Another Busy Weekend
'twas another busy weekend in my small corner of the world. I had Many Plans, sorted and organised by priority, severity, and just Want To Do. I was able to get the critical items done and had a little fun along the way, so a successful weekend, I think.
The weekend started with @dswigle's #marketfriday challenge to do something awesome and awe-inspiring with $10. I figured that if I could get anything Interesting for $10 it'd be at the local farmer's market. This farmer's market is much less an actual farmers market and more a large outdoor flea market, like this:
It's safe to say that people sell about anything here. Clothing. Electronics. Toys. Clothing with rips. Electronics without power cables. Broken toys. One chap even had a Home Depot flat push cart that he was hawking for $60. Another fellow kept calling out "Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Everything's gotta go!" He had some cameras and lenses that I would have been interested in but he kept complaining at my son to not touch anything, so I chose not to touch anything either.
I did find an old Dell Inspiron small form factor computer for $25 that I was actually going to buy. The fellow assured me that "Yes. Works. Powers on." and, well, that was good enough for me. I had just arrived, though, and didn't want to carry the thing around for the next hour. When I got back the computer was still there but he wasn't, so I wandered off.
What I did find was this truly awesome old, rusted, aged, candle chandelier. I didn't get a good picture of it (it's pretty big), but I did get it for $10. It is going to be epic for Halloween. Hell, it might be used well before then, too.
I was winning the day, and it wasn't even over yet.
Saturday afternoon was spent fixing the A/C. Ugh. That's a job I didn't really enjoy, but it's certainly less expensive than hiring something to do, even if it did take me three hours.
Side note: Working on the A/C unit requires turning the power off to the unit, first. I don't know A/C, but I do understand power. I'm not sure how newer units are wired, but this one is wired directly to the breaker box without a breaker. I had to turn off the power to the entire house to do this. I hurried so my beer would not get warm and the ice cream would not melt. Priorities, you know.
The unit worked, sort of. It definitely blew. It wasn't keeping the house too cool in heavy heat so, really, it just blew. I was told that the conducer coils needed to be cleaned. Once I removed the case I could understand. Holy shit.
This was filthy. I can honestly say they have never been cleaned in my time in the house. I had no idea it was even ever a necessity. My A/C knowledge goes as far as to know that it keeps the house cool in the summer and is really fucking loud doing it.
Lookit this. This looks like something that @slobberchops would enjoy investigating.
A broom took care of some of this, but the coils themselves require a special cleaning spray. I do not know why, and I did not research why. It was enough to know that a special coil cleaning agent is required. I chose this one.
So, tl/dr, I sprayed, wiped, rinsed, and repeated, then struggled to put the case back on. Crossing fingers, powered turned on, and the unit spun up. Huzzah. I won't know for sure if it worked until the next heat wave, but at least I didn't brick it.
Sunday I had more plans for gardening and cleaning the storage room. I had recently removed some large furniture from the basement and needed to re-organize. But.. gardening.
Another tl/dr: planted some more herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, and a watermelon plant.
But the fun was flowers. Right, @dswigle?
I'm a nerd. A geek. Whichever you prefer. I wear it proudly. In my time I have ended up, in my basement, two old computer shells with nothing in them. For one reason or another I had gutted them. The thing with computer cases, however, is that they do not biodegrade, and I really don't like throwing out things that will just fill a landfill.
So I repurposed them as flower pots. I was uncomfortable growing veggies in them (I shiver when I think about the chemicals that might be in them seeping into the dirt), but I think they work well for flowers.
I am a nerd.
I've done the same with an old firepit that lost a leg. It is now a pot for a pumpkin plant.
You may have seen a Tidy Cat bucket in one of these pictures, too. I also hate throwing those out, since they're good, sturdy buckets. I continue to use some of them as buckets, but some I've drilled holes in and use as above ground planters. The ones in the back yard are growing onions and potatoes.
The "deck" that these are all sitting on was made from reclaimed pallets. I'm really proud of that, too.
After finishing that up I took lunch, then started on the basement. Ugh. It really needed attention. It's in a better state, now, and one of the positives is that I can again reach my basement collection of 78rpm records from the late 40's through the 60's.
And then I played Pokemon with one of the boys and watched episode 7 of Stranger Things. A good weekend.
(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe
About Me
Amateur photographer. Wannabe author. Game designer. Nerd.
General all around problem-solver and creative type.
Blind Skeleton
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Friday Night Concert: 6:00pm EST
Critical things done and had some fun sounds like a great weekend to me
that chandelier is awesome, and repurposing old computer chassis as a flower pot, what a cool idea love it, and now you have me thinking ;)
Thanks! I like to repurpose where possible. I think case I think it worked out pretty well. :)
it worked out real well :)
I cannot believe you got your $10.00 in one fell swoop! Score! Better still, you got a chandelier out of it - with candles! Impressive! I just love it when I uncover a treasure like that! I found a chandelier in Texas made of wrought iron, a dragon that is probably made south of the border, but, we have fun with it!
At this point, it doesn't matter if it is real or not, it has purpose, plus, it is pretty cool. Points for that. Is it going out on the porch? Have you made those plans already?
The man with the don't touch me attitude? Rude!
Once upon a time, I am sure it was a pretty nice Farmers Market, that used to be all agriculture, even along the big 13. That is what I loved about Delaware. Even here, we have lots of farms all around Washington, DC, but. less and less as time goes on. Must be time to move out further. Far and away from the maddening crowd. Yes?
I think that is so cool that you don't toss those computer cases in the landfill! Kudos to you. Still, you cannot be my neighbor. I'd always wonder if you are looking to steal my case when I wasn't looking. I had no idea the a/c units have to be cleaned. Seriously? I wonder if they do it when they serve it in the spring? Oh, by the way, did you give the old boys a bath? Not likely. Now I have to wonder if mine looks like that!
You just gave me a giggle plus you used your $10.00 wisely. Who doesn't want a wrought iron candelabra for Halloween? Thanks so much for adding a bit of fun to #MarketFriday! There will always be a flower for you, to color your world!
MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through by their markets, especially local markets and farmers markets and eventually branching out and evolving over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but, it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact of what is these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Take pictures! Be creative!
5. Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
**7. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post. I
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
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It has been a pretty busy week this week, but I think I want to find a way/place to use that chandelier sooner rather than later. Maybe right above my desk. Except I'd keep hitting my head on it.
I like flea markets. They're very much hit or miss, but always fun to browse through. You're right about the farmer's market, though; this one is much more flea, much less farmer. But there is a yummy fruit and veggie shop on the inside!
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That was some fun and enjoyable weekend, @wwwiebe!
A candle chandelier! Wow, good find.
Hehehe, are you going to mix it around or will you be sticking exclusively to computer shells ?
Looks like an awesome day, I hope it continues on to this week!
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I do like finding ways to liven up the weekend, and I also enjoy upcycling things where possible. I might need to hunt for just some empty computer shells now! 😂 Farther in the backyard I have also build a raised garden out of old window shutters and a set of broken attic stairs.
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Treasure hunting at a flea market? Yes, count me in! I used to love that. I found the most amazing things too and I'm eyeing your candleabra and nodding in agreement and approval. What a BARGAIN! Is it cast iron?
I love your repurposed computer boxes into flowerpots. I'm going to send that to an IT friend of mine who I think will enjoy it.
Great work on that Aircon, anything that sucks or blows air is bound to get gunked up through time. My one PC box looked like that once and it actually overheated and fried the powersupply. I learned that the hard way. Hope yours works at it's full capacity now. You got a lot done, must feel pretty good right?
Flea markets are awesome! There is often something interesting to find, and I don't yet have buyers remorse for the chandelier! I need to find a way to use it soon. Maybe I'll use it to replace the ceiling light in the bedroom!
Yep, I did feel good about it all this weekend. The week has been super busy (I'm so, so behind) but still moving forward. Next week I should be in a spot to start lunch time bike rides again!
I know that many of the old candle chandeliers were reverted into electric ones, you just need to find a way to disguise the wiring, they look quite pretty.
There used to be a product called Zebu (not sure if it's still around these days) that restores that shiny gun metal black colour to cast iron, not knowing if you want to keep the distressed antique look, but have a look at what the colour from this stuff looks like, maybe it's an option for if you choose to restore it a bit. I'm sure there's something similar where you are.
Falling behind on the to do list, I sympathize knowing it all too well, but I hope you get out a bit with the bike rides. Have a fab Thursday
Oh, I'm definitely keeping this chandelier as is. Halloween is my favourite time of the year and this is going to be perfect, candles and all.
Thursdays happen to be my day full of meetings. Alas. Now, Friday, has wide open from 10:00am-2:00pm. That looks like prime cycling time to me!
I love the repurposed PC cases, that is so cool. I am with you, I really do not like things going to the landfill, so will recycle and upcycle any way possible.
I remember cleaning and servicing the ACs in my house in Florida, a pain in the arse but way cheaper than paying someone to do it.
Oh yeah, I much prefer to fix things myself if possible rather than hire someone. I often end up doing it twice the first time, but still save money and gain a lot of knowledge.
Well it makes total sense and as you say, you pick up more knowledge along the way which always comes in handy!
You got a really cool chandelier. I've been to that market a few times years ago. I am sure some of it has changed while some has not. I used to work just south of there and just off 13 in the industrial park. Close to the airport.
Nice planters! No longer crunching those 0's and 1's, but still producing beautiful things. Cool idea.
One of those computer hulls has been sitting in my basement since the dawn of time, too. I'm more than happy to finally use it for something useful!