Bridgeford Hardware

I will always remember the hardware store in my hometown, Greenwood Lake, N.Y. Despite the time of day, it always seemed like dusk inside and I can remember being fascinated by the uncountable bins filled with washers, nails, screws and other unnamed shiny metal things. On the hottest of summer days, the store emanated a mildly damp coolness that made walking the aisles a quiet treat and I don't remember ever complaining about it being my turn to run a hardware errand. 

That store is long gone, but in the DelSo we have Bridgeford Hardware, a throwback to those simpler times. Unlike the "big box" stores it is unnecessary to waste time searching for someone for assistance. Employees are readily available to help with practical suggestions and expert advice. Last week I finally decided to suck it up and replace the the screening in my sliding door to the deck. Now generally I'm not the worst person in the world in terms of home maintenance issues, but my hesitation was prompted by my experience the last time I replaced the screen a couple of years ago. On that particular day, the door was placed back on its slider and within an hour Cassidy Lilly (our family's sweet black lab) felt the need to open the door with her sharp claw creating a new puncture. A hole which naturally has been expanding ever since until it ultimately became an ad hoc doggie door. 

With the arrival of spring, and my desire to improve my homeowner maintenance capabilities, I called Bridgeford and asked what we could do to prevent another screen repair job from going awry. Was there plexiglass which could be screwed to the lower part of the door? Perhaps chicken wire (aesthetics are secondary to function in some instances) could be stapled over the screen to provide an extra layer of fortification from Cassidy's need to independently let herself out to the deck? It was explained that neither of these were an option as the plexiglass would crack when affixed by screws and chicken wire was not available. As an alternative, the patient man suggested using a flat sheet of metal, the type typically used when making covers for old school radiators. He did caution that they were expensive, probably close to $25, which would bring the cost of the repair up to about $50. I ended the call and considered my options. And then - I remembered that I already had one of those sheets of metal! I even knew where it was - bonus. I carried the door and the metal to my car and mere hours later, I was pleased to rehang the door that would let a breeze into my family room, yet keep the majority of pesky bugs out. 

Despite the additional labor and hardware involved with affixing the metal sheet, I wasn't charged anymore than the regular price for a screen repair of that size, $25. As for Cassidy, she hasn't even attempted to let herself out, so the solution has been a complete success. And my childhood love for hardware stores, like my sliding door's screen, remains intact.

Taking it apart

image: bluewaternc.com

Staying home this past week has done wonders for my inner peace. Truly.  I've eliminated a bunch of crap I no longer (ever?) needed and my house feels very peaceful.  And that's despite having a houseful of boys.  I'm ready to go back to work and dig in for the next couple of months and then, say goodbye to another academic year.  They go very fast, faster each year, picking up momentum along the way. 

At home, I've moved furniture and cable lines, shifted purposes and meanings of rooms. Things which I have planned to do eventually and someday have happened.  Accomplished.  I'm single, no longer with my soon-to-be-ex-husband-excuse for not moving forward.  It's time. Baby steps, but motion nonetheless.

Tasks sometimes appear as insurmountable because we're unwilling to live with the messiness of dismantling something.  Oh my God,  have you ever had home improvements done?  The ripping the kitchen apart, washing dishes in the bathtub and eating off the grill every night?  The dust and clutter and noise necessary to deconstruct and build are formidable.  There's that moment when you're untangling the wires for the umpteenth time and feeling overly confident about your ability to remember what plugs in where, when you wonder why you just couldn't have left well enough alone.  Why must you crave improvement?  

But, if you have a clear vision, maintain a gaze ahead at where you want to be, it happens. And it is satisfying and good and well worth the effort.  And the wait.  Putting it together, correctly and right, more than soothes the temporary devastation necessary for changes to be made. Not to mention the angst created by living a life always yearning for something better. 

Emptying out my closet

That's literal, friends.  I am achieving great satisfaction on my hands and knees, cleaning my closet.  I've wiped down the walls and the ceiling and the shelves, mopped the floor and am enjoying all the room an empty closet offers.  Room for pretty things, lovely things, belongings to enjoy.  Organizing handbags and shoes, and skirts by length.  Satisfying.

I've lived in my home avec children, sans man, for nearly a year now.  Cords and knobs that have been MIA for months and months, are finding their way to where they belong.  Small projects are slowly being addressed and accomplished.  I feel a bright, shining emptiness when I look around my space.  I feel myself putting things together, in their place, where I want them to be.  Empty doesn't always describe a negative thing. 

I weeded a large shopping bag of clothing out of my closet, so far.  Items I haven't worn in more than a year. things that no longer fit, stuff I merely tired of - all of it.  Going.  I was raised to love clothing - my mother is a magnificent seamstress and my childhood wardrobe was impressive.  I was taught to respect clothes and fabric and my clothing lasts for a long time.  I don't have as many occasions these days to wear overly dressy things - out with them!  I like the feeling that having less provokes for me.  Lightness.

Are there things I keep in my closet?  Personal, secret items?   Yes, absolutely. The most special to me are cards, letters, notes and photos.  I have a sentimental side that occasionally surfaces.  Case in point below, my oldest personal possession - Teddy.  He sits in a place of honor, on a shelf between two pairs of Doc Marten's and a jar of dried lavender.  And doesn't that array of items just about sum me up?  Edgy, sweet and romantic - DelSolo.

Where there's a Will...

Will

This is my friend, Will.  If you're an Albanian, chances are you've met him at some social event or another.  Or perhaps at a restaurant because he does enjoy dining out frequently.  Will is a realtor and the owner of a fabulously unique living space that was recently featured on All Over Albany.  If you're lucky, you've been the recipient of one of Will's spine-crushing hugs, inhaled his divine Jo Malone cologne and heard his uproarious laughter.  He's a great guy - generous, thoughtful, loyal and fun and I always enjoy spending time with him.  Even when things don't go as planned, as was the case this past winter when we skied Albany Muni together with a less than ideal outcome.  One of us will share that story with you someday.  The bottom line is this: I love me some Will!

Last Friday, Will came over for a glass of wine prior to our meeting a third friend for dinner.  As always, the conversation was lively as we caught each other up on our recent trips and talked about all the changes occurring in my life.  Little did I know that Will had some changes in mind for me, also, relating specifically to my living space. For those of you not familiar with my house, I'll describe it: typical Albany two flat property which has been tweaked.  The first floor unit is fairly standard with a living room, dining room, 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom.  Upstairs I have 2 floors of living space (thank you, zoning board) with the first of the floors containing a living room, office/playroom, bedroom, bathroom and an open kitchen/dining room.  The top floor for the last 12 years has been 2 additional bedrooms and a bathroom.  There have been numerous changes made over the past 15 years, with walls coming down and doorways opening up and I thought the space was fairly well arranged.  That is, until Will took a good, hard look around...

Will has been to my house on numerous occasions, but he must have been inspired by my new status as a solo homeowner that night.  He asked if it was okay for him to take a tour of the upstairs and within minutes he had mentally reconfigured my entire space, other than the kitchen, a bedroom and the bathrooms.  The ideas he shared were creative, logical and completely novel to me - it absolutely never would have occurred to me to utilize the space in the manner which Will came up with in all of 5 minutes.  I'm going to get me a new house!! 

I was so excited immediately by the prospects Will presented that night that, following our dinner, I moved the first of many pieces of furniture.  Saturday I shopped a bit for some items and continued moving furniture with the assistance of all three of the Lilly boys.  Geez, they're strong!  It must be the Meadowbrook Farms milk, we splurge on.  I'll post some pictures when the project is done (as if any homeowner project is ever completed!) but I'll tell you in advance that it will be very different.  Try to stay with me as  I describe the dramatic repurposing of the space...the current dining room (open to the kitchen) will be the new family room, the current living room will become my bedroom, the office is now the dining room and the second floor bedroom will be an office/guest room.  Lucky (as always) Griffin gets my large bedroom on the third floor and the boys will take over the upstairs bathroom (as well as the entire top floor of the house) and I will girlify the bathroom on the main floor.  You realize this is just a lot of moving around, right?  Which means not a lot of money, just some muscle.  Thank you, Will, for your vision and, most importantly, for your friendship.  You literally rocked my world!