Should I Cheat?

Me and the JunkStalker (my car's new name) took off right at dawn through the wilds of our town, stealthily stalking our junky prey.

Casey's car broke down yesterday (I know, we're cursed!) and she had to have the JunkStalker by around 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts so she could get to her class, so I took off before the sun rose so I could get right back. The sun quickly caught up with me, getting right in my face (which does make for difficult Eastbound driving). A person can only drive West, North and South for so long in a one square mile town.

JunkStalker and I inched our way around the neighborhood in search of fantastical treasure. He was purring like a big cat on the prowl. We snuck up, pounced and came back with a few good morsels.

I think so anyway.

This cabinet was barely peeking out from underneath some less than uninspiring garbage. It was upside down and just enough of a corner of the decorated door was visible, like a cry for help, "Get me outta here!"

I wondered as I passed it. Did it have the stuff that good junkin' treasure is made of? By the time it was in the rearview, I realized it couldn't be left to the fate of the trash truck without at least pulling it out and giving it a once over.

So I drove down a few more streets, up and back and over and around and finally came back to check it out, and luckily managed not to impale myself on the hidden rusty nails sticking out the back. The decorative part looked somewhat less than special, like a decal, a cheap imitation of something old. However, I liked the knobs and figured the mirrored door and the one with the design could become signs. Doors and mirrors are fun to makeover. Worse case, I could just salvage the hardware. Best thing was that it was small enough to fit in the car and I could always throw it away if I wanted. 

 

Here are the doors up close, after removal. The little door did have a decal, which was partially rubbed off. Much more came off while wiping it down. In the end I scraped it off with a razor blade. The glass is frosted, and the ghost of the decal remained which left it with some attractive character.

The JunkStalker had also sniffed out this gem as it purred its way slowly up and down the shadowy streets. 

Wasn't sure I wanted it at first glance and passed it the first go round too, but the thought of putting it on wheels was enough to make me head back. I took the wrong street, having to pass the same crossing guards I had already waved to before (they are everywhere, and I try not to pass any of them more than once). I'm sure they wonder about me as I inch along, wandering the streets. I worry they'll think me a child stalker. I should probably get a JunkStalker logo on my car to identify myself as a notorious junker and not a notorious kidnapper, which might keep them from calling the cops. 

I made it back to the pile without having a Sheriff's deputy trail me, and I drug this cutie back to my lair on the back patio, where I have to say I felt like quite the eccentric, moving my Thursday piles of junky wood here and there, taking photos and standing to admire my new darlings. I'm not sure I needed this wood spool (quite sure I didn't), but if nothing else, lovesick frog appears happy to claim it.

While out, I also came across something sticking out of a pile of truly beat up furniture. It was upside down, along with a coffee table I didn't need and didn't feel like dealing with. My eyes passed over the upside down coffee table that may have had some veneer over particle board going on (blech!), and latched onto this. If it was another termite infested table, I didn't care, I was gonna take these wheels home with me one way or another. I gave it a good yank from under the other stuff, and while I was perplexed by it, I stuffed it quickly into the back seat. It would get a thorough inspection at home. 

Sweet Casters!

I like to grab and go when I'm picking from people's curbside piles of junk. I don't want to see anyone, because if I don't see them, they don't see me, right? Or so the rationalization goes. I keep my head down, move fast and drive off into the sunrise!

What I got turned out to be this rolling cart, with a drawer. Cute. I didn't even see the drawer until I got home. It was stuck shut, but I fixed it. 

Woo!

The locking hinges on either side hold broken wood. One side still has another wood piece attached with a regular hinge, and that part is apparently meant to fold over the top, like so:

Obviously there is missing wood that made up the cart top and some more missing from the drop leaf on the right. I'm thinking of just using something from my stash to make a new top for it because trying remake the curved part where it hinges is beyond my skill set, which is too bad because the locking hinges with the spring are quite nice and I love drop leaf tables. 

So now I have decisions to make as is always the case. Oh brother!

Once the cleaning is done, I do a lot of staring and thinking. What to do... what to do. I'll start by painting the cabinet doors and plotting what to paint on the mirrors. The wheels will likely come off of the little pink table on the patio and be handed down to the newest kid on the block, the wood spool. 

As for the rolling cart...I have a feeling this little character with its arms hanging down might be sitting a while. The table top is going to take some figuring. 

To attempt the drop leaves or not? That is the question. I suppose I could make the top without the fancy curved wood, but that would feel like cheating.

Should I cheat and try it, or skip the drop leaf altogether? Let me know what you think or if you have any ideas for this little rolling cutie. I hate to be a cheater but...I don't want this new addition to my junk collection winding up in yet another pile.. You know, the one growing behind my house where abandoned projects, due to indecision or whatever go to wait out their otherwise useful life!

Eeeek!

Let me know what you think...!

...and check out the parties at these sweet blogs this week:

What We Accomplished Wednesdays @ Green Willow Pond

     

   

The Weekly Thrift @ Young Heart Old Soul