I had some more work to get done outside the other day, but it was raining. The forecast was calling for rain, with continued dreariness and a chance of showers or thunderstorms, likely tapering off to drizzle in the near future.

I can't complain, because I had a beautiful day last Saturday to get some work done.

One of my friends, who is quite the talent at using scrapped building materials, helped me extensively. Using rudimentary tools and used building materials, we have managed to finish my place in the woods, as I call it.

The tools included a handsaw, a chainsaw, a framing square, a battery-powered screw gun and a pencil. I will agree that the battery-powered screw gun is not a rudimentary tool. But, you know, it seems that way to me at times. I build everything with screws. You just can't beat them for most jobs, no pun intended. But as for the tools, the ones listed above are all that we used to construct a huge set of steps, a set of railings and more than 80 feet of underpinning - all in one weekend. I was very pleased, but more pleased at the fact that I got all the work finished without ever purchasing a stick of wood.

That may be the best part of the deal of all, if you ask me. I sorted through gargantuan heaps of discarded building materials, hauling away piles of wood, including some rotten and useless offerings, to get some good wood. Perhaps I could have come out faster and easier just heading to the building supply (I almost slipped up and said the "L" word there).

But that's just not what I had in mind. I finished up three decks, one of which is 6'x14', one 6'x10' and another 6'x6' with scrap materials. I find it very hard to complain about that. If I ever decide to sell it and the word "scrap" is not palatable to the future buyers, I will call the work "a modern art sculpture of premium pre-owned building materials."

I also saved a few dollars by purchasing a used gas heating stove and other appliances and utilizing used underpinning and other discounted materials. I found a nice mailbox that was in need of a paint job in a scrap heap (I also located a nice new post for it in another pile of junk) and a new steel door lying along beside it. The steel door had a crack along the upper side that will be easy to repair with a piece of metal and a few bolts. People always tease me about the way I pick things up and stick them here and there, but I never am at a loss for something to do with them. It is always a lot more work to pull nails or work with stuff that might be a little too short or rotted on one end, but that is half the fun of it. The challenge is to do an acceptable job with less than ideal materials.

I got the materials for this latest job over a period of about three years - some from my parents' discarded porch, others from a local coach's old deck, some from my niece's home improvement project, a bit from the fellow I traded with to get my trailer, some from a lady I met along the side of the road, others from a friend who offered me a couple 12-inch-wide oak stair stringers and the list goes on and on. Sometimes I wonder how most people afford to do all the things that I see them doing. Like building new decks and such with nice treated lumber. I just couldn't afford to do it. I bet a nice new deck would set you back $4,000 these days.

I basically use the barter economy for many of my major purchases, trading things that I have for other things that I need. I would be willing to bet that I am not the only one who lives that way in these mountains.

Every time I have a date, my mother suggests that I marry her before she finds out about my junk habits. My mother is very good at throwing things away, much more so than saving them. But, then again, if it weren't for people like her, there wouldn't be any used materials.

Get more tongue in cheek commentary this week's issue of the Alleghany News!

Email: allnews@ls.net