The perfect day to replace a broken-down mailbox that's located in the most peculiar place...
Isn't that weird? How it's just sitting out there in the middle of our yard? I've never understood why it's not next to the driveway.
There's no telling how long this old guy has been standing here...
But I do know that the door finally rusted off sometime last month...
Every time it rains our mail gets soaked. :-(
Anywho...Kevin started "Project Install-A-New-Mailbox" by raking the leaves in the front yard.
And by "started", I mean moved the rake in a sweeping motion one time before it decided to pull a "Mr. Mailbox Door"...
No biggie. Kevin didn't really feel like raking anyway. :-)
Instead, he got right to work on installing the new mailbox we got at True Value.
First, he had to pound a long, metal stake into the ground...
That's when Mr. Hammer decided to pull a "Mr. Rake"...
Poor Kevin couldn't help but smile...
So he made another trip to True Value to pick up a new hammer, and eventually he was able to drive the stake all the way into the ground...
Then he slid the first part of the post onto the stake...
Then he secured the second part of the post to the first part...
Then he attached two brackets to the post...
Next, he used the four nuts and bolts that came with our post kit to secure the mailbox to the brackets...
First he screwed each nut onto the end of each bolt. Then, while holding the nut snug against the inside wall of the mailbox, he used our electric screwdriver to tighten them all up...
Finally, once Kevin had the new guy in place...
...it was time to remove the old guy...
And when I say "remove" I mean barely push on one time.
Kev was still pretty proud of himself though. :-)
So long Mr. Rake, Mr. Hammer, Mr. Mailbox Door and Mr. Mailbox!
Hello new mailbox conveniently located right next to our driveway!
(move your mouse back and forth over the picture above to see me move faster than a speeding bullet, and to see how really far away our old mailbox used to be.)
We've had this project at the bottom of our mile long to-do list for the past couple of years because there is SO much work left to do on the inside of the house. So we want to send a big thanks to True Value for creating an opportunity for us to get a mailbox earlier than expected. We look very forward to receiving our issue of The Nest magazine in it this week!
Layla :-)
PS...There's still time to enter our True Value Giveaway #2!
This post brought to you by...
With all the time you'll save not having to walk so far to get your mail, you'll be able to get more projects done inside now! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Kevin!
Susan
Perhaps the original driveway was on the other side of the house explaining why the mailbox was way yonder? Isn't it amazing how such a simple thing like a new mailbox has such a big impact to your curb appeal? It looks great. Layla, I knew you had super powers which you use to complete home projects faster than a speeding bullet! On another note; ahem, dare I say, please be gentle with Kevin tonight. You don't want anything else to break off!
ReplyDeleteHa! So funny. Kevin must just be really strong in order to break that rake and hammer with such little effort! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe mailbox looks great, I'm sure you're going to love only having to walk a few steps to get your mail - especially when it's not so sunny and crisp outside!
Hooray for a new mailbox! Those simple, practical projects aren't very exciting, but they're so often the ones we kick ourselves for later and say, "Why didn't we do that sooner? That was so easy!"
ReplyDeleteNice chemtrailed sky you captured in your picture there. Perhaps your next purchase at True Value should be a couple of gas masks.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note, the mailbox looks great.
That tute was awesome and easy to follow.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you pound a stake in the ground! I thought those posts were always cemented in... glad I tuned in! Now I wana go make me a mailbox. :)
Donna
Too funny, I can't believe everything was breaking!! :) Kevin was a good sport. The new mailbox looks might respectable!! I bet you are SOOOO excited to get your issue of the Nest!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, it's good thing True Value picked you guys. You are in serious need of some new tools!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the mailbox, even with all the set backs. The photo of Kevin hoisting it over his head is hilarious. What an odd place for the original mailbox. You may have to fit in some gym time now that you don't have to walk a mile to get to the mail. :)
My dad was here (Europe) for the holidays and so happy to get back to "Alabama cold." We were in Paris the week before Christmas and it snowed like mad. They shut down the Eiffel Tower due to lack of visibility. He was so mad. He came all the way to Paris and didn't get to go up the Tower. After we got home we went to the German Christmas Market (where we live) it was so cold we could barely see.
When he got home, he said it was positively warm by comparison.
Hilarious about the tools. Hopefully you didn't get those at True Value! ;) Okay, so no concrete with the mailbox huh? I was under the impression that we'd have to pour some when we moved our mailbox. Ours is right out our front door on our circle driveway, but we have to move it wayyyyy down the driveway and ACROSS the road because we aren't handicapped like the previous owner. Sad! (about moving the mailbox not about not being handicapped) :)
ReplyDeleteFYI - Be sure your mailbox meets federal regulations and isn't too high, or too far away from the curb -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.medfordmailboxshop.com/merchant/pages/guide/mailbox-sizes.htm
PS: I loved reading about the broken tools.
i honestly thought the two of you would install a more "coastal" mailbox. Iris
ReplyDeleteHey Gang!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great comments.
:-)
"Fairfield House"- I LOL when I read yours. :-D
"Kristi@Addicted2Decorating"- I hadn't thought of it that way! I just liked the way the soft white looked against the crisp blue backdrop. (I told ya, I'm a hopeless design romantic!)
"Mom in High Heels"- We're SO jealous you got to spend Christmas in Paris!!! Sorry your Dad didn't get to go up in the Tower though.
:-( Glad he made it back home to the South safe and sound!
"Natalie"- No, we've had those old tools FOREVER. I can't even remember where we bought them. They couldn't have broken at a better time though! :-)
"MyFirstGarage"- Thanks for the great link!
"IFEA"- Believe me, if True Value carried coastal style mailboxes, we would've bought one with our giftcard. It's all about workin' with what you've got around here!
:-)
Layla
Oohh...I can't wait for The Nest to grace my mailbox! I am super excited for you! But I have to ask, did you ever get that doorknob fixed!? ;o) ~mary~
ReplyDeleteI just did this project a month ago as some teenager in the neighborhood thought it would be fun to smash our plastic mailbox to a million pieces! Ugh! My post is so wiggly from being hit by plows and kids that I think it may be time to replace that as well. I did not know that would be so simple. Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteWow! I can't believe everything was breaking at the same time. My kinda luck. The new mailbox looks great.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be able to cross a project off the list. We had to have a big mailbox put in, as we seem to get so much mail (husband is a doctor and gets all kinds of medical journals). And of course it had to be red! Congratulations on conquering that job! (Your mailman/woman will be so pleased!)
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Perhaps the old owners of the house were tired of the mailbox being hit everytime some crazy driver swung into the driveway! :D That would explain the odd location.
ReplyDeleteNice job on the install, Kevin!
I think Kevin has super strong strength... Go Kevin Go! Nice new mail box. Love its color & location... Perfect! Love reading your BLOG. I get inspired to do my own projects. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteXOXO,
Alexandra
I subscribed to The Nest, when you mentioned it..hoping to get the issue that features your cottage. However, apparently it takes up to 12 weeks to get the first issue. I hope when I finally get one that it does feature you. :( Terry in Texas
ReplyDeleteToo funny! Some days are like that, I guess! But the new mailbox looks great!
ReplyDeleteFun post. All I thought of was Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber...."We got no food, we got no jobs, our pets heads are falling off!!!"
ReplyDeleteHide Maximus, HIDE!!!!
Happy New Year.
Tina
Gotta love days like these...ha! Love the new box too..((hugs))
ReplyDeleteOur hammer just did that today when we were fixing our dock! Pretty new mailbox!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty, guys! We had a leaky plastic mailbox when we first moved in, too. We replaced it last summer and painted the post white. I think this spring/summer I'm going to stencil our house numbers on with reflective paint. A sweet little mailbox is nice to see whe you first come home, don't you think? :)
ReplyDeleteLayla, this was a great post, great photos and story, really made me laugh. So funny, thanks!
ReplyDeleteClark Kent? Ha! I think Superman's real secret identity is Kevin Palmer--mild manner DIY husband! ;)
ReplyDeleteOK YOU GUYS :) YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY YOU JUST MADE YOUR POSTMAN, I KNOW, MY SON IS A CARRIER & COMPLAINS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THOSE "CRAP" MAIL BOXES. SO YOU DID YOUR FEDERAL GOVT. DEED OF THE YEAR LOL
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful Lay! And Kevin cracks me up. Loveya!
ReplyDeleteOur new house has a mailbox like your old one (doorless) except it also has yellow flaky moon and stars painted on it and it's been concreted into an old milk can. It's Ugh-ly.
ReplyDeleteFunny how a project that shouldn't really have any surprises, would have it's own setbacks like a broken hammer! Been there too!
this is so cute and funny, but sadly so true, funny how those little things fall sooooo far down the list! Love your new Mr. Mailbox!
ReplyDeleteThis post was fun to read....both ironic (all the things that broke) & informative. Who knew installing a mailbox would mean going through so many tools? Great job!
ReplyDelete-Gail
P.S._Is it just me, or does the red chimney on your neighbor's house in the picture look like it's about to fall over? Ha!
Nice. Isn't it amazing how doing even a small project like this can make you feel so awesome!
ReplyDeleteThe post makes me want to run right out and, well, do something...
That picture of Kevin holding the mail box truly made me laugh!! Probably because I can see my own husband doing it as well... :)
ReplyDeleteHaha... who knew installing a new mailbox could be so fun!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I need to replace ours as well...somehow it's always pretty far down on the priority list!
ReplyDelete