The Boy from the Bronx
By DianneN
@DianneN (246334)
United States
June 28, 2016 7:52am CST
Growing up in New York City, my husband never had the opportunity to make repairs or build anything in the apartment in which he lived. He didn't even own a hammer.
Over the years he has learned so much from observing workmen wherever he lived, both indoors and out. He can put up sheetrock, do electrical work, plumbing, and other minor jobs by himself.
Imagine my surprise when he decided to edge a section of our front yard with pavers. He had watched the crew installing Belgian blocks along our driveway and applied the same principle.
I think he did a great job, and I'm so proud of him! Afterall, he is retired and has the time. Does your hubby have the time to do projects?
33 people like this
32 responses
@GardenGerty (157452)
• United States
28 Jun 16
Hubby seldom does house projects although he helped build two homes from scratch when he was a kid. His interest is in cars for the most part. Your hubby seems to have an innate gift.
7 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79549)
• United States
28 Jun 16
Your husband did a great job with the pavers and it looks so pretty. My Ex-husband wasn't handy at all and wouldn't have been able to recognize a hammer if it hit him in the head. I had to learn how to do many repairs myself
6 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
28 Jun 16
Thats great, as a Husband I like doing home improvements atleast every 6 months and it does feel rewarding
5 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
28 Jun 16
@DianneN I agree, I also enjoy painting the house every soo often
4 people like this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
28 Jun 16
@BACONSTRIPSXXX Your wife must be thrilled that she doesn't have to nag you. Lol!
3 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
28 Jun 16
when i retire, i plan to work at home and now, i have already started it. it should not be as toxic as the one your husband does, because i still have to consider my heart
4 people like this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
28 Jun 16
@ridingbet Ingrid, he enjoys doing things. He's not one to sit still for long unless it's a baseball or football game! Lol!
3 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
28 Jun 16
@DianneN but he enjoyed doing that task, right? that is so nice of him to make your pathway better to look at.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
29 Jun 16
How nice of your husband , learning how to do them by just observing .
I guess during his early years he just don't have the interest, time and occasion to learn them that's why he never have done them . But since he is now retired , he has all the time in world to observe how they are being done and apply it himself.
Unluckily , my husband also isn't into those repairs . But with cars , yes .
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (48605)
• Canada
28 Jun 16
I agree with you, he did an excellent job.
My husband can do so many things, sometimes it just amazes me, and he's learned a lot along the way, because face it, technology is part of almost anything that needs to be done. He draws the line when it comes to vehicle maintenance, and he hires most of our work around the house out, be he can fix his riding lawnmower or lay pavers, which he and our son did a few years ago along with so many other things. Me, I'm not so talented!
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (48605)
• Canada
28 Jun 16
@DianneN Yes, he grew up in a house, but there were 8 kids, 2 parents plus 1 grandfather living there! If you saw the size of bedroom that him and his 3 brothers all shared, you'd compare it with your closet. He did have the luck to be able to watch those 3 older brothers work on things and gain learn from them. And then when his Dad passed away, one of his brothers, Bob, who is the 3rd child, took Ron under his wing, and would take him to the shop where he worked and he'd stay there at their place. I remember he took me there to meet them before anyone else in the family. Bob is a remarkably smart man, he has 1 item that he invented and patented and he currently runs his own tool and die shop, although he does have a partner that he's grooming to buy him out so that he can retire. Ron still goes to Bob for advise, and so do I.
3 people like this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
28 Jun 16
@Juliaacv It's great that your hubby had so many males to teach him the ropes. My hubby's brothers were 15 and up when he was a kid. I had a hearty laugh when you mentioned closet. Mine ccould sleep four or five. My hubby built me a huge walk in and around closet, another one of his many talents. He has his own walk-in closet, too, but it is tiny compared to mine.
3 people like this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
28 Jun 16
Thank you. This was a little/big project he felt he could do himself. I'm sure your husband grew up in a house. We are happy his knowledge was passed down to our sons. Of course, we're at a stage in our life where we let professionals do most of the work. I'd rather shop.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457307)
• Switzerland
28 Jun 16
My husband is retired, but for some reason he is always busy doing something at his computer. I do most of the things, but a little help time by time would be appreciated. Your husband did a great job, I will show to mine how good he has done.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48865)
• United States
28 Jun 16
My husband also learned to do many things after we married.
4 people like this
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
29 Jun 16
My hubby is a tradesman and he has all the tools before i met him, but i have to 'force' him to do repairs at home. He gets around to it. Happy that your hubby took the initiative to learn and do those things.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
28 Jun 16
i agree that he's gifted because he learned just by observing. i also remember you said he loved talking with the workmen. great picture.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40020)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Jun 16
That is quite a project. He did an excellent job. My husband occasionally has done projects around the house, but I don't think he has attempted anything quite so large. Lovely!
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
28 Jun 16
Is the photo above his project? So nice, he knows landscaping. My husband likes to buy additional tools though he has no project in mind right now.
3 people like this