The Falling Cupboard

Saturday I noticed that the red cupboard on the kitchen wall looked a bit askew. I took a closer look and saw that the top back of the cupboard was not all the way against the wall.

I asked myself: Was it always this way? I made note of it, but went on with my day. 

Sunday I looked at it again. I could have sworn it fitted all the way against the wall when it was put up with bolts several years ago.

I knew I could not take the chance of that thing falling on my big cart from World Market. And before it fell on the cart, it would fall on the Breville Smart oven on top of the cart.

That oven was not cheap, and since I don't have a stove (for those of you who don't know, I had the stove taken out to make room for the washer) I have used it pretty much every single day for over three years, so I couldn't let that happen.

I took everything out of the cupboard (I store food in it) and moved the Breville oven. Then I tackled the cupboard. I eased it down to the kitchen cart where the Breville oven had been. 

It was indeed coming down, I could then see, and the heavy bolts were dipping downward. Crisis averted! I'm so glad I noticed it before it fell.

I had forgotten that the front bottom of the cupboard jutted downward, so it wouldn't sit evenly once I had it on the cart. 

What to do, what to do?

I tried putting rubber stamps under the cupboard, but it still kept shifting. So I went looking in every nook and cranny of my apartment for something to even it out. 

Finally I found four short wooden legs I'd purchased for a dollar at a garage sale a few years ago. I had to find something that would fit under the cupboard right up to the front where the wood extended down about an inch or so. 

That worked. But then you could see the four wooden leg pieces from the front. So I put a big cutting board I had in front of the cupboard.

Then I was left with a wall with nail holes and bits of red paint that had come off the cupboard. What to do?

I tacked the quilt to the wall to cover all that, because I just didn't feel like dragging out the paint. I used regular thumb tacks.

But then I realized that the electrical outlet was an ugly blight. I had had it covered with the Breville oven before that had to be moved.

So I put the knives in front of it.

Then there's the wall phone outlet I'd forgotten about. 

It had been covered with a painting, but the painting had to go when I put up the hanging metal holder with the vintage utensils to try and hide the electrical outlet. (Following all this craziness?)

I then put up the framed chicken painting and the Wanda temperature gauge I've had for more than forty years. My great-aunt gave it to me. Her husband had worked for the Wanda Oil Company way back.

The Breville oven went on top of the washer. I hope it doesn't shake the oven too much when the washer is spinning. 

Guess I'll find out. I don't do laundry that often. About once a week I wash towels, sheets and clothing.

So that's the story of the falling cupboard and how I solved the problem. One thing just leads to the next. But now I think I've got it all under control.