Life in the Transformation Lane

Driving into Salmon today there was a barely perceptible breeze, and I watched as golden leaves glittered off the aspen and cottonwood trees and sprinkled the road ahead of me, mile after mile.

I have perhaps not told you that BroJer aka 'Artist In Residence' has arrived and taken possession of his new studio and living space - an old loft warehouse above a video shop and hair salon on South Center Street in picturesque downtown Salmon; a town of 2,000 people. This is a happening and project that Dave and I have been eagerly anticipating for 2-3 months.

Arriving at 'The Loft' I am transported into an alternate universe...a world of complete chaos and dirt, and brothers spattered head to toe in white paint. This space has been abandoned and derelict for several years. The 10 foot tall windows are grimy and the sills are several layers deep in dust and dead wasps. Everything smells foul. I feel my stomach lurch just a little bit. I have proclaimed myself a clean window perfectionist so I take a deep breath, push the ladder closer, don my yellow rubber gloves, climb up and get to work. I scrape off old labels, 1 million fly spots and whatever else it is soiling these glassy portals. I scrub, I scrape, I squeegee, I vacuum dead bugs and move my ladder on to the next window. Five windows and two hours later I stand back and bask in the pleasure of my accomplishment: perfectly clear, clean eyes on the world - ahhh.

Next task: painting a fresh white coat over dingy and stained walls; wall after wall after wall, and 10 door frames set off by ancient curvy moldings. What an unbelievable transformation that pristine paint created. Even the townspeople who dropped in for various reasons were astonished at the difference.

It took three days and three coats of white paint, but now one room is unrecogizably beautiful, two are vastly improved and a third turned out to be great as it was. It is a perfect loft apartment and will be fabulous by candlelight.

The boys, Dave and Jer, have spent these three days dementedly hammering; painting; buying, cutting and laying carpets; vacuuming; shopping; and brainstorming. Every night we have been dirty, tired, paint splattered, and elated at our progress.

In three days we have turned a foul and filthy dump into a beautiful, serene and classy living space complete with a reclaimed walk in closet and new carpet in 4 rooms. A high five all around, and a cold one with all you can eat ribs at Bertram's Brewery - we should be on a TV show!

YOU should come see Jer's new digs...Oh, and the art - it is going to be the talk of the town. Take a look at it: www.firelobe.com.