When One Door Closes....

When one door closes, another one opens. 

Isn't that a great title for New Year's Eve?    2017 is on its way out (thank goodness) and 2018 is on its way in.

Also...I'm taking it a bit literally today.

A couple of nights ago I saw an old door advertised on Salida Swap which is basically a local Craig's List. It had a window, peeling paint and measurements that sounded close to my shed door opening. Carlos and I braved the cold and wind and dark to go out and measure and yep! Close enough.

Now normally I wouldn't say "close enough" is a positive thing for doors and door openings but in this case, it was ok. There was a door on the shed already- or remains of a door- and it didn't fit the opening. There really weren't door jambs or a threshold soooo.....close enough was about as good as I could get. Besides, the shed leans. Nothing is level. I wasn't looking for perfection, just a way to keep the bears from shacking up inside.

The old door in all its glory. 

It was an INTERIOR hollow door. 

WHY would someone put this on an outdoor shed? 

The hinges were NAILED on. 

I didn't even know what I was doing and did a better job than this.

Twenty bucks later I had a door.

This morning was unseasonably warm so I headed out to hang that new/old door.  Getting the old door off wasn't too big of a problem since there was only one hinge left holding it on. I broke that one hinge  and ended up taking the hammer and pliers to the remains to get them off.

What was the thinking behind this hinge application???

Looks like this door may have actually hung inside somewhere and is now upside down. 

Or maybe there is just a little door sign holder nailed on the bottom for fun. 

Then I discovered I was incapable of simultaneously holding the door in place and measuring/applying the hinges.

But!  I have a great neighbor behind me and I gave her a call. Beverly came over with gloves and a latch and lots of enthusiasm. She also brought a bit of knowledge with her... thank goodness. I was clueless.

Beverly hiding a bit from the camera. 

Could NOT have gotten the door hung without two extra hands. 

We started with the middle hinge. Realized it was scraping at the bottom because of the slant of the shed. Moved the middle hinge up. And guess what? From there it was smooth sailing.   (Except I kept dropping the screws so there were a few runs into the house, down into the basement, a grab for more screws, and then back out to the front. Details.)

Beverly's latch wouldn't work but I'm sure a nice hook and eye will keep things closed. For now the door is being held closed by the same thing that has kept it closed for the last eight years: a dented bucket full of concrete.

And best of all? From the house, the shed looks so much friendlier with that once-painted white door with the window.

The newly hung door.

Ignore the gap at the bottom. 

And the top.

Also ignore the concrete bucket closure.

THAT will be fixed. 

So...out with the old and peeling and falling apart and no longer useful door and in with the sturdier, friendlier, and more transparent door.

And out with the old year full of way too many changes and challenges and in with a year that hopefully will be joyful and stable.
(A recap of some of the highs and lows of last year here, and here, and here and here and especially here. If you need the reason I write this blog, click here.)

I'm willing to allow myself plenty of "close enoughs' this year as long as things work and make me happy.

And hopefully 2018 will bring joy and security to us all.
Not just my shed.

••••••••••••••

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all...


It's been a week here at the cabin. 

A week of failed plumbing, furniture moving, snow, wind and more furniture moving. 

I've done some baking. Banana bread that was unsuccessful.  Cookies that were yummy.  A batch of refried beans for Christmas lunch and the freezer. 

Tonight my middle chica and her friend arrive. We'll go to a party in town. 
Tomorrow hopefully Santa will come. 
In between I will read "The Night before Christmas" to anyone who will listen.

Wishing all of you a joyous Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, free of plumbing issues and wandering furniture.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

all around the cabin.  O wait. That isn't how the song goes? 

Well, it is here.

A little Christmas tour for you.

We have no snow. It has snowed twice this season, weeks ago, and there is zero snow on the ground. Last weekend I was outside in short sleeves working in the yard. The house I left in Texas has had more snow in December than I have had here in Colorado.

But while it may not feel like Christmas outside, it still looks like it inside.

There are Christmas trees:

Tall and narrow covered with cabin-y ornaments and icicles.

Flat and metal. 

I love this milagro tree. 

It stays up year round some years. 

But at Christmas it has the glass ornaments added on.

And nativity scenes:

 The three kids painted this one 16 years ago. 

(Making them 8, 4 and 2!)

It's my favorite. 

Love the evil angel with red eyes and the little green monster. 

And this one from my mama and Mexico.

While I was trimming wood for the outdoor fireplace I cut 

a few rounds for display. 

I really need a band saw. I miss having one. 

The three wise men are celebrating in front of the empty libation bottles. 

Aren't these guys great? 

There are Santas from my childhood:

This big Santa was made by my aunt when I was about 8 years old. 

Amazed he's still around four houses and 50+ years later.

The Santa bank on the shelf is just about as old. 

As is the the book next to him. 

Goodness, I gave away/sold a gazillion books but there are some I just couldn't part with.

The kids' books were the hardest. There's another large bookshelf's worth upstairs. 

And yes, those are my high school yearbooks in the middle. 

Another Santa from my childhood, against 

one of the kid Christmas books and 

some Mexican pottery, literature and brass. 

My life in a nutshell.
Bookshelves can tell you a lot about a person, don't you think?

A reindeer pillow resting on my most favorite purchase this year. 

Bought that leather chair for $30 and a store credit at the consignment store. 

(And many thanks to my sister in law for keeping me supplied with fabulous winter pillows!)

Hoping I can keep the fern alive through the winter. 

The dry heat isn't that good for it. 

Isn't this a cozy scene?  Fire in the pellet stove. Hallmark Christmas movie on the TV. "Naughty" stockings hanging by the door. And another one of those great needlepointed pillows on the big comfy chair.

This is where you'll find me most nights. 

(Those windows are getting replaced sometime soon.

And curtains. There will be curtains.)

Even the outdoors is trying. No snow but a little greenery.

Kaiser, the bear, tries to hold onto his greenery. 

The deer keep coming up on the porch and pulling it out of his hands.

Fish and deer sporting greenery and ornaments 

on the side porch. 

(Ignore the fact that the wall needs painting. 

This Spring...)

Even the cow's skull over the front dooor is trying to get into the spirit.

There were even cookies baking. Except while they were cooling on the  counter, someone decided to eat some. Actually, lots of them. So I'll have to bake some more. 

(Not mentioning names but C-A-R-L-O-S comes to mind....)

This was two full cooling trays of cookies. 

Bad dog. 

Hope you are also enjoying the holidays and are surrounded by love and the spirit of the season.