The Clock

 

This is the clock in my kitchen. For years it graced my studio. I made it (rather I embellished it) myself. Over 20 years ago I was home sick and had the TV on out of sheer boredom. I was lying on the couch watching some women's show and there was a craft segment on making a clock like this. As soon as I got better I went shopping. I think I spent more on the doodads than I did on the clock itself.

Last week I looked at it and thought I'd had it so long and I was grateful it was still working. 

I suppose I should have recognized that was an omen. A few days later it stopped working, and nothing I could do could get it to work again. So I put on my thinking cap and got creative. I ordered a replacement clock mechanism with the battery. I didn't have any idea if it would work, or if I got the right size, but what the heck.

So I carefully took it apart, then replaced the mechanism. Both hands of the new clock were too long, so I snipped those shorter. It all stuck out farther than the original, so I couldn't replace the glass, but the clock was working so I put it up.

My repair attempts dislodged some of the little doodads and I had to locate the hot glue gun and fix them. Then I put the clock back where it belonged.

Hmmm.

The orginal hands of the clock did not stick out very far from the clock face and did not cast a noticeable shadow. And this clock does not have the second hand, which I use when I am timing something when I cook. So I do not consider this a rousing success. Further research leaves me in doubt about whether any other clock mechanism would fit in the narrow space if the glass were in place, so I have decided to move on and accept the inevitable.

The clock has lived a good life, and is now due for retirement. (Plus it was dusty and dirty as hell and icky to touch.)

A replacement clock is on order.