An Unexpect Adventure

 DD#1's Sunday dinner was a hit. She tried 3 new summer salad recipes that were all easy to make and good. The grands ate alfresco that is until hubby and I showed up! Ha

 Tyler is at that age where they seem to always be hungry. He inhales his food, the little girls are easily distracted, Mason man likes to take his time, he never leaves a bite.

 We love to watch the Mommy birds build their nests in the spring. Having some bird houses around where we can see them from the deck is a sure way to enjoy the process.

 Hard to see this one. It's from Rock City "Chattanooga, TN" if you ever have the opportunity to be in the area this is a wonderful city to visit.

 Back when I was buying trees for DD#1's yard the nursery had the greatest bird house. Nice and big made from pressure treated wood, sure to last for years and years. I started to buy one then but we were already going over budget so I held back. With Fathers day coming up and wanting to find something for hubby to do in his off time I thought this would make a great Fathers day gift. He and Tyler would enjoy making something like this, it's much better than the junky wood working kits they have been doing.

 However the shop had sold out of bird houses but they did have this out door shed that was the same design as the birdhouses.  This will be perfect for gloves, twine, knife, sunscreen, bug spray, who knows what else and even a few towels to use in the hot tub (summer mini pool for the grands).

Not my Photo of a typical NC chicken house

Talk about customer service. The nursery shop owner knew just what I wanted and thought the fella who did their woodworking might have extra birdhouses in his shop. She gave me directions to his place. What a COOL workshop it was!!!

Yesterday I was get the errands done so I could head home to do the wifey thing. Two errands turned into dozens of stops, grr but the thing that took the longest and was well worth getting soaking wet in yet another day of tropical rains.

Talk about repurposing at it's best!! The couple that owns the land inherited from his grandparents. Way back when, they raised chickens to supplement their income. Fast forward 50 years or more, the fella had converted one of the chicken houses into a HUGE woodworking shop. OMG I wanted it all!!! There was nothing the man didn't make/have in his shop for outdoor use. Of course being from the South once you discuss "who your people are" we got down to talking about his cottage business out back.

His former company like many these days were downsizing due to the economy. Younger people were being laid off, some of the older people were being kept on but for who knows how long. At 62 he was afraid of a layoff down the road and maybe the package wouldn't be so good. His wife had been a stay at home Mom all her life. Like me soon after the kiddo's were out of the house the grands came along, the house once again filled up fast Mon-Fri while grandma helped the mommy's out. Needless to say his wife is plenty busy!!

He had always tinkered around making wood furniture, garden stuff for family, gifts, donations for the church bazaar. Figured maybe he could stay out of his wife's hair and make some pocket change. Well he is doing MUCH more than that now days!!

A small business like this would be great for hubby at retirement. He could do what he loves other than spending money on guy stuff and bring in some chrome money to boot. He does so love his chrome for the bike.

Have you thought about starting a cottage business after retirement or would you rather just kick back and enjoy the free time? I think hubby and I would both like to do something, not just for the income but to stay busy. Until the grands are all school age I don't have much free time but someday...maybe