Be Jane

Be Jane is a new show that seeks to empower home improvement. I am all over this concept, from experience. SO often, capable independent women quickly run away from anything where a tool is used, and I can’t understand it. Why wouldn’t they want to learn how to use tools?

Using tools is the one thing I did learn from my dysfunctional alcoholic father who, during the daytime, was always doing some sort of project. He was very handy with tools, and was the sort of guy who all the neighbors came seeking repairs of their broken lawn mowers and snow blowers. While working on projects, Dad didn’t drink, so this was the only safe time for me to be around him. He was willing to teach me despite being female, and I was eager to learn. My lessons were not limited to mere hammer and nails, but how to use a drill, router and mitre saw. At ten, I was using an aceteline torch and scrapper to remove old paint from the wooden porch railings. Heck, I even learned to skin a rabbit.

When Mom finally kicked him out when I was 14, money was tight, and I was proud to be able to use the skills I learn to do little repairs around the house. Since I was already fairly familiar with tools, replacing a lock, or building a store-bought bookcase was a cinch. Knowing how to replace a tire came in handy more than one time.

What I remember most about all those projects was the pride I felt once they were finished. Home repair can be a type of immediate gratification, and often doesn’t take long at all. Yet so many men and women shy away from it.

When I married Big Daddy, I found a man who was even handier than my dad. Not only could he repair, this man could build. He could hang drywall on the ceiliing by himself. Good thing, too, for our first home was in sore need of improvements. I was able to get my hands on major power tools like mini-jackhammers and pnematic nail guns.
I’ll try anything, and have found that I enjoy most. My only rule…I don’t mess with electricity.

Together, we’ve built a small enclosed porch, a huge covered patio with skylights, and a tool shed from scratch (not a kit). We’ve installed windows, fencing, boardwalk around the pool. We’ve poured concrete for the patio and installed sidewalks, and built landscaping walls. We’ve planted huge trees and smalled shrubs and a hundred plants. Inside, I’ve done most of the painting and papering, hanging wainscoting, and installing floor and ceiling tiles. We’ve remodeled rooms, adding closets and taking out walls. I’ve built bookcases, desks,bathroom sinks and entertainment units. There is still so much more to do, but I enjoy taking on new and bigger projects to learn new skills every year.

Yesterday, our kitchen faucet broke. At the same size as most NFL defensive linemen, my hubby does not fit under a sink. I got to Be Jane again, and replace our kitchen faucet, with a little coaching. I haven’t done much plumbing so far. I could not believe how simple it was, and we were done within an hour. I then began to wonder why there aren’t more women plumbers, for we have smaller hands and frames and can work in tiny spaces well.

I explained the project to Girlie after it was done, and told her that she was going to replace the next one. She has been starting to tag along with Daddy and Mommy now, wanting to learn more about tools. It makes sense, as she is more tactile in general. She is the one that was often out at the kid’s workbench, trying to make things out of the scraps of wood we left while working on a project. She wanted to learn to sew not for clothing, but to make curtains, quilts, and duvets to match.

She has helped with painting for years, but now wants to take the next step and learn power tools and remodeling concepts. We have decided that she will be helping me with the next big project, the master bedroom, this summer. She is very excited, and so am I. She will get to learn how to strip wallpaper, hang drywall, and hang wallpaper. There will of course be painting of walls and trim, but also the framing of an inset bookcase. I am going to teach her about sanding and painting furniture, working on two bookcases. If time permits, we will make a custom headboard. It is time for her to “Be Jane” too.

I am thinking of recording our projects, and making home improvement a section in the portolio for next year. We all had to take wood and metal shop in junior high, so I am thinking this should count as well!

**I do hope to include Scout in this as well, when he is here to learn and practice. He has done all this before, and will be working quite a bit with Dad running equipment and such, learning about really big tools.