Note: The 5th Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge is underway. The way it works is simple:

  • Visit the Writing Challenge Page (TDWC)
  • Pick one or more door(s) that inspires your creative spirit
  • Write something, anything, or otherwise create or perform something based on that image
  • Post your creation on your blog and link to the TDWC Page (preferred) or to any of my posts, or email me the link. If I follow you, I might see your post, but WordPress isn’t always reliable.
  • Even if you don’t want to join us, you should visit the page to see what’s been written.

If you need to use email, you can reach me at NoFacilities at gmail dot com.

With this post we begin a new series—for lack of a better name, let’s call it “Things made of stuff.” If you want to see where we’re heading, you can check out the home page for this challenge.

We start this series with Things Made of Plastic.

My featured photo is the front of our house. The siding, while it appears to be cedar shakes, is vinyl. The look is good enough that we’ve had siding salesmen show up and ask of if we’d ever consider switching to vinyl. The railing and al the white trim is PVC, and the gray surface of the porch and ramp are Trex™, which is a plastic composite.

Good luck finding your photos, as you travel or in your archives. That’s how this works. Have a nice week. Oh, one more thing. I will be offline a lot for the next two weeks. I’ll get to your posts, but I may be late.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

60 responses to “Things Made of Plastic—CFFC”

  1. Lots of different kinds of plastics.
    I should be able to find something.
    Enjoy your travels.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. The shingles do look “real” Dan. A goodly variety of plastics.
    Here’s my CFFC for this week

    On the beach (the good, the bad and the ugly)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My wife liked the look of shakes, but didn’t like seeing me up on a ladder painting.

      I hope everyone looks at your post!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. She didn’t want to paint either then 😁
        27 views so far and 3 comments on my post.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Your post is timely. That’s unfortunate, but true.

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Two of my favorite words: things and stuff! I seem to be surrounded by both. The plastic things and stuff are sure functional, but some are fun — like Legos! That model is fantastic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Legos are fun, until you step on one of the little ones with bare feet. Then your child’s vocabulary expands into a new region. Lego used to have their US headquarters nearby. They always made a display item for the airport. I would love that job–model maker at Lego. Almost as good as pie taster.

      Like

    2. Legos are fun, until you step on one of the little ones with bare feet. Then your child’s vocabulary expands into a new region. Lego used to have their US headquarters nearby. They always made a display item for the airport. I would love that job–model maker at Lego. Almost as good as pie taster.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Gasp! Pie taster? Lego model builder? Those would have to be the ultimate dream jobs! I have a hunch you would build a model of sourdough toast and egg. As I was thinking back to early motherhood yesterday, I was also remembering how shag carpet in the 70s hid things like Legos and Star Wars lasers. Only a fool would walk barefoot there. Yes, a proper vocabulary was needed.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I remember my father stepping on the little screws from my Erector Set.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Oh, no! I bet something more than “knucklehead” hit the airwaves.

            Like

  4. I knew your decking and posts were plastic/composite, but that siding? Nice fake out.
    And be careful not to throw out that bunny.
    😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That siding was awful to install, but we are very happy with the look. The bunny is welcome to eat there, but he needs to scoot when they plop that can back down.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It looks great. Sorry it was a nightmare…

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Good photo pics, but now I have a question about your snowblower. You don’t have wheels? Tell me about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The snowblower has tracks. The (Honda) blower “floats” on a track-driven base. It’s adjustable. The normal setting has it just skimming the surface. You can set it so it digs in hard for ice and packed snow. The reason we bought it is because you can also set it to float higher (about an inch off the ground), which is where I set it when making paths to the firewood racks and when I bring it out of the shed and up through the back yard. I also use that setting to clear a path across the front yard for delivery folks. This one is around 10 years old. It’s a little hard to maneuver. The new models have independent controls on the tracks so you can steer them like a tank.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Fascinating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. Thank you very much for the explanation. Now, I have to go google some more about it. :-)

        Liked by 1 person

  6. This Spring has been too cold and wet. Your pictures prove it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It does seem to be carrying some leftover winter weather.

      Like

  7. Murphy’s Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Wow! Could’ve fooled me that your shingles are vinyl and not cedar shakes. Plastic certainly has its place in this world, and it’s here to stay.

    Murphy had the same ball as Maddie’s, but blue! Awesome Lego model. And those bags really are water resistant!

    Wait in that line for a baked potato? No way! I’ll just quickly grab a bag of potato chips and call it a day!

    Ginger🦋

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s the Maine building at the Big-E, Ginger. People wait forever for a baked potato, but the Lobster Roll booth only ever has one or two people in line. Even I can make a baked potato, but I can’t make a lobster roll.

      Maddie loved that ball. I still have it on my desk. When they started showing pictures of the Covid virus, we started telling her “get your covid ball.”

      The siding was awful to install, but we do like it, and it has fooled a lot of people.

      I hope you have a great week. It looks like we might see the sun now and then.

      Like

  8. Whoa, we do have a lot of plastic, don’t we?!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We certainly do, GP.

      Liked by 4 people

  9. Great prompt and great photos, Dan! Yes, the exterior of your house does not look plastic-y. Very impressive mimicking of cedar shakes!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Dave. My wife liked that look. I just did the work.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Your vinyl shakes are completely impressive! Bravo. And another terrific gallery, Dan. Happy Monday.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Monika. The siding has held up well. I hope you have a good week.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Your house is so pretty, and I am also impressed by the vinyl shakes. I’m curious about your ramp, but I don’t want to pry.
    Loved all your pics. I may look for some.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Kim. I did the siding and the I built the porch and ramp. We don’t need the ramp, but if we ever do, I wanted one that blended well with the house. The critters in the yard like it. We’ve seen the bunnies running up and over the porch.

      Like

    2. Thanks Kim. I did the siding and the I built the porch and ramp. We don’t need the ramp, but if we ever do, I wanted one that blended well with the house. The critters in the yard like it. We’ve seen the bunnies running up and over the porch.

      Like

  12. The Lego Opera House…!!! A true work of art.

    Dan–the drain from your gutters on the left side of your porch–it drains right onto the yard? We are having gutters installed and decided against French drains, but I asked about splash pads for our drains. Does the water drain away from your house? Is your yard totally soaked from all the draining rain?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. All of the gutters flow into drain tile and into (homemade) dry wells. Our soil is all sand below a thin layer of topsoil. Once we get the water below the frost line, it’s gone. Here’s a look at the installation when we built the porch – https://nofacilities.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/drain-tile.jpg

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I think that is French drains. Neighbors on both sides of us have that. We have no lawn to speak of, but the idea of digging up the front yard and dodging our sprinkler system is why we decided not to go that route. The gutter people are probably thinking we’re living back in the 50’s with downspouts going onto splash pads…🙄 Thanks, Dan.

        Like

  13. The red snowblower picture is my favorite. Here is mine

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That storm cab is my favorite place in winter after a storm.

      Like

  14. No higher compliment than those visits from vinyl salespeople. I used to do design-build and we did a lot of vinyl for a variety of reasons.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Jacqui. I love working with wood, Jacqui, but I hate to paint. So, this was a great compromise.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. That’s a great photo of your house and I agree, the vinyl does not look like typical vinyl. Great photos, Dan! But, what the heck is so special about a Maine baked potato?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Jan. I have never been able to figure out the appeal of those baked potatoes – I mean, I can make those at home. It’s so funny, there will be over 100 people in line for a potato, and only one or two in line for a lobster roll, which is so much better and just about the same price.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Humans are a mysterious bunch, aren’t they? :)

        Liked by 1 person

  16. I quite like the theme of “stuff” as a photo prompt, Dan. Awesomeness!

    Great gallery. You are right your home’s siding does look like real wood. Love the bunny by the garbage bin, the scale contrast is adorable.

    Wonderful storm cab for the snowblower…at that time of year, a but of shelter to do the needed snow removal is needed for sure.

    The Lego model of the Goodspeed Opera is epic! What talent and patience that must have taken.

    Wonderful examples to spark the imagination. Thanks so much Dan.

    And all the best for a great vacation and time off. Cheers.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Suzette. The bunnies aren’t bothered by the big stuff around them

      That storm cab is my favorite place after a storm. Without it, the snow frequently blows back at me.

      Lego used to have its US Headquarters in the next town north of us. The Opera House, and many other models were built by their professional model makers (I want that job!).

      I hope you have a great week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Professional Lego modelers… now that’s a great dream job!
        Cheers, Dan!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Great examples of plastics, Dan. Some subtle some not.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks John. The stuff is all around us.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. […] Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things Made of Plastic […]

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  19. […] Things Made of Plastic—CFFC […]

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  20. Both my children still do Legos. In fact, I get the younger one a new Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar every year. The older one likes to do the flowers.

    Plastic is useful, but there are so many downsides to it. Like so much of our modern world….(sigh) (K)

    Like

  21. […] CFFC Fun Foto Challenge: things made of plastic […]

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  22. Now that’s an unexpected, and interesting challenge, Dan. The opera house model is delightful.

    The house looks absolutely wonderful. My father redid his last house in vinyl siding, and the results were great. I thought it would be a nice alternative for me with my jalopy of a house, but I’m told it doesn’t hold up in the excessively dry climate here. :/ Hugs.

    Like

  23. Great pics for the challenge, Dan!!

    Liked by 1 person

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