Little Lucky Arrives

Dino in Shackles

It's been awhile since I've shared stories from my garden but this is too good not to be shared. This is the story of how my yard got some un expected art this week. An 8 by 12 foot T Rex! One that I've been eyeing since March. At that time it far to expensive to even consider, it was just a fantasy. Then a co-worker sent me a photo last week similar to above, the poor guy in shackles in a hot parking lot and I thought to myself well, better go look at it, looking is free! This was at the Hyvee Garden Center on Grand in West Des Moines which has some pretty amazing garden art every year. after getting "look" at it I turned to leave there saw a sign that read "75% off everything, yes this means everything!" WOW everything! While surprised at the amazing price drop I eventually rationalized not needing it then left and that was the end of the story. The end......... so I thought!

Well, there was still the issued of me wanting a giant dino in the yard and how close it was to happening! Eventually it was settled that if its still there in a few days maybe I can make it happen but probably not. After a call to my dad to help "talk me out of it" which ended up being more supportive then telling me not-to, the question was however, how it could be brought to my house. Something I hadn't thought at that point in time. So it was back to its likely not happening because the price of hauling would be just far too much. Then after some messages first to my boss who also said "you should totally get this thing" a facebook message to a guy I knew who hauls stuff lead me the company willing to haul this beautiful work of art! It was a great price plus it could be done right away the next day!

The Arrival

Little lucky ready to head to his new home!

 At this point there was no more questioning. No longer would there be waiting a few days, if its still there tomorrow MORNING I'm going to BUY it! I awoke early that next morning got ready and was at Hyvee Grand before 9am buying this gigantic metal garden T-Rex I would have never thought in a million years would have ended up in my yard due to the price range. Then something even more amazing happened, not 5 minutes after sold tag with my name went on, the selling agent arrived with a semi to pick it up and take it away back Nebraska to be stored where it would sell at full price next year! However he was 5 minutes too late!!!! Little Lucky was already adopted and I had the adoption paper (receipt) to prove it! Why that name, well because of all that came together to allow me to take this price of art home was out of shear luck. Little just because its ironically funny.

New home for Lucky, Look no more shackles!

Later that afternoon the gigantic metal dino was loaded up into a half dumpster by a company Ironically called Joe's Junk Removal ( totally not junk by the way! ) and Lucky bound for the beautiful rolling hills of the Southside of Des Moines. The journey however wasn't easy. It was filled with surprised drivers stopping to get a glimpse of a dumpster dino traveling down two of the metros busiest highways. Then after all that attention and fame, as we past Fluer Drive and started to get into the residential areas there was a hurtle to get over, or under in this case, because there was seriously 5-6 moments when I didn't think it was going to fit under phone lines and or several low hanging trees, some missed by mere inches it seemed! Well,  all is well that ends well the ride was over and we took it out of the dumpster and he found his new home in my nice cool shaded, backyard Woodland Garden. Most importantly the shackles of came off and he was free to roam. Little Lucky however, isn't so little towering over my garden bench and matching the roof-line of my house and garage. After placement I went to work fixing a few rust spots/holes with some rust-stop, rust stain remover then Epoxy to patch the holes, then I painted these areas up. Going foreword I just have to paint clear-coat on once a year to keep him looking his Sunday best to keep scaring visitors and my neighbors, speaking of neighbors the view from the backyard neighbors is pretty creepy-looking, lets just say it's a giant dino in the shadows.

More posts to come soon!