enough to dissuade me from ever trying anything like this again.

Well, here is the "finished" product....actually it will end up being the first picture in the sequence, but we'll see. If anyone can help don't hesitate to set me straight.

So...one more project to add to the "done list " . I'll just have to wander about a ways, until I happen into another idea...

Oh, this might raise a chuckle ! Understairs storage for Xmas stuff in the basement....along the way I bumped into these two rather ancient wine racks which should have been chucked out ages ago... but, in my effort to embrace the spirit of the 100 mile/100 kilometer "diet" I am happy to let you know that these wine bottles come from Pont Pelee, and are quite quaffable !

My own cellar at last !!

If there are any glaring errors or omissions just put it down to the fact that I lost the left lens from my glasses and am currently operating with a Heath Robinson arrangement 'til my new ones arrive. Hopefully tomorrow !

And, if perchance you notice that all my lines are not perfectly level---I didn't notice that the magnetic surface on the bottom of the level had picked up a dime 'til it was too late !

And on January 21st I can optimistically believe that there are only two more months of winter ! Maybe a bit too early to set out the seed trays, but never too soon to start lingering over all those gardening catalogues.