Make-Work Project

My father has been semi-retired for 7 years. He was a high school teacher for 34 years and then supply-taught for 7 years. This is the first year that he has not taught at all.

All my life I have admired my parents' relationship with each other. They get along great. Enjoy each other's company. They have lots of fun together. Life for them is great...well, it was while my father was casually working. Not so much now.

Why?

Let's see if I can explain in terms us moms can understand. I think it is hard to clean or cook with 3 little ones under foot...I figure that is how my mother feels when my father is around all day long. He is underfoot.

So, my mom gives him projects to do. You see, my dad is an excellent woodworker. He can make toys, shelves, tables, just about anything. In fact, when they moved into their new house, my parents moved in as soon as the structure was built and together, they finished the entire house. They did everything from laying the flooring to making the vanities to painting.

I can always tell when my mom has had enough of my father following her around and disrupting her well-planned day. My dad is sent to his work room and he makes something. A bench for the outside, a wooden reindeer, a soup box, a candle holder, a plant stand, salad tongs.... oh the list goes on. All of it beautiful stuff.

So, on Wednesday when I was talking to my mom on our daily call, she asked (read: begged) me to think of a project for my dad. He was driving her crazy!

Trying to think of a make-work project, I looked down at my feet and saw millions of toy train tracks all over my play room floor.

Eureka! My dad could build the kids a train table. What a great idea! It would solve our scattered train set issue AND be a large enough project to keep my dad busy for a while.

Well...I must say, I am totally pleased with the results...my mom, not so much.

Why? Well, the project was assigned late Wednesday. Plans finalized Thursday morning after my father's curling match...and well, it is done...all done. Less than 24 hours later, my mother is looking for a new project for my dad!

My dad testing that it can stand the "weight of time" and if toy bins can fit underneath.

The finished product. Ready to be painted!

Isn't it awesome? I love it. Today's make work project is for my dad to sand, prime and paint it!

So, if you have any furniture or toys or anything you need done, feel free to ask! I am sure my mother will appreciate it! But, keep in mind shipping costs!!!!!