The Upside Down Gate!

  Every now and again, questionable things seem to turn out well.  With the Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou in full swing, I have been looking back at some of the props that Michael, Elizabeth and I created. Several are quite ingenious while others are almost comical.  Then there are those that are downright improbable.  Part of the hunt takes the "detectives" outside into the garden.  Since during this time of year the garden does not look its best, we decided that it needed a little camouflage...a bit of dressing up, so to speak.  Things were moved around a bit.  A good bit of trimming and weeding helped some but the garden still looked like the "last rose of summer".   Something was needed to add mystery to the garden!

  Back months ago, Elizabeth and I were scavenging the thrift stores in search of any items that might be used as props.  We have this bizarre knack for turning other folks' trash into veritable treasures...or so we think. One of our finds was a metal wall hanging.  Normally, we would have passed this by as too humdrum for our tastes but it somehow struck a chord with the two of us.  We had no idea just what we were going to do with this thing but we just knew it belonged to the clue hunt! She and I toted the huge thing home and showed Michael.  "Here!  We bought this!"   He looked at us as if we were crazy and just nodded.  We tried to convince him that the wall hanging was perfectly logical to use in the hunt.  "Its perfect!", we exclaimed even though we were still not convinced ourselves.  "I suppose." was all he answered.  

  Well!  Ha!  Our trash was turned to treasure!  Michael created a special gate for the garden!  He took the wall hanging and mounted it on boards and replaced our lovely wooden gate with this one. As a bit of whimsy, he hung the thing upside down. He wanted to see if anyone noticed.  I did.  It did not matter.  It stayed upside down!   It is only a temporary use for the wall hanging but it is perfect!  The "iron" gate adds an infinite amount of charm to the garden.  It draws attention away from the waning summer plants and brightens up the space.  After the clue hunt, my "gate" will find a home inside the greenhouse.  There it will serve as a "backsplash" to the old kitchen sink that is to be installed as a potting sink.  Our fantastic find will be useful for a long time.  I do believe it is almost time for Elizabeth and I to rummage around the thrift stores again!  We NEED more treasures!

  (No, Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, was not banned from the garden.  She happened to be out running while I was taking the picture and decided to become part of the fun. She likes this gate as it gives her a wide view of whatever is on the opposite side!)