OUR PROJECTS

Monday, August 10, 2009

July and August 2009 Restoration Projects

Here's a collection and work-in-progress description of several of the restoration projects undertaken mostly during the months of July and August 2009.

Vanity - originally belonging to Grandma Wermers - given to Kathie from Celi Albrecht
(actually restored Oct - Nov 2008)

Library Table - purchased at Auction in Estelline, SD - Oct 2008

(Had been converted to a paint storage cabinet with plywood doors and sides. The grain of the plywood for one door was vertical, the other door was horizontal. Doors had to go!)

Took this restoration opportunity to add a few extra rails to the sides and front, and re-glue the top; then added supports below the side shelves.

Ready for reading!

"Treasure Chest" - purchased at Auction near Sioux Falls, SD

Chest was very mildewed, but had several old tools inside, very rusty, but old. It stayed in Trent, SD, for 7 months to dry out before transported to Rapid City, SD for restoration.

Puzzle - from auction at the Civic Center in Rapid City, SD

Actually referred to at the auction as a Double Secretary Desk - its a drop leaf table with drawers on both sides - presented at auction as a puzzle with many pieces missing.

All drawer rails and stiles were missing; major breaks in the bottom side rails and table top.
Getting closer - all the missing parts have been rebuilt - the center drawer unit is now glued together and all the drawers fit!

Kathie is refinishing the 3-piece oak top this week.

Bird's Eye Maple Dresser - from auction in Hill City, SD

Dresser was painted with at least three layers of paint including one fluorscent green layer.

Veneer on top had water damage ripples - we had to cut slits and put glue under the veneer and clamp it to get it flat!

Most drawers needed strengthening and drawer supports needed repairs.

IT'S DONE!!!!

Wardrobe - from auction in Hill City, SD

It's in use now, as a fat quarter holder and quilt-cover-done in-process quilt holder.

the end

Monday, June 22, 2009

Baby BAMBI, Thumpers, Bluebird

Bambi and Blue Bird were here in early spring - before the snow went away.

June 22, 2009

I was riding the garden tractor around the fence line looking for fence post holes to fill, when I almost ran over this baby BAMBI hiding in the grass near the far west end of our property. The grass wasn't very tall, but the baby was hidden from view very well, except from above. I stopped just five or six feet from the critter. He didn't try to get up and run, but just layed still, except for an occasional ear wiggle.

Here in both photos - you are looking straight at the baby. But you can't see much until you get even closer. Click on the picture to see if you can see anything more.

Here's the baby fawn - not very old, but obeying his mom to stay laying down no matter what.

Kathie and her friend had time to come down from the house and take a look too!

We saw the mama deer later in the day nearby at the neighbor's house, but didn't see the baby with her. Kathie asked the other day - where do the baby deer go in the daytime - so here's one answer - they hide right under your nose!

Update: We talked to the neighbors later in the week - the neighbors saw a baby and mama deer lying down in their back yard the day before we found the fawn in the grass, so we assume this was the same fawn and was born in their back yard - so a very new baby indeed! We checked the area for the fawn the next morning and it was gone.

the end