NEW DOOR

Did you ever, in your entire life, get from your sister-in-law a gift that left you completely and utterly speechless? Did you ever, in your entire life, expect to get from your sister-in-law a gift that not only left you completely and utterly speechless, but also wondering "Heavens to Betsy, what ever am I going to do with this ... this ... this ... THING"? Because you know full well that this gift from your sister-in-law is supposed to be put on full display for the whole world to see and that if you don't put it on display, snarky comments will be made about how she goes to the trouble and expense of buying gifts that no one appreciates. And how she's never buying anyone a gift again. And it turns out that two other people are getting something similar and you get to see the reaction of only one.

Jeepers Dale, you say - did you get a Shamwow for Christmas? And I say "No" - then I change that because yes, if you break down "Shamwow" to its parts, it is a "FakeWow" and that had to be our reaction - fake "wow". As in "You shouldn't have" and really mean it. "You shouldn't have. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE" - now or ever.

And here is a little taste -

but you already saw this picture on my Facebook page, didn't you? So, here is another taste ... (maybe "taste" is not the right word - perhaps I should have used "snippet")

We need to rewind back to October, 2008 for a bit of pre-amble. Her brother (Frank) and I decided that we had enough stuff. Make that we had enough stuff that other people had either bought for or given to us and that we could buy our own stuff. Ergo ... (don't you love that word?) it seemed like a good plan to discontinue the practice of exchanging Christmas gifts with grown adults who also have a lot of stuff. So we tell SIL "No gift exchange for Christmas anymore". And SIL says "But I already bought you a gift". I should mention that I wonder about people who have their Christmas shopping done in October, but I'll save that for another time.

I just bet that by now you are starting to get the picture, aren't you? Turns out that this THING was hand-made just for us - a custom order if you please - by a motor-homing friend who makes these for other motor-homing people who use them as decorative pieces by their motor-home doors ...  

Our niece got one with horses. One in a very interesting position that defies description. Her brother got one with dogs, but I have not seen that one.

These THINGS are bound together with recycled nylon rope. The wood posts look like normal wood. The figures look like other normal resin/acrylic figures. But wait! There's more. Not only are they decorative, but they are also useful! They aren't just a custom-made THING at all! They are, in fact (and unbelievably) solar lights! How very environmentally friendly. Because now, while we are saving electricity, we have to look at one of the fugliest things on the face of this planet. And we will even be able to see it in the dark!

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. William Morris

In the background is our new door to the garage bathroom - isn't it useful - and beautiful?