5.7.12

On my birthday, back in April, my sister Kate and I braved the biting winds of Alameda and hit up the Alameda Antique Fair.  It seemed as if our favorite vendors were not as brave so the pickings (at least the ones we were interested in) were rather slim.

One thing we did see was a pair of lovely birdhouses made from odd bits and bobs and painted a lovely, chalky white.  Of course they were just part of a vendor's display and not for sale. Other than a skeleton Kate coveted (too expensive) and small table I bought (which Kate helped me lug the 18 miles back to my car) the bird houses were the only interesting thing we saw that day.

On Saturday Rick and I spent the entire day building a bird house in an effort to try to replicate the ones I had seen.  

We either used materials we had on hand or inexpensive items from the craft store.  The pillars on either side of the opening were made from a stool leg, cut in half.  The opening was a small frame.  The finial on top was from a curtain rod that has been in the garage for the past 11 years.  The blue knob came from the craft shop.  

The interesting detail along the roof line was cut from a picture frame. Rick also had an assortment of trim pieces left over from various remodelling jobs that we used for the base of the bird house.  The house itself was made from scraps of left over lumber.

Because there were so many different components the entire thing needed a good, color blocking, coat of primer before I could paint it. Once that dried I just sprayed it with flat white spray paint.  

I know the bird house in the background is crooked but we just hung it there temporarily and next thing we knew a bird was making a nest in it.  We didn't want to disturb it after that.  So pathalogically symetrical me is just going to have to deal with it until the bird moves out.

Anyway – I'm pleased with how the new bird house turned out.  And to Kate – who spent a cold, windy Sunday morning with me so I wouldn't have to brave it alone on my Birthday – Thank you.