PANDEMIC DIY

MAKING THE BEST OF DIFFICULT TIMES

Along with his daughters, a son and a son-in-law, George B. built a windmill, a real working one that pumps well water for his horses. It was a complete family project that stretched across long days. They seemed to smile through all the work, and George sent photos to prove it.

In our July/August issue, we posed a simple question on a corner of p. 8: Did you start a new project because you have more time at home? George did; he started and finished his windmill in 2020. He wasn’t alone. Dozens of you started and completed DIY projects. Thanks for sharing your stories.

Like George, these readers and so many more of you used their newfound time to improve their home and build projects together:

LORI M.

built benches to surround her new in-ground pool. She used our plans—see the Timber Bench at familyhandyman.com.

AMY S.

of Georgia shared more than a dozen pics of indoor and outdoor projects that she and her husband finished together.

With fewer volunteer opportunities,

had free time to redo the stairs in his house.

MARK D. RYAN T.

sent photos of a “carport” covering his kids’ electric toy vehicles. He assembled it from 2x4s and recycled pallets.

FRANKLIN S.

shared pics of his upgraded deck and new firepit.

MJ AND HER HUSBAND

finished the most unique project we saw —they built their own rough-box caskets, adding the special touch of crosses made from a family member’s 100-year-old barn wood.

JAKE M.

summed it up best when he described his projects: “The major part was transforming a dingy bedroom and bath. The projects added a ton of value, but the real gains came from the time working alongside my dad—weekends I will never forget.”

Well said, Jake, and I hope Dad reads this too.