Friday, May 15, 2015

Willy-nilly Friday Five: Paint, water and fantasies…

1.  I mentioned last week that I was going to Brush It Off Paint & Sip Bar in Sturbridge for a night out with the girls.  It was a fun night.  We painted wine bottles that can be threaded with fairy lights and used as a night light or something like that.  Here we are with our bottles:


I think we did a great job!

2.  While I was standing around waiting to leave Brush It off, I noticed that the paint aprons were pretty cool and I took photos of a couple of them.  I think this looks like an intentional modern art painting.


3.  We’re having a very dry spring.  While our problems in the water department are dwarfed by the problems they are having in California, I think it’s interesting that the record-breaking amount of snow we had this year was not enough to keep us from having a spring drought.


4.  On Tuesday this week, I got up early to let the refrigerator repair guy in for the fourth or fifth time in a month.  Our Samsung refrigerator that we bought in August, 2011 had been on the fritz for more than a month for the second time in its short life.  This time, I think he fixed it, but I have no faith that the repair will last.  My Facebook friends have heard all about this travail so I won’t go into the ins and outs of it.  Living without a convenient refrigerator is bad enough, but I am distressed that major appliances, while being so expensive, are so shoddily made as to have a short shelf life.  I know that sadly we have become a “throw away” society, but throwing away something as large as a refrigerator is so very wrong!  It’s not just the “fancy” appliances that this applies to.  We bought a very simple fridge for a condo we own and rent out to our daughter.  It lasted about one month past its warranty and the repairs were so expensive it didn’t make financial sense to do them, so we had to buy a new one.   We shouldn’t have to take this, people, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out what to do about it!  Every time I think about this, I can feel my blood pressure rising.
  Okay, rant over.  I need to take a deep breath and clear the air…


5.  Well, I guess it’s fanciful to imagine major appliances that might last at least ten or eleven years.  But one can dream, can’t one?  How about this?  I think I will petition Congress to install a coffee pipeline from our kitchen downstairs to my office upstairs.  Or actually, wouldn’t it be nice if it could just come directly from Dunkin’ Donuts to my office piping hot?  That way I wouldn’t even have to grind the beans.  It’s a thought.  Congress has been known to spend money on stupider things than this, but I’m not going there.  It's a crazy world!


Hooking up with Willy-nilly Friday Five!


Around Roanoke

Late Edition:

Joining up with Friday Greens, too!


18 comments:

MadSnapper said...

my camera is only 3 yr 7 months and i paid 629 dollars for it and it is on the blink and mailed off to pay another 200 to repair it... my mother had maytag washer that lasted 30 years, mine last 8.. our freezer was just over 3 years and the compressor quit, it was more to put the compresson than to buy a new one. we just did not do either and have no freezer... you are right, nothing to be done that i know of

that apron shot is awesome and looks like a painting, an expensive one.

the painted bottles look great and what a fun idea to do with friends

Debbie said...

the bottles look great and how fun to have a paint party with friends!!!

lot's of pretty images also!!!

TexWisGirl said...

the bottles are really cute! your reflection shot is beautiful. stare at that and forget about your fridge for a moment. deep breath... :)

Rose said...

I like the bottles, agree about the apron...and I can rant right along with the best of them. I have said for a long time we are a throw-away nation. It makes my blood boil, the way things are done/made. I had a stove that was maybe 3 or 4 years old at the most, and I felt like I could have burned the house down if I had say put a roast on or meatloaf and gone out to do yardwork, etc. We had to throw the breaker to turn it off! I did not see about getting it fixed after that...was afraid there would be something else.

As for Congress and all them up there, I think they all should have to get out and do actual work before they are allowed to run for office...all most of them have done is run their mouth. They should have to do actual physical labor and then give half their money away to people that won't work...or that spend it on stupid stuff.

Ida said...

1. Sounds like a fun time and the bottles do look nice.
2. That does look like a modern art painting. It would look good framed.
3.Bummer about your dry spring. We've had rain this week but they are predicting a long, dry summer. I hope not.
4. That is a real bummer. Our frig has lasted here for at least 10 years already (knock on wood) perhaps it's the brand you purchased.
5. You made me laugh but I think that's a great idea.

Loved those last 2 photos. So pretty.

Barb said...

In my parents' generation, an appliance was bought and lasted until the people died! Not so anymore. We replaced a dryer that did last about 15 years and the guy at the store readily admitted that the new one was lucky if it lasted half that time. Don't get me started...I won't even comment on Congress! Love the idea of a painting night out with the gals. Moisture seems to be boom or bust - right now it's boom for us in Breckenridge. Love all the different shots.

Unknown said...

maybe you just got a lemon fridge? for sure that would tax anyone's patience

otherwise, lovely set of images...we still have ice in some places ... and a high water table

I really like the image with water...its' so paceful!

Unknown said...

ps...lovely bottle paintings!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

We just worked at clearing things from my late mother's home and found older hand appliances and some non-powered ones that while old, still work. It is somtrue that things are just not made as well as years ago and that is sad. And, I agree that the situation with your Samsung frdige is nit acceptable. I wondered if you had taken out the extended warranty?

Tom said...

#1 From looks of the aprons I wasn't sure if any of the paint got on the bottles.
#2 Frame it.
#3 Its dry here also.
#4 Buy American!
#5 Sometimes it's good to be a dreamer.
Tom The Backroads Traveller

Nicki said...

The bottle party sounds like fun and I absolutely love the painted apron shot. Don't get me started on over priced appliances, exorbitant repair costs (why am paying the rest of my life to put my kids through college when they can open a plumbing heating and air conditioning company - their hourly rates put to shame a good many attorneys).

A Colorful World said...

So sorry about the drought you are going through. Your sip & paint evening looks like so much fun...love the smiling faces, the pretty bottles and the modern art apron! :-) I understand your frustration about refrigerators not lasting! We're on our third frig in this house in the last four years!!!!

The Furry Gnome said...

I sure agree with your rant! And we too we're having a very dry spring until this week's rain. I love the photo of the pond in the woods!

eileeninmd said...

It is sad that appliances do not last like they use to.. The new items cost so much money and are cheaply made. I like the fairy light bottle and the beautiful reflection shot. Have a happy day and new week ahead!

Kerri Farley said...

Lovely images! That paint on the apron does look awesome!

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

Love the bottles. And your lovely shot of the pond calmed things down a bit. I share your anger: there's such a thing as "fit for purpose" which means that something should last for a reasonable length of time, irrespective of whether it is out of 'warranty'. A warranty is actually pretty meaningless, in my view, unless it extends beyond whatever might be judged 'a reasonable period'.

Tanya Breese said...

that looks like such a fun night and the bottles turned out great, love your modern art apron too ;) yes, the throw away appliances tick me off too...a couple of years ago my husband went shopping for a new grill and the guy told him they aren't made to last more than a few years...our dumps are full of these huge appliances...refrigerators/washers/dryers used to last forever in my grandparents time...is it just because all this is now junk made in china? makes me so angry too...thanks for linking!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Hmmm, don't get me start on poor workmanship of modern goods...
Lovely images and the greens really do sing!
Thank you for taking part in the Friday Green meme, look forward to your next entry!