My grandfather used to tell his kids this:
Use it up, use it out
Make it do or do without
Well, my father-in-law, Al, lived by this decree. As I've said before, one of the downsides to buying this farm has been the loads of STUFF we've had to deal with.
Some of it makes for great blogging posts. I think the most intriguing to me is fence repair.
We life on almost 5 acres. There is a lot of fencing around the place. Dave's parents owned goats and they were tricky and smart. If there was a hole, they'd find it. However, instead of buying new fencing, Dave's dad would just make-do.
Got a hole? Repair it with a random oven rack that just happens to be laying around.
Have a larger hole? Just use an old bedframe that happens to be laying unused in the garage.
Need something tall and slender? Well, there might just be a random food cart stored in one of the sheds.
Running out of household items to use? Well, then snag one of those old cigarette carton dispensors. It makes for dandy and extremely attractive fence repair.
Yup. There is always something new and exciting to find along the fenceline. Most of it just causes me to shake my head and wonder....why.
this totally cracks me up. you could probably ebay half that stuff and make people very happy ;-)
Posted by: Jill | February 21, 2013 at 03:17 AM
Wow... just. wow. Love the cigarette machine - Haven't seen one of those in forever!
Posted by: Sayre | February 21, 2013 at 05:28 AM
I heard that saying: Use it up, Wear it out, make it do, or do without.
Although my own dad was not the one that said that ... he lived by it also. But I can't remember him having quite the creative uses as your FIL.
Posted by: Pamela | February 21, 2013 at 06:47 AM
Wow! We have goats too that get out, but my solution is my herding dog, Buddy, that I trained to round them up again! lol. Makes for fun photos, all those gadgets, though!
Posted by: Tracey from Haiku.You.Do | February 21, 2013 at 06:55 AM
Fun photos..recycling at it's best! That cart and the cigarette machine are most likely collectors items:)
Posted by: Far Side of Fifty | February 21, 2013 at 07:29 AM
looks like you have some work ccut out for yourself. its nice to see some of the few old school bloggers keeping up with their posting unlike so many of them who let their go.
Posted by: patrick brennan | March 03, 2013 at 01:02 AM
I absolutely see the benefit of being frugal this way! It may not be attractive, but it kept those items from filling up a landfill. :)
Posted by: Desert Songbird | March 20, 2013 at 09:31 PM
This is really cool i havent really seen fencing done like this. The fencing in calgary is pretty traditional. Thanks for the ideas im sure they will be a hit!
Posted by: Lance | March 21, 2013 at 04:38 PM
I think that these fencing vancouver services are so great. It really makes a home look so much better.
Posted by: Rod Lucas | March 28, 2013 at 04:39 PM