Goose!
And a horse.
Apparently my little self-made “Dude Get On That Already” challenge is a running joke with the universe, which seems to say: “Stop hoarding animals in the playroom.” At least I’m finally getting pieces off the floor and onto the walls so they can be enjoyed (or perhaps that’s wishful thinking). These two thrift-store finds had been waiting over a year to be displayed, and this week I finally got around to it—no painting required. They were both long overdue, and hanging them felt especially fitting after the untimely passing of our friend Ramsey.
I had John hold the duck while we worked out exactly where and how to hang it using only two nail holes. Instead of making a paper template or moving nails around, we used painter’s tape as a quick, accurate guide. We wrapped tape around the back of the duck with the sticky side facing out, then poked holes through the tape where the hanging hooks are.
We held the duck up about an inch from the wall and adjusted its position until we liked it. I stood back to judge the placement while John moved it around. When we were happy with the spot, we pressed the tape against the wall so it stuck.
Pressing firmly around the back ensured the tape and its pre-poked holes stayed in place and marked the exact angle and spacing needed for the nails.
Once we removed our inexpensive $8 thrift-store duck, the tape remained as a perfect hanging template—two little holes showing exactly where to drive the nails and the correct angle for hanging.
The duck is light enough that no anchors were needed. I nailed those spots, peeled off the tape, and celebrated with a bit of joyful singing.
And voilà:
The concrete greyhound beneath Sir Duck (a Valentine’s gift from John back in 2008) only proves that I have a soft spot for animal decor.
We love how the duck appears to be flying toward the front door. If the dining room wasn’t full of ongoing book projects, I’d share wider photos to show how the duck’s dark wood tone complements the chunky dining table nearby. Hopefully we’ll get to that soon.
Now on to the horse. From the moment we found this iron-horse piece at a Delaware thrift store for $7, we intended to hang it in the bathroom with a towel threaded through its ring. A year later, it finally made it up on the wall. Right now the bathroom is a big, white box, so the horse looks a little subdued, but once we tackle painting and other updates it will stand out beautifully.
We decided to leave both pieces in their original finishes. When we first bought them we considered painting, but lately we appreciate the texture and timeworn patina they already have. That said, I’m not opposed to the spray-paint can—sometimes pieces get a fresh coat, and sometimes they stay as-is. Either way, they’ll earn their place on the wall rather than languishing in the playroom.
It’s surprising we went a year without a hand towel hook in the hall bathroom—the one guests use. Previously the towel lived in a heap next to the sink. Now it has presence, purpose, and yes, a little animal charm.
In short: our bathroom has many issues, but a towel hook is no longer one of them.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the many updates we want to make throughout the house. Once the ongoing kitchen makeover is finished (still a work in progress), a few of the bigger projects we’re planning include:
- Updating three full bathrooms that currently need work
- Making the sunroom usable instead of filled with random furniture
- Converting the untouched playroom into a proper kids’ bedroom and play space
- Turning the carport into a garage
- Building a substantial walk-out deck
- Refreshing the porch: paint, remove scallops, stain concrete, and box out columns
- Installing crown molding in several rooms that lack it
- Adding wainscoting in the hallway that leads to the other bedrooms
- Refinishing the wood floors
- Completing a number of partially finished rooms like the living room, master bedroom, guest room, and dining room
- Slowly renovating the front, side, and back yards over time
- Building outdoor play features such as a sandbox, playhouse, or playset
- Flanking the kitchen-living room fireplace with built-ins
- Potentially altering the roofline in the future to add peaks to the front of the house to better match the addition in the back
So yes, there’s a long list of projects. But for now I’m focusing on small wins—like getting animal art off the floor and onto the wall. Do I need Animals Anonymous? Will Animal Hoarders knock on my door? If they do, our house-sitters will be there to welcome them—we’re currently on a plane to Portland, so the timing is almost comedic.
On that note: we’re likely to post a second update today a bit early (we’ll try to publish around noon EST during a plane change). We won’t be able to approve comments between roughly 1–6 EST while we’re in transit, so if you notice a delay or see comments held for moderation, bear with us—everything should appear after we’re back online. We moderate so we don’t miss questions when lots of comments come in, and they’ll pop up eventually.
Have you finally hung any pieces or bathroom accessories that had been waiting for over a year? Let’s commiserate and celebrate getting those small projects done.