Breakfast in Bed Tray: A Little Project with a Big Heart
You know, there was a time when I thought the only thing I could put together was a bowl of cereal or—at best—a sandwich. But, as life would have it, I found myself with a little more time on my hands during those long weekends, and that’s when it hit me: why not try to make a breakfast in bed tray? I remember sitting at my kitchen table with my worn-out coffee mug, staring out the window like I was pondering world peace or something, and thought, “Yeah, let’s build a tray.”
Now, I’m not some master woodworker with fancy tools strung all over my garage. Nah, I’ve got a trusty old circular saw, a jigsaw that’s seen better days, and a miter saw that had a bigger family than I did—all sitting in the corner covered in sawdust like little woodworker relics. I also had some pine boards from the local hardware store that smelled like freshly cut grass and summer, and I could almost picture my dreams of breakfast in bed perched atop that wood.
That Moment of Truth
So, I gathered my supplies. A couple of boards, some screws, and a bottle of wood glue that had probably expired. I think it was from the days when I tried to fix my daughter’s broken dollhouse, but that’s a whole other story. I remember the smell of sawdust mixing with the humid afternoon air as I laid everything out on the workbench. There was excitement bubbling inside me, but also a pinch of doubt; I almost gave up when I realized I had no real plan. Just a vague memory of how trays looked.
But hey, the only way to learn, right? I sketched out a quick design that may have looked like something a toddler could doodle, and set to work cutting the pieces. With each piece that fell neatly into place, I could hear the faint chatter of my neighbors, maybe barbecuing again. Why are they always barbecuing? But back to the task at hand: I found myself smiling at the thought of my wife, Bliss, all cozy in bed with a cup of coffee I’d made her, breakfast resting atop this homemade symbol of my newfound DIY ambition.
An Unexpected Setback
Then came the tricky part. You’d think screwing it together would be a breeze, but oh boy, was I in for a surprise. I grabbed my drill, which was probably older than my youngest kid and as temperamental as a cat trying to take a bath. My first attempt at drilling the screws into the tray was a disaster. The wood split like a banana left on the counter too long, and I could feel the frustration bubbling up like the coffee in my forgotten pot.
What’s the phrase? “Measure twice, cut once?” Yeah, I kind of skipped the measuring part in excitement. I had to stop, back away, and let out an exasperated sigh. I really did almost toss that project into the trash. But instead, I took a deep breath, got some wood filler, and patched it up, reminding myself that no one was perfect, least of all me.
A Little Victory Dance
The next day, I was snapping photos of my almost-finished tray. The wood filler had dried, and I’d sanded down the rough spots until it felt smooth—a bit like the quiet after a storm. I decided to stain it with a dark walnut finish, and oh, let me tell you, that smell—like sitting next to a warm campfire on a cool autumn evening. I can still see the sunlight creeping in through the garage windows, highlighting the rich, deep color of the wood as I applied the last coat. I felt an odd sense of pride swelling in my chest, like I could actually do this.
When I finally placed it in our bedroom, I could hardly contain my laughter when it actually worked! It was sturdy, looked beautiful, and honestly, I couldn’t believe I had made it myself. Let me tell you, the look on Bliss’s face that Sunday morning when I handed her breakfast in bed—it was worth all the small disasters I had faced.
The Takeaway
You know, as I sip my coffee and look back, it’s kind of funny how much a little project like this can mean. It’s not just about the tray or even breakfast in bed—it’s about making something with your hands, learning perseverance, and surprising yourself. If you’re like me, just an everyday person sometimes staring at the sky wondering what’s next, and you think about trying something like this? Just grab those tools and go for it.
There’s a good chance you’ll end up with a few splinters along the way, or maybe a broken piece or two, but you’ll also find heaps of joy in the process. So, don’t hesitate; through all the mess and chaos, you might just end up creating something that not only serves a purpose but also carries a little piece of your heart.
