Huybers Retirement Adventure: Projects!

I thought once you retire, you could sit back and relax … but that isn’t so. For some reason, once you retire you tend to find all sorts of projects that you have wanted to do for so long but never had the time to do them. This has been the case over the last couple of weeks for us.

Ron has done many a project since moving into this house. I really don’t think the man can sit still for even one day. He always manages to stay busy. I was feeling a little left out so I decided to do a project that I have been meaning to do for over ten years. I have a coffee table that I’ve had over 30 years. During the early years, when my children were small, the coffee table began to get scratches from cars being driven across it. It also had several bite marks on it either from the children or possibly it was the dog we had back then. Either way the legs were chewed extensively. I have always wanted to sand it down and stain it to restore it to what it was pre-children days.

I took the old coffee table out to the garage and got the sander. When I tipped the table over, I was surprised to see the name of my son written in crayon along with some “art work” on the underside of the table. I’m guessing this was done while laying on his back under the table. There was also a wad of chewing gum in the corner. I guess he got away with that one for the last 25 years or so. But really … when was the last time YOU looked underneath the coffee table?

I was very pleased at the way I was able to smooth out the bite marks and most of the imperfections of the table. I still have more to do, as well as staining it but that will come on raining days when it is best to work indoors rather than outdoors.

Another project we did, was making this home our home. When we bought this house it had pillars along the front of it with two sets of rails joining the pillars. The rails always bothered Ron because he would have to look over or under them while sitting on the front deck in order to see the water. He always wanted to take the rails off. The minute I said ok, I think it took him all of 5 minutes and they were gone. It really opened up the view we had. Then Ron said let’s take out the pillars too! I was hesitant about doing that but in a brief moment I said, “I guess”. Then I was on the phone with my mother when I heard the sound of a saw. By the time I got to the front door … the pillars were gone! I guess Ron wanted to hurry and get rid of the pillars before I changed my mind. I must admit though … it sure does make a difference. It really opened up the view we have.

With all the pillars gone I was concerned about the openness of the front deck. I wanted to put a planter on either side of the stairs so people would know where the stairs were and didn’t step off onto nowhere. So … another project was born. Ron said no problem. I will build you two planter boxes! And he did! I’m glad I married a terrific handyman.

Now those of you who have been following my blog know that this year I attempted to grow a garden. Yes, I made some mistakes, but I have learned for next year. I also found that the garden boxes that I had just weren’t big enough for what I wanted to plant. So my husband said, “I’ll build you a bigger garden box.” Yet another project! The garden boxes I had before were 4 ft x 4 ft. The garden box that Ron was building for me is 8 ft x 16 ft. Of course we picked the coldest day to put it together outside but we bundled up and got it done. In the Spring we will bring in a load of dirt to finish filling it up.

Not to waste the nice white garden boxes, I decided that I’d like to move them to the front of the house on both sides of the driveway and plant flowers in them. I have purchased some daffodils and crocus bulbs to put in them. I think I will also plant some daisies and marigolds come Spring as well to fill out the box. I think it will look nice as you approach the house to see pretty flowers to greet you. J

The last project I’d like to tell you about is one that Ron has been very anxious to get to. It’s putting up his ham radio tower. Yesterday he was out there digging a 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft deep hole to get it ready for cement. The one thing he really liked about this place when we bought it was the fact it was on a hill (good for ham radio) and that there was lots of property to put it up on. As he dug the hole he scooped the dirt into the cart and drove it over to where the flower boxes were by the driveway and filled them up again. The rest of the dirt went in the new garden box that Ron had built. You don’t realize how much dirt comes out of hole that size. It’s a lot! Tomorrow Ron will be putting in the rebar and mesh, and positioning the tower. Then the cement truck will come and fill it up. Once the cement is set, he will then start erecting the tower and attaching his antennas. It’s a project that he was wanted to do ever since we moved in. Now that it is finally getting done, he is one very happy camper.

In closing this post, I would like to give a very special thank you to my mother. Over the years, besides being the best mother a child could ever ask for, she has always been very generous when it comes to birthdays, Christmas etc. Through the years she has always given us practical gifts that we could use and appreciate. Every time Ron uses one of his power tools that she has given him, he always comments on how great it is to have these tools and how hard it would be to get these projects done without them. For my last birthday she gave me the two garden boxes so I could grow a garden. She told me that she didn’t think 2 boxes would be enough but I told her that two would be plenty. (When will I ever learn … my mother always knows best!). When I told her about building a bigger garden box she was quick to say she wanted to take care of that, right down to the nails we used. She is incredible.

So I would like to say … thank you mom! Without you we could not have done half the projects we would have liked to have done. Thank you for all your love and support over the years. You are the best mother in the world! We love you!