The Prairie Crocus is becoming quite the little handywoman. Remember the assembling of the bed and dresser from Ikea? I had help with those. On Friday Sears delivered some of my new furniture. Of course the curio cabinet and the bookcase were in boxes and in a state of pre-assembly. My daughter would not be available for some time and wasn't really up for assembling any more furniture. So I tackled the bookcase solo.
It came with instructions. It's a good thing I didn't realize when I started how difficult it would be or how long it would take or how much I would sweat, or I probably wouldn't have started. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I was going along quite nicely, about half-way through when the instructions said: Have someone hold the door in place while you put in the screws. Well, the last time I looked, I was alone. My assistant must have taken the day off. I balanced the doors on some CD cases and carried on. It worked.
The next problem was trying to get the shelves attached. The screws were inside these little plastic hiding places and the screwdriver had to be held sideways. That was a real challenge. By this time, I had a blister in the middle of my right palm from using a hand screwdriver. I severely regretted having sold my Black and Decker electric drill/screwdriver.
I knew I wouldn't be able to finish assembling the bookcase using a hand screwdriver, so I hied me out to the little hardware store a couple of blocks away. Just a really little store, they did not sell power tools, but, luckily, they had some for rent. I told the gentleman behind the counter about my troubles with a hand screwdriver. His response was: "Oh, so you want to really screw things up with a power screwdriver!" Mumbling under my breath about male chauvinist pigs I left with my rented power screwdriver.
After that, things went much faster. And after just 5 hours, I had myself a new bookcase. (See picture) It is six feet tall and weighs almost a hundred pounds and I did it all by myself! Good job, honey! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't collapse when I fill it up with books.
The next morning I bought myself a cordless power drill/screwdriver at Canadian Tire. Okay, Prairie Crocus, you're ready for anything now. Anybody need any furniture assembled? I'm your woman.
My next project was to paint two bookcases to match my new bed and dresser. I sanded them a little, then put on a coat of primer. After letting them dry a little I put on one coat of the dark brown paint and they look pretty good, if I do say it myself. That took two days. One last coat tomorrow and they will be ready.
The curio cabinet is still in its box. That might be a little more challenging, as it has four glass sides and the shelves are glass. I think I will have to get myself an assistant - anyone out there who wants the job?
In the past, he was the handyman and I was his assistant. I was a good assistant, too. I did learn a few things from watching him. For example, he used to put the screw onto the screw bit of the electric drill and then onto the wall. Such a simple little trick, but it's much easier than holding the screw on the wall and then trying to fit the bit into the screw. He was a good handyman, but I can't ever remember him assembling any furniture alone - he always had me to help him. So I am quite proud of myself.
I see that Gary was planning to leave for BC today. They are probably stopped at a Walmart somewhere in Saskatchewan, sleeping in the RV. Pleasant dreams!
Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it. ~Lord Acton
