Lloyd and I went to a meeting on Saturday where we are talking about building needs at our church. Afterward a lady was visiting with me about the room in the basement of my school where the quilters meet, and how nice it was that they have a dedicated space to leave the quilts up all the time. Her husband came up and mentioned that the group in town that makes these wonderful hand crosses doesn’t have a dedicated space – they just meet in a guy’s garage. The topic of retired guys building stuff gave me a flashback, and some inspiration.
The flashback was to this article I had read a long time ago. The jist of it is that there was a preschool that would have ‘Grandpa Day’ once a month – a day where some volunteer retired men would come for an hour and build with the preschoolers. The child could tell the ‘Grandpa’ what he/she wanted to make, and they could go to the box of scrap wood and see what they could cobble together. (Read the article for the full heart-tugging experience.)
Doesn’t that sound wonderful? I want that! Begin stage one: Shopping!
The article mentioned 8-ounce stubby hammers, which I had never heard of before. I have some smaller hammers that I’ve used with the preschoolers (we just hammer roofing nails into boards), but a stubby hammer? They are so adorable! I went to Harbor Freight and bought all the ones they had.
These little hammers make my heart go pitter-pat. I spent a fair number of minutes hoisting them around this weekend and demanding that Lloyd call me ‘Thor’.
They also make a beautiful sculpture.
I shall call it “Four Hammers and Stack of Paper Plates. It Would Have Been Five Hammers But I Took One To Work Already.” It’s going to be tough fitting such a long title on a museum plaque, but no trouble at all nailing the plaque to the wall – with my baby hammer!
Gretchen says
Well if I had a hammer -- especially a cute stubby one -- I’d hammer in the morning. In fact, I’d hammer in the evening. I’d hammer all over this land!
Lauren says
Ha! I am transported back to middle school choir!
Brad says
Will you get miniature tools of all kinds? Wouldn’t it be cute to see the kids and grandpas playing with miniature nail guns?
Lauren says
… and wee little circular saws?
Peggy says
HA! You guys crack me up! What ever will you do with all those wee little severed fingers?
The hammers are too cute! Can’t touch this … humming instrumental … Can’t touch this….oh my, this will be in my head all day long.
Lauren's dad says
Did you drool over the tiny, tiny bench grinders at Harbor Freight?
Lloyd says
Lauren keeps challenging me to a “Hammer fight.” I’m not even sure what that means.
Lauren says
I AM THOR!
Seriously, Lloyd. Just say, “I can’t ever hope to beat you, Thor.” I’ll leave you alone then.
Lauren's dad says
They are claw hammers. If their claws were straighter, they’d be rip hammers. So, does she want to risk being clawed instead of ripped?
Jane Sommerer says
Is this a done deal? are the Grandpas coming? You are so smart. I never saw a Grandpaw who couldn’t see 10 things that needed to be fixed and would make it a point to get it done. Somehow they just can’t stand to see things left undone.
Jane Sommerer says
I guess those Grandpas are like the Grandmas that Quilt.
Lauren says
Dad, I just had a quick trip in and out of H.F to
pillagebuy all their hammers, but I am familiar with the tiny bench grinder. Should I buy it? I could wreck a lot of blades with that!No Grandpas yet. I need to get a couple of things accomplished first, like figuring out how to schedule this. 😉