tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994539151271825612024-03-12T23:23:42.171-04:00Uncle AtomGet your Mad Men on & party like it's 1959! A place to appreciate all things mid-century and atomic.Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-9424395636366092502018-08-08T17:01:00.002-04:002018-08-08T17:01:34.730-04:00After 13 Years We’re Selling This HomeHello Friends,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aYKSRls_x7AuVJGRmAN2gAEJ4i0ZjVF6XnzlOJ-qX6x_UaNoV81HhQsv6cL3DTRf6ahiK_U2yVyXrJtxPDv8XQoUWFaqlfsz6LwMY6vFKGYK7HiTU527B9-bzJ1xvvg1yvAuwmGlFY0c/s1600/IMG_0272.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aYKSRls_x7AuVJGRmAN2gAEJ4i0ZjVF6XnzlOJ-qX6x_UaNoV81HhQsv6cL3DTRf6ahiK_U2yVyXrJtxPDv8XQoUWFaqlfsz6LwMY6vFKGYK7HiTU527B9-bzJ1xvvg1yvAuwmGlFY0c/s400/IMG_0272.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Long time no post, but I thought, since we have just put our house on the market, I would let those who still follow Uncle Atom know.<br />
<br />
With our daughter all grown up and my recent retirement, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I decided to relocate to southwest Virginia, about three and a half hours from Uncle Atom Central in Annandale, Virginia, notoriously known as "inside the Beltway."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxXvtE7yCuEB_jg5p9E6FpLaOF6d8qDREqN47lN9a1Zmkd-pUtcHGoTg6uubvBXeWITpGK6Cr7EOCj6awZMtOy9Nmz2DdHUxGEIQN55tB_zJth8JXh7j1nYtWG9gJdx0rq7-DUqfVMqb0/s1600/IMG_0298.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxXvtE7yCuEB_jg5p9E6FpLaOF6d8qDREqN47lN9a1Zmkd-pUtcHGoTg6uubvBXeWITpGK6Cr7EOCj6awZMtOy9Nmz2DdHUxGEIQN55tB_zJth8JXh7j1nYtWG9gJdx0rq7-DUqfVMqb0/s400/IMG_0298.PNG" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
We've been renting a home in Roanoke, VA, with its own mid century touches...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2xXOEBmRGV5W-v4LJltC16_6EjG5incGgBNQeTtuFW_L4_5QTIc9twFIjuf6ajTwWQMeJLRiuepvI-S41cblnXGcLQMhWDaYG0fWEeU9GbN85yrSUabg4mF343RducJIl6pF7MuboLc1/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2xXOEBmRGV5W-v4LJltC16_6EjG5incGgBNQeTtuFW_L4_5QTIc9twFIjuf6ajTwWQMeJLRiuepvI-S41cblnXGcLQMhWDaYG0fWEeU9GbN85yrSUabg4mF343RducJIl6pF7MuboLc1/s320/IMG_0852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
(I've <a href="https://www.instagram.com/uncleatom/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagrammed</a> [is that a verb?] a few photos from that house, but mainly I've been spending a ton of time moving stuff and getting work done on the Uncle Atom crib to get it ready for sale. The time finally came, and it recently went on the market. Here's the <a href="https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/4026-Downing-St,-Annandale,-VA-22003_rb/?fromHomePage=true&shouldFireSellPageImplicitClaimGA=false&fromHomePageTab=buy" target="_blank">Zillow link</a>.<br />
<br />
I am hoping to continue this blog once the dust settles (I've got an antique mall space now, and four project cars, along with a ton of stuff I want to do, so no shortage of work to do and topics to blog about, just no time).<br />
<br />
I am hoping someone will fall in love with this house as we did, and as a bonus, they also get a <a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2017/01/mid-century-cat-supersized.html" target="_blank">12-foot cat!</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-72484523919078735562017-08-26T16:58:00.000-04:002017-08-26T16:58:14.922-04:00Hijacked by Photobucket - photos may go awayHi all,<br />
<br />
If you are active in one or more online forums, you may have noticed that a once-popular photo hosting service, Photobucket, has changed their terms of service and is no longer allowing free accounts to have photos appear on third party sites.<br />
<br />
Most of the photos associated with this blog are hosted at Photobucket. From what I can see, the blog has been unaffected by the Photobucket change, but I"m anticipating that this could change soon.<br />
<br />
I have made numerous attempts to download the album where I have the Uncle Atom images, but I have not been able to download photos in batches, and I don't have the time to download them one at a time.<br />
<br />
So, if you have a particular blog post you may want to refer to, you may want to save it. I do not intend to pay the high rate Photobucket has begun charging, so, I'm expecting that nearly all of this blog's photos will become unavailable soon.Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13459092904516106106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-10047682424601288662017-01-30T15:24:00.001-05:002017-01-30T15:24:42.135-05:00Mid Century Cat - Supersized!Hola Amigos, it's been a long time since I last rapped at ya. Earlier this year, we had some trees removed in our front yard (they were too close to the house), and I asked the tree man to leave about a 12-foot stump from the red oak outside our living room window.<br />
<br />
At our fall block party, the neighbors were quizzing us about the stump...it had some newly sprouting branches with leaves and wasn't exactly a pretty sight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IL3ExdUh0cj7X9V7lFbnuyJeZIL_J6DzxZUBXdlslZsKCRNVVXAFpOs_PUanN2yyIzWef2bzMJEu165D4IVr530qLBzm_MTAhVW1gyFDnYWL_FImfBPZyJxxpRi9SNKqMLVXVb34LNtp/s1600/IMG_8071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IL3ExdUh0cj7X9V7lFbnuyJeZIL_J6DzxZUBXdlslZsKCRNVVXAFpOs_PUanN2yyIzWef2bzMJEu165D4IVr530qLBzm_MTAhVW1gyFDnYWL_FImfBPZyJxxpRi9SNKqMLVXVb34LNtp/s320/IMG_8071.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ernest T provides some scale to the tree stump</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had visions of carving something like <a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/search/label/stump" target="_blank">Maynard</a>...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTEV1yjSpU0pdaVxr9O410rkLyRZB1IwX_FN9xh6MxcVYloeLuMm71GOiiXGNWDSHiXx32UUmJL-mpi6FBWY_zM0tuCOEcNiZjGwo75t1AmgVXdYyYit-VBsXznt4VTpJoYj3rd8HecWO/s1600/B5BB5D39-A199-40E4-99AF-C068CBB47D75.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTEV1yjSpU0pdaVxr9O410rkLyRZB1IwX_FN9xh6MxcVYloeLuMm71GOiiXGNWDSHiXx32UUmJL-mpi6FBWY_zM0tuCOEcNiZjGwo75t1AmgVXdYyYit-VBsXznt4VTpJoYj3rd8HecWO/s320/B5BB5D39-A199-40E4-99AF-C068CBB47D75.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maynard in the prime of his life</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But honestly, with this stump very visible from the street, I didn't want something that wasn't really nice. And to get something nice you either work very slowly and carefully, or pay to have it done. Luckily, my wife knew of a former co-worker's son who does chainsaw carving professionally. I interviewed Andrew and looked over photos of his work on <a href="http://www.amsculptures.com/" target="_blank">his website</a>, and we decided to have him do the work. <br />
<br />
I thought a lot about what I wanted and what would appeal to more people than another tiki-oriented sculpture and it became obvious that the answer was a stylized cat. Very mid century. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaZ1mNEA09pwECL4FxLqL4enBLb76sqzX9-LMDMW3HT2Ig7t0RddL62wVml5UoKJx6l1XHQQHbl2apsNIY_qploIqlnurVI7ztVMW5Haa4Ib7I4jMXxt_ZVROQDgBIeIRQSE008KLM9H2/s1600/IMG_3450.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaZ1mNEA09pwECL4FxLqL4enBLb76sqzX9-LMDMW3HT2Ig7t0RddL62wVml5UoKJx6l1XHQQHbl2apsNIY_qploIqlnurVI7ztVMW5Haa4Ib7I4jMXxt_ZVROQDgBIeIRQSE008KLM9H2/s320/IMG_3450.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOk4sYGh4RVHLT6HK35IsTcXTJMV9En38zTgDU-sn-xcHrD52dodpItTxkmQXTnnz8ojDSNz1y2A5g_IfneVXay4fp3G-_50uAuXKh2D4Vl0XWXwHueEcYyRN7lhvPesoNYZJqKMBsO7vs/s1600/IMG_3452.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOk4sYGh4RVHLT6HK35IsTcXTJMV9En38zTgDU-sn-xcHrD52dodpItTxkmQXTnnz8ojDSNz1y2A5g_IfneVXay4fp3G-_50uAuXKh2D4Vl0XWXwHueEcYyRN7lhvPesoNYZJqKMBsO7vs/s320/IMG_3452.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I shared some photos of stylized cats I had found and together Andrew and I fine-tuned his sketches and agreed on the look.<br />
<br />
So one thing led to another, and here it is --<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc32KYDotpOUIjOGGrw0AbxrvxAkR_b90rcX5Q2LCOZbgK2igDHkV-R4P5ZNsj61imRaVRK2CGoDTZD8hJtNA-pJCA1RqcRALUKrW8AUwJKgtXVB7W95xqfBwzOwSjWPc4dqPEo_lyf6f/s1600/IMG_8071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc32KYDotpOUIjOGGrw0AbxrvxAkR_b90rcX5Q2LCOZbgK2igDHkV-R4P5ZNsj61imRaVRK2CGoDTZD8hJtNA-pJCA1RqcRALUKrW8AUwJKgtXVB7W95xqfBwzOwSjWPc4dqPEo_lyf6f/s320/IMG_8071.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ernest T gives some scale to the size of the stump</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5cP63btJ3M5WyJdgTZq-vaI3XyWxO62_fiR2gcu1xvBqQdE-lIFaInZFAn5YnojBm1TRgEqrXS85K3xDTlusV1I1Q52RyfhEu0ckPe9jNJyNlzpZFW2YjtcBAUxvhZ3YMYYXPHW1tjnn/s1600/IMG_5164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5cP63btJ3M5WyJdgTZq-vaI3XyWxO62_fiR2gcu1xvBqQdE-lIFaInZFAn5YnojBm1TRgEqrXS85K3xDTlusV1I1Q52RyfhEu0ckPe9jNJyNlzpZFW2YjtcBAUxvhZ3YMYYXPHW1tjnn/s320/IMG_5164.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrje52w35xd0lGy6tO3vaJlFiDAPTL1TAxSV1Gf80RMBO-q9vSeZtDkLYYFeoL-fvNvXd2Cd04iZ5fq2CJt57D7n_xUeIw3RngqXcotTLy8RsTUxrjHCKIm6oiUV6pCrh9WrTCyrpq6_CS/s1600/IMG_5165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrje52w35xd0lGy6tO3vaJlFiDAPTL1TAxSV1Gf80RMBO-q9vSeZtDkLYYFeoL-fvNvXd2Cd04iZ5fq2CJt57D7n_xUeIw3RngqXcotTLy8RsTUxrjHCKIm6oiUV6pCrh9WrTCyrpq6_CS/s320/IMG_5165.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq37m2H0eI7Qru0FBSszTANKJutUPJSaEqVOw6VpPgeK-Qk7A0-9B7-mFNTIH7Gj2Umy9-S1gHjkXWTP5qNgWMIvLKwhyphenhyphenQslU6kZU2t5jIabShoPMKjFfrDtZ7dyPLqU9XGnxTf2Ocetq/s1600/IMG_9239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq37m2H0eI7Qru0FBSszTANKJutUPJSaEqVOw6VpPgeK-Qk7A0-9B7-mFNTIH7Gj2Umy9-S1gHjkXWTP5qNgWMIvLKwhyphenhyphenQslU6kZU2t5jIabShoPMKjFfrDtZ7dyPLqU9XGnxTf2Ocetq/s320/IMG_9239.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These shots are from day one</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgyVZCLADTaesGYsqcM5vrGUXvKUuG0rdZCuAw9kNi7UD77wFcG0Krg7U24MF11cRUlcrnqkcl9x7B-XPix2Sa-E_ZlNtkjeSF1swPdhA4HxbT-8ThXAi3OqLoq0f1pqG5XvimYs8QjsK/s1600/IMG_3514.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgyVZCLADTaesGYsqcM5vrGUXvKUuG0rdZCuAw9kNi7UD77wFcG0Krg7U24MF11cRUlcrnqkcl9x7B-XPix2Sa-E_ZlNtkjeSF1swPdhA4HxbT-8ThXAi3OqLoq0f1pqG5XvimYs8QjsK/s320/IMG_3514.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57SbsvLpb6EUUGRxdju3CZX0j02fogkudv18YkF2uaFDBUMLUJsF1L-LTkFxOpljN3tBkdso1j48UuQpVNmj_NX84lF13W9s1gGKbBVGO3QoXZeHTJLDERaTmDPLklIz30YsDvOzgZDoF/s1600/IMG_3513.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57SbsvLpb6EUUGRxdju3CZX0j02fogkudv18YkF2uaFDBUMLUJsF1L-LTkFxOpljN3tBkdso1j48UuQpVNmj_NX84lF13W9s1gGKbBVGO3QoXZeHTJLDERaTmDPLklIz30YsDvOzgZDoF/s320/IMG_3513.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtV-fMUuK0XQzYo5Z90h7cPWAcQpKRptEP7qwsX5G-c-qjj95VZjIrUxqi11bHthld6KcCfOPgoWFDq1tbJ2Q4GcUVtElt8lSBEsbx7tFTBUupsMGHC7i632PeCSH7zU_Z61jS6uRRgCH/s1600/IMG_9263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtV-fMUuK0XQzYo5Z90h7cPWAcQpKRptEP7qwsX5G-c-qjj95VZjIrUxqi11bHthld6KcCfOPgoWFDq1tbJ2Q4GcUVtElt8lSBEsbx7tFTBUupsMGHC7i632PeCSH7zU_Z61jS6uRRgCH/s320/IMG_9263.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After two days work in windy, cold weather</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9SbqdR_25axmfnFRZkrAm_vuodSdW-whHGhHbDitvak4Sy4urNFmJcjw_2gy-SUSX_gG0ViPTHd9M9nQUKO1n5vZvA_Gu2YwV92adh7uXuFrYhYQ7sGWtnq2iNNNYc43BAC5sIeCU53i/s1600/IMG_9267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9SbqdR_25axmfnFRZkrAm_vuodSdW-whHGhHbDitvak4Sy4urNFmJcjw_2gy-SUSX_gG0ViPTHd9M9nQUKO1n5vZvA_Gu2YwV92adh7uXuFrYhYQ7sGWtnq2iNNNYc43BAC5sIeCU53i/s320/IMG_9267.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bvJPCMgxNx9gAa7uXhrR0cxSJHN8a3FpXuzLeLoci6tnQRZMlKywoZl73W5OnWgeLKatowFM7RYG5Q431BrsDaxqwzeqIxls-EwnGvEZIj29JGVW95L8KZzIs1jQQOyrw_3yvED-5sNb/s1600/IMG_9268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bvJPCMgxNx9gAa7uXhrR0cxSJHN8a3FpXuzLeLoci6tnQRZMlKywoZl73W5OnWgeLKatowFM7RYG5Q431BrsDaxqwzeqIxls-EwnGvEZIj29JGVW95L8KZzIs1jQQOyrw_3yvED-5sNb/s320/IMG_9268.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rxI6Nt7t4qXIWZuHPkNhJp44skeldpFfxe_48H0rWd5I9IguY5tliYnYU7XW6uzxzTpHPc15c4BtUl5Pi9xOD3tIiyNr79U8lqf1n_vYVl98uSH8OOKQ8OUcJ6y6utETBwjMIofWfjUF/s1600/IMG_9266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rxI6Nt7t4qXIWZuHPkNhJp44skeldpFfxe_48H0rWd5I9IguY5tliYnYU7XW6uzxzTpHPc15c4BtUl5Pi9xOD3tIiyNr79U8lqf1n_vYVl98uSH8OOKQ8OUcJ6y6utETBwjMIofWfjUF/s320/IMG_9266.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38FVDYK2ctsAck2tK6urg8ea0WWWFu1Hr5Y-dOblSNDxQPui_ycDzRxK8fHHn-eCtQ9GJqSKnVJ-xUYZIL8oR53dBVcti4HgUBE00UDLobR_tSWRHq1Mfgqxf_sMSfWsE2PSqhOH9c2N/s1600/IMG_9264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38FVDYK2ctsAck2tK6urg8ea0WWWFu1Hr5Y-dOblSNDxQPui_ycDzRxK8fHHn-eCtQ9GJqSKnVJ-xUYZIL8oR53dBVcti4HgUBE00UDLobR_tSWRHq1Mfgqxf_sMSfWsE2PSqhOH9c2N/s320/IMG_9264.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Artist Andrew Mallon poses with the finished cat</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We are thrilled with how it turned out. An added bonus is that while the speed bump in front of our house is not very effective in slowing traffic, the cat seems to be working pretty well!<br />
<br />
We haven't settled on a name, but I keep coming back to 'That Darn Cat' from the 1965 Disney movie of the same name. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWZjYTFkNjQtYTcxNS00MTFlLTkxZGQtMTQxN2RkZTAwMDY2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzk3NTUwOQ@@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWZjYTFkNjQtYTcxNS00MTFlLTkxZGQtMTQxN2RkZTAwMDY2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzk3NTUwOQ@@._V1_.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I haven't seen this film in decades, but a little online searching pulled up an original movie poster and a detail - in the movie the Darn Cat had the shortened name DC. And since we live outside of DC, it seems like a good match. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-13867879766800661732016-01-03T11:48:00.001-05:002016-01-03T11:48:50.049-05:00Old Office Chair Gets a New Suit of LeatherThis office chair was my first furniture purchase at an auction more than 20 years ago. I used it for years as is, and when the vinyl was too torn up, I used an automotive seat cover on it. I've been putting off working on it forever, but I finally tackled it recently, and I'm pretty happy with the results.<br />
<br />
Here's what it looked like when I started. The vinyl was torn and had a very sticky coating all over it. Pretty gross.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/BD984E87-9B54-4D78-A44F-B7CD660D9085_zpsstpzjzxx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/BD984E87-9B54-4D78-A44F-B7CD660D9085_zpsstpzjzxx.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/72DF17DA-1A5B-43C1-86FC-D056608289B3_zpspdmmedgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/72DF17DA-1A5B-43C1-86FC-D056608289B3_zpspdmmedgc.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/057C83BB-DA08-4976-A9AD-9111688B35D1_zps5dpw7fiq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/057C83BB-DA08-4976-A9AD-9111688B35D1_zps5dpw7fiq.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
It also had a lot of tacks, and a ton of staples which all had to come out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/46B7930A-5D9C-4B43-90EB-DCC132EC9E94_zpsbgycr2nt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/46B7930A-5D9C-4B43-90EB-DCC132EC9E94_zpsbgycr2nt.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/62DB123B-9BAE-47F1-9B6A-D87CFE6D6984_zpsukv7alox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/62DB123B-9BAE-47F1-9B6A-D87CFE6D6984_zpsukv7alox.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/E3D05CF9-184D-4386-99E0-D05BFC9AD4DC_zps2m304y1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/E3D05CF9-184D-4386-99E0-D05BFC9AD4DC_zps2m304y1d.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the cardboard on the back was badly torn. I fixed that with some packing tape and I also cut another piece of cardboard in the same pattern and used both pieces for the new back.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/7D5CE46F-FFF2-4728-BE60-BC52088063EF_zps0zxhozdy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/7D5CE46F-FFF2-4728-BE60-BC52088063EF_zps0zxhozdy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After I cleaned and used some Restore-A-Finish on the wood arms, back, and base, I picked up some upholstery quality batting at a local fabric store, and with a manual hand stapler I started to reassemble using this dark red leather. I cut the new batting in the same shape as the old cotton batting which I also used, doubling up on the seat padding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I reused the 1/8-inch cord from inside the old vinyl piping to make new piping with strips of the leather. Then I just took my time and tried to stretch and fold the leather around the corners the way it had been done with the vinyl. The leather was a little thicker than the old vinyl, but with some cutting and stretching and a lot of staples, I got it done. Here's the end result.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/26061A0C-C6CF-4420-88EB-63DCC65E2FE9_zpsbcr2iibt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/26061A0C-C6CF-4420-88EB-63DCC65E2FE9_zpsbcr2iibt.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/4BCD38AD-36CD-4F17-8165-28EAA04F21D7_zpsahfsvqb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/4BCD38AD-36CD-4F17-8165-28EAA04F21D7_zpsahfsvqb6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/7F25F06E-D335-4A92-8C7B-2C69E34EF6D4_zpsedvehibm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/7F25F06E-D335-4A92-8C7B-2C69E34EF6D4_zpsedvehibm.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the new back, I used the same brass tacks I used on the turquoise chair in my last post. It was hard to tuck the leather under the cardboard back and as a result, it isn't nearly as "tight" as I would like it, but I'm satisfied with the look. Heck, it's a very old, heavy chair that has years of new life now, but it won't be mistaken for something brand new, and I like it that way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/CB78E764-8493-4A0A-A2B9-FAC56E347AE0_zpsgtb5gzty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/CB78E764-8493-4A0A-A2B9-FAC56E347AE0_zpsgtb5gzty.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's good to be posting here again. I don't think I'll be as prolific with my posts, but I am hoping with the new year to be somewhat more regular. Happy New Year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-47742225728316727272015-12-24T17:37:00.000-05:002015-12-24T17:37:01.866-05:00Mid Century Swivel Chair ReupholsteredHey everyone and Merry Christmas!<br />
<br />
I thought I would do a post about another cool chair I've been wanting to reupholster.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/fae2a426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/fae2a426.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5905_zpsrvpxyxcx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5905_zpsrvpxyxcx.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I got this swivel chair years ago at a local flea market for a nice price and had it at work for a long time. Great lines, don't you think?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5906_zpshf10g16p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5906_zpshf10g16p.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Once it began to develop a tear in the vinyl (OK, after a few YEARS of living with the tear), I finally brought it home and acquired some turquoise vinyl. Initially I wanted to try and use a sewing machine to come close to reproducing the look of the original with piping, but after a lot of thought I went with the easier approach.<br />
<br />
The burplap underneath remains in pretty good condition so I reused it and the original cotton padding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5918_zpsjrrhaqo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/IMG_5918_zpsjrrhaqo4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I picked up some upholstery quality batting at a local fabric store and cut it to fit over the original stuffing for some much needed extra padding.<br />
<br />
<br />
Using a heat gun I warmed up the vinyl in places and carefully stretched it to fit the seat back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/4b2da9d3-d6e2-4360-870b-d84e3a462897_zpsm9vhtkxh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/4b2da9d3-d6e2-4360-870b-d84e3a462897_zpsm9vhtkxh.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
In this photo you can see how the original vinyl was started at the top back of the seat back and then cardboard was stapled over top of the vinyl. Then it was a matter of folding the vinyl over the cardboard and beginning to staple the bottom. I left the cardboard unstapled along the two sides of the back so I could tuck the excess vinyl under the cardboard. To finish the seat back, I picked up some brass tacks similar to the original ones, which were only used along two back edges.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1434540C-541C-461A-810F-21A1F1F8131A_zpsbtpvewuk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1434540C-541C-461A-810F-21A1F1F8131A_zpsbtpvewuk.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rest of the work just involved carefully stretching the vinyl and stapling it to the frame of the seat base. I'm reasonably satisfied with the end result.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/5D8096FD-DDC2-4378-8892-8D8E1D45B43F_zpskamdt65w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/5D8096FD-DDC2-4378-8892-8D8E1D45B43F_zpskamdt65w.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have enough vinyl to have the base re-done by a pro using piping and fitting it better, but for now, it's going back to the office.</div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-80370260664162922992015-03-23T07:54:00.000-04:002015-03-23T07:54:49.781-04:00Shasta La Vista, Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Shasta/DSCN2302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Shasta/DSCN2302.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
I've had my 1962 Shasta travel trailer for 9 years, and it still isn't done. That's one of the problems with having way too many interesting projects. I've finally decided I should let it go to someone I hope will finish it and enjoy it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, I wanted to let you all know in case you or someone you know might be interested. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Shasta/IMG_6152_zpsgc3np8ev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Shasta/IMG_6152_zpsgc3np8ev.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the <a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e12000.m43.l1123/7?euid=c48cc2b39bf4437fb05ada676cdf55db&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D321703334938%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AL%3ALCA%3AMOTORS%3A1123" target="_blank">link to the eBay listing</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of my spring and summer goals is to finally get the Comet wagon finished enough to start enjoying it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Comet%20wagon/9c9c5dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Comet%20wagon/9c9c5dec.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've got to weld in some front floor pan patches, then put down some carpeting and bolt in the freshly covered seats, then tackle an annoying ignition problem, get the brakes done, have a new exhaust system installed, and THEN I hope I can drive it. If the work on the Comet stalls, I'll probably sell it too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've still got two other project cars waiting, so yeah, I'll miss the Shasta, but you have to let things go sometimes.</div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-24772216305726998422015-01-17T20:47:00.000-05:002015-01-17T21:07:55.294-05:00Another Eames Knockoff Gets RecoveredI recently picked up a second Eames knockoff bent plywood chair and ottoman, similar to this project from several years ago http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2011/12/project-plycraft-chair-gets-bargain.html
<br />
<br />
The build quality of this chair seems better than the Plycraft one. The chair's original leather was faded, but not consistently, so I went back to my stash of barkcloth and recovered this chair too.<br />
<br />
Here's the result: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvFJAh4t9F8X2q6KnVydF2CTShEnuTZACBACp2_5Lr7vLZ84IxP3KTglEdFYyIR8yK51pUdxJXj6Oqyvd_-XgzLLxmbj7InLINTcu-gbSrvOjKEqhYJ-Q2onmkyO3lR4svfsHsFLuIw3e/s1600/A96943D8-BD77-4F78-A19E-BEDA0775967A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvFJAh4t9F8X2q6KnVydF2CTShEnuTZACBACp2_5Lr7vLZ84IxP3KTglEdFYyIR8yK51pUdxJXj6Oqyvd_-XgzLLxmbj7InLINTcu-gbSrvOjKEqhYJ-Q2onmkyO3lR4svfsHsFLuIw3e/s1600/A96943D8-BD77-4F78-A19E-BEDA0775967A.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGoiHEP4dq8MKICBAVMLfEDY9njDFrFgxi6CeyF4aTGx3ojHdB-QuaLEaDmvC6z_g3gbczFM4d5dvPcY1ipgBhtjqFaDXoJL__ipcgyf1hrmkghRQGk_6j9h7Y7RTdwcDCYn9QRVs2jRt/s1600/73D62F6E-F4C1-4F22-B4B5-8D7EB7498740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGoiHEP4dq8MKICBAVMLfEDY9njDFrFgxi6CeyF4aTGx3ojHdB-QuaLEaDmvC6z_g3gbczFM4d5dvPcY1ipgBhtjqFaDXoJL__ipcgyf1hrmkghRQGk_6j9h7Y7RTdwcDCYn9QRVs2jRt/s1600/73D62F6E-F4C1-4F22-B4B5-8D7EB7498740.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1so1Ro8jpTXoU8Ifv2FDR_varfxLgt5n2XyvuNNo2EbgcStHgYDuheh-TqmwWglw7UAkh6fHg4adE3hKkYhnsFyAry5VK-yOfIPww7l3G4JkW_1QuMYPsOg-XeRnmvuqm3SZKYAe1iIQ/s1600/935C04E8-C1FB-47DF-BED8-EA0BB21CA0A8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1so1Ro8jpTXoU8Ifv2FDR_varfxLgt5n2XyvuNNo2EbgcStHgYDuheh-TqmwWglw7UAkh6fHg4adE3hKkYhnsFyAry5VK-yOfIPww7l3G4JkW_1QuMYPsOg-XeRnmvuqm3SZKYAe1iIQ/s1600/935C04E8-C1FB-47DF-BED8-EA0BB21CA0A8.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1093956001"></span><span id="goog_1093956002"></span><br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-13635223904004482092014-12-25T17:06:00.002-05:002014-12-25T17:06:21.395-05:00Merry Christmas 1963!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/SCAN0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/SCAN0228.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-50926045990489698442014-07-30T05:30:00.000-04:002014-07-30T12:19:20.177-04:00Deck Staining, SquaredAfter my last update a few weeks ago, I got started with my plan for staining the deck.<br />
<br />
I wanted to have some color, and decided to give this space something in
common with our basement flooring. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/9747FF58-4064-41E0-825B-C8CC6DE7F915_zpszyap8rfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/9747FF58-4064-41E0-825B-C8CC6DE7F915_zpszyap8rfc.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
With that decision made, I picked
out two solid stains to match up with the redwood color I used on the
fence. I tried out my colors in the raised areas first.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/34A89D33-2A93-4D33-B092-53A251E55C43_zpscm950u14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/34A89D33-2A93-4D33-B092-53A251E55C43_zpscm950u14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
With those parts done in solid colors, I could see how the three colors would work together, and I decided to go for it.
I figured the space was big enough to allow me to make two foot squares
(if I had gone with one-foot squares, I would have gone crazy with all
the taping). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/BF97600B-65EC-4BCF-B69A-BEDDA74E4CF0_zpseowoyd8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/BF97600B-65EC-4BCF-B69A-BEDDA74E4CF0_zpseowoyd8d.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I started out in what I considered the middle of the deck
and began laying out the lines. from there I used a 12-inch metal
painting blade to keep the paint within the boarders. About half way in, I made a "mistake." Can you spot it? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/C189C34D-6B26-468D-84B8-FE2C3BDCF250_zpst3ali6cy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/C189C34D-6B26-468D-84B8-FE2C3BDCF250_zpst3ali6cy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
She Who Must Be Obeyed is a quilter, and she reminded me that traditionally, many quilters would purposely introduce a "mistake" into their work so as not to be perfect. So, that's my story too, and I'm sticking to it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/F1E7F9C5-7D0B-419D-8155-427AEEAA0951_zpsobogvctb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/F1E7F9C5-7D0B-419D-8155-427AEEAA0951_zpsobogvctb.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I knew going in that it would take a lot of effort to deal with the visible edges of each board, and that took the most time as I squeezed the brush into the cracks between boards and worked to get complete coverage without getting spots of one color where another color is supposed to be. I think the end result was worth it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/86C6E87B-50E8-481F-935C-AF6766058F41_zpsoskvwkal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/86C6E87B-50E8-481F-935C-AF6766058F41_zpsoskvwkal.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It worked pretty
well, but I've got some touch up to do yet.<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-80993646549646215262014-06-13T06:00:00.000-04:002014-06-13T06:00:00.973-04:00Starting to Wrap Up the Courtyard Build - most of the decking is down, and another 3,000 pounds of gravel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/06FAA7DF-27F6-4976-A5EA-F4C3323B3123_zpsg33scyzw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/06FAA7DF-27F6-4976-A5EA-F4C3323B3123_zpsg33scyzw.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since my last update, I am nearly complete with building decking around the base of Maynard, and I have most of the rest of the decking attached, although I don't have all the screws in. Some boards are changing shape as they dry out (no, I didn't let all the treated lumber dry completely after purchase).<br />
<br />
I also hauled in a couple loads of gravel and then small river rocks. Another 3.,000 pounds shoveled, wheel-barrowed, dumped, and raked out. I also placed some slate for a walking path.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/515C5282-72B6-4198-A29A-C69641537AD3_zpsc8jpm4yo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/515C5282-72B6-4198-A29A-C69641537AD3_zpsc8jpm4yo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7E3017B3-AC3D-438D-AE90-8EC66F8A2C9C_zpsthcrz1co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7E3017B3-AC3D-438D-AE90-8EC66F8A2C9C_zpsthcrz1co.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
And you'll notice that I've added some outdoor furniture and decorations. We've got sort of a 1970s vibe going. The Homecrest chairs you may recall from a post I made a couple summers ago - I scooped those all up at a local estate sale. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/EF9CF2C4-5058-418A-875C-DFC8D64B70FB_zpsvmvl3v8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/EF9CF2C4-5058-418A-875C-DFC8D64B70FB_zpsvmvl3v8a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/95C4A22E-4BF9-43B5-A1FD-5E0BECCF0A2F_zpsdruxhbf0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/95C4A22E-4BF9-43B5-A1FD-5E0BECCF0A2F_zpsdruxhbf0.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The ball is a cool thing SWMBO found and gave to me. Over the winter it was painted red, but the silver gives it better contrast against the redwood fencing, and the idea to bend a pole to hang it came from photos I've seen of similar indoor lamps prevalent in the 1970s.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/6D7F110D-12B7-49EB-BE81-D31D7C42CCD2_zpsfcfwpojq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/6D7F110D-12B7-49EB-BE81-D31D7C42CCD2_zpsfcfwpojq.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I had the window-frame mirror already, just changed the frame color to white and hung it on the fence.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/F0B1242E-35D9-4387-8E24-BB01D6D86310_zpsaxxdg7xm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/F0B1242E-35D9-4387-8E24-BB01D6D86310_zpsaxxdg7xm.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This metal art is something I acquired off ebay a few years ago and tried using inside, but since it's aluminum, it should hold up well outdoors, and I like the way it dresses up the fence.<br />
<br />
Still on the punch list, I need to trim some decking, fix some saggy boards, and tighten a lot of screws. I plan to stain the deck over the next few weeks, and if you look around the edges, you can see I have a lot of tidying up yet to do. Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-49117600936668502032014-05-25T07:32:00.000-04:002014-05-25T07:32:42.774-04:00Courtyard Update -- I've Been Decked (It Only Took About Six Years)Here's a long-promised update on my big backyard <a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2010/08/building-patio-wall-and-im-stumped.htmlhttp://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2010/08/building-patio-wall-and-im-stumped.html" target="_blank">courtyard project</a>. If you've followed this blog for very long, you know that I have a ton of projects going on simultaneously, and some that languish, to the chagrin of She Who Must Be Obeyed. So last year I promised I would do something with the footers I had dug years ago, otherwise known as the Big Dig.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/100_1426-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/100_1426-1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Last spring, I gave up on the idea of pouring footers and building a brick fence. Some of you may question this decision. Sorry, but now that it's done, I think I made the right decision. It was shaping up to be too big of a job to do myself, and I lacked the funds to pay someone to do it. Instead, I went for building a wood fence. Here's how that went:<br />
<br />
First, a flashback to what things looked like when we moved in:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/DSCN1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/DSCN1138.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/DSCN2175-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/DSCN2175-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wouldn't this area look nice as a fenced in courtyard? And wouldn't that tree make a cool carved tiki guy?</span></div>
<br />
So with some outstanding help from Daughter Atom and a close family friend, we did two things -- 1) we poured this concrete pad near the back door where I plan to eventually install a hot tub:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/C4855BCA-DC4F-448E-842B-6DB0DFB66BB7-30092-000028A5BBBC2A6E_zpsd6606b73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/C4855BCA-DC4F-448E-842B-6DB0DFB66BB7-30092-000028A5BBBC2A6E_zpsd6606b73.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/2AAC9C0E-3F31-401D-8E5C-6204A0721A59-30092-000028A5C3C4B378_zps37e82207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/2AAC9C0E-3F31-401D-8E5C-6204A0721A59-30092-000028A5C3C4B378_zps37e82207.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/8FB8713B-13AD-4596-9982-CD22F16E3A30-30092-000028A5D911DB6D_zpsb76518ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/8FB8713B-13AD-4596-9982-CD22F16E3A30-30092-000028A5D911DB6D_zpsb76518ed.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's your tired old Uncle after stage one of the hot tub pad...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/78A61678-1736-457D-BE0E-105ED76C7BCB-473-00000044025D8C7D_zpse1f37e64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Family/78A61678-1736-457D-BE0E-105ED76C7BCB-473-00000044025D8C7D_zpse1f37e64.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">And his youthful ward and all around awesome laborer standing beside the nearly finished pad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And after we got the pad poured, 2) we dug below the footer forms and poured concrete for the fence posts, then back filled the footer hole and slowly (very slowly) I leveled out all the dirt inside the fence. <br />
<br />
With the posts cemented into the ground last summer, I started putting the pre-stained horizontal planks on to form the fence, being careful to level everything and get a uniform gap between each board.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/C0BFD48E-6633-4602-9ABA-CB40F1B14439_zps0fgistds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/C0BFD48E-6633-4602-9ABA-CB40F1B14439_zps0fgistds.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/6A4E1DDB-2606-4827-897A-FCECE0BF992C_zpswqwbroez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/6A4E1DDB-2606-4827-897A-FCECE0BF992C_zpswqwbroez.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/5E128ECC-D458-424C-BA0F-5C764C4C040E_zpsgwk0zgep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/5E128ECC-D458-424C-BA0F-5C764C4C040E_zpsgwk0zgep.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/0D565E3B-7B8B-47C7-A747-280469631607_zpswchyxtzf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/0D565E3B-7B8B-47C7-A747-280469631607_zpswchyxtzf.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/4F2E8FF7-E2AD-408C-B924-9D608774F3E8_zpsqj2whmr5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/4F2E8FF7-E2AD-408C-B924-9D608774F3E8_zpsqj2whmr5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/047E6337-15D2-430A-9B36-441B66CFEDA2_zpsewzdm8jz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/047E6337-15D2-430A-9B36-441B66CFEDA2_zpsewzdm8jz.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Huge gates are there to enable me to someday get a hot tub inside the courtyard, or anything else that's big.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/A8A2F0B6-5C89-4FB3-A053-94FC2E1C5D3E_zpsogcrksab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/A8A2F0B6-5C89-4FB3-A053-94FC2E1C5D3E_zpsogcrksab.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By the time winter arrived, this is where the project was stalled. Dirt floor, everywhere, but at least the big dig was no more!</span></div>
<br />
Over
the winter, I debated putting in concrete, or bricks, or slate, or decking for the floor. Eventually I decided to build a ground level deck to cover
most of the space inside the fence. To do that, I knew I would need to
do some more dirt moving and digging, then sink 4x4 treated posts in
concrete. From March through much of April I dug post holes, hauled bags of
concrete mix, cut my posts, lined everything up and one by one put
about 30 posts into the ground. I spread the work out, but even so my back was killing me after moving hundreds of pounds of concrete mix from the truck out front by wheelbarrow to the back yard.<br />
<br />
Once the concrete was set in the post holes, I
started running floor joists between the posts with 2x8 treated
lumber, forming a grid of sorts. With everything as level as I could
get it, I started screwing down 5/4x6 treated decking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/0e9c540e-961d-4948-981d-d01b61710429_zps3447b454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/0e9c540e-961d-4948-981d-d01b61710429_zps3447b454.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7D60600E-A877-4B00-A0E1-2466E0AE3373_zpshqziu2sk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7D60600E-A877-4B00-A0E1-2466E0AE3373_zpshqziu2sk.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/b3b809ec-5b46-4482-9f27-ae196b471bbd_zps1c186ced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/b3b809ec-5b46-4482-9f27-ae196b471bbd_zps1c186ced.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/1A55C11F-2E3A-42DE-876B-7D937C653394_zpspei2a8n3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/1A55C11F-2E3A-42DE-876B-7D937C653394_zpspei2a8n3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is where I am today. I've still got to finish framing around <a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/search/label/stump" target="_blank">Maynard</a> and once the treated decking has dried out enough, I have to stain that. Working on this, as you may imagine, has taken most of my spare time for quite a while, and it's the main reason I haven't updated this blog much, but I promise I'll provide an update soon - I have a few decorating ideas that you might like, so stay tuned.<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-17051443269862912552013-11-23T10:08:00.000-05:002013-11-23T10:08:11.796-05:00REPOST: Jack and Jackie Forever<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>I originally posted this in 2010. Seems fitting to share again. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I get a big kick out of finding unique furnishings and accent pieces, and there are some great ones for a mid century home. Jack and Jackie are among my favorites. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/101_0697.jpg?t=1262526063" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/101_0697.jpg?t=1262526063" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These plaster busts are about 16 inches tall. Jack is finished in a copper color, and Jackie is more brassy/bronze in color. They have some chips and wear, but I'm leaving them alone. I'm guessing they were some kind of craft kit probably released soon after Kennedy's assassination. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/101_0699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/101_0699.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Underneath the Jack bust is a piece of masking tape with a handwritten note that really adds to the pieces: <i>"For Myrt and Herb - our very dear neighbors - Gran. </i><i>May 16, 1964".</i> I scored these at an estate auction near my home, along with a couple of pole lamps, a very cool chair and several other small things.</span>Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-42451379443949489782013-08-31T20:12:00.000-04:002013-11-20T13:11:44.044-05:00Estate Sale Find: Cat Painting and a Surprise PhotoEarlier this summer I hit an estate sale with a lot of stuff in the basement. I picked through the goods and left with a couple of big bags of stuff, but this painting I found somehow got left behind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9a680bd6-b325-42e3-8650-6bf70bd3a838_zps54db4014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9a680bd6-b325-42e3-8650-6bf70bd3a838_zps54db4014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1860089737"></span><span id="goog_1860089738"></span><br />
Later in the day I went back and it was still there so I got it quite cheap. Someone in the house had obviously been a painter based on the canvases in the basement, but this was the only one that caught my eye. I'm guessing that "hug" written in the bottom left is the name of this siamese cat...(?)<br />
<br />
A couple of days later I was going through the things I bought, and among the goods were some old wallets and coin purses. Sadly no money was tucked away anywhere, but while I was going through a wallet I did find some old ID cards and things, including this photo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A91DE6FB-A878-433C-A7A1-B59E87B66CB1-2524-000002FFE1BCDE95_zps3cf196a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A91DE6FB-A878-433C-A7A1-B59E87B66CB1-2524-000002FFE1BCDE95_zps3cf196a2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the photo you can see a gentleman holding a cat. I think the lady who had used the wallet may have painted the photo, and I'm guessing the man was her husband and the cat was the cat in the painting. There's no writing on the back, but I'm pretty sure it's the siamese cat in the painting. <br />
<br />
Kinda cool, so I'm planning to hang the snapshot beside the painting in one of our spare bedrooms.<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-2465549024791695242013-08-10T19:43:00.001-04:002013-11-20T13:12:05.112-05:00New Front Patio - A Tune Up for the Back Yard Courtyard Project, AKAThe Big DigInside the fenced portion of our front yard we've had some luck (finally) getting my old "grass couch" looking better with some annuals, but the rest of the ground inside the fence has been awful - just a place for the dog to play ball. The ground is sloped so we couldn't have a decent place to sit. I've been wanting to do something to it for a while, and finally I made some decisions and went to work!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My idea was to dig out a level area for something like a kidney shaped slate patio with a small retaining wall.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's the area after most of my digging was done - I'm estimating I dug and moved about 2 to 3 tons of dirt.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWak6_kcgPcwJtvk-ZnwU3mBLLcaK3Y8nltabmWFfQotH4CDhwxU3jMEG7CyjtdXfkqKsJp0-TyXVj7RJuEacTfKGfcEXI0RHvmwn59FOOv3fWMWz9UU2MhAi5Ny6fF8YWvaVVoEN9Kem/s640/blogger-image--1286441063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWak6_kcgPcwJtvk-ZnwU3mBLLcaK3Y8nltabmWFfQotH4CDhwxU3jMEG7CyjtdXfkqKsJp0-TyXVj7RJuEacTfKGfcEXI0RHvmwn59FOOv3fWMWz9UU2MhAi5Ny6fF8YWvaVVoEN9Kem/s320/blogger-image--1286441063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22WwTa8M0fq6BZ2eLlviH0ZJUMnrRFfalzMUcuOHBV10tACFSJs7Xdt6lqKkoA1cWA7cOePrLNPDrwBgIyGdSW0AlJyYym9DOj1cjoiyKmhBoG9LrYGtO55W7C5kWFoDaQ9rT7MvbpoJ/s640/blogger-image--1646060289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22WwTa8M0fq6BZ2eLlviH0ZJUMnrRFfalzMUcuOHBV10tACFSJs7Xdt6lqKkoA1cWA7cOePrLNPDrwBgIyGdSW0AlJyYym9DOj1cjoiyKmhBoG9LrYGtO55W7C5kWFoDaQ9rT7MvbpoJ/s320/blogger-image--1646060289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Next I stapled down some landscape cloth to block out weeds, and then I spread about 1500 pounds of gravel to level out the surface, and tamped it down.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr5_qSK68ovhdo5VNEqmAAZY433PLC6apVu50Ss1hyphenhyphenPaRYslVy5ZmlheYpID2UCptLEh3sAo7tw5AdPcp3D4AGtq2ToWuUAaQN_yUwaJA59wLnvDgykWe-9kUZaeOuhKNZzffecQS1r-T/s640/blogger-image-1160684873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr5_qSK68ovhdo5VNEqmAAZY433PLC6apVu50Ss1hyphenhyphenPaRYslVy5ZmlheYpID2UCptLEh3sAo7tw5AdPcp3D4AGtq2ToWuUAaQN_yUwaJA59wLnvDgykWe-9kUZaeOuhKNZzffecQS1r-T/s320/blogger-image-1160684873.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID_T9YN_I7yr2QWIOVJ9F-5wM3Z0Zm0GWyPMJgfdqZUibKxU1XCgTkLjD7TeOoi0VfoCFm0eR_Co-Fsn5kJm3QNC9Um58Isz7A4H7ByNACjx8I1biDdXxI_wEcu1NBEuS6Lukroh41Amw/s640/blogger-image--1273207053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiID_T9YN_I7yr2QWIOVJ9F-5wM3Z0Zm0GWyPMJgfdqZUibKxU1XCgTkLjD7TeOoi0VfoCFm0eR_Co-Fsn5kJm3QNC9Um58Isz7A4H7ByNACjx8I1biDdXxI_wEcu1NBEuS6Lukroh41Amw/s320/blogger-image--1273207053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
At that point I started moving these this pieces of slate I've been saving for years. They formed a patio at our old house, and I had torn that apart before we moved here. Since the old house was only a mile away I brought the slate pieces with me. They averaged about two inches in thickness, much sturdier than what you see for sale these days. Yes, I'm crazy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ne4piQHSxNt8GRxX-VugV1Iq8KoqcLOt42xj0pSG2Zvz6ng_AM6qiDDj_H8ZBJCsaFQ_5C_HGiCQ21UkJ-PgM9vMuaVNYxWdcdEVmgaFMeEl6bCrU4ePDMQcnUKjroSQh3BEERXBcSyC/s640/blogger-image--1373327929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ne4piQHSxNt8GRxX-VugV1Iq8KoqcLOt42xj0pSG2Zvz6ng_AM6qiDDj_H8ZBJCsaFQ_5C_HGiCQ21UkJ-PgM9vMuaVNYxWdcdEVmgaFMeEl6bCrU4ePDMQcnUKjroSQh3BEERXBcSyC/s320/blogger-image--1373327929.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Here I was putting the puzzle together and doing my best to keep things leveled. I was able to get by without doing much cutting of the stones I had.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
From past experience, I knew that weeds can sprout up from the joints if you use sand or something loose, so I chose to fill the joints with concrete.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DbrFh8tB6gdvSfp6tq0R7RBFqJ4ALjsSQ1UL4F8vgJrJ4JPoKp31yJnwNvZO4ZAjhvvcXLaUXzJzJHUabfjGIonMEaBY-uIl_4WY5jhMo6hHOGSnqJ42mZftBaXVfsimN6aYpuOGi2jd/s640/blogger-image--1227115896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DbrFh8tB6gdvSfp6tq0R7RBFqJ4ALjsSQ1UL4F8vgJrJ4JPoKp31yJnwNvZO4ZAjhvvcXLaUXzJzJHUabfjGIonMEaBY-uIl_4WY5jhMo6hHOGSnqJ42mZftBaXVfsimN6aYpuOGi2jd/s320/blogger-image--1227115896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Not the prettiest at this point.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunsWygJ_W0zYxWzAd5mVNXJ0vzq_DrJGxW1bMtHmETTfGwEsTFFrjwj5a-iAAnsOdFp-s7-QWPu-zitC6VdJF5L6dOu3Z4SpunPW4ti91QO-EuJFholtYnK-Y3CNuoVTmaekKsiOywRHT/s640/blogger-image--1000738407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunsWygJ_W0zYxWzAd5mVNXJ0vzq_DrJGxW1bMtHmETTfGwEsTFFrjwj5a-iAAnsOdFp-s7-QWPu-zitC6VdJF5L6dOu3Z4SpunPW4ti91QO-EuJFholtYnK-Y3CNuoVTmaekKsiOywRHT/s320/blogger-image--1000738407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I bought some stacking stones for the wall and cemented those in place.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Now that the concrete is nearly cured, I plan to clean it with some muriatic acid.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The metal mesh chairs and love seat I painted yellow last year never looked right so I gave ten a fresh coat of Rustoleum Apple Red. I like this color much better and it matches the red accents in our front entry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Here's the way it looks as of now:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-AX3ebCXFgE88Uru3STp_nLHZCR0vRcmwQUfQau8Z6qcqfrUka9NfxBOPqNmbCzaUxAZ-z9jmY34y4F8qCJ-Jn_6JviNWq7NQ_bbLPVeoyKW1-YtLVcoiKchg0Y5wL5zt2od45l6v6q4/s640/blogger-image-1341170972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-AX3ebCXFgE88Uru3STp_nLHZCR0vRcmwQUfQau8Z6qcqfrUka9NfxBOPqNmbCzaUxAZ-z9jmY34y4F8qCJ-Jn_6JviNWq7NQ_bbLPVeoyKW1-YtLVcoiKchg0Y5wL5zt2od45l6v6q4/s320/blogger-image-1341170972.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgusU0V6Cci7J7GpebY6xN4jmBViA2XZhmJenNplhoOoC1jSBDDCRvGwG7ZIX5STfQxgWwc_jyIj-lIZL3yoHUyaM-1O9YiLI16RguQO6D96afCUJgFyg0ZbpjSOWhzl0ySUr6Yx9BnXY9/s640/blogger-image-192116752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgusU0V6Cci7J7GpebY6xN4jmBViA2XZhmJenNplhoOoC1jSBDDCRvGwG7ZIX5STfQxgWwc_jyIj-lIZL3yoHUyaM-1O9YiLI16RguQO6D96afCUJgFyg0ZbpjSOWhzl0ySUr6Yx9BnXY9/s320/blogger-image-192116752.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
SWMBO will be planting along the wall to add some color, and we plan to add some more plants later on this fall. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I love the result of this project. It took me about 30-40 hours of work spread out over two weeks, and now we finally have a level place to sit and less grass to cut! Plus, I'm motivated to get back on the back courtyard project which has been languishing for way too long.</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-52403597851595403352013-07-28T11:01:00.001-04:002013-11-20T13:12:13.641-05:00Recent find: Storage hassockWe took a couple days last weekend and visited Asheville, NC, and Roanoke, VA, and one of our stops was a place we hadn't visited before: Black Dog Salvage. Apparently a DIY Network show called Salvage Dawgs is filmed there. I wouldn't know since we don't get cable.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, I found a couple things at Black Dog, including this storage hassock. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TBZlY0CHn4YulNTHK18yVnoV686kgjH44FEeYMjhT1aCwuEkjvE36_lzxkR-ag0FSo0YBotJFuyPyY393YrG5Odn9WcDusqNsptaJ6P-_FnvKu7x6FJbM4XKdhtrqlzf55RagDuSvR9W/s640/blogger-image--1740914115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TBZlY0CHn4YulNTHK18yVnoV686kgjH44FEeYMjhT1aCwuEkjvE36_lzxkR-ag0FSo0YBotJFuyPyY393YrG5Odn9WcDusqNsptaJ6P-_FnvKu7x6FJbM4XKdhtrqlzf55RagDuSvR9W/s320/blogger-image--1740914115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's covered in its original textured vinyl, and for being about 40 years old, it's still in nice shape.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnM4WvnfJzEBit0qrxhXJS16UaNvyuZG1SX2riys2ygtYYYU_EEyX2A-NjDV-UcRcWuXgx2ot5VxBn8YGNaqwuSIwGV0h6fc90PCZoCAaeiZmHMBDMUpcW2qjszZr_wrd_GtzxmFBxmFj/s640/blogger-image-475275340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnM4WvnfJzEBit0qrxhXJS16UaNvyuZG1SX2riys2ygtYYYU_EEyX2A-NjDV-UcRcWuXgx2ot5VxBn8YGNaqwuSIwGV0h6fc90PCZoCAaeiZmHMBDMUpcW2qjszZr_wrd_GtzxmFBxmFj/s320/blogger-image-475275340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did remove the iron base and repainted it with some Rustoleum primer and black semi gloss. I like that it has some storage space.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBmTb3IBe3bMyjSjFkF4nA8Byk3t1BBfqj85I41rKjI7YGRC5eEarEFEujSQrZut38HcMBuZJ4LDw4-5tJ3Om1oa4OFU3R3Wtvr6H_3D7oHFfG796pBJowVEqbBUOSDSKnjYaOcA2B4af/s640/blogger-image--128462336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBmTb3IBe3bMyjSjFkF4nA8Byk3t1BBfqj85I41rKjI7YGRC5eEarEFEujSQrZut38HcMBuZJ4LDw4-5tJ3Om1oa4OFU3R3Wtvr6H_3D7oHFfG796pBJowVEqbBUOSDSKnjYaOcA2B4af/s640/blogger-image--128462336.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGtMfOUMK2O6WTt2WoptiC-k-Lkda6Fa7mwHmYV2e6ce_8FPFc_N8dppIg4LTAi1Mof6meZlIbVMtiZjtRg6W_4dimdl4iDPtkRBo2oHdDAcsSrDI5hovgMaKXG9h85oFoTh_4eeI3DHd/s640/blogger-image-804521032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGtMfOUMK2O6WTt2WoptiC-k-Lkda6Fa7mwHmYV2e6ce_8FPFc_N8dppIg4LTAi1Mof6meZlIbVMtiZjtRg6W_4dimdl4iDPtkRBo2oHdDAcsSrDI5hovgMaKXG9h85oFoTh_4eeI3DHd/s640/blogger-image-804521032.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
I'm not sure what those black elastic straps once held -- any ideas?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other news, I'm still working on preparing to build our backyard patio, a multi-year project I'm embarrassed to not yet have completed. And I've started to clean up, rewire, sharpen, and repaint to cool vintage electric mower I picked up last year. I should have that done soon and ready for a blog update.</div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-24393101946599478502013-06-20T07:23:00.001-04:002013-11-20T13:12:24.406-05:00Gone Welding: Now I'm Back!Well hello there! Apologies for being away the past couple of months. Let me catch you up on what's been going on:<br />
<br />
I just completed a sculptural welding class. That's my main excuse for a lack of recent posts. I'm really glad I took the class, and I do have some show and tell in the form of a couple of projects.<br />
<br />
The first thing I learned while welding with an oxy-acetelyne torch is you can very easily burn through the metal you are trying to weld! I wanted to make a danish-stylized wire sculpture of a fish similar to this one I found online, but I kept messing up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/cbabf201-e443-4ec4-9d39-bac0bbec30f6_zps3b9269d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/cbabf201-e443-4ec4-9d39-bac0bbec30f6_zps3b9269d8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So I changed direction and decided to start by welding thicker metal - rebar to be precise. That led me to doing some searches for examples of rebar art, and I ended up with a salmon. I printed out a photo, traced it onto graph paper, then enlarged it on some construction paper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/37290c8faf52efb8fdeda8fc83351888_zps51ee74ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/37290c8faf52efb8fdeda8fc83351888_zps51ee74ae.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/93b96b7c97bb9bdb0b7299f479db7c74_zpsd8b68ef2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/93b96b7c97bb9bdb0b7299f479db7c74_zpsd8b68ef2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1a1a570d0369817fa297da1d58baf0f4_zps06e03470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1a1a570d0369817fa297da1d58baf0f4_zps06e03470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the finished piece. What I learned: bending rebar takes some real muscle! And it is very easy to burn through rebar with a torch.<br />
<br />
I had enough time left in my 9-week class to do another project, so I drew up some plans for a tiki guy based on a photo I found of a vintage surfing trophy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/12E7692C-80AD-4328-BE47-B32FDF6CD7A0-45014-000044041A3753AE_zps30f9caef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/12E7692C-80AD-4328-BE47-B32FDF6CD7A0-45014-000044041A3753AE_zps30f9caef.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A1D58FA8-F407-4401-9C70-F64854029C29-45014-000044045BBFFC87_zps825c6dbf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A1D58FA8-F407-4401-9C70-F64854029C29-45014-000044045BBFFC87_zps825c6dbf.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
With a 1:1 drawing I could then start cutting and bending the pieces to make the sculpture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/6D4DE723-BC51-4E8B-9738-1FE4AF08D545-45014-000044042F54BEF1_zpsa881d3d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/6D4DE723-BC51-4E8B-9738-1FE4AF08D545-45014-000044042F54BEF1_zpsa881d3d1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I realized that my original drawing would need some modifications so I lengthened the base so it would push into the ground for display outside. This project was destined for a friend's garden, and the letters incorporated into the head also needed to change as it was supposed to be AFFP. (The initials for a scholarly book about to be published by my friend's husband, an anthropologist who appreciates tiki art).<br />
<br />
And here's the final.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/44875749-C5A5-44C6-BC45-57CCD744D74C-45014-0000440471B4EDCB_zpsdaccdd9e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/44875749-C5A5-44C6-BC45-57CCD744D74C-45014-0000440471B4EDCB_zpsdaccdd9e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The first few pieces of this also were welded with an oxy-acetelyne torch, but I finished it up with an electric welder (MIG). Using a MIG welder seems a bit easier and faster, sort of like working with a very hot "glue gun." Once again I found myself deviating somewhat from the drawing. I'm pretty happy with the result, despite some imperfections.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I bought a MIG welder and the tools I need to weld at home. I'm stoked to start doing some repairs on some metal pieces I have that have broken welds, and I want to make some more art and eventually try my hand at some mid-century style shelves and chairs, and also play around some with another hobby of mine, old bicycles. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<b>In other news, if you usually read this blog with Google Reader, HEADS UP!</b> You should know by now that sometimes Google giveth and Google taketh away. And the Google master plan now calls for Google Reader to go away permanently at the end of June (2013). So, I want to offer up a couple of ways to continue keeping up with Uncle Atom.<br />
<br />
I will continue this blog, so you can always find me at www.uncleatom.com or atomicuncle.blogspot.com. If you are like me and you follow many other blogs, there are other blog readers which can import all your Google blog links, but I think you have to act pretty fast, i.e., before the end of June. Two that I use are <a href="http://www.reeder.com/" target="_blank">Reeder</a>, and <a href="http://www.feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly.</a> <br />
<br />
You can also follow me at:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/UncleAtom/134843689918786" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<br />
Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/Uncle_Atom" target="_blank">@Uncle_Atom</a>)<br />
<br />
and now <a href="http://instagram.com/uncleatom" target="_blank">Instagram</a><br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to working on some new and ongoing projects this summer, including the big dig/backyard patio; some welding ideas that I've got percolating; and probably some more projects, vintage finds, and maybe a road trip posting or two.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-8540036554895366532013-04-28T14:47:00.000-04:002013-11-20T13:12:34.206-05:00Recent Estate Sale Finds: Some Keepers, and Some Destined for Replenishing the Etsy StoreWhen I haven't been continuing my tree cutting, brush trimming and yard work, I've been busy taking a metal sculpture class and learning to weld with an oxy-acetylene torch, so don't think Uncle Atom has been slacking. Well, I have been slacking some on this blog. But now it's estate sale season, and I've fit in a few sales already. Here are Saturday's pickups:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/134bb300-b314-4446-bca3-601db23e90c9_zps1f950a68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/134bb300-b314-4446-bca3-601db23e90c9_zps1f950a68.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Premium Saltines Tin from 1969</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/50d817624016e2f67cc1332ebcaf4286_zpsa9771759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/50d817624016e2f67cc1332ebcaf4286_zpsa9771759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Bell Telephone System First Aid Kit - nearly all original supplies, and it also came with original scissors and tweezers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/04500817533a3f183fe3263459fede66_zpseb142414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/04500817533a3f183fe3263459fede66_zpseb142414.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Small lamp with articulating arm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/ebc80f8c1d5f92c2cfabd5a3e45d8b34_zps50e06575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/ebc80f8c1d5f92c2cfabd5a3e45d8b34_zps50e06575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Small 12 volt auto vacuum cleaner</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/b3deba33180a830b7c26ad2229f244f5_zps75e1407a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/b3deba33180a830b7c26ad2229f244f5_zps75e1407a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pan American Airlines carry on bag (this came with a Polaroid camera inside!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/fb3987c0d2617630226028c28d7b3dde_zps0f5e1e7e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/fb3987c0d2617630226028c28d7b3dde_zps0f5e1e7e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/8cff0e3f6139f17e4d23e18943428a2c_zps3282b76a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/8cff0e3f6139f17e4d23e18943428a2c_zps3282b76a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vintage Thermaster Polaron Cooler in bronze</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/057117928bd12ac45f30ff0589e7d9e7_zps24190f68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/057117928bd12ac45f30ff0589e7d9e7_zps24190f68.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Three avocado green barstools, super cheap!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/d3068b90816d47d27af4478366919501_zps39c29b64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/d3068b90816d47d27af4478366919501_zps39c29b64.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A pair of Salterini style iron chairs<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/503ef7729b492f4644bcbc64b96cab2c_zps2aaf1bd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/503ef7729b492f4644bcbc64b96cab2c_zps2aaf1bd1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/04e9d5fa1cbc704fee2178bfa63ac047_zpsbd3ddad7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/04e9d5fa1cbc704fee2178bfa63ac047_zpsbd3ddad7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A sturdy wire bookshelf/stand</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/b8cdcf0a6a2a6e44b66568708d41267b_zps2aa66bcc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/sale%20items/b8cdcf0a6a2a6e44b66568708d41267b_zps2aa66bcc.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A small glass-topped iron table</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All in all, a good weekend.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-63398928109130333512013-04-07T10:56:00.002-04:002013-11-20T13:12:57.094-05:00Scratching My Kitsch Itch: Yesterday's Flea Market Find, A Barkcloth-Backed Fuzzy Framed Tiger!?!Here in the Washington, DC, area, you run into a lot of odd stuff with an international flavor. Yesterday morning I hit my favorite local flea market, and among the few small things I picked up, this framed picture stands out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/479674BC-F1C6-46C8-B579-1BECE2107472-4390-000005AEFD8612B2_zps8ff53e5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/479674BC-F1C6-46C8-B579-1BECE2107472-4390-000005AEFD8612B2_zps8ff53e5c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This beauty was super cheap, but SWMBO for one thinks any price was too much to pay. I guess this will have to live in the man cave/shop area. You haven't gotten a tour of that space, and I may never show it, it's such a pile of tools, projects, and detritus.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/EC3AE1EE-2D82-4E54-849F-A54A72696BF0-4390-000005AEF3119FC2_zpsde73b864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/EC3AE1EE-2D82-4E54-849F-A54A72696BF0-4390-000005AEF3119FC2_zpsde73b864.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This is in surprisingly good condition. I went over the frame with a tiny bit of Feed 'N Wax and wiped it dry. I'm guessing the picture dates to the 1950s or 60s, based on the era of the fabric. The tiger is made of some kind of furry/fleecy material. Has anyone else seen something like this? Chinese perhaps?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/E0DA9279-071F-4AF4-B819-75525466F557-4390-000005AF0F29E143_zps4eab874d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/E0DA9279-071F-4AF4-B819-75525466F557-4390-000005AF0F29E143_zps4eab874d.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The claws are painted on below the paws.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/88651A4C-F04E-4D9A-A290-21DEE448BC66-4390-000005AF1944ED52_zpse45abde3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/88651A4C-F04E-4D9A-A290-21DEE448BC66-4390-000005AF1944ED52_zpse45abde3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a closeup of the fabric.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A9E3F722-1053-461E-A377-7CF21CA410A6-4390-000005AF062E8F91_zpsd67d640f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/A9E3F722-1053-461E-A377-7CF21CA410A6-4390-000005AF062E8F91_zpsd67d640f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can see this writing on the back and the back also shows that the fabric is stretched over a piece of wood for a solid backing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/93AD0535-DF49-4D0D-ABC6-959BB3E9CDCF-4390-000005AF2312F3EB_zps3443141f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/93AD0535-DF49-4D0D-ABC6-959BB3E9CDCF-4390-000005AF2312F3EB_zps3443141f.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Does anyone recognize the characters or have some idea of what it says?Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-67271797053869683722013-03-17T10:36:00.002-04:002013-11-20T13:13:06.605-05:00Another Recent Estate Sale Find: Starburst HamperI love all things starburst. So when I spotted this un-priced hamper at the estate sale where I picked up that great lampshade, I grabbed the hamper too. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/C1B94A1B-EF44-488E-B11E-3BDD9A799A34-14464-000010D3C94B0331_zpsd942c03c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/C1B94A1B-EF44-488E-B11E-3BDD9A799A34-14464-000010D3C94B0331_zpsd942c03c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
As it turned out, the price was reasonable, so I brought it home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/8F1B9025-D124-4A00-91ED-61BD0D0C1CDD-14464-000010D3D2B9531A_zpsd776ac1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/8F1B9025-D124-4A00-91ED-61BD0D0C1CDD-14464-000010D3D2B9531A_zpsd776ac1a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/87C46231-E9F0-482F-A0C3-4BA94A27C749-3214-0000030179032E72_zps29089b1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/87C46231-E9F0-482F-A0C3-4BA94A27C749-3214-0000030179032E72_zps29089b1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The hamper is a 1970s green with a gold-ish tint, and it's in surprisingly good shape, so we've got it in our bedroom.Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-55524576587709500522013-03-10T12:23:00.003-04:002013-11-20T13:13:15.525-05:00Update on the Gossip Bench with Clock and Sconces: Looking Good!A couple posts ago, I showed off this pair of sconces and speculated that they would match up pretty well with one of my brass starburst clocks and the funky telephone table/gossip bench in our foyer. I finally got around to shooting some photos, so here's where we are now. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9a081501-cafe-4ab6-9b0a-a0b0fa6c5eb7_zps3a7c57be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9a081501-cafe-4ab6-9b0a-a0b0fa6c5eb7_zps3a7c57be.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1d0d0d36-c1fb-4f40-988f-6a2e23d958e7_zps9c5399e0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1d0d0d36-c1fb-4f40-988f-6a2e23d958e7_zps9c5399e0.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I still need to put something in the sconces - it's probably going to be some fake ivy or another type of fake plant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/ca7d73de-b1d1-4ac8-8a2f-8b8db3f9bc55_zps6fa7018f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/ca7d73de-b1d1-4ac8-8a2f-8b8db3f9bc55_zps6fa7018f.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/73b4fc8713fe32aed402b3c67a53bceb_zps7c7bc1a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/73b4fc8713fe32aed402b3c67a53bceb_zps7c7bc1a7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been looking for an old telephone book for this shelf, and until I find one I picked up this great vintage binder for keeping phone numbers. It was an etsy.com find, and it's in great shape.<br />
<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-78886290251134584222013-02-17T11:24:00.000-05:002013-11-20T13:13:24.820-05:00Picked Up a Two-Tiered Shade for a Favorite LampI had Friday off, so besides doing some errands, I managed to hit a local estate sale advertised as full of "Mid Century Modern." That label pulled in dealers and pickers from everywhere, including a couple women from Baltimore who were right in front of me, and someone else from New Jersey. I managed to get #27, but it was almost an hour before I got through the door. Interesting sale in an old apartment turned into a condo. Even with the late number, I still got a few things, including this lampshade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/759A1533-174F-4F0E-99FC-73E0FB199653-14464-000010D383AB8724_zpseecc1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/759A1533-174F-4F0E-99FC-73E0FB199653-14464-000010D383AB8724_zpseecc1070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been watching for one that has the three "bumps" on the top structure. That feature makes it sit correctly on the milk glass difusers found on some mid century lamps like my brass and black floor lamp, a gift from my nephew Dave (thanks again Dave).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The shade was in excellent shape, and the price was relatively high. But I never see these locally, and my only other option was to buy online and pay about the same and also have to cover shipping costs. So, I paid the price. I think it was worth it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here it is on the lamp. The atomic finial is one I already had, but I think it looks good on there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/8DDA4694-78B8-4E3C-8572-00B64F7FD3EA-14464-000010D3A3F4C6D3_zpsa5650ea9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/8DDA4694-78B8-4E3C-8572-00B64F7FD3EA-14464-000010D3A3F4C6D3_zpsa5650ea9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/899ED8FB-DB8F-4187-AD8E-18EA060E97E3-14464-000010D3AB252CB8_zps5e028516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/899ED8FB-DB8F-4187-AD8E-18EA060E97E3-14464-000010D3AB252CB8_zps5e028516.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/12B77BD5-EDED-4BC7-8EC9-B495E6B930D1-14464-000010D3B4690430_zps4fc9c411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/12B77BD5-EDED-4BC7-8EC9-B495E6B930D1-14464-000010D3B4690430_zps4fc9c411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Looking good!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By the way, I see that I'm one away from having 200 followers here on the blog, and 75 over on Facebook. I guess it's almost time for a giveaway to celebrate! Stay tuned...</div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-74101932339088311252013-02-03T09:47:00.004-05:002013-02-03T09:47:50.736-05:00Mid-Century Brass and Black SconcesI've always had a thing for the common mid-century combination of brass and black. Here's the latest acquisition from that auction site: a pair of sconces. The brass parts are close to 12 inches tall, and the globes are about 3.5 inches in diameter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/EFB67613-157B-43E1-8608-7EC186573C1B-35274-000026CB675BCB1A_zps02aacdc9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/EFB67613-157B-43E1-8608-7EC186573C1B-35274-000026CB675BCB1A_zps02aacdc9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I took a chance on the brass being salvageable, but this set had some serious rust issues. I tried but could not get the brass polish to clean one of these well enough for display. So sadly, I broke out the spray primer and then the brass paint. I also primed and repainted the steel globes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/B5A11CFE-3EAA-4C75-8186-9736418C11A7-35274-000026CB4D357F7E_zps85fb914b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/B5A11CFE-3EAA-4C75-8186-9736418C11A7-35274-000026CB4D357F7E_zps85fb914b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Anyone have an idea what could have been contained in these globes?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/27410F1A-3CD0-4169-B512-768E15FAFD7D-35274-000026D5EEC543FA_zps09a5135d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/27410F1A-3CD0-4169-B512-768E15FAFD7D-35274-000026D5EEC543FA_zps09a5135d.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I don't see any sign of rust inside, so I doubt if live plants were ever put in these. And there's no spike or flat part where a candle could have been installed. It's puzzling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/04D47240-CC6B-4A17-9107-D3B7E6C725C6-35274-000026CCFF390BD8_zpsaa8b4748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/04D47240-CC6B-4A17-9107-D3B7E6C725C6-35274-000026CCFF390BD8_zpsaa8b4748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/5A848E5E-755D-41AC-9B86-5A4B1BC82116-35274-000026CB5D83E015_zps598878e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/5A848E5E-755D-41AC-9B86-5A4B1BC82116-35274-000026CB5D83E015_zps598878e8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Right now I'm still thinking about where I'll hang these - for the photos I just used a couple of hooks already on one of our walls. I often see a pair of sconces like this teamed with a wall clock, and I think I already have just the clock for this...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9FD41A73-EFA9-499C-B84C-685DF33684C9-35274-000026D35BADCAD7_zps86bf511b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9FD41A73-EFA9-499C-B84C-685DF33684C9-35274-000026D35BADCAD7_zps86bf511b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9FFE0EEC-1AE2-49F8-BA4A-7A444CC3DAFC-35274-000026CB6FDDA82A_zps89eb4128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/9FFE0EEC-1AE2-49F8-BA4A-7A444CC3DAFC-35274-000026CB6FDDA82A_zps89eb4128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now I just need the right space for it. Maybe in our entry way, perched above this gossip bench/telephone table?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/0de2c55d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/0de2c55d.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been toying with recovering the seat on this with a vintage pattern fabric, so maybe that's what I'll do, and pair all these pieces together. <br />
<br />
Stay tuned...<br />
<br />Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-60986307181343635862013-01-27T10:42:00.003-05:002013-01-27T10:42:55.840-05:00New Donald Deskey Fireplace Tools Make the Upstairs a Little Hotter!<a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2010/06/first-saturday-best-day-of-month.html" target="_blank">Back in June 2010</a>, I posted about our pair of fireplaces and a set of andirons I scored at a flea market. We're using those in our downstairs Rumpus Room fireplace.<br />
<br />
At the time, I also showed this original pair of danish modern andirons that came with the house and mentioned that I wanted matching tools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/100_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/100_1251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"We're lucky enough to have two fireplaces in our house. When we made an offer to buy it, one contingency I put in the contract was to keep these fireplace andirons in the living room fireplace. I need to shine the brass, but they are very danish mid century, aren't the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">y? <b>I wish I could find fireplace tools that matched them, I suspect there is such a thing.</b>"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well guess what? Two and a half years of searching helped me learn that the andirons are associated with designer Donald Deskey, and there is a tool set that matches. After a lot of further searching, I finally found it on that auction site, and now it's mine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7d066037080455d8cffd620d95360149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/7d066037080455d8cffd620d95360149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The set includes a matching black iron stand and brass ball with hooks to hold a broom, shovel, and poker.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/8c7e9aeb96cf27a84d0edf73eae6a9cf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/8c7e9aeb96cf27a84d0edf73eae6a9cf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/55e48f3102de6da70f5528725311cf3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/55e48f3102de6da70f5528725311cf3b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/3225cf227e94543dfed9ca1ebae0c4f0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Our%20House/3225cf227e94543dfed9ca1ebae0c4f0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that's more like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-15234184377806080632013-01-21T08:28:00.001-05:002013-01-21T08:34:30.760-05:00Everyone Has Dreams -- Here's Mine<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With respect to the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his memory, I also have a dream. </span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been dreaming this dream for years. It's a dream I'm guessing some of you may share.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ever been to Colonial Williamsburg? The oldest part of the city looks much like it did in the 1700s; reenactors populate shops, homes, and the streets, and when you engage them in conversation, they speak in the vernacular of that time, talk about current events of that time, and generally make you feel as if you are temporarily living in that time.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a great way to learn about history, with all of your senses.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See where I'm going with this?</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd like to find a town that looks like it's stuck in time - specifically stuck in the late 1950s to early 1960s. I'd like that town to have everything period-correct. Cars, bicycles, Five and Dime store, furniture store, diner, movie theaters, drive-in theater, bowling alley, arcade, record store, newspaper, radio station, drugstore, fix-it shop, barber shop, beauty salon, appliance store, hardware store, car dealerships, gas stations, carnival...everything. Sort of a super Mayberry. This town would be populated by reenactors, dressed and coiffed appropriately, and well versed in current events. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If this was my town, I would mix things up to keep people coming back for more. One day it would be the spring of 1957, and every kid would be tossing around one of those new Frisbee toys. On another day, it would be October 1962 - the Cuban Missile Crisis. Christmas 1960. Fall 1958 and the release of the new car lines for 1959. Other days it would be a tragic Thanksgiving weekend, 1963; the first week of February 1960, a milestone for Dr. King's dream; or February 21, 1962; or February 10, 1964. (You'll have to look up those last two.)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What an attraction this would be. Is there a town that wants to volunteer to get this dream moving? I'd be happy to map out my dream down to the smallest detail if you'll let me be a part of it.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499453915127182561.post-26874090535242255182013-01-13T11:30:00.000-05:002013-01-13T11:33:27.747-05:00New Love Seat, Pole Lamp, and a TV PoleHi there loyal Uncle Atom reader! I won't recite all the reasons Uncle Atom has been wallowing in lameness this past month, but I needed to take a break.<br />
<br />
Project wise, I haven't finished anything new, and I haven't gotten out to any sales either.<br />
<br />
But, I do have a few photos I can share.<br />
<br />
I mentioned before I had quite a haul from the estate sale where I got the <a href="http://atomicuncle.blogspot.com/2012/12/update-on-1957-ge-combination.html" target="_blank">vintage fridge</a>. <br />
<br />
Here's the white vinyl love seat. It was part of a set that included a turquoise sofa, and orange and turquoise chairs, all of which were bought by others at the sale.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/f8d0cdff6427dfd0099a09074da3b243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/f8d0cdff6427dfd0099a09074da3b243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The wood is in pretty nice shape, and the cushions don't have any tears, just a little wear in a couple of places. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/6ec7bdacde037a5691e18c4ee5db4d68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/6ec7bdacde037a5691e18c4ee5db4d68.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The previous owners had this in the basement party room, and I had the joy of cleaning off a pretty heavy layer of old cigarette smoke. Mr. Clean erasers did a nice job overall.<br />
<br />
I also used the erasers on this white Stiffel tension pole lamp, which was also coated in smoke. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/eb6135a01eace5012c6e3849d7e3421c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/eb6135a01eace5012c6e3849d7e3421c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/a0f080041f97dc588b32dfa9c3bffbd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/a0f080041f97dc588b32dfa9c3bffbd1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/cfe3325b422ab455db636e12f464994b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/cfe3325b422ab455db636e12f464994b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Once I went over the pole and lamps with the eraser, the yellowish tint was all but gone. I like the difusers in this lamp.<br />
<br />
This last item came from eBay.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/31224d1d185bebc8738db7c3d6300a72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/31224d1d185bebc8738db7c3d6300a72.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I stumbled across this tension pole designed to hold an old tube-style portable television, and I had to have it. Luckily there was no bidding competition.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1992a11a83214c33eafe655aa667f719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/1992a11a83214c33eafe655aa667f719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A "portable" TV would hang by it's handle from the two brass hooks (I've inverted them here to loop over the top of this TV), and the base sat on a flat piece of metal sticking up from the lower part of the pole. I managed to use some strong hook and loop webbing and mounting screws on the back of the flat screen TV to get it mounted to the pole. I have another piece of hook and loop holding the base of the TV to the flat metal piece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/09039fd6020489c8761a1369f0b3f722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w107/Nitcat/Uncle%20Atom/09039fd6020489c8761a1369f0b3f722.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
So far no issues, although I'd really like to clean up the look of the back of the TV. If I really get ambitious, I might try to cover the black TV edges with a light wood grain or some other color besides black. I'll have to ponder that - don't want to ruin the TV with something that would look cheesy. For now, it's kinda nice to have a working TV in the Rumpus Room again.Uncle Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727387676551708772noreply@blogger.com9