I have talked to said that “blogging” is
simple. I’m here to tell you that that statement isn't true. There is so much
going on in my brain that trying to get it to appear coherent on paper is
almost impossible. Trying to succinctly explain what we are trying to
accomplish here at Dry Creek Design is really tough as the whole mission has
been developing over years of trial and error. My mother says that I have been
cursed with a genetically disposed brain that works overtime, all of the time.
And that is probably why it is so hard for me to try to keep this blog short,
to the point and, more importantly, headed in a direction that will make sense
to those who take the time to read it.
All of those involved with Dry Creek Design have one
basic mission: to show other people how to take items that have been thrown out
by someone else and re-use, re-purpose or re-store them and give them a new
life within the walls of their own home. I’ll admit it….Pottery Barn is
literally my favorite store. I love the sights and the smells, all of the shiny
stuff……but I can’t afford it. Nor do I want to. I get more excited by the
prospect of finding an old lantern that has seen better days and no longer
works and turning it into a bedside lamp that takes advantage of the character
and “coolness”. You can’t build that. Either the item has it or it doesn't I
could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Consequently, the blog addition that I made the
other night was simply sent out at the wrong time. I was so excited about finding
a pocket door that been hidden from view in a little house that I picked up for
nothing that I forgot that I probably really should explain who we are so that
people could see where it is we’re coming from.
We currently have three projects going. You would
think one would be enough but I come from a long line of folks who were
re-purposing materials before it was cool to do so. I guess you could say that
it’s in my blood. The genetic inclination shows up once again….. Beth and I have been trying to get back to Wallowa
since just after we got married, 27 years ago. The planets aligned and, with a
LOT of help from a number of people, especially my in-laws, we were able to do
so. We are currently working on the place that we want to make our home for the
rest of our days. The property currently has an office, a chicken shed (minus
the chickens), a garden, a couple of piles of dirt, lumber under tarps and two
holes in the ground. One is for a shed where we will land the permanent power
and provide much needed space for freezers. The other is for the greenhouse. We
are so excited. So far, we've done it all with cash. Don’t get me wrong. We aren't rolling in it by any means. In fact, sometimes, like everyone else, we
find ourselves putting a 5 dollar bill where a 50 really ought to go. But we’re
making progress. And the really good thing is that, by the time we’re done with
it, we won’t owe anyone anything. Believe me, if we can do it, anyone can.
The second project is our storefront which we have
somehow named “The Lumberyard”. I really should probably call it “The Hardware”
as it used to be the old hardware store here in Wallowa. There’s still time to
make that decision. This is one of the greatest old buildings I've seen in a
long time, great bones and a century’s worth of history. There are seven rooms
upstairs that are a blank canvas, three rooms in the back, including a workshop
for lighting, etc. The other two we are currently using as storage. We are very
much looking forward to using one of the spaces in the front of the building
for a store front. The current tenant has taken extremely good care of it and
we are lucky to get it when she moves to her new location across the street.
The building has the original wooden floors which will be refinished and the
original staircase that leads upstairs. It will take a lot of love and care but
that’s ok. The things that are worth it always do.
The last large project is what we refer to as the
Tree House. A tree fell across the bedroom portion of a really cute little
house up on Green Hill. After making some inquires and a few phone calls, we
found ourselves to be the proud owners of the house and its contents in
exchange for removing it from the premises. All I need to do is make sure that
I clean up the mess and leave the property in better condition than I found it.
Again, no money, and I can use the materials to build a small shed on our
property that will allow us to land the permanent electrical for the site and
provide much needed space for freezers. We will also be able to build a
greenhouse from the balance of the still-usable materials. The house is less
than 1000 square feet but came with old chairs, bed frames, windows, an
old-fashioned refrigerator that still works….can you feel my pulse quickening?
We wouldn't have found any of this if I hadn't asked. The city had been trying
to find a way to get rid of the building for years and the family that it
belonged to was almost to the point of donating it to the Fire Department for
practice. The best part about working in that house and removing “treasures” is
the love that we can feel that was in the house while it was being occupied by
the former tenants. There’s just something about being able to tap into the
energy that quite often comes with items that have history to them.
Here’s the deal. We hope to be able to inspire you
to find a project that you can work on that will give meaning and life back to
something. You might find out that it is you that you are bringing the life
back to. Start small and work your way up. Sand an old shelf that was your
grandfather’s and bring it back to life. Fix an old chair. Put new handles on
an old dresser. It may just have more impact on and IN
your life than you really know.
More to come……..
