Something Good from a Broken Ladder

After Christmas, we were at my daughter's helping to take down her Christmas lights. Hubby was up on the roof, getting lights and blowing off leaves. When he came down I was holding the wooden ladder for him. As he placed his foot on one of the rungs, it broke and the ladder smacked me in the face but I held on so he would fall. It was a 10 ft wooden ladder. 

He said, I will cut it up and throw it out. I had other ideas. I made him cut off the top, above the broken rung part, for me.  I knew I wanted to fix it up and put my flowers on it.

It didn't start out like this, it was rather tattered especially after the break.  it had been sitting outside for awhile at my daughters. 

I was originally going to leave it in its original state. However, I wanted to add boards so I could set my planters on it. I used boards from a pallet. It did not look good with a worn ladder and newish pallet boards.  

My friend gave me some stain when she moved and there was a Red Mahogany that was full. The others were not and I knew I would need lots of stain. So that is what I used. It is darker than I wanted but the stain was free and with all of the sun here, it will fade. 

Hubby had to add a board from front to back on the bottom so we could then lay boards down and have something to nail to. 

On the second shelf, we nailed them from front to back since we could use the existing step and back rung. 

For the top shelf, this is where it folder out so you could place your paint tray. Since this piece folded down, we nailed the sides of it to the ladder and added another board. 

I added a coat of Thompsons Water Seal to the entire ladder. 

Now it was ready for plants. 

I have lots of spider plants. You can't believe how many I have given away and even thrown away. 

I was able to get many of my plants off the ground. I am thrilled with it.

When my daughter saw it, she said "is that my ladder"? I said yes. she wanted it back lol!