Neighborhood Cheer

Through rain and sleet and snow... Isn't that how the Postal motto goes? Well, the least I can do then for such steadfast service is provide a nice box for the mail lady to deliver to.

After 15 years or so, seeing it needed some attention, I gave it a fresh coat of paint as well as solid stained the cedar post (bottom photo). Then after seeing how nice it looked, our old store bought mailbox planter box was in contrast, looking shabby (things have a tendency to happen that way) and one afternoon, with some scrap cedar and mahogany pieces I had laying around, I set out to make a new one. Upping the original design from original, I added a top rim and contrasting outside corners,adjusting the size to fit a decent sized flower pot. I was very pleased with it and I hope it was a nice addition to our tiny street in a meadow. This one is shown above. 

Unfortunately, someone else also appreciated it a little too much and decided to take it home… as one afternoon when I was pulling up to the mailbox, I found it was gone, along with the flowers! I was very sad with this inconsiderate theft which brought me a sense of unease with safety at home, something I had never had living here for 20 years. 

So…round two and here we are. This time, without spare nice wood cedar pieces around the house, I am choosing simple rough cut pine and planning to paint it to match the post. This design and materials, to minimize cost will also be a little simpler and I hope to add a steel internal framework to discourage easy removal. I do not care for it as much as the cedar one to be honest, but I have kids to feed, so this was what needs to be done for the cost. In doing so, I do hope this one stays for many years for all to enjoy and is a little spot of cheer for my neighbors. The old (first) one is shown below and the (second) above and  I will add the photo of the newest one when it is complete