That Old Garage

When I drive past an abandoned house, barn or even a garage it makes me wonder why was it left to rot and fall down.  My dad told us when we bought our first house in 1970, Cheryle Anne, if you do one thing each year to your house you will be ahead of the work.  Every summer was the time for fresh paint, new roof, eves, fix the side walk or paint the interior.It worked doing something once a year.  Today was the day I thought of my dad and the once a year fix it up.  We bought the land across from us and unfortunately the trailer had been used for a camp and long since abandoned.  It was in real bad shape with no chance of refurbishing it.  Dick spent the winter demolishing it.  Our big decision and we thought we had made one was to demolish the garage too.  The foundation in the back is sinking away and needs jacked up.  The roof has about 4 inches of moss growing on it.  The windows are broke, the trim boards are blistered and peeling, entrance door is long gone and the garage door is in desperate need.  The good thing is it still pulls up like a well oiled charm.

 So, as we sat having coffee last weekend I suggested going to Home Depot.  Yes, Dick never realizes I have a reason besides being nice to him.  He loves looking around that store.  I do too!  We went our separate ways and it was straight to the paint section for me.  I had a plan, that garage was going to get a new look and quite a bit of tender loving care.  After all, it is old but still useable.  Poor thing, it really wasn't built by a professional so there are many flaws.  It is what it is, Monty's garage.  How could I get rid of the very thing I hate to see.  Get rid of the old and build new.  This little garage has character, flaws and all.  It is nestled into the hill side with beautiful Maple Trees framing it like a picture.  I knew I wanted Earthy colors to blend in with the hillside.  Lucky they had a pallet of colors that would look good together.  Mix'm up I told the guy.  I now have 3 gals of paint, Hazy Sage (medium), Mossy Green (dark) and Shamrock White (light).  It was as if I had to hurry and get it done before Dick could give me a kazillion reason why not to fix the "old garage" up.

The old garage, this has been our view for 17 years
from our house. 

The final choice of colors.

This morning I was on one of my tangents of a mission.  While Dick was starting the stone work on the front of the pizza oven (yes, it should be finished and fired up within the week) I told him I was heading across the road to test out the new colors on the old garage. 8 hours later I am thrilled with the color choice.  One side is completely done other than putting new glass in the window.  I'm sure he will be off to Norton's Building Supply in the morning to order the glass......I'm pretty certain.
The front is half painted, I need a taller ladder for the peek.  The garage door, I'm not sure what it needs beside paint but my idea is probably going to be met with a little hesitation.  90% of the second side is painted.  Eves, window trim left to paint.  We will be looking for a used entrance door in the next few weeks.  I would like to brag to the husband I did it all for less than $100.  The paint was $76 with a $10 a gallon rebate to send in.  That brings it down to $46 which means I have $54 for incidentals!  Like hanging baskets on each side of the garage door and a large metal sun for the side.  I'm a dreamer with projects, it's what keeps me ticking!  Did I mention little to no resistance on my project from the husband?

My mission of get it done is in high.... excited to see the final look.  Like I said, it is nothing special to look at but oh so special for me.  It is after all a garage built my a guy born and raised in Clara.  I'm sure he was proud the day his dad gave him the acreage for his home.  Memories will live on for a few more years. 

The sun has just dropped over the hill behind the garage.  Another thankful day of doing what we love at Cook'n by the Creek, staying busy.  There was even a good breakfast and a nice break of milk and Buttermilk Cookies.  The cookies were made a few days ago when the house needed warmed with the oven on.  Two bags in the freezer for days when I do not feel like baking or cooking.  Today was that day.

This is Eleanor Stavisky's cookie recipe.  It makes about 3 doz. large cookies.
Big, soft, tender cookies.....the best.

When you see something old and run down think of what it was and how it came to be.  Then imagine, what would it look like with a little love splattered all over it.