cherylad
 Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject: Not Just Another Birdhouse. It's a Boathouse! |
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I think I may have to have this standard opening line in my posts "Warning... this post comes with a story!"
My Dad loved the water... fishing in particular. My Mom was teased that she'd get sea-sick just taking a bath! My 5 siblings were all named after saints or grandparents. Me? Named by my Dad after a tugboat from a TV show "Waterfront" from the 1950s.
Fast forward to a few years ago. My Dad's brother, also an avid fisherman past away... his wife a year or so later. Our cousins said we could come over to the house and pick out something to remember them by.
Right about that time, Hubby was making birdhouses and feeders using old license plates for the roofs.
So, I grabbed some old shrimping boat license plates off the wall of one of his workshops.
Jokingly, I told Hubby I wanted a birdhouse or feeder that looked like a shrimp boat.
Last Fall, he started working on it.
boathouse_start ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Here it is a bit later with the "house" and roof in place. I should also note at this point that my Dad's nickname was "Bay". Another reason those old plates are special to me.
boathouse-cabin ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Well... after 6-7 months. She's finally finished. Practically everything was salvaged from other stuff.
Here's one close-up.
boathouse-close ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
And from the rear you can see her with outriggers and nets! (You'd never believe what he used for nets. Onion "sacks" from the grocery store!)
rear-view ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
So it was then time to put her out to sea (aka placed on the pole). Almost forgot to christen her. Didn't have any champagne... so we improvised...
boathouse-christen ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Now she's out to sea... which basically means she's set up in my "water corner" of the garden where I have my water lilies and nautical stuff.
bon voyage ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
launched ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Now... if only there's some birds crazy enough to move into this thing!
thar she blows! ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
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daisybeans
annapolis md
Posts: 3675
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:14 am Post subject: |
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That was a GREAT story and that's a great boathouse. The details are fabulous. It's obvious that it was made with lots of love just for you.
I love all the family connections that you make to things in your gardens.
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Daisybeans/MaryAnn
"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18528
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:47 am Post subject: |
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Oh Cheryl that is a real work of art!! I really enjoyed hearing the story of how it all came together. Your husband is a real craftsman and obviously has a flair for design into the bargain.
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Sjoerd
West - Friesland
Posts: 7024
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:50 am Post subject: |
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Yes...I really liked this posting as well, Cheryl.
That is a great piece of work that he did.
I sure hope that some birds will move in soon.
Too bad he didn't rig a camera inside it so you could watch the birds inside. hahaha.
Congrats, Cheryl.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:52 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Daisy...
It's hard not to be sentimental about family since I'm blessed/honored to be back at home. My Dad and his brother (with help from other family members) built this house. And well.. Momma... what can you say about moms and all the hard work and time they put into making a house a home!
Our home was completed just before I was born. So at every corner and knick and cranny... there's a memory. The least I can do is honor their memory.... even in my own wacky way!
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Sjoerd and Eileen... didn't mean to leave you out of my response.
Evidently you were posting while I was replying.
Thanks for the kind words... I'll pass them along to Hubby.
It's funny, Sjoerd, that you mentioned cameras. He was trying to figure out how to hook up solar lights to it!
If I mentioned cameras... I do believe he'd take it down and give it a try!
And then what... sonar devices???? 
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daisybeans
annapolis md
Posts: 3675
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:50 am Post subject: |
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Cheryl, I live in the house I grew up in too, so I'm sure that's part of why I appreciate your stories so much.
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Daisybeans/MaryAnn
"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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Jerry Sullivan
Regular Plants Contributor
Chelmsford MA
Posts: 3061
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| Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:58 am Post subject: |
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I just love stories with stories and the pictures are a bonus. Your husband has a talent for turning a story into reality. I'm sure there is a bird eying it right now. Do you have any Carolina Wrens?
Jerry
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dawg803
Southeast USA
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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What a great story and finished product! This would great at a beach house! what a creative idea!
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Kay
Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1114
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| Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Cheryl, I enjoyed your story and pics very much. What a clever idea! I'm sure there is a lucky bird out there just waiting to move in. 
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Kay
To love what you do, and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:10 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Dawg and Kay!
So far it's been the "talk of the yard" with visitors.
I still don't know what bird will be crazy enough or so desperate to move into a boat in the sky!
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Frank
Administrator
Originally Galway, Ireland
Posts: 12563
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:47 am Post subject: |
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I wish I could shrink myself down to pint-size to go and play in that boat. The attention to detail is wonderful, and the colours are very eye-catching. Those lucky birds!
Really great job all around.
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KK Ng
Malacca, Malaysia.
Posts: 1297
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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That is a nice story which made the boat so much more meaningful Cheryl. The boat itself is a work of art!
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2388
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Cheryl, up to now I thought you were the creative one in the family. My apologies to your artistic, imaginative, and resourceful husband! That is a magnificent boat/bird house. I, too, love the story that goes with it and makes it even more special.
Think a pelican will move in? I've heard they follow shrimp boats.
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Green_Numb
Posts: 330
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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wow thats a really nice and creative birdhouse, great story too. I hope to get something for the birds in my yard someday...
I'm sure some lucky birds will find your boathouse and be kickin back enjoying their new home.......i hope they dont fight over it hehe.
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