Sanford and Son Wanna Be

I mention my son, Hunter, quite a bit since he helps me out quite a lot with my projects. So today, I'm going to tell everyone a little bit about him.  As I am writing this, it seems fitting that Sanford and Son is on.  You'll see why in a minute.

Hunter turned 17 in January but he is very mature for his age. He works harder than a lot of grown men. He is smart and full of common sense. You know how some people are super intelligent but don't have a lick of common sense? Well, he got his fair share plus more. He built this barn/storage area when he was 13 using mostly scrap lumber. As most of you know, my husband is a carpenter so he does come into scrap materials. Hunter is a collector of junk or as he says "merchandise." He likes antiques, really anything old. This past weekend I took a tour though his barn to see what he has stockpiled.

pie safe....

I remember last summer when I never knew what he was going to drag home and I do mean drag. I would starting hearing loud noises from outside, look out the window and see clouds of dust billowing up from the road. A couple of times, I would come home and see the deep grooves in the gravel road and wondered, "what's he got now?" I am proud of him but at the same time can get very aggravated. You see, he purchased a lot of junk from the neighbor across the road for a couple of hundred dollars. The neighbor was happy to have his land cleared off but then it came across the road to my house! I think he had 9 vehicles, some dating back to the 40's. He drug home stock trailers, hay racks, cars, trucks, vans, even a sugar grinder! I am so glad we have acreage where I don't have to see all his "merchandise." Hunter being quite the salesman, posted a lot of it on craigslist. He enjoys wheeling and dealing! A lot of it was also hauled off to the scrap yard. Needless to say, Hunter had a very profitable summer.

approximately 30 sets of hubcaps  and license plates stored in his boat...

If anyone needs anything, they ask him. My sister recently purchased land and needed a culvert.  She called Hunter, and yes, he had one. He has over 300 National Geographic magazines dating back to the 1940's. He has about 60 vinyl records and 9 record players. I finally put my foot don't about this because some are big console types. He has a collection of old radios, Underwood typewriters and a dresser full of old cast iron cookware.

a pair of toile ware lamps

I could go on and on listing the things he has, some I don't even know about, but I'm getting tired of typing. No, I don't buy his "treasures" for him.  He doesn't even buy a lot of it,  most people are wanting to clean out their barns or outbuildings and let him have it. What he does buy, he pays for.  He works with his dad some, he cuts grass in the summer, hauls scrap to the scrap yard, and all sorts of odd things to make money. A couple of weeks ago, he replaced the screens in all the windows at another neighbors house. He has also been known to trade work for things. Last year, he traded carpentry work plus a little cash for a dual wheel truck that he calls "the beast."

I know what you're thinking, "Her house must really be junkie!" Nope, even his room isn't too bad. His barn is 12X60 plus we have other outbuildings where he stores a few odds and ins. He stores things in the attic and he has a room in my fil's storage building that he keeps under lock and key. He knows everything he has, I think he even has an inventory written down. If he buys a vehicle and works on it before selling it, he knows exactly how much he spent on it. He has a folder for each vehicle and keeps all his receipts. At the moment, he has 5 trucks, including a restored 1977 Ford F-100.

And this is Hunter, sitting in his trash found metal chair. That lovely young lady in the background is my daughter, Savannah. 

Now do you see what I mean about Sanford and Son? Yep, my 17 year old son and Fred Sanford would make quite a pair! He is quite unique and I am very proud of him!

Blessings, Tammy

Sharing with:

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