I got this idea from all those wooden pallets that you see in industrial areas and behind stores waiting to go to the garbage or where ever skids go to after their time is done.  Often you'll see a sign that says free firewood indicating a huge pile of these skids, but unless you want a big fire that you don't want to sit around for too long, they are not great for campfires.  It seemed like such a waste to trash the wood, and yes I know its not "good wood", but I have two things to say about that....God doesn't make junk and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! So in the spirit of recycling I'm making a recycling depot for the back yard.   This project has been simmering in my head for some time, and I haven't had the time to pop it together, fortunately our weather is finally cooperating, so today is the day!

The family ran down to the Home Depot just before lunch so I could take advantage of Caleb's naptime to get it done.  The premise behind my plan was to take what they had and figure out the actual plan from there.  The basic principal was going to be a rectangular box, taking advantage of the shape of the pallets. Upon arrival we dug out a fabulous base I wish there had been two as it was such good wood and of such solid construction it would have made fabulous mini patio for our BBQ. Then we located three side pallets, and two pieces of plywood, threw them in the van and headed home. 

Construction was fairly easy, I had the general area I knew I wanted to locate the base in. The ground was level enough, but the weight of the base ensured that the mud packed down a little to ensure that the overall project wouldn't be rickety.  I then placed one pallet one each side on it's side, nailing one of the pieces of plywood to both pieces to keep animals from sneaking in the back. 

For the roof I removed one of the slats from the door pallet, ensuring that I had the blocks still attached. This piece I flipped onto the back of the roof to create a slope when the roof was attached to ensure runoff from any rain.  I screwed these pieces in.  Then I placed the roof on and hammered it to the back rail and along the sides.  The door just sits in place for now, in two nooks which where conveniently cut into either side, but I would like to put hinges and a proper latch on it. These however, I will have to buy, as I do not have any laying around. 

The whole project was incredibly simple. The key is to eyeball what you bring home and try to figure it out in your head when you pick up the wood. This ensured that I didn't have to do any cutting.

Here are some other ideas of ways to use old skids...
The Pallet Shed
Compost Bin

(ed. note [that's me!] apparently my legs are broken, so I have not taken pics of my bin, and the bin has been finished for two weeks! So instead of keeping people waiting in suspense here's my rough crayon pic of the project.)
 

Days to Ottermere

We're so excited! We're organized, getting through the laundry, the tickets have arrived, accomodations are booked. We're taking our first family vacation and travelling by VIA to the Lake.  Its a two day train ride, through the backwoods of Ontario to Ottermere

And if you don't like the big graphic on my blog...suck it up I had to go big...its that small!!!

Everything is arranged, we just have to pack up. But in a crisis that only my knitting friends can understand...I'm not sure what project I'm taking! It has to be super portable, and something that will keep me both entertained and interested but I have to be able to keep on eye on Caleb or else I'll never touch it.  Amanda bought me a great knitting book for my birthday  basically for rebel knitters who have trouble using patterns.  Now I didn't say following, I said using. Jamie will understand. I think she has yet to swatch anything!
The "pattern" I think I'm going with is in Mason Dixon Knitting, one of the log cabin blankets. The great part of the book is that it has personality, humour and warmth.  They offer the basic idea behind a pattern then show variations on it, and other creative ways of approaching the task.  As suggested for one of the blankets,  I'm going to try it in a denim or at least a cotton, colours still undecided. Jamie and I are going shopping tomorrow to see what yummy things we can dig up. I have two baby blankets I'd like to make, one for a girl already born and one for a boy in October. (we won't even talk about the two unknowns! Lots of time!!! ACK!) So I figure this will keep me out of trouble for a while. I can work on it when I go into Winnipeg for work.

Oh, and to add to their list of places we have tried to knit and failed....court. Much like their funeral, I didn't try to knit either, but the sign says,

• No hats
• No chewing gum or eating candies
• No cell phone or pagers should be on
• No newspapers or books
  

But it does not say No Knitting, I don't know if you can be found in contempt of court for knitting dishclothes while in session.