Postings from Germany

Magic Mr. Wichmann

I hate to brag, but as they say, it ain't bragging if it's true.  My husband is something special.  Of course, I am extremely prejudiced but he is something special, especially when I want something special done around the house.

So, the stairs.  You remember those.  He cleaned off the old awful carpet and restored the natural wood.  But projects are often not done although you think they're done.  We thought the hand rail should be replaced.  It was/is ugly.   A big long klotzy piece of wood with no character.  Painted white.  Always dirty. 

We found a suitable rail at the cool center where they recycle old building supplies, and, well, Mr. Magic, if you're going to replace the rail against the wall, can you do something about the rail on the bannister, too???

Ooooh... not so fast here girl, he says.  Lots of considerations.  Lots of scraping.  Sanding.  Sanding.  Scraping.  Staining.  Lacquering.  Times three. 

And of course when you start on such a project in an old house there's always a surprise or two.  But I have to say that it was really no surprise that the earlier "carpenter" wasn't nearly as careful as Werner is!  Oops.  Somebody forgot where the mitre board was, I guess. 

And the side rail had to be stained twice since the first try was too red compared to the original but the second staining was just right.  

In the end, both rails are now as smooth as a baby's cheek.  Rich old wood brown.  Pine, but aged and hard as rock. 

Really, these little things make such a difference in how we look at our space and how we enjoy the space in which we live.  Thanks, Mr. Wichmann.  You're a magician.