Hip, hip hooray :-)

 

Thank you all for your comments about the clothesline project. Your thoughts on using quickcrete, had me going to you tube to see what I could find about that.  Easy enough, but I didn’t really want to lug a couple of bags of concrete from HD, out of the van, over to the pre-dug holes. This whole idea was becoming a downer and had me thinking of just buying another cheapie clothesline. 

After I got home from church this morning and had a little lunch, I thought there has got to be a way for me to still use this clothesline. The lines were still in great shape, it’s just the arms that broke.  I went out and looked at it closely, and thought ah-ha, I can use pvc pipe. (This was Mark’s way of thinking, how to fix something with something we’ve got laying around here in our stash of ‘junk’.)

Here it is minus the cross pieces that connect to the center and to the other downward pieces.

A closer look at the connection pieces on the center pipe, and you can also see rusty holes on the other pipes for connecting the other end.

I looked at one piece of pvc pipe, two small, another one was too big, then I found a nice long piece, 1/2”, perfect!  I thought of nuts and bolts. I was getting excited. 

I set up two saw horses, laid the clothesline on it, went to the workshop for a hacksaw, cut the aluminum rivets, and I was half way there. I was grinning from ear to ear hoping my idea was going to work.

I then measured the old pipes. Cut pvc, used a vise in the shop to put each piece into to drill holes at each end. This was a big deal to me, drilling holes.  It took me awhile to find the bolts that would work, because dear Mark had little bins of them and I had to look to find the right size, but eventually I found 4 short ones and 4 longer ones, then had to find nuts to fit.

Here’s my length of pvc. Real exciting huh?

Below is one of my favorite all time tools.  It cuts pvc like it was butter.

More tools. For the project.

Here it is all done.  The only thing is, it won’t fold up, and I don’t know what the hitch is, but I never folded it up anyway. I can ask my brother in law when he comes back down to work on plumbing.

Had to find 4 bolts long enough to go through both things.

This is the center connection.

When I got done, I could hear Mark saying ‘Atta-Girl’, you did it. (‘Atta-girl’ was something he would say to me over different accomplishments and it always made me feel good.) I was so happy and proud of myself for thinking of a way to do this project with materials laying around. I didn’t have to spend a dime, just some time. I even got out some spray lubricant for aluminum and sprayed the pipe that goes up inside the pipe of clothesline.

I am so thankful for having been married to my guy who could do almost anything he wanted.  He loved creating and working with his hands, was that way from the time he was a boy. He loved recycling, repurposing and restoring things. I loved working with him, I miss working with him.  What a treat to be able to take care of this problem, with knowledge learned from working with him all of those years.

I’m so thrilled with my day’s relaxing, fun, and successful project that I’m going to make tacos and fix myself a margarita to celebrate. I turned on the water to the house, and the hot water heater.  Then I can wash dishes and take a nice hot shower before turning the water off again for the night. 

My word for this year is ‘conqueror’, to be victorious, and that’s what happened with this project.  I thank God for being with me and helping me and for my dear Mark and the life and love that we shared. I gained some confidence today and that’s wonderful.

A lot of times if we just wait a bit, solutions will come to us.  I’m glad I didn’t go out and buy another clothesline like I was going to, and that was because I had a flat tire.  I’m glad I didn’t rush out and buy bags of quickcrete, before the holes even got dug.  I’m glad I didn’t dig the holes. What a LOT of work all that would have been.  This was much calmer and nicer. Now I look forward to the next load of laundry to be washed and hung out.

Have a great week.

FlowerLady

P.S. Here’s something that happened after work yesterday.  Something that took me out of my ‘comfort zone’. (Widow’s are supposed to do things that take them out of this zone, to broaden their horizons and make them less afraid and vulnerable.)

My friends who have the shop next door to where I work asked me and another lady who does restoration work for them and my boss, to go out to dinner to a Thai restaurant they had just found. I had to think about this, because I don’t go out at night, and would be driving home in the dark, about a 30 minute drive. I decided ‘yes’ I can do this, God is my strength, and He will be with me as I drive home in the dark.

We had a great time and the food was fantastic!  The ambience of the place was really nice. I had a green curried chicken with vegetables, which were asparagus, green beans, avocado, red and green bell peppers and celery, served over Jasmine rice.  It was a number ‘3’ out of a possible ‘5’ in the hot category.  I’ve got enough for two more meals and am looking forward to that. I also had a glass of chardonnay.

I made it home and all was well when I got here. They called me to make sure I got home ok. I was getting read to get in touch with them as I had just gotten here and changed clothes. I slept good last night and woke up rested.

That’s it for now ~ FL