Oh, the Joys of Handymanning, sometimes it’s a riot of creativity. Four recent and not-so-recent projects come to mind:

1. Cat House
2. Ramp for a Senior Dog
3. Lazy Susan
4. Backyard Art Museum

Left to right: Cat house, cat tunnel, cat roost, and garage wall. (Photo courtesy of Peter Bray)

1. Cat House

A long-time customer had remarried and his new wife had a cat who was accustomed to the outdoors but she was afraid that “Coalie” would run away in its new unfamiliar neighborhood. The customer and I had already built a sunny Cat Roost outside the garage and adjacent to the garage wall for the existing family cats. These two would exit the garage through the former low wall vent, devoid of its screen completely, and find themselves just inside the Cat Roost, a wire enclosure anchored to the garage wall, some 3-4 feet tall and 15”deep and 2 feet wide, and there take up their “perchs” at various heights of Cat Pecking Order. The customer asked: “Can we take the Cat Roost further, build a removable Cat Tunnel to cross the exterior sidewalk and then enter into the Cat House, a 2×2 redwood frame and black rubberwire-screened enclosure from the sidewalk to the fence, 10-12 feet long, and 2-3 feet high, sloping upward and anchored to the fence?” “Sure we can,” I replied, “with a swing-open, lockable Owner Door half way down which will allow you to crawl inside periodically, to change the kitty litter and mulch, and all three cats can have an exercise and romp yard.” Done deal! In subsequent years, as the family relocated elsewhere in joyous retirement, the new selling realtor said, “Great, the Cat House can also be a Chicken Yard for providing fresh morning eggs!”

2. Ramp for a Senior Dog

“Dynamite” was getting old and could no longer climb the back steps to and from the upper landing of home for his daily business. The owner-customer asked if I could make a Dog Ramp to ease his access. Sure. Two 2×6 rough redwood beams lightly sanded and butted together with spanners and screws on their bottom side and covered with an exterior carpet runner gave Dynamite easy access to the upper landing. The ramp was anchored to the existing wooden steps with anchoring deck crews and was off to the side of the steps so as not to hinder human pedestrian traffic. Meals served on the ramp at lower and lower levels would help train Dynamite to enjoy his new ramp.

3. Lazy Susan

Poor Susan! An upscale home in Benicia had a Lazy Susan in the corner of the kitchen cabinets which had given great rotating storage service but one day, 10 years later under load, the upper shelf collapsed to the lower level, making a mess of everything in-between. I was asked to take a look and noticed that the upper shelf was only held in position with a single 1/4 x 20 Philips head screw, friction clamping it only to the center rotating pole. I cut a 2” dowel with notched ends to serve as a center spacer, 15” long and hose-clamped it to the center pole. Now there was a substantial support to keep the two shelves structurally supported. It lasted another two years until finally the upper shelf (made of plastic) finally cracked in half under load from objects far too-heavy for it. I called a local Benicia cabinet maker-dealer in the industrial Park about Lazy Susan replacements and was directed to www.Rev-a-Shelf.com for replacements. Here we also found wire roll-out shelving that looked far more substantial in durability and access than the former Lazy Susan. Job in Process, reports when they happen.

4. Backyard Walking Art Museum

Same customer, their backyard is a walking Art Museum! Fence hangings of themed plaques and painted boards, sculptures, and free-standing pieces. Great stuff! The only caution here is to use short, plated screws on the fence hangings so as NOT to penetrate the fence with sharp ends for the neighbors to have to deal with. Also the cadmium or zinc or other plating on screws or hangers will minimize rust stains running down on the fence when the rains come. Caution always and Enjoy!

Peter Bray lives, works, and writes in Benicia and has written this column since 2008.

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