Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wow! A Couple of Junkin' Freebies Made All the Difference!


Aren't freebies the best kind of junk? . . .And I found two!
One is a three-step painters ladder--complete with shelf. . . .
The other is a chippy, weathered cypress plank from an old plantation barn.
I am more excited about these two finds than anything else I bought
at the thrift stores. . . .although thrifting was fine, too. . . .
Let me explain. . . .
 
For years I've looked for a bathtub tray so that I could reach my soap and toiletries easier.
Until now, I had to put soap, towel, and other goodies on a chair beside the tub.
This tub is so deep (but I love it) that I couldn't reach anything at floor level.
I wanted John to build a simple tray. . . .Nothing elaborate. . . .but he thought it
should be special wood, a special pattern and hours of time in the workshop. . . .
I never got one. . . .Other priorities came first. . . .I understood but it didn't help my dilemma.
 
Then one day as I cruised through Pinterest, I ran across a prim solution. The pin showed an old gray board directly from the barn placed across the tub. . .We have barns. . . .We have boards. . . .
but most are painted red or without paint at all. . . .I filed the idea in my mind for later.

 


I did a lot of junkin' this past weekend. . . .but my first and best find was along the road. . . .
I spotted the little ladder in a trash pile. . . .My heart began racing. . . .I pushed down on the gas pedal so I'd get to it before anyone else saw it. . . .Not a big problem since no one else was on the road. . . .But I was also running the risk that the owner might come back and realize his mistake and take it away. . . . I could tell it had just the right amount of chippy and gray for my bath. . . .I might not have to drag that chair to the tub anymore. . . .It was just the right height for towels, soap, whatever. . . .Boo would love it, too. . . .He loves climbing ladders, as you know.
 
In what seemed like hours--but was only seconds--I was reaching for the ladder. . . .fully expecting it to fall apart when I picked it up. . . .No. . . .Nothing broken. . . .Nothing to repair. . . .Could I be so lucky. . . .I kept glancing at the house. . . .No one appeared. . . .It WAS in a pile of trash. . . .OK. . . .They had their chance. . . .It was mine.
I'd like to think some painter trashed it because it had become a little wobbly. . . .
or he wanted a metal one. . . .or a taller one. . . .or he retired. . . .
I thought of all kinds of reasons why he'd thrown this gem away.
I'd hate to think a female threw it out!
Although, it's exactly something my Mom would have done.
She and I never saw eye to eye as to what was valuable. . . .(smile). . . .




Once back at the farm, I was showing John my prize when he said something about it looking a lot like the boards he'd brought home from the old Simmons Plantation--not far from our farm.
He helped demolish one of the barns there a year or so ago (?)
 and brought home some of the wood and tin. . . .I thought he had used all of it on a project.
He hadn't? Where was it?
He pointed me in the direction he last saw the left-overs and wished me luck.


I ended up in the big barn after checking out all the other buildings.
Have you ever had the fun of poking around in a big old barn?
It's a thrill. . . .The smell of the wood. . . .the nooks and crannies . . .the lofts and the bins. . . .the anticipation of the hunt.
It's like junkin' in your own back yard!
 
I didn't know what I'd do with the boards if I found them. . . .yet, the moment I spotted THIS chippy white board, the idea from Pinterest came back to mind. . . .hmmmmmm. . . . .
The right width. . . .The right length. . . .The right thickness. . . .The right amount of
peeling paint. . . .The right color. . . .What a winning pair my two finds would be together!




They both ended up at the tub. . . .John wanted to build a tray (that 'special' one) with the chippy wood. . . .I finally convinced him I didn't want a tray. . . .The board was all I needed. . . .It was perfect in it's imperfection. . . .He did nail a couple of pieces of wood on the underneath side to keep the board from shifting. . . .He said--and he was right--Boo would be the first to play on it and probably would knock everything to the floor. . . .I agreed. . . .but that was the only concession.



 
I love the imperfect, time-worn look that the 'washboard' and the ladder have brought to the bath. . . They are more than freebies. . . .I prefer to see them as gifts. . . .from some unknown painter 'friend'. . . .and from a part of Delta history. . . .I see no more appropriate place for them to end up. . . .They are both totally at home in our farmhouse bath.
 
 
I have a few other finds I want to show you. . . .but it will have to be another day. . . .Our weather has turned really nice. . .
Time to get out in the yard and see what I can do there.
Gardening anyone?
 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .

20 comments:

Down Blueberry Lane said...

Love your way of telling a story :-) My mom wouldn't have seen the value in that ladder either. ha ha Your bathroom looks so relaxing. Love the red roses they really stand out in this room.

Angie @ Knick of Time said...

My son made me a tub tray from an antique plank of chippy wood and I love it! Yours looks beautiful on your tub - enjoy!!

Heide at ApronHistory said...

Love it!

Unknown said...

Gifts indeed! This sure reminds me of the old saying "One Mans Trash Is Another Mans Treasur". Love how you chose to use them!!

Blessings!
~Sherri

Pamela Gordon said...

Cute little ladder! It looks sweet in the bathroom. Enjoy your bath time!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

You know, I wish my words of expression was bigger, because to say I love it, it is gorgeous, I want it...I have used so many times, but IT IS ALL TRUE!!

cynthia lee designs said...

Love the ladder and the tub board...both look awesome in your farmhouse bathroom!!
hugs,
Cindy

Junkchiccottage said...

Ohhhhhhh what beautiful treasures you got and repurposed so sweetly in that wonderful bathroom. My favorite room in your home. They are perfect and you brought in some history with your beautiful finds.
Love both of them. They truly are gifts.
Kris

Old Time Cindy said...

Lovin' that board for your bathroom! Farmhouse hugs, my friend!

JP said...

Now, I'm really missing my old cast iron tub...it's just so country romantic!
JP

Barbara Jean said...

very fun. love the way you used them!!

be blessed
barb

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Your finds are fantastic and wonderfully perfect for your bathroom! I love them both! I'm so glad you finally got what you wanted and needed to make a relaxing bath time complete! I picked up one of those little ladders a while back too - love it! I love the paint splotches and worn wood. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Leena

Audra @ Renewed Projects said...

I can totally picture this tub filled with bubbles and red rose petals. So lovely! Those were some awesome finds!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

That was a fun story and it all looks perfect !! :)

Romantic Country Living said...

Beautiful pictures! You made it look so lovely and relaxing. What a great idea for a tub tray!

Elisha said...

I always feel like those freebie finds are gifts from God, because He knows just how to excite my heart:) I too am going to make a tub board with a wide plank of raw barnwood....I think I will put some matte shellac on it though to keep critters from crawling out! maybe some rustic metal handles on top to move it with ease?! thanks for the idea to nail some wood on the bottom to stabilize it! Never would have thought of that! beautiful pics , beautiful bath room! you have wonderful talent

Donna Wilkes said...

Even though I am strictly a shower girl, I love this bath with the board and the ladder. I have ladder lust right now. Need a cold shower to calm me down before ransacking the shed for an old board.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Love that ladder! Love the whole space...so pretty!!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Dru: Long time no see! Don't ask me where the time goes but it does. Don't you just love taking a bath in those big, deep tubs? I, too, saw that board on Pinterest and thought, how cute. But I have one of those modern brass ones so that will do for now, until I can find just the right board, like you did. Love the ladder also. It all looks so pretty and charming..Happy Thursday..Judy

The Charm of Home said...

Oh, that is just perfect! Love your finds.
Sherry

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