Friday, June 5, 2009

The Door of Opportunity


Is that opportunity knocking?
The mail box is for storing gloves and clippers.
The black chalkboard is for drawing or messages.


A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the blight that co-mingled with the beauty in our back yard. I was especially concerned about the neighbor's air conditioning unit that thrust itself into the little kitchen garden tucked into the corner of our property.

The proposed solution was to mount an old door as a combined screen, garden element and catch-all for garden tools and gloves. Your response was overwhelmingly positive. (Well, except for one commenter who advised me to "get a life." Anyone who knows me is aware that I actually have the opposite problem - too much life, not enough time, but you never hear anyone snarking, "Get rid of some life.")

Yesterday, the handy man mounted the door and I'm thrilled with the results.




I like to have my morning coffee on these child-sized Adirondack chairs. If you have hips like a snake, then perhaps you can join me.


The door doesn't just hide the offending unit. I've hidden garden tools and surplus hay and straw behind the door.


I love this little stool that I picked up last week at the Fullerton Arboretum's Gift Shop. No nails and less than $20. (Sorry. It was the last one.)

And, speaking of opportunities, the "Blog of Note" designation has created a flurry of activity, including many new followers and lovely and interesting comments and emails. Thanks so much for reading this blog. I am humbled because many of you have such fascinating blogs; I will attempt to visit more in the next couple weeks.



37 comments:

Meeko Fabulous said...

I think it looks fabulous!

Anonymous said...

I want to see the first responder who claims hips like a snake.

This is just brilliant. Now I must have a door, dammit. Maybe PA can find something for me.

Joan said...

Wow! That is beautiful. What a great solution. You sure have an eye for what can be! I bet the door also helps muffle the noise from the unit, too.

Antonio said...

This is great!

Kalei's Best Friend said...

i am jealous of your veggies!. and yes I am a newbie here... you are one creative lady.

Anne said...

Ingenious way to solve a problem, and a great way to repurpose an old door! As for hips like snakes...not this gal!

Linda Dove said...

Those diminutive chairs and stool next to the lettuces remind me of Peter Rabbit...maybe some Bea Potter on the chalkboard?

Margaret said...

Love the chair! Brilliant idea! And -- ahem -- I do claim to have hips like snake, a snake who has just swallowed a deer.

lifewilder said...

I love Linda Dove's idea and I love your creative solution. "Get a life"? I think this is the life.

Gloria said...

Susan, it really looks great. My snake hips would love to join you for coffee sometime. And your lettuce looks delicious. There are hungry humans and goats over here who would love to trade for some. A head of romaine for a pint of fresh goats milk? Let me know!

Raven said...

Cool blog! You are very funny and your garden is beautiful!

Jean Spitzer said...

Your garden looks beautiful.... The door sounded like genius; it looks even better. You get the "making chicken salad out of chicken shit" award, for sure.

CrazyCris said...

Great solution to that offending AC unit!

I'm afraid my Mediterranean hips wouldn't fit in those chairs! :p

Anonymous said...

But where did you get the door? Back of the garage, off the street or down at that joint on Woodburry? It works and I'm salivating over the bamboo trellis. Have you ever seen japanese knots used for working with bamboo? I've collected a bunch of leather strips for the purpose of making something using japanese knots.

And that grape vine...ah.

Jessica said...

I love the door! Very inventive and intriguing to look at. Makes me want to sneak over and see what it beyond it. Very cool!

Stephanie said...

Great idea! It looks beautiful!

Susan C said...

Thanks for all the great comments, everyone. I especially enjoyed all the hip comments.

AH, That door has been taking up space in my garage for 12 years.

Joan, Strangely enough, I don't think that AC unit has ever been turned on.

Linda, I thought the same thing about Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit. I'll have to have an artistic friend come over.

Gloria, Come on over, fellow serpent!

Jean, "Making chicken salad out of chicken shit" - haven't heard that one. Like it.

PA, The door once divided the kitchen from the little mud room and has been in the garage for 12 years. You can pick up similar ones at salvage yards for as little as $30. That joint on Woodbury used to be a favorite salvage yard, but it's long gone.

I love Japanese knotting. I salivated over it on visits to Japan, but never see it executed here.

The lumber that supports the door is also salvaged. In an ironic twist of fate, I found them on my neighbor's curbside when I was delivering the "here's my plan letter." Turns out they were perfect for my little project. Ironic, huh?

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the door idea. Like the Secret Garden.

Sue G said...

Well, there you go...I have hips like a snake. Unfortunately, they are more like a boa constrictor after consuming a pack of wolves.

And, I think your life is full, rich, and wonderful. Apparently, your hips not quite as full.

Wendy said...

That big complainer was probably your neighbor. :)

I love that door, so cool! I want a door like that!

The Food Librarian said...

Great solution! It looks great and I love that stool!!

Eliane Zimmermann said...

what a FUNNY and useful and lovely looking idea! I love recycling of pretty old furniture and building stuff.

Mercy Langille said...

Very smart idea. And it adds to the setting nicely.

Salman said...

Wow superb keep it up

Regards
Salman
www.tips4blogging.co.cc for blogging tips and hacks.

Susan C said...

Sue and Wendy, You made me laugh!

FL, Eliane, Mercy and Salman, thanks for the nice feedback.

Anonymous said...

Woow i like.

Unknown said...

Looks great, Susan! Love the chairs and little stool, too (we have those at the store, btw, along with cute, cute 3 legged milking stools painted in bright colors, all antique). Anyway, this is a fabulous idea to cover an offensive instrusion into your garden and I've always loved interesting garden elements. We've got a very large empty picture frame as an element in ours. : >

Legiman said...

I think it looks funny. But I like the idea. Good!

Cheryl G. said...

Lovely garden! I love the creative solution of the chalk board door! Wow!

++MIRA++ said...

oh what a lovelygarden. i'm tryin to keep the squirels and rabbits away. any tips? my husband is ready to build a fortress around the tomatoe plants. knowing him he'll enclose the whole yard and we wont be able to get in lol.

Anonymous said...

awesome blog, I hope mine develops into a creative, intense & fabulous blog as yours has! love it :)
H.

Tony said...

You need to get rid of some life! ;)

j/k!

Actually I am completely enamored with the door; it's very charming (and multi-functional!).

Piper Robert said...

She's never turned on the AC?

I'll bet she said, "That AC has been taking up space in my garage for 12 years. I think I'll put it in that hole in the wall."

Karen ~Georgia Angel said...

What a very cool idea! You have a beautiful garden. Thanks for sharing. I found your blog through Blogs of Note!

http://www.TerpCreek.com said...

Great idea, it turned out wonderful. I love having coffee and tea on our front porch as I draw, but your garden would be a great place to hang out and draw. WOW www.terpcreek.com

BRUNO said...

molto belli come hobby.
Complimenti

Anonymous said...

The door looks great. Nice creative solution.