Fixing

Breakfast?

The photo has nothing to do with my post but Gracie made her own breakfast and offered to share it with me but a hummus, tomato and olive sandwich just didn't appeal.  I took a photo though because she likes to make all her food look pretty.

I've been in minor, new year clear out mode but major fix-it mode. When we returned home from California to hurricane force winds it was no surprise to find a window blown out of the old garage in the garden, on closer inspection I realized it's made of plexi-glass, not the real stuff. I got out my hammer and nails, removed the moulding that remained around the frame, manoeuvered the plexi back in then repaired the moulding. It wasn't hard to do, no wood cutting with fancy tools involved, just my hammer, a screw driver and a few nails.

Window fixed

The top of the roughly made fence which happens to hold up our Sky dish had also collapsed. I only discovered this after several non-TV days. Not really a problem, until my children eventually staged a revolt – I wasn't up to arguing with two jet-lagged kids coming down from Christmas holiday sugar high. That particular repair is temporary because I simply hammered the fence back together again with the help of children lifting the wooden rail up for me. 

I also repaired and hung the post box that the home owners just had stashed in the bushes at the entrance to the house. Don't know why this one took me so long to get around to.

Also, my Jakar electric pencil sharpener, which I LOVE, was also broken, due to a long drop to the stone floor when I was moving stuff around in my craft space. I got out my screw drivers, disassembled the pencil sharpener and had a good look around. I found the source of the problem, fixed it, plugged it in and realized, when it wouldn't work that there was another problem with it that I'd overlooked. After a gigantic sigh I opened it back up, found another potential problem, fixed it and it worked – this time I gave myself a pat on the back.

Clearly on a roll, I took apart Tristan's broken alarm clock (using my eyeglass repair kit) found potential problems, put it back together again and it worked, pat-pat.

Now the small space heater that I use daily during the winter needs a repair, I'm wondering if it's a step too far. Though when I took the hedge trimmer to have the cable replaced I thought "I could have done that." Of course fixing that wouldn't have been necessary had I not "trimmed" the cable along with a hedge.

And on the topic of tools, I fell head over heals for this site, I have my eye on far too many items there to list but first up would be a nice new knife for whittling and general gardening use. 

Speaking of fixing, forgot to mention I took Gracie to see Hugo over the Christmas break and we both loved it so much. I really recommend seeing it in the theatre if you still can.

Are you a fixer? If not, next time something breaks just open the broken thing up and have a look, you never know.

Fixing for me has also been of the mending variety, more on that later. Off now to "fix" a huge tear in my favourite but ageing, linen duvet cover.

Happy Monday to you,

Jx

Comments

[margie oomen]

first i would love to have gracie's artful breakfast to eat (just my sort of thing)
i think all the fixing you are doing is wonderful
i just wish everything could be repaired in such a mindful way.
I loved hugo also ( i adore those sort of family flicks )
In fact I have been watching quite a few on my daughters laptop while knitting up baby things, ( revisiting some of my old favorites with new eyes focusing on set and textiles)

[Cozy Memories]

well firsy of all, I want to congratulate you for fixing all that !!!!! way to go !!
then, well, I am a fixer in the theory, but I wish my dad (aka the D.I.Y.er of the family) had taught me a bunch of things before passing away. I need to learn, but who in my family would ? Noone, unfortunately, sigh.
oxox

[Lisa J]

Good for you! It feels good, doesn't it? I think deep down we all know we can fix things, but when we go on and do it, it feels great. May dad is a believer in the diyds approach...that is, the do-it-your-damn-self school of thought, and while I didn't get loads of training of how to build and fix things I was given permission to try. I'm so thankful for that.

And Gracie, you make the coolest looking sandwiches. I just made bagels, so you should all come and visit me and we'll make fancy sandwiches together.

[Nanou]

Yeppee for Gracie the happy cook and big congratulations to you, Nini, my favorite fix-girl, you really impress me !!!

[tara]

Sadly, I am not a fixer but kind of wish I was. I am contemplating hanging some pictures by myself though. See, told you, I wasn't a handy fixer person. I think it's because I am afraid of the tools. I've got to get over that.

[pam]

I am impressed! Amazed! Envious!

I think Tara is right - it is mostly about fear. Get over that one and anything is possible! I really need to work on that one.

YOU are my hero!

[Patricia]

Ugh, I just left a comment but forgot to do the verification part!! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am completely impressed with your list of accomplishments. I am inspired to remove the electric pencil sharpener I just tossed in the trash can and try to fix it. I tried to fix the refrigerator last summer and lost, though the repairman had already failed twice, and at least I got the freezer compartment to hold a steady freezing temp! It gave us a few months before we replaced it. :)