Today’s thrift shop makeover is an Upcycled Succulent Planter, and it’s in memory of two roosters. It’s a story of good and evil …
Many moons ago, when I was just a child, we had a small brood of hens and one rooster. I honestly can’t remember the hens at all, but that rooster stands out vividly in my mind, but only because he was evil.
In my adult mind, I realize he really wasn’t truly evil. But I was just a child back then, and on one fateful day he became forever ingrained in my mind as the most black-hearted, evil rooster that ever lived.
You see, I had gotten a brand new harmonica, and had gone outside to sit in the grass and serenade the world with my music.
I was blissfully in my own little world, making music to my heart’s content, when suddenly …
Seemingly out of nowhere, that evil rooster came up from behind me, jumped on my head, and started attacking me with his spurs.
Apparently, he didn’t appreciate fine music when he heard it.
I started screaming and flailing around, trying to get him off, when also out of nowhere, a super hero came to my rescue. 🙂
I don’t know whether my mom or dad got the rooster off me.
All I know is that someone beat that rooster off me with a broom. I do remember that rooster kept coming back for more, so my dad picked up a scrap piece of 2×4 and threw it at him.
Take that!
The rooster took off squawking into the forest, never to be seen or heard from again.
Fast forward more than forty years later. My daughter started raising chickens and was given some free ones, but she had to take a rooster with them. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy when she brought him home. But that rooster turned out to be the nicest rooster you ever did see. Sadly, we got new neighbors about a year ago, and their dogs killed several of the chickens, then something dug underneath the coop and killed the rest of the flock, including that sweet rooster.
So this 99-cent thrift store rooster was purchased in memory of the sweet rooster.
Upcycled Succulent Planter
It was chipped around the base, so I gave it a quick coat of white spray paint to hide the chips.
The hens and chicks multiplied so well in my succulent ladder plant stand, so it seemed only appropriate to plant some in it.
I just scooped a few out with a spoon, being careful not to dig too close so I wouldn’t cut off the roots, filled the open cavity with potting soil, and planted them.
My daughter loves succulents and she loved her rooster and chickens, so I’m gifting this little upcycled succulent planter to her.
She’s getting ready to put in an offer on her first house, so I know she’ll find a place for it when she moves in.
Vaya con Dios,
What a wonderful gift! She’s gonna love it. I have to keep my eye out for awesome planters I can update with some paint. Pinned
Thanks Angie. I’ll be checking more often for planters, because it’s an easy 10 minute project to paint them!
I had chickens and loved them. Raised them from babies. But our tipster was unbalanced too. Lol
Debbi
LOL – what a kind way to say your rooster was crazy too, Debbi!
I love the story and the little planter is so sweet.
My mom grew up on a farm and she always told stories about roosters, billy goats and mules. She always said they had the meanest billy goat that ever lived. lol. Anyway, I love your planter and it will make a great housewarming gift for your daughter.
Years ago we had goats too, but no billy goats, thank goodness, Becky.
We had a rooster when I was a child on a farm in northwestern Missouri who would sneak up behind us and flog us just like that if we didn’t keep a very wary eye out for him. Between him and what we referred to as “settin’ hens,” who were trying to hatch eggs and whose heads had to be quickly pushed down with a corn cob by a very frightened five-year-old if she was going to successfully gather their eggs without getting pecked, the chicken yard was not exactly a welcoming place! I’m glad you are dedicating your cute hens and chicks planter to the “good rooster”!
My mom has stories from her childhood of trying to collect eggs from sitting hens too, Teddee – they sounded as scary as the crazy rooster from my childhood!
What an awesome before and after Angie!! Love it 🙂
That is a great rooster story, Angie! “…and was never seen again!” Sounds like the end to a fairy tale! He got the message, anyway, didn’t he?
The white paint gave your rooster a very up-dated look and the succulent you planted is just right, I think.
My goodness, your daughter must be a good money manager if she is ready to buy a house! Good for her! They grow up fast, don’t they?
She is amazing at managing her money, Naomi. In fact,I’ve told her I wish she would take over my finances because she’s so good at it!
Smart gal spray painting that planter, sure looks much better now.
what a shame about your daughters chickens and rooster. We’ve been pretty lucky with our chicks, lost one this spring to dehydration we think. Our dog is very protective of our chickens, those are his girls. Our cat watches them but doesn’t go near, he’s afraid of them. We’ve never had a rooster. The girls are getting older so they aren’t laying much anymore, we’ve gotten too attached to them. What do you do with girls that won’t lay anymore? Can’t just get rid of them. Ours are able to amble all over back yard freely. We live out in rural area few miles west of Grand Junction, CO.
We let our chickens free range all over the yard, but unfortunately someething usually gets them before they reach the non-laying stage, JaneEllen.
He’s gorgeous Angie!
Thanks Zefi!! I think he looks a bit more dignified now. 🙂
Hens and chickens were just the PERFECT succulent to put in that planter. Your daughter is going to laugh out loud! Is white the in color? I think I’ve missed it! I still love using a copper/bronze /faux verdigris finish on stuff.
I loved all your rooster stories. Maybe everyone who grew up in the country has one! My ex had an Irish setter when I married him. We lived on a side road in a mobile home and would let her run loose when we got home from work. One day, I let her out; she disappeared. Nothing unusual; she’d go for a run. Then I heard a thump, thump, thump, silence, then thump, thump thump. Couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from. Took the door panel off the trailer skirting. There’s the neighbor’s pride and joy rooster running by. Then Molly running by, her tail hitting the struts under the trailer.They ran the length of the trailer, round and round and round. Well, now I know what the problem is. How to solve it? Think I used a broom or a rake to chase the rooster out and he flew into a nearby tree. The poor exhausted dog finally came out and PANTED for an hour to catch her breath. I have NEVER seen a dog’s tongue hang out THAT badly! Not my idea of a smart bird dog (the time she caught my parakeet and he lost all his tail feathers is another story!)! And that rooster was never seen again, either!
I don’t know if white is the “in” color – I just love it! 🙂