Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Odd Jobs

A weekend is all about odd jobs around here this time of year. After a full work week, I enjoy just puttering around the house. I get stuff done but at my pace, not someone else's. Elenka's Dad was the master of the odd job and the big job for that matter. If there was the small but important job to do around the house, he was on it, 'like ants on a popsicle stick' cast aside. And he was pretty good at the big jobs too. The 4-5 summers after we moved in to our house, he and the Mrs. loaded the station wagon with tools and headed North. The first project we tackled was the livingroom. He built beautiful window seats on either side of the fireplace and completely reconstructed the mantle and surrounding trim. He also laid a carpet and help paint the room. All this in just one week! In following summers we repaired the kitchen floor, sanded and refinished it and ripped the porch down to a skeleton frame and rebuilt it completely. Amazing how that man could work. I was his able assistant, and I think I handled that role quite nicely. All he asked in return was the enjoyment of spending a week with his daughter and his zany son-in-law. Oh yeah, that and locating a fine establishment where they could pour a cold draft beer or two. That was the easiest mission to accomplish back on those warm summer days. Thanks Steve!

29 comments:

  1. It sounds like fun. Good work done together is fun.

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  2. Old memories coming back.
    They are good memories.
    Costas

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  3. Aw, Birdman, thanks for the tribute. Dad will turn 91 on the 18th of this month. He knew how to do everything. As a Czech immigrant coming to this country, he and his dad had these skills and it served them well.

    I think I have inherited some of that. I love learning how to do and make things by hand, no matter what it is.

    I, too, say....Thanks Steve! <3

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  4. love every single thing about this post.

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  5. un beau texte et surtout je pense de tres beaux souvenirs pour vous

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  6. what i wouldn't give for a handy man in the family!

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  7. Fantastic post. I have done somewhat the same thing for for my daughter and son-in-law. It is soooo gratifying. I guess that is being selfish on my part and if so, guilty as charged. The gratification part is being with the kids, helping in satisfying their needs and as a former tradesman I always enjoyed seeing what I built finished and being used. It's always better when it's family.

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  8. What a great apprenticeship you had in so many ways; excellent post. This gives me an idea for my Thursdays "This Old House" posts. Thanks, Birdman!

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  9. Nice red paint on those windows. I've just finished shellacking some chairs and a table. I like to putter....

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  10. He sounds like a perfect father-in-law!

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  11. I don't mind even jobs so much. But not so great at the odd ones!

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  12. When I moved here in 2000 I did a lot around home, but now I like more my camera...

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  13. I really like this photo -- its angularity mixed with circularity and various levels somehow brings it all together in an intriguing image -- barbara

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  14. I definitely need someone like that around my house.

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  15. Masters of odd jobs are hard to find.

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  16. I've never been any good at this stuff, having grown up in a rental apartment. Plus, I'm kinda clumsy. I can find the beer, though. Call it a 6th sense.

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  17. You were lucky, Birdman. I think the only similar skill I am passing on to my kids is how to call the handyman down the street.

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  18. I've seen contractor's take several weeks to do what you described your father-in-law doing in one weekend. Sounds like a great man!

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  19. Lovely post Birdman, Steve sounds like a wonderful man..he reminds me of how my Dad was, always building little benches and walls around the place, I miss him.

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  20. What wonderful memories, Bird. I have a husband who has his weekend list and works as diligently at his projects as he does as work with a love for the check mark as each is completed. My dad was just the same and taught me to change the oil in a car, wire a three-way switch, and install a ceramic tile floor (and grout it!).

    He is 86 and still going strong having built himself two greenhouses in the past several years. Hope I got those genes!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  21. very nice story. I enjoyed reading it

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  22. cool photo your stuff is a little rusty though

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