With the holes finally patched and walls FINALLY spackled, it was time to paint.

Did you hear that?!

TIME. TO. PAINT!

I hate painting but the realization that the garden apartment was FINALLY FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO PAINT! was more than a thrilling realization.

Every time I’d look at the wall or ceiling I’d find another hole or divet that needed spackle but with Saturday approaching I reached my breaking point.

By golly I was going to paint come hell or high water and if there were more holes that needed filling they could just suck it. Primer was going up and THAT.WAS.THAT.

So there.

Saturday morning arrives and the wallboard near the front door in the hallway is peeling. Yes, we should have noticed this sooner. But it’s technically outside the apartment in the common hall and kinda out of sight, out of mind. I knew it was bad; just didn’t realize how bad.

Dad started peeling the paper back – trying to get to a surface that would hold paint.

The drywall was damp. Wonderful.

He kept peeling.

The drywall crumbling with the slightest touch. Perfect.

And there – inside the wall – we see this:

That, my friends, would be an ice scraper.

A very – VERY – old, rusted ice scraper. With a handle we estimated was about 4′ tall. Hidden INSIDE the hallway wall.

And guess what.

It’s staying there.

The entire sheet of drywall would have to be removed to get it out, so instead, it stays. A hidden little treasure. Just chillin’ in the wall. 

A secret only me, you, & my parents know about.

A new piece of drywall was screwed in and then it was time to prime.

Yup! I didn’t even tape or mud that seam. The hall needs to be redone anyway (there is significant water damage all under the front stoop stairs), so for now, it’s just getting painted.

I think it killed Dad’s soul a little to not finish it properly before painting but he doesn’t have to look at it. So – out of sight, out of mind.