Making a Small Dream Come True

New Thrift Store
 Mug 2024

 With specific items on my shopping list, I set out on a beautiful day determined to not give up and go home.

Concrete and a 4 inch by 4 inch post, spray paint, and clips. Simple things. I forgot to write down the aisles where the items are located. If you don't do that, then Home Depot can feel like walking through a magical forest of stuff. (I have to stay away from the power tools or else I might have a surge of compulsion to by one.) 

I found the concrete first. There were two young men loading a big dolly. I could tell from their lifting, the bags are heavy. At the concrete I want to buy, I try to lift the edge. Aloud I hear myself say, "No." I could have lifted it. The issue is that it is dead very heavy weight I was not up to dealing with. I walked away.

Second, I find the 4" x 4" post. Lifting it out of the shelf area, I learn it is also very heavy. Not concrete weight, but bulking heavy as in there's a danger of hitting myself on the side of the head awkward. Once again, I heard myself say, "No."

Down the aisle, I see an 8 foot pine stud, thick enough to hold the bracket for a hanging plant. The clerk cut 2 feet off (for it to fit my vehicle). 

I found the paint by accident.

I forgot the clips. 

The alternative to setting the stud* into concrete is adding wood to the bottom, place inside a large planter (or waste basket), and fill the planter with a bag of stone. The stud is spray painted white to match the white brackets. 

Why the bother? Well, for years every spring I dream of how I want my tiny deck to look. Every year, it doesn't happen for one reason or another. One summer of depression was so bad, I spent nearly all of it sitting on the sofa. This year's plan is very simple, and cheaply done with spray paint, plants, homemade wood patio table top, tarp sun shade, and a hanging plant pole.

I will post photos when it is all finished.

* None of the wood screws or nails I have (dozens) are long enough to go through 2 stud thicknesses. One side of the stud needs to be sanded. I ran out of white spray paint. Good part, the screw eye bokts fit.